Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter fifty-three of "Not Here." I'm glad it took just five days to get out. It's looking very likely that Zack, Trini, and Kim will make their first appearances in the chapter after the next one. I can't wait to do that. This chapter has a bit of Leo/Kendrix. Stay tuned for chapter fifty-four.
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Chapter 53: Being Kind and Caring
Burger King was somewhat busy in the mid-afternoon. Leo was waiting at the second of four cash registers for his and Kendrix's small strawberry smoothies. Screaming caught his attention, and he gazed at a boy stomping his feet. The boy's mother tried to get him to stop without success. Leo looked away, his body turning a little tense. He heard a tongue click twice and looked over his shoulder at a middle-aged woman.
"Talk about a bratty kid, huh?" the woman asked.
"Unfortunately," Leo agreed with a nervous chuckle. "My parents would've taken me out of the building if my brother and I acted like that."
"So would have mine," the woman commented and scoffed to myself. "Kids don't know how to behave these days. I've seen a number of them run wild in a supermarket. Their parents do nothing to stop them."
Leo showed sympathy. "It's not just young mothers. Older mothers seem to have lost control of their kids too."
The woman nodded at him. "I agree. It's like the world has gone crazy with children defying authority at every turn."
"I believe it's because parents are more lenient with their children. They'd rather be their friends than teach them responsibility. They think discipline suppresses their creativity and imagination," Leo whispered, swallowing hard.
"You shouldn't let that discourage you from having kids when you're older," she said gently. "All it takes is a little common sense to keep them in line." She winked at him.
"That's true," he said while nodding slowly. "Do you have kids?"
"I don't, but plenty of my friends do," the woman answered honestly. "They have always been well-behaved. Of course, even the most well-behaved children act out." She smiled lightly. "It's in their nature to make mischief occasionally."
"I honestly believe some children can't help but make trouble," Leo commented, scratching the back of his neck. "I know several people who were like that as kids."
"Me too," the woman answered. "The good news is many mischievous kids grow up to be very mature adults."
"Yep," Leo said and laughed quietly. "Anyway, I better turn my attention back to the register before I realize my and my friend's smoothies are here."
"Sure," the woman said, giving a thumbs-up.
Leo shifted his attention back to the register. He rubbed his hands together, showing a bit of eagerness. Just then, a cashier approached him with two small cups and straws.
"Here are your drinks," the cashier said and handed the items to Leo. "I didn't mean for it to take so long."
"It's all right," Leo answered with much sympathy. "You can't be at two places at the same time."
"Unfortunately, some people think someone should be able to do so many things at once," the cashier mumbled and cringed somewhat.
"Not me," Leo said truthfully. "All I want is people to do their best on any task given." He smiled.
"That's good," the cashier commented. "Well, I hope you and your friend enjoy your smoothies."
"I have no doubt we will," Leo replied, chuckling to himself. "Thanks for making them. Have a good day."
"You too," the cashier said.
Leo headed toward the back of the restaurant, where Kendrix was seated at a booth. He sat across from her, setting the smoothies on the table. He gave her a straw.
"I didn't mean for it to take so long, Kendrix," Leo said guiltily.
"I don't mind waiting," Kendrix responded in a warm voice. "After all, good things come to those who wait."
Leo let out a sharp exhale. "That may be true, but some people are so impatient that it isn't funny." He rolled his eyes.
"No shit. My parents actually thought Erica was cute when she got impatient while we waited to be seated at a restaurant. If I acted that way, they were on me like bats out of hell," Kendrix muttered as they got their straws into their cups.
"Your parents were hypocrites to get on you for doing something wrong, yet they were fine with your sister doing the same," Leo said bluntly.
"I often pointed out their hypocrisy. They justified it by saying that Erica was a perfect little angel who had the right to do whatever she pleased," Kendrix hissed, appearing as if she were about to vomit.
"That included tormenting you," Leo whispered sadly.
Kendrix nodded at him. "Unfortunately."
Kendrix looked down, a sniffle escaping her mouth. Leo reached over and touched her hand. He rubbed it so lightly that it seemed he wasn't even touching it. She looked into his eyes.
"We can't choose our family members, but we can choose our friends," Leo whispered very gently.
"Oh, yes," Kendrix replied, nodding slowly. "I feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends. It's because of Cassie that I'm not lonely anymore." She formed a small smile on her face.
"Yeah. Cassie is a great girl. She looks delicate, but she is very tough," Leo commented.
"She handled Tara so well not once but twice. Both times were in the cafeteria," Kendrix said, snickering as she remembered Tara's getting sent to detention those two times.
"It was also funny watching her trip and fall flat on her face due to her shoelaces being tied together earlier today," Leo said, laughing as he took his hand away from her.
"All thanks to Zhane. Perhaps he, Andros, or Karone will undo a troublemaker's belt and cause their pants to fall down," Kendrix said, smiling as an image of Brian, Bianca, or Tara's pants falling down played in her mind.
"I'd love to see what they are wearing underneath their pants," Leo said and snickered to himself. "It's probably very unflattering."
Kendrix giggled while tightening her ponytail. She and Leo sipped their smoothies. They nodded in approval after they finished.
"There's nothing like a good Burger King strawberry smoothie," she commented.
"For sure," he agreed and smacked his lips. "The best part is the strawberries. They are out of this world."
She ran her tongue over her teeth. "Of course, you can't have too many strawberries."
He chuckled. "Nope. Then again, strawberries are cute like you are."
She blushed as red as a cherry. She tried hiding her face behind her hands, but it was to no avail. He laughed and shook his head while crossing his arms.
"Kendrix, I didn't mean for you to blush!" Leo blurted out.
"I can't help it when you say flattering things about me!" Kendrix shouted, the redness fading from her face.
"Well, you deserve it. You're one of the nicest girls I've ever met," Leo said with pride.
"Oh, you!" Kendrix growled playfully and placed her hands on the table. "Anyway, thanks for inviting me to come here with you. I wish your brother and his girlfriend could be with us." She sighed sadly.
"So do I, but they are attending their afternoon classes," Leo muttered, propping his head up with his elbow. "I can't call them and ask them to skip their classes, so we can get together. It's not right."
Kendrix sipped more of her smoothie. "At least they know about what Johnny did this morning."
"Mike gasped in shock when I told him about it over the phone just before I went to lunch. I heard Maya gasp as well," Leo responded seriously. "They didn't want to believe anyone would be stupid enough to bring a weapon on school property." His body tensed up somewhat. "It's times like this I'm glad I know their college schedules."
"If my parents were alive, I could see them making excuses if Erica had brought a weapon onto school property. They'd probably claim she didn't even know she brought it with her when she really did," Kendrix growled angrily.
Leo moved his straw up and down three times. "Talk about crazy."
"You said it. Erica always blames me when she loses friends she's made, but I don't care. She can kiss my ass for all I care," she said in a blunt manner.
"You might as well shout that out. Of course, people would stare at you if you did," he answered and snickered to himself.
"Let them stare. I'm not afraid of that bitch anymore," Kendrix said with much pride.
Leo gave his friend a thumbs-up, getting a giggle from her. They took small sips of their smoothies. They smacked their lips three times.
"Hey, is that Dennis Quaid down there?" Leo asked, looking over Kendrix's shoulder.
"Where?" Kendrix said, becoming excited and peered over her shoulder. She was unaware he was reaching for her straw. She became disappointed when she didn't see the actor. She turned back to see him holding it. She felt her jaw drop. "Hey, I can't believe you did that!"
"Gotcha!" Leo said and laughed delightfully. "For someone so smart, you seem to be rather gullible." He handed her the straw.
"Hey, I can't help it when someone mentions my favorite celebrities," Kendrix said, clearing her throat. "By the way, do you want to have a sword fight with our straws?"
"I say bring it on," Leo answered, grabbing his straw. "I will beat you. You can count on it." He smirked.
"Yeah, right," Kendrix retorted sarcastically.
The duo started having a sword fight with their straws. Leo swung his straw at Kendrix, missing when she pulled back. She poked his hand with hers. He retaliated by hitting her arm with his. They crossed their straws and resumed their play fight. They grunted and growled in a playful manner while staring each other down.
She hissed softly and gave his arm a gentle poke, only to get one from him in hers in retaliation. She poked him again, but it was on the hand this time. He made a determined face and swung his straw around, knocking hers out of her hand. He chuckled in victory as he pointed it at her, and she raised her hands in surrender.
"All right, you got me. I surrender," Kendrix announced.
"Good. Remember that I will always win," Leo said smugly as she grabbed her straw.
"Don't get smug," Kendrix warned sternly. They returned their straws to their cups. "You'll get bitten on the ass when you least expect it."
Leo narrowed his eyes at her. "I think that will happen to you first."
Kendrix laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, right."
He mouthed her words in a mocking manner. She stuck her tongue out at him, and he mimicked her with his. They pulled them back into their mouths.
"I have to admit that I am looking forward to the birth of Andros and Ashley's twins," Kendrix said in a warm voice.
"I know what you mean. It makes me wonder if they will choose godparents for them," Leo said thoughtfully.
She cupped her chin in her hand. "That's a nice thought. If something happens to Andros and Ashley, then their children will have someone to look after them."
"The question is who they would choose to be godparents," he commented curiously.
"Beats me," she replied, shrugging.
"I have no doubt Andros will be working hard at the Surf Spot this afternoon," Leo whispered honestly.
"Oh, yeah," Kendrix agreed. "I'm glad Adelle doesn't work him like a dog. Some bosses do that to their employees, especially teens." She scoffed. "Just because young workers have more energy than older workers do doesn't mean they have it all the time."
He let out a small yawn. "What's worse is some bosses will fire you for no reason at all. They won't tell you why, no matter how many times you ask."
"Some people get hired based on their looks, not their experience. It's true attractive people make more money, but beauty doesn't equal better ability," Kendrix pointed out in seriousness.
"You said it," Leo said matter-of-factly. "I wish I had been there to see the unhappy looks on the faces of the Surf Spot's new employees when they learned Andros got a few extra days off. I would've told them he deserved time off due to the bullies and that they need to get over it."
"Me too. By the way, I am thinking of ditching these glasses and getting contacts to wear," Kendrix said, removing her glasses.
Leo raised his eyebrows. "Really?"
"Yeah," Kendrix answered with a nod. "I need to talk to my uncle about it. I'm sure he will like the idea." She put them back on.
"I'm sure he will too. You look pretty with glasses, but you will look even prettier without them," Leo said, warmth echoing from his voice.
Kendrix giggled lightly. "Thank you."
"Promise me one thing, Kendrix. Don't ever lose your beauty," Leo said softly.
"I won't," Kendrix whispered, a tear falling down her cheek. They started talking about their upcoming exams.
