A/N: Like the title? It's a strategy Kendi uses to be allowed to go to the rehearsal at Cam's house again. Ever tried it? I haven't. Yet. Well, anyways, what happens when Cameron asks Kendi about her cutting? Guess you'll just have to find out.
Valencia and Kapri: Why aren't we in this
chapter?
RL1110: (Ignores question) Will you two leave?
I've got other things to do here!
Valencia and Kapri: (scowl at RL1110)
RL1110: (scowls back)
Kendi: Staring contest?
RL1110: The preps are being whiny again.
Kendi: I think you got other things to worry
about. Like the chapter that still needs to be written?
RL1110: Oh, yeah. Thanks for reminding me. On
with the story now.
Disclaimer: By now you should know what should be written here.
Kendi's POV
When I get home, I immediately ask my Mom if I can go to Cam's house tomorrow.
"Sure, sweetie," she says. Obviously, Dad hasn't told her about Cam yet. Might as well keep it that way.
Later that night, Mom mentions the rehearsal at the dinner table.
"So, Kendi, how are the rehearsals going?"
"Fine," I say.
"Are you getting along with the boys?"
"Yeah. They let me join the band, you know."
"What's the band's name?"
"Residents of Mangled City." Mom looks at me like I'm joking.
"That's an original name," she says.
"Cam thought of it," I said.
Dad arrives a few minutes late.
"Hi, Dad," I say. I have already finished my plate of spaghetti.
"Hello, Pony," Mom says. I used to smirk a lot whenever Mom called him "Pony." Now I'm used to it. "Pony, Kendi has another rehearsal tomorrow. Do you think you can pick her up again?"
Dad looks at me incredulously.
"Kendi, didn't I tell you that I wasn't sure about letting you go to that boy's house?" he said. Oops. I forgot about that. (Not really)
"Why do you have a problem with letting Kendi go to this boy's house? You were fine with it the last few times," Mom said. Dad hadn't told her about Cameron yet.
"That boy was in that fight at the park that I told you about," Dad said.
"The one that happened last Thursday?"
"Yes."
"His name's Cameron if anybody was curious," I said knowing that they weren't paying attention.
"What did the boy say when he saw you?" Mom asked.
"He apologized."
"So, maybe he really is sorry for it. You could at least give him a chance," Mom said.
"Cherry, how do you know this boy won't do something to hurt Kendi?"
"His name's Cameron," I say again. No one listens.
"Pony, you're being silly. If Kendi trusts him, could he really hurt her? You said it yourself that Kendi usually has good judgment."
"Usually. Not always." Um… does anyone notice I'm right here? Listening to every word?
"Dad, Cam's not a bad guy. He really isn't. Please just give him a chance," I say not expecting anyone to listen.
"Pony, I think you should try and listen to Kendi. After all, she knows this boy better than both of us." Finally, someone listens to me!
"Are you sure about this boy, Kendi?" Dad asks me. I nod my head.
"Ponyboy, maybe you really should give Cameron a chance. Kendi wouldn't defend him against you if she knew he was no good." Mom and I put up puppy dog faces for Dad. I make my eyes extra wide and innocent.
Dad gives in. "Alright, alright. You can go Kendi. But I'm giving him one last chance. Only one." I jump up and hug Dad.
"Thank you thank you thank you, Daddy!" I say. He just hugs me back.
"You're welcome, Kendi. Just don't make me regret this," he says. Well, that's uplifting. Anyways, Cameron couldn't get in any more trouble. Could he? It occurs to me that I haven't known Cam that long. But that won't matter. I can tell he's not bad.
Cameron's POVI definitely do not feel like going home and waiting for Dan to come. But if I go over to Rawley's house, I would have to call Dan to let him know to pick me up. I would have to talk to him. You know what, I doubt I wanna do that. So I go home and wait for my brothers to show up. Rodney's at his job at the food court. Rawley had some after school stuff going on so I'm home alone. Unless, of course, you count the intoxicated oaf upstairs, a.k.a. my dad. I'm not really supposed to be home alone with Dad. If we start fighting, there would be no one to stop us.
My cell phone rings. I gotta start remembering to turn this thing off. It's only a simple ringtone, no music tones or anything special. I hear a moan upstairs and I pray that Dad doesn't wake up before Rod gets here.
"Hello?" I say.
"Hello, it's Kendi," the other voice says.
"Oh, hey Kendi," I say.
"Hi." Silence. Have we already run out of things to talk about?
"Well, I just wanted to let you know that my dad said it's okay for me to go to the rehearsal tomorrow."
"That's great," I say. More silence.
"So, tomorrow after school?"
"Yeah." I want to say something else. I can't bring myself to though.
"Well, see you tomorrow."
"Wait, can I ask you something?" I knew what I wanted to say.
"What?"
"Why do you cut?" This question had been bothering me ever since I saw those scars on her arm. Was she okay? Was there anything wrong? Was her family as messed up as mine?
"I thought you'd already figured that out," she said. Was she serious?
"What do you mean?"
"I told you… about… Dana," she said. The last words come out slowly as if it were painful to say them.
"That's why you cut? 'Cause your friend did?"
"No, it's… I can't really explain it."
"You don't know?"
"I guess."
"Why don't you stop then?"
"I can't."
"What do you mean you can't?"
"I just can't." It sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you. I was just wondering."
"It's okay. I'm fine."
"Well, if you don't want to tell me then it's okay. See you tomorrow."
"See you." I shut my cell phone and immediately turn it off. What did she mean by she can't? Was she addicted? Can cutting be addicting? Should I let someone know? No, I can't do that. I already promised I wouldn't. Still, I couldn't help that there may be something else going through Kendi's head other than someone else's suicide.
Is she dying, too?
A/N: I know it took a long time and that this chapter is really short. I didn't mean for it to be but I'd been busy (Carly, you know what I mean). Anyways, I promise that I'll try and write a longer chapter next time. Review please, 'cause I would so appreciate it if you did.
Maya: I'm not in this chapter either.
Roxie: Neither am I. Get over it.
Maya: RL1110 needs to get over that writer's
block of hers.
RL1110: I don't have writer's block. I just
have no idea how to continue the story at the moment.
Maya: Right. Why don't you just send
everybody to the shrink? All the characters here are pretty insane if
you ask me.
RL1110: (idea pops into her head) Hey, I just got a
great idea! (opens notebook and starts writing)
Roxie: Hey what is it?
Maya: Yeah, tell us!
(RL1110 is too absorbed in her writing to
respond)
Maya: Hey don't
send me to the shrink!