KAEA
"Well I hope you learned something from your...ah...outing." My father said, and I didn't miss his point.
"Yeah... rides are fun. If we could have something like that, it would be awesome."
"Rides?" He said blankly. "Kaea, wasn't this going to be small scale?"
Oh right.
"Or umm... stalls. Just like a small fair, what about that?"
"I am not sure how many people would donate if they have to buy tickets. And where will you find volunteers for this kind of stuff? They wouldn't be paid, because the proceeds have to go to the children."
"The children could work too." In fact, I just had the most terrible and awesome idea ever. It would be miserable for me, but it should work.
"Hmm... well, just keep it low budget. We can't spare a lot of money on extravagance."
I nodded and with a toast in my mouth, bolted out of the house.
Kyle was sitting near the ground, watching the kids play, just as Martha ran and toppled at least two people over. "Damn, that kid is a hurricane."
He looked back at me, and then without saying anything, got up. "Let's go."
"Where?"
The he realised there wasn't anywhere for us to be at. He shrugged and sat back down again.
"Hey I was thinking about the donation event... what if me make it a school affair?"
"That is the worst idea I have ever heard." He raised an eyebrow. "These kids would be... made fun of."
Bullied.
"Why? Because they need to have better living conditions? Because they deserve better lives?"
"Yeah, their lives would be hella good once all the kids start teasing them."
Huh, maybe this was why I was on edge. This bickering was missing yesterday- I almost didn't feel like myself.
"Just say bullied, Kyle. Or are you allergic to that word?"
His jaw tightened, and he narrowed his eyes at me. "Fine. But I don't want that for them."
"No, you only wanted that for me." I narrowed my eyes as well. "I know that some kids would do that, but truthfully, Kyle, not all kids are like you were."
"Were?"
This was so beside the goddamn point! "Are. There, that made you feel better?"
He stood up and stepped close to me. I could feel his breath. "Why do you keep doing that?" His voice was tight.
"Why do you? Do you enjoy arguing with me?" I was hella mad, but when he touched my lips with his thumb, I forgot what we were fighting over.
"Maybe." He whispered.
My lips were burning. I wanted to kiss him so badly.
"Kaea!" Rebecca yelled, running towards me.
I hugged her. "Hey, honey. How is the head?" I tapped her forehead lightly.
"So much better. Kyle brought me chocolates." She held a chocolate bar, and I raised my eyebrows. "That looks tasty. Well, why don't you go ahead and eat it?"
"But I have to save it!"
And that's when I realised that these kids don't have the privilege of buying and eating chocolates whenever they want. They probably save every penny that came their way.
"Yeah." I smiled, or tried to.
When Rebecca ran back to her friends, I caught Kyle's eye. "Look, I know there are idiots who would make fun of them. But you do it in the school or not, they'll know of this any way. At least this way, they'll be lending a hand."
He furrowed his brows. "I-" His jaw clenched and unclenched a few more times. He looked at me, maybe gauging my sincerity or something like that. "Fine."
Why was he laughing one day and frowning the next?
Goddess only knew.
We just sat down on some benches and started planning what we would need to do. There would be some low budget rides, a few contests, some stalls, and of course one donation booth. The tickets would be a tad overpriced, just so it covered any losses, and also there was enough money for the kids. I was suddenly with a thought. "Shouldn't we ask the... principal?"
"The Alpha and the Lun- the Beta.... They look out for the school too. They won't deny a request we put in."
His phone pinged and his face grew somber. "I need to go."
"Mind telling me what happened?"
"Nothing."
Well, shoot me for being friendly. I didn't understand this guy. Hell, I barely understood my reactions to the guy. Did his touch light me up? Yes.
Did he also feel like a friend? Like we could just chill and vibe out to music? Yes.
Did I want to kiss him raw until his lips bled? Yes.
Did I want to break his neck sometimes? Also yes.
Is this what mates were supposed to be? I wondered if I would ever know.
I just went to school. Lee would be there, and the horrendous people, for once, would be a welcome distraction.
***
Where are you? I texted Lee.
English, why?
I am in school right now.
I reached here just as the break was about to start. Thank God.
Friggin' finally! The class is over in 10. Meet me in the cafeteria.
I went there, not surprised to find the cafeteria empty. But as I waited for Lee, students started rolling in, and I was very very surprised to see a lot of glances being thrown my way.
I had forgotten what school was like but I sure as hell remembered school not being this.
I caught a few whispers too. 'Loser', 'Kyle', 'Abigail', 'Luna' were a few words that were thrown around. I frowned. What rumour was going around in school?
As soon as Lee reached me, she gave me big hug. "It is so nice to see you here."
I hugged her back and waved at Jacob, who watched Lee with an amused expression. "Now, now. Don't make me jealous."
I laughed and Lee glared at him. "Well, I am not talking to you."
My eyebrows shot up. "Why?" I looked at them both.
"Your friend here is mad because I accepted a pen from Samantha."
I remembered Samantha. She was a pretty brunette with the hots for... Kyle. Suddenly, I was feeling not very well at her mention.
"And?"
"Well, I told him to wait two seconds, I might have one. But then Samantha pushed her big ass nose into our business, and offered him one. And he took it!"
"Only after it had been five minutes and you still couldn't find a pen." Jacob defended himself, and I stopped the urge to laugh.
"And then when I wouldn't talk to him, he had the audacity to ask me if I was PMSing!"
"That is so cliché, Jacob." I finally let the laughter out.
He sighed. "Well aren't you?"
"Yes, I am! But that is beside the point-" And then Jacob shut her with a kiss. And they kissed and kissed, and now Lee had her arms around his neck and I looked around to see people still staring at me.
I coughed.
They both broke apart, both dazed. Jacob grinning, and Lee blushing. "Sorry." She murmured, and I was astonished to see Lee, the girl with fire in her soul, melt away and become shy like that.
We ate our food, when some guy went past me, and coughed 'slut' into his hand.
But before I could even make sense of what happened, he went away. Lee looked at me, concerned.
"What the hell was that?" I demanded.
"He is a jerk, Kaea."
That would have been an acceptable answer except people were staring at me and whispering all sorts of shit.
"What is going on, Lee?"
"Well... people haven't missed the fact that you and Kyle are both skipping on school together."
"Yes, but that is to-"
"Yes, I know. But some people are spreading bullshit about how you are having sex with Kyle to... you know... stop his torment or whatever."
What. The. Fuck.
"Does he know?" I ask.
"I don't see how. He doesn't come here. Abigail was here just today, and she surprisingly didn't start this. Mason doesn't pay attention to this, and he is too busy with his football. It's just... idiots being idiots, Kaea. Nothing more."
Still, it hurts.
Suddenly a guy appeared in front of the gates and yelled, "Abigail's beating the shit out of some dude near front gate."
And just like that, the hall erupted as people ran to the windows and outside to see.
Exchanging concerned looks, we got up and ran too.
__________________________________________
In the media box, you'll find, "Cool Kids by Echosmith".
Who do you think Abigail is beating up?
K R Y S T L E