"Kira, that was amazing," my step-mom said, "You grow in talent everyday."
"Thanks mom," Kira smiled at her. I scoffed and sank into my chair.
"Really, Kira, you're great," my dad agreed, patting her hand across the table. I pushed my chair back and grabbed my plate, "Kaia, what's wrong?"
"I'm done," I replied softly, scrapping the leftovers into the trash before putting it in the sink. I grabbed my bag and walked out of the house. 'Why her? Why is it always about her?'
"Watch out!" I heard behind me. I spun around and stumbled back just in time to see a flash of blue skate by. It stopped ahead of me and turned around, "Are you okay?" It was a boy (man?) dressed in jeans and a dark blue t-shirt. He had brown hair and towered over me. He continued to stare at me and I realized I hadn't responded yet, "Uh… Justin Stewart's the name." He stuck his hand out to me.
"Kaia F-Ford," I replied, shaking his hand. He smiled, picking up his skateboard.
"You going this way?" he asked, pointing in the direction of the school. I nodded and his smile grew wider, "Cool. I am too."
"Oh… you going to Reefside?" I asked curiously.
"No," he laughed, "I graduated already. I'm just going to talk to an old friend."
"You graduated?" I asked, "You can't be older than… 19?"
"20, actually," he replied, "but I graduated high school a long time ago." He began walking towards the school with me in tow.
"Oh," I replied, "Who's your friend?"
"Tommy," he replied, "Tommy Oliver."
"Oliver… Dr. Oliver?" I asked.
"That would be him," he laughed, "Can't believe he's a 'Dr.'" I stayed silent until we got to the front of the school.
"Well… it was nice meeting you," I said quickly disappearing into the crowd before he could reply. I walked into English, sitting in my seat and sighing. I looked out the window and saw Kira pull up with Conner, Ethan, and Trent. I looked back to the front as the teacher started her lecture. English was a long and boring class, but science was next. If there was one person in this school that I liked, it was Dr. Oliver. He made everyone feel like they were apart of something. I walked into his class and smiled, "Hi Dr. Oliver."
"Kaia, how are you today?" he asked, looking up from his paperwork.
"I'm fine," I smiled softly, sitting in my seat.
"Ah, Justin told me he met you on his way here," he commented.
"Y-Yeah," I replied, looking down.
"Interesting man, wouldn't you say?" he laughed.
"Talking about me, I see?" Justin's voice came from the door. I looked up to see him leaning against the doorframe, "I didn't think you were a gossiper, Tommy."
"Justin, stop joking around," Dr. Oliver replied, "I always was." The two men laughed as I began to feel awkward. I grabbed my science book, opened it to a random page and started reading, "Kaia, this is an old friend of mine from when I was in high school."
"Yeah, this old man was… like a mentor," Justin laughed, clasping Dr. Oliver on the back.
"Old man?" Dr. Oliver replied, "I don't think so…" He got cut off by a beeping on his wrist. He looked around nervously, "I… I got to go do something. Justin, you're in charge."
"In charge but…" Justin began as Dr. Oliver ran out the door. Justin sighed, sitting in his seat, "So… where is everyone?"
"Well, there's not many of us in this classroom," I replied, "Three got sick from food poisoning, one is on a family emergency leave, and the other four disappear when Dr. Oliver does."
"So, just you and me?" he asked, smiling softly.
"Uh… yeah," I replied, looking down at my book to hide my blush.
"You want to see something?" he asked.
"I'm afraid to ask what it is?" I replied.
"Come on," he said, sticking his hand out, "I want to take you somewhere." I knew better than to do this, but I was intrigued. I grabbed onto his hand as he pulled me out of the classroom and out of the school.