After I realized my feelings for Kai... time flew by relatively quickly.
Although I didn't know what to do next, I was still managing my own heart break. Kai had every right to put some distance between us if he didn't like me the way I liked him. But considering the way he pushed me away... it made me feel a little embarrassed. So I buried myself in art projects and picked up extra shifts at the studio when I could...
*
It was already December and Mackenzie's birthday party had finally arrived.
Kai had actually made time for this event.
Even though it was a simple act of affection on his end... it made me fall even deeper in love with his attempts to be there more for his family...
We had an Alice in Wonderland theme and of course Jackson wouldn't shut up about my decision to dress up as the Cheshire cat.
"There's so many characters in that movie and this is what you came up with? You look like a purple fun stick" I hit his back a few times when he was helping me bring some appetizers out into the dining room for Kenz's guests.
"Seriously, aren't you supposed to be helping me?"
"I am..." he laughed through his tears.
After we left the dining room to join the party in the living room Jackson stopped me.
"Wait... you have something near your eyelash..."
"You're lying again," I tried to push him away. Earlier he had said the same thing and pinched my cheek when I thought something was there...
"No, seriously... come on, let me--" I shoved him away a few times while he tried touching my face again. He then wrapped his arms around me and I tried shimming away from him.
"Just what the hell--" I had my foot pressed against his leg until I heard a crunching noise in the distance... I turned to watch a few of Kenz's friends staring at us.
"Are they the ones that Kenz said are dating?" one of them inquired.
"I don't think so. They look like they'll only have a cat and mouse relationship their entire lives..." I gritted my teeth a little and before I said anything Jackson stepped forward.
"Who are you to decide, small fry?" the young kid pointed towards himself. The two of them bantered back and forth and I pulled Jackson away.
"You're so childish..." I had wrapped my arms around him without realizing it. Just when I stepped away he held me closer to his body... while staring down at me seriously... he suddenly blew something away from my face.
"All gone..." I was a little stunned... he moved away from me shortly after he looked up and spotted someone behind me... I turned to see who he was looking at but they were already gone.
"Hazel! Hurry! The cake is next!" I heard Kenz call out to me so I smiled and made my way back to help... when I saw James, who had dressed up as the Mad Hatter, he was telling all of her friends to go back to table.
I silently thanked Rae for helping me find all these costumes... everyone looked so good.
After we ate cake together I helped Edna clean up a little around the house. Kenz and her friends had all went to the game room as their 'main party' event.
I heard the doorbell ring so I went over to answer it. When I did it was someone I was least expecting to show up here.
What was she doing here?
"Natalie, dear!!" I could hear a sharp, annoying voice in the background. Natalie pushed past me after snorting a little. She greeted Cassandra with the large gift in her hand. The two of them made some small talk. I didn't think anyone was behind her so I went to close the door, but someone stepped...
It was Luca... I was a little shocked. What would he be doing here?
"Thanks for your gift, love..."
"Of course, anything for our precious Mackenzie. Where is she?" Cassandra nodded and then brought her forward.
"Fancy meeting you again..." Luca smiled at me and I chuckled while crossing my arms.
"So the devil brought a plus one?"
"Well, fortunately for me I get to meet you in this adorable costume..." I rolled my eyes.
"Did you come here to annoy Kai?"
"Kai? He's here?" I watched his expression change and he seemed genuinely surprised. "Usually he'd be buried in his work..."
"Hmm..." I then looked at the small gift he had in his hand. "Kenz's pile of gifts is over there..."
"Oh, Natalie has our gift... this is for you."
"Me?" he took a hold of my hand and placed it in the palm of my hand.
"To thank you for helping out at the shoot... if it wasn't for you things would have become complicated..." we stepped into the foyer a little more together... side by side. When I opened the gift I saw a Tiffany & Co. box and I nearly dropped it. He smiled at me charmingly.
"You know this is really too much even for me?"
"Why?"
"This might mean pennies to you, but something like this is too extravagant. It could cover rent, food, or transportation costs for an entire month or two..." I pressed the gift into his chest. He held onto it with my hand refusing to let go.
"You're right... and since this small gift is just pennies to me... so why not just accept?" I scoffed...
"Luca..." I started but he smiled deviously again.
"Kai..." I heard him say. I turned to see Natalie locking her arms around his. He seemed like a stiff statue next to her. I tried to conceal my sour expression but obviously Luca saw right through me. He took the gift and then draped his hand around my shoulders playfully and brought us forward. I looked up at Luca a little stunned.
"Hey!" I shouted. I didn't have time to look at Kai's reaction, but I could hear the anger in his voice...
"Luca... you know I forbid you from coming into this house years ago..." I finally turned to Kai who was agitated. Kai moved his arm away from Natalie and reached out to grab a hold of Luca. He pushed him away from me and then walked him over to the front door.
"Oh! Come on! Don't be like this. I'm just here to celebrate Kenz's birthday..." I turned to watch Kai open the door.
"You didn't just come here to celebrate, did you?" I wanted to know what he meant by that... but before I knew it Luca was being pushed out of the door. He called out to me once but I really couldn't do much...
Kai sighed and then walked back.
"Kai!" Natalie smiled as she tried wrapping her arm around his again but Kai beat her to it and moved his arm. She stumbled forward not expecting to be rejected. She pouted and then glared at me. James then suddenly appeared.
"James will escort you home."
"Wait, what?! I just got here."
"You have an early shoot tomorrow."
"Oh, so you do know..." she said this while smiling and curling her hair behind her ear. I didn't know whether or not to burst out into laughter at the face she was making or get a little jealous... but Natalie didn't invoke anything else other than annoyance from me.
"I overheard Cassandra."
"Oh..." that seemed to deflate Natalie entirely... her posture sunk a little. I almost felt a little terrible for her... James then walked by her side and they left together.
Just before I left Kai spoke up: "Luca is someone you shouldn't associate yourself with."
"Does he look like someone I'm associating myself with?" there was a pause between us and I sighed again and said: "I'm sorry you feel that way about him... but I can't control what that air-- who Natalie brings to events..."
That seemed to silence him entirely and I slowly walked by him... I wondered how much he had seen between us...
I held my hand to my chest as soon as I was out of his line of sight. My heart started to thump a little more aggressively... I had been doing so well... but seeing him like this made me remember the kiss that we shared and the feelings I had for him...
*
After helping Edna clean up a little more I met up with Kenz. She had exhausted her energy in the play centre. After she said goodbye to her friends I gave her the gift I made. When she opened it up she smiled brightly.
It was a painting I made of her and Apollo when he was a puppy. It was an Alice and Wonderland theme so of course I made it as iconic as possible...