Hello Christmas Break! So hopefully things will work out and I'll be able to post a couple of chapters over the break, maybe even another one before Christmas. Enjoy. :D Oh, and to the person who asked: TK and Kari are in Senior year, and they're both seventeen.
Chapter 2
"Hey there." TK's head appeared from behind the door to Kari's locker; he leaned against the wall, resting a hand on the top edge of the door. "You got your lunch?"
"I, um… forgot it," Kari lied, dumping the rest of her things into her locker. For a second she thought he looked worried, but his smile covered up any hint that he was suspicious.
"Right, well I guess I'll have to get you something then." Still smiling, he closed her locker and took her wrist into his hand, leading her towards the lunch room.
"TK, I can't let you buy-" but he only rolled his eyes.
"Sure you can, besides, you'll owe me," he smirked, but Kari only felt confused, no longer able to tell when he was joking. "Relax, Kari." He tugged on her wrist and laughed when heat burned at her face.
She made a face as he laughed, "I can't keep up with you anymore."
"Sure you can," his hand fell away to hold the door open for her. "You just need practice." There was that grin again, and a gentle hand on her shoulder that guided her to the cafeteria. He laid a tray in front of her and nudged her shoulder gently to make her slide down the aisle. She bit her lip as the touch sent an ache through her arm and tugged her sleeves further down over her wrists automatically. "And if you don't pick anything," his voice shook her, and she blinked, sliding further down the line. "I'll just have to get a bunch of stuff and hope you like something."
Kari picked up a burger hesitantly and watched as TK piled food onto his tray. She laughed as he grabbed a second large fry. "Basketball season hasn't even started yet, you know."
"I'm sorry, are you trying to say something?" he raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"No," she said innocently. "Just wondering if you were going to leave any for the people behind us. Or if you're planning on sending some of that to the homeless shelter downtown, it could last them a while."
"Ouch, Kari," he grinned. "But for your information, our preseason, student-led practices can be brutal. And some of us could stand with another burger or two." He grabbed a slice of chocolate cake and placed it on her tray, giving an innocent expression that dared her to argue. She stuck out her tongue and he laughed, pulling a wallet from his back pocket and grabbing her tray. "Get us a seat?"
Kari nodded and sat at one of the unused tables near the back. How long would this last? She wondered, tracing the lines of the wood absentmindedly as she waited. Would he still be interested in talking to her tomorrow? It was nice to have someone talk to her. Actually talk to her, more than politely asking for the homework, or yell- No. She shook her head; she had promised herself that she wouldn't think about that.
"Here you go." TK placed her tray in front of her.
"I didn't get these." She held up two bags of chips and eyed a chocolate milkshake that now sat next to her fries.
"Like I said, Kari." He reached across the table and poked a straw through the lid of her milkshake. "Some of us could stand to eat a few more burgers." She shook her head and rolled her eyes, but smiled and quietly took a sip of the milkshake. The blonde boy gave a small nod and started in on his pile of food as though he hadn't eaten in days. "So who do you hang out with now?" he asked, struggling to unwrap his fork. She reached over and ripped the plastic open for him, laughing at the frustration on his face.
"Um, no one really," she admitted, dipping a french fry in her ketchup uncomfortably.
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right, Kari. Who do you usually sit with?"
"I- I don't. Um, I usually just sit at one of the extra tables and study, actually." She tried to pass it off as nothing, giving a weak smile and studying the corner of her tray intently.
TK was silent for a moment; Kari could feel his eyes on her, could imagine the worry behind them. "You eat alone? Everyday?" It was the concern in his voice that had always gotten to her, the way he spoke like he had done this to her.
"It's not a big deal, TK," she mumbled, taking another sip of her milkshake to avoid looking at him. "I'm quiet; you know that." The second their eyes met she wished that she had continued to stare at her french fries; the look in his eyes made her want to cry. Last night hadn't helped, her arms were sore and- No. she repeated internally, but she only wanted to cry again. Goodness, Kari, you're more of a mess then usual. She scolded herself and blinked frantically, turning her face towards the floor.
"You had plenty of friends in Middle School."
"This is High School, TK. I mean, everyone got transferred, or moved… and I just never really connected with anyone else."
"Davis and Ken are in our grade."
"Things…" she searched for the right words, "sort of fell apart after you moved. I mean, we don't hate each other or anything; we just haven't talked. It's not your fault," she added the last sentence quickly, remembering the look he had given her before. He remained silent for a minute, she could feel his eyes on her again, but she stared determinedly at his lunch, laying long since forgotten on his tray.
"Something else happened." It wasn't a question.
"I- I'm fine, TK," she stammered, but her eyes burned with tears and she swallowed a lump in her throat.
"Kari, if you don't want to talk about it, fine." She caught his eyes, burning darkly at her. How did his blue eyes burn like that? "But don't lie."
Tears sprung to Kari's eyes faster than she could fight them back. "I'm fine," she repeated, barely audible.
"No. You're not!" TK snapped at her impatiently. "I'm not an idiot, Kari. I know you're lying!" Kari flinched and pain ran through her shoulders. Tears stung her eyes and she pushed them away with the back of her hand frustratedly. His voice only raised at this, "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine, but don't tell me you're okay, Kari!"
Kari took a deep, shaky breath, "I'm sorry." She shook her head frantically, "I'm sorry. She stood and let her feet begin to carry her. You knew he was right. Those thoughts she had been holding at bay hit her now: words that rung in her ears as she walked away. She thought TK's hand might have brushed against her wrist, thought he might have tried to say something to her, but she couldn't feel anything, hear anything, save those words echoing through her mind and those aching muscles as they were wracked with tears. Worthless. That's why he yelled at you. Because he knows it too. They both do. That's why no one talks to you. Because they know it too. They all do.
Kay, so this was actually supposed to be combined with the next part, but I might be able to get that up even later today. -love and a merry christmas
