I went to church with Lucas on Sunday, the week after KC had that wedding date with that Derrick. KC didn't show up. She always shows up. Maya told me she was going on another date with him yesterday. She told me they were official now, so they're actually dating now. I found out he's a senior.

I decided to text Maya after church was over.

Hey, is KC okay? She didn't show up for church.

Oh, yeah. She came in late last night. She fell asleep in Derrick's car. She's still asleep.

Oh, okay. Just wanted to make sure.

I put my phone away and walked with Lucas to his truck. His mom went in her own car.

"Want to go to brunch with us?" Lucas asked me.

"Sure," I said.

We went to IHOP for brunch. We sat down when Lucas spoke up.

"So, how's KC?"

"I was wondering the same thing," his mom observed. "She never misses church."

"Maya said she fell asleep in her boyfriend's car last night," I informed them. "She's still asleep, I guess."

I got a text. I saw it was from Maya. I told them what it said. Lucas' mom started drinking her iced tea, while I talked.

"Maya said that KC's awake, now," I said. "I guess, she fell asleep during the movie they were watching at a drive-in."

Lucas' mom started coughing after she swallowed wrong. She cleared her throat.

"Did you say a drive-in?" She asked with concern.

"Yeah," I confirmed. "What's wrong?"

"It's just that…" She started, "when a guy takes a girl to a drive-in, he usually has ulterior motives."

Lucas' face suddenly wore a similar look as his mother's.

"Text Maya, now," Lucas ordered me. "Ask her if he tried anything."

I texted her.

"She said that KC said nothing happened," I told them.

"Good," his mom said.

"She told me he's a gentleman," I told them. "I've never heard her lie."

"She used to have a track record," Lucas said.

"What do you mean?" I questioned him.

"She'd lie to us all the time about her father hurting her," he told me.

"She didn't lie," she stated. "She just wasn't honest with us. She never said he didn't hit her… she just took a while to tell us about it. There's a difference."

"She definitely told you he's a gentleman?" Lucas questioned me, hopefully.

"Yeah," I responded.

"Then I'll take her word for it," Lucas said, nodding to himself.

The next Wednesday, October 11th, KC kept looking at her phone, and Mr. Jackson told her to put it away. She started painting with black. I didn't realize I was staring at her until she questioned me, silently. Marley told me after class that she put it on Do Not Disturb.

That night, KC texted our group chat.

KC: Hey guys.

Me: Hey

Riley: Hey

Marley: Heya

Lucas: Hey, what's up?

KC: Just wanted to talk to you guys.

We continued texting until about midnight about art class what we painted that day. Riley stayed on since she was interested. KC was the only one that didn't mention what her painting was about.

The morning after, KC, Riley, Maya and I got on the Subway.

"So what do you think Mr. Jackson is going to have us do today?" I asked.

"I have no idea," KC said.

"So, why didn't you go with Derrick today?" Riley asked her.

"I just… didn't," she said.

"Wait, didn't you say you were going to Albany with him yesterday?" Maya confusingly questioned her.

"Yeah," she said. "I changed my mind."

"Oh okay," Maya said.

"Why were you staring at me yesterday?" KC questioned, directing her attention to me.

Riley and Maya raised their eyebrows at me.

"Oh, I just noticed you were painting with black," I replied. "I didn't realize I was staring."

"Okay, it was just weird," she said.

When we got to art class, KC sat down in her seat. We started sketching our fondest memories. Mine was meeting Riley and Maya. KC's phone started ringing. She rejected the call immediately. I saw her turn off her phone and gave it to Mr. Jackson when he told her to, seemingly relieved.

At the end of the day, I saw KC leave with Derrick after theater class after he grabbed her arm while she was leaving the auditorium.

The next Wednesday, October 18th, after lunch, I was passing the bathrooms on my way to my math class and I heard someone throwing up in the girls' bathroom. I figured it was just someone that was sick. I started walking again, then I heard the bathroom door close. I turned around and saw KC walking in the same direction as me.

"You okay, KC?" I asked her, concerned.

"Yeah, I just got a stomachache," she said.

I nodded. I had no reason to dismiss her words.

We walked to class together.