November 15th, 2012
It had been a little more than a week since I'd come to Sporks and other than me skipping to chemisty of dashing away from Ethan, my days had been uneventful. Dolores and I exchanged words in history. Her complaining about something and me just nodding. I wallowed in my corner of self-pity alone ( I don't consider the stalker ninja a person) during lunch. So there I was eating Jell-O in a cup with a fork, with a nerd sighing in wanton, when my sight went blank.
My heart leaped. Did Kid decide that he was going to stop being a douche canoe and actually sit with me? I mean sure we didn't talk all the much outside of school, but the conversation never stopped in Chemistry. Okay, so maybe I was 95% of that conversation, but he'd add his bit too. Like Wednesday when he told me to "... just shut that trap of yours. God woman. Do you never shut up?" That counted, right?
"Uhm ... hi?"
The hands were lowered and I was face-to-face with a pale visage. Light blue dreadlocks dangled in front of me.
"Oh, hi Edice. Kidward has told me ... absolutely nothing about you."
Edice took a seat at my loner table and leaned towards me, like he was studying my face.
"What does he see in you?" He muttered to himself.
"Huh?" I asked confused. Was he talking to me?
Edice waved his hand in dismissal. "It's nothing. So I hear Kid made a friend and spilled the beans on being a 'special child'. Not very secretive about it is he? Yet he still locks me out of the house." He sighed in exasperation. "I guess if you're planning on sticking around you should be up to speed on a few things; like me seeing into the future and Kilsper being able to morph his hands into blades. Don't ask me how he swung that. And Moett ... was once a woman."
I scrunched my face up to make that "I don't know what you're saying but I'm tryi- I don't know what you're saying" face.
"I'm sorry. What?"
"I don't mean to sound like I don't care, it's just I'm protective over my little brothers, and we've moved so often I forget half of the places. And most of the time it's because Kid doesn't realize he can't use his power to make life easier. God, he's so lazy. But I foresee you not saying anything so I guess I can deal." He looked past me into the distance, like he wasn't focussing on anything. Edice curled his lip up into a smile. "Okay, I forgive you. We're going to be friends soon."
The high pitched screech from the school bell rang for class, and I didn't even get to finish my Jell-O.
Edice got up to leave. "Oh and watch out for high places. You're a bit clumsy..."
I kept that in mind while walking to chemistry. Did he see me falling off a cliff or something? Like that was going to happen. I hated heights. I mean it's not like I'm afraid of falling down the stairs since there is a railing to save my life, but being on a window sill only moments away from plummeting to my inevitable doom was another story.
Walking into chemistry was more refreshing than my other classes. Probably because that mosquito of a stalker that attended my other two classes was nowhere in sight. Not because there was some 'pirate' squatting in the seat beside mine. Hair dancing in the fan's breeze, red hoodie draped over his shoulders. The sun I guess made even him uncomfortable with that heavy as hell jacket.
Kidward was resting his arm on the desk staring into space. The sun shining through the window glinted off his yellow goggles and warming his face. The sight was strangely heartwarming. I mean when met in a storm I'm sure he would look threatening, however under the rays of the sun and still confined within a learning facility, Kid looked oddly in place. 'And so the stone cold rock blushed...' Not really. I kept my composure and tripped over some chick's pencil before flying into my seat. Totally composed. Kid cocked his head at me.
"Hey," I greeted him while trying to forget the ass I had become. "So I finally met Edice. So why did you lock him out of the shi - house?"
"I didn't want ... the others to intrude? Scare! Yes, I didn't want my family to scare you." He straighted his posture as if proud of his lame ass excuse.
I raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Sure."
"What's that supposed to mean? You think I have never had a woman over and got self-conscience? No way. Women flock towards me. I'm like a babe magnet."
I opened my text book to bury my face and stiffle a laugh.
"Quit your laughing. You don't know what I can and cannot do. You don't even know." He glared.
I smirked. "I'm sure you can make any girl head of heels for you. It just might take awhile, and some date rape may be needed."
Kidward scowled. It was a quiet class. I got the silent treatment for those full 180 minutes. If only Mr. Persic and his lovely Juliann would have caught on instead of babble about the wonders of carbon.
After class I figured I'd do what I'd usually did and drive home, grumble at my father's indecency and attempt to get Mr. Pirllen out of my head. Unfortunately, some people didn't think that was acceptable. I slammed my locker shut and was greeted with an angry face glaring at me. I sighed and put my jacket on.
"What do you want now? Still ignoring me?"
Kidward didn't say anything, just grabbed me by the arm once again and tried to drag me off to God knows where. I ripped my limb away.
"Not this time," I stated. "At least not until you tell me where I'm going."
He sighed and tackled my legs. Kid threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and marched towards the parking lot.
"Put me down!" I wailed, kicking my feet in the air. The students in the hallway getting ready to leave gave us weird looks. I guess they had never seen an abduction before. Kid kicked open the door and waltzed across the parking lot to his red Ferrari, still holding me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing.
"Put me down, now!" I demanded.
"Not a chance. Not until you admit that I am a ladies man." He threw me once again into the front seat of his car. This seemed like a repeated thing, me being dragged off into the distance. It was scary to think a burgular could break into my shitty house and stash me out the window and I wouldn't be able to retaliate. Then again, this guy was like a Chuck Norris in the making.
"Fine then." I crossed my arms and slumped back into the seat. "You're a lady killer. Women flock to you. A chick magnet. A ... giggilo."
"Wo wo. That's too far." He playfully punched me in the shoulder. 'Playfully' meaning a bruise was definitely going to make an appearance, but my bones did not shatter.
I rubbed the sore spot, and scowled. Man, did he have muscle. His sex must be violet ... not that I ever fantasized about him in bed. I mentally facepalmed. It's only been roughly 2 weeks and already I was envisioning my first time with a brutish ogre with ... dazzling brown eyes, on the verge of ecstasy, and his flaming hair soaked in sweat. My eyes bulged in surprise at my thoughts. Bad Meg, bad.
"Mm. So where are we heading to this time?" I asked trying to distract my virgin mind, but it was so difficult. In my head there was just so much Kidward. A chiseled face looking down on me. Unmentionables in all their glory. Why? I mean we only talk everyday. Three hours that never seemed long enough. That didn't help. It's not like he had ever hinted to liking me either. Only grunts, short answers, coarse answers if I don't mind my words. He was just some guy with anger issues, and an S odd family /S very odd family. Yet the fantasies would not surrender to clean thoughts.
Kidward kept his eyes on the road and didn't reply. I sighed loudly and turned on the radio. Justin Bieber blasted through the maxed out speakers. I frantically pressed buttons, turned knobs, anything to make the prepubescent child stop his horrid singing. Giving up trying to switch channels, I pressed the off button and sighed again. Some cars had way too many dials. I swear I saw Kid smirk at my frustration. But still saw no reasons to speak. All I could so was wait for the 'magic' to happen. Magic meaning the car rolling to a stop so I can see where my shackles would take me.
It wasn't long before we pulled into a gravel parking lot. Only a tiny white Chrysler populated the lot. I hopped out and slammed the red door.
"Welcome to a woman's paradise." Kidward exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air as if advertising the place.
I looked around. "And where exactly is this paradise?"
Now this time I know he smirked. He grabbed my hand, probably not even realizing it, and pulled me behind a row of trees. My cheeks began to turn cherry. He wasn't going to kiss me in the forest was he? I wasn't ready for that. I'll never be ready for that.
"Kid I don't think -" but before I finished, a child's laughter broke through my panic. It was then that I took in my surroundings. Behind the trees and scrubberies, was acres of sand. For a small town like Sporks the park was huge. It even had those animals on springs. I laughed and dashed over to the bouncy things. Kid slowly walked over as well. His army boots making him sink quickly. I jumped onto the duck and lunged myself forward.
" Oh man, this brings back memories." My hair blew in the wind as I rocked back and forth. "When I lived in Miami, I used to rock on this little red pig every time my mom and I fought. We never really got along. And since our condo faced the beach, and there was a playground near by, it was practically my home away from home. They must have built this park after I moved, I don't remember anything remotely fun being here."
Kidward crossed his arms and sat on the cow beside me, not straddling it. I guess he was too cool for that.
"What did I tell you? A girl's dream."
"So what's the secret behind this scheme? Does the park 'rejuvenate' the soul or something? Make you seem more ... mature or childish in your case. You seem like you have a stick up your ass." I smiled faintly.
Kid glared. "Oh please. I can be childish too."
To demonstrate he threw his leg over the metal cow and grabbed the handles, putting all of his strength into the momentum of the spring. It was a sight to see. Hair flopping from one side to the other, the tassels also swaying in the freeze from his speed. However, it wasn't long before the ride gave out under his weight and flipped him off into the sand pit. His goggles landed by my yellow ducky. Laughing at his state I bent over to pick up his lenses, only to fall as well and toss in the sand. I just couldn't seem to catch my breath. I grabbed the goggles and placed them on my face, still hysterically giggling.
"H-how do I l-look?" I took a deep breath. Steady, calm. Kid sat up and brushed off his hood. Sand fell from the pouch in mounds.
"I think they look better on me," and with that yanked them off my head. He stood up and ruffled his hair. "Man that hurt."
"I thought it was pretty ... childish." I stiffled a laugh. "At least the stick's gone."
"Yeah, yeah." Kid dusted off his ass. "So what next?"
I glanced around the playground in search of something else to entertain myself with.
"That swing set looks fun. You can push me." I skipped over to the swings and plopped into a seat, waiting for him to begin his labour.
I didn't even hear him come up behind me. Just out of the blue I felt warm hands caress my back. Okay caress may not be the term. " 'Gently' touch my back" enough so my swing skyrocketed into the air, but my butt stayed glued to the seat. I pumped my legs like what kids used to do when daddy pushed them. I felt like a bird. Flying into the deep blue, soaring through marshmallow clouds then diving back down to get a scoop of water from the pond. And every cycle I would be warmed up by my lover on the edge of the pond. Waiting patiently for my return.
"You know," I yelled, airbourne. "It feels like we're on a date." As I came down from the flight to graze the water, warm hands did not greet me. I raked my feet through the sand to stop the swing. I looked behind me to see a stunned Kidward. His eyes a bit wider than usual, a frown a bit lower, and 'eyebrows' a bit more drooped. He looked ... surprised.
"This is so not a date." He insisted. From the expression he made I'd suspect he never actually had been on a date before. That relieved me. Then were both on the same boat. Back in Miami, I never made friends let alone met a guy my unemotional heart could stand. Although there was this one kid. My dad used to invite him over when we still lived in Sporks. No idea what his name was. All I remember was his animated face whenever he talked about swords. Swords and food.
I smiled and began to pump my legs again. For a friend virgin I sure had a lot of confidence. Perhaps only because Kidward Pirllen seemed like the extra virgin to my original. His presence was strangely comfortable too. Like I could be myself, or at least the self that wasn't weighted down by disappointing parents, or shitty weather, or messed up adults who actually get paid to teach high school students with puppets.
"Kid, push me higher," I yelled at him from the peak of the continuous pendulum. "Please?" I added when I got no response.
"This is not a date," he repeated. "Not a date ..."
It was like a chant he kept echoing, kept telling himself. I subconsciously hoped it was because he was too innocent to take it as much. Innocent didn't seem to suit his character, but it was definitely accurate.
"Okay, fine. Not a date. More like a "Best-Friends-Hanging-Out-At-A-Park-Like-We're-Ten" play date. Does that sound better?" The pressure from his hands every time I swung back lessened.
"Best friends, huh?" Kidward said, almost to himself. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, play date."
I felt relief wash over him and his strength shot up through my back as he pushed me higher. A bit too strong because instead of going airborne with a plastic slate underneath my ass, I was greeted with sand in my mouth, cheek smashed against a stranger's very white sneaker.
"I am so sorry," I stuttered, brushing off my pants. "I didn't think I'd fly that – far..."
I looked up only to be face to face with the kid. That kid. The little boy that used to wave his swords around like he was in a parade or something. The green spiky hair still green. Swords still glued to his hips. Only this time, there were three. His tight black pants were dusty around the bottom, probably from my fall if not from the pit of sand itself. His shirt was bleach white, collar popped up and unbuttoned.
"Hey it's no biggy ... Do I know you?" He quirked an eyebrow and stared at my face. It was a hardcore stare down on his part. Dissecting me with his eyes.
I scratched my head and laughed, awkwardly. "Uh yeah. My dad used to invite you over all the time when we were like 6. You would flail your swords around going on about how you loved food et cetera."
"OH! Meg. Meg Grey right?" he exclaimed and wrapped his arms around me. "God it's been so long. How are your parents? You know I finally got a boyfriend. He's a little on the serious side, but he's a great catch."
He sure hadn't changed. Went from cold cutlasses to rock-hard lances. Even since we were kids I knew there was something not 'straight' about him. You could probably say he was a tad bit too 'curved' for my liking. Even after 10 years he was the same flamboyant, 'Gotta tell everyone', kind of guy. He would flirt down a robber I'm sure.
"That's ... great? Good for you." I shifted my weight and looked gloomily at the sand box.
He threw his muscular arm over my shoulder and whispered in my ear. "So who's the hotty over by the swing? I think he's giving me a dirty look."
I looked over toward Kid. He was indeed giving us a dirty look. It was a murderous glare to be more accurate and that barrel of fun began stomping over here. I gently pushed the boy away and blushed.
"Who's this?" Kid growled.
"Oh Kidward, this is ..." My hand froze in midair. I never got his name.
"Zoro." He stuck his hand out ready to shake Kid's, but was left hanging. Only a scowl was met. "Okay then. Well it was nice seeing you again, Meg." He kissed my cheeks like any other gay man would and sauntered away. I pivoted towards Kidward and smiled, nervously.
"It's not what you think. He was an old friend my dad used to bring over because his parents were never around."
"Then why the hell were you two kissing and hugging and being all lovey-dovey?" Man, did he sound jealous. That thought made my heart leap. Maybe he really did like me, just couldn't seem to put it into words.
I crossed my arms and smirked. "You're only jealous because you didn't get a hug."
The ginger opened his mouth to say something, but quickly shut it. Glares continued and finally he spoke.
"I wasn't jealous." He muttered.
I sighed. "Kidward, even though I have only been in this town for," I looked at my watch. "12 days, 63 minutes and 48 seconds you are most definitely the person I'm closest to. Which entitles you to BFF status. As a friend you must suck it up. No man gets jealous over a gay man!"
"Gay ..." Kid recited.
I nodded. "Yes gay. You know, the kind of guy that doesn't want a woman to feast upon? Besides," I blushed deeply. "I go for the redheads that wear dorky eyewear."
"Oh please. That Ethan Yorkie is not someone who should ever be with a woman. Creepy as fu-"
"Not Ethan! You!" Was he so oblivious that he never noticed my tomato faces or my stuttering when I make an ass of myself in front of him? "I like ...you. You're oblivious! You're angry all the time! Sarcastic during class! Just generally not a happy guy! But for some reason when ... when you look at me, I get butterflies."
I had to walk away. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I couldn't believe I just confessed. I felt so dirty. I hadn't been in the city for a month and already I wanted into someone's pants... well head at least. I was no better than those girls oozing over their idols. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. I paced over to the double-slide and sat at the top. By now the sun was setting. The perfect setting for a lovers' stroll on the beach. The rays grew from yellow to red and grazed the giant rock while poking out of the branches of the trees.
It was probably time to head home, but I didn't feel like facing Kidward. Instead I exhaled deeply and laid on the cold steel landing of the slide. Closing my eyes, I focussed on the rustling of the leaves in the distance. Mixed with the melody of the leaves was the faint sound of footsteps. In response, the slide shook. It wasn't long before a face blocked the gentle rays of the setting sun.
"Boo," He said quietly, voice husky. Kidward leaned over the top step to gaze at my face. The draw-string of his sweater tickling my face.
I half-smiled. "Hey." It felt awkward, but I couldn't stop admiring his face. His nose may have been a little too sharp, skin too pale, but he still looked stunning under the fading sunlight.
Kid took the remaining steps and sat in the slide beside me, ruffling his hair in discomfort. My silence didn't help the situation.
"GAH! I'm not good at these things!" Kid finally exploded."Truth is I suck. Never won a girl before. Never even scored a goddamn date before. Whether it was my perfect muscular build," I giggled. "Or my inability to smile, everyone kind of ran away from me." He shrugged.
I rolled onto my side and stared up at him while leaning on my arm. "I think your angry stares are an endearing character trait. And it's not like you go around punching babies or something."
"Still, your the first girl I ever brought to my house. Don't know what came over me." He cleared his throat. "You're just ... different. "
His brown eyes glistened in the approaching moon light. I leaned towards his chiseled face and closed my eyes. Just one graze across his lips and I would be complete. Kid twisted towards me and lightly pecked my forehead. Not what I had in mind, but just the contact made my heart flutter.
"We uuh should head back. It's getting late." He grunted. His cheeks pinkened and I couldn't help but smile at his embarrassment.
I nodded and slid down the metal slope. All my worries escaped me, flying by as I flew down. The walk to the car had me subtly trying to grab his hand, but every time we brushed he'd take a step to the side and deflect it. The ride home was awkward. I smiled like an idiot out the window watching the trees zoom by while Kid kept his vision glued to the road. As we pulled into my driveway I saw my neon yet again already there after I was positive it was abandoned at school.
"So I take it Edice foresees everything you think of and hot wires my car home when you abduct me huh?" What a considerate guy. He was definitely right about us being friends. "Well uhmm ... Good night." I opened the car door, a bit too quickly, not expecting a good night kiss like they did in the movies. I knew Kidward wouldn't be ready for it.
Kid grunted a good night and pulled out after I shut the door. I waved from my front porch before heading inside. As I walked to my stairway I caught a glimpse of my father in his purple briefs filing his toe nails on the coffee table. Don't ask me why but the sound of a nail being scraped across a file is like grating a baby with a cheese grater, unnerving and just plain unpleasant. However tonight it did not phase me. I simply walked upstairs, took a quick shower and fell asleep thinking of all the things Kidward and I would do once he admitted he couldn't live without me. Edice would tell me when that day came, I was sure.
