Chapter 3: Estudiar (story collaboration between xxrikachan and chibi-suke07)

The rain fell from the sky of morbid, pastel colors. My feet sloshed in the mud and on the wet pavement of the sidewalk, heavy messenger bag hitting my left hip every chance it got. Classmates' and students' cars alike passed my pitiful walking. But I can't drive; hell, I'm only 14.

Nicole told me before she left she was going with her newfound guy friend from Spanish to get some burgers and bring some for me. I thought, how nice, but then again, I'd feel a lot better about walking in the rain if she were here.

We both love the rain.

It's just I have a history of turning melancholic from it.

Hopeless.

Deprived of humanity.

Nicole never told anyone what happened in the rain to make us love it so much. We liked it before, but it all changed when she found me. I mean, I'm a pretty shy and timid kid. I only stand out when I have a feel of the area and my situation; if I stick my feet in the water.

About two years ago, I ran away from home.

Mom didn't believe me when I told her my stepdad was hitting me.

She blamed it on the fights at school I was having.

She called me names that she knew weren't true but said them anyway to hurt me.

She twisted a blade in wounds of a broken teen.

Both of my said fathers were evil, and they both had beaten me.

I didn't even pack that day, I screamed at my Mom, telling I loved her before walking out.

For a couple of weeks, I starved on the street. There was no way I would let myself go into prostitution, honestly. I didn't have the body or the mindset that attracted men. So every now and then, I'd help around in different shops, earning the food I made, living in an almost decent environment, until I messed up big time at a superstore.

I sat outside on the curb, bawling my eyes out. A customer had me fired.

"Hey! Keili!!" She called out, crying.

I was wondering why she was, but I didn't get a chance to before she screamed at me.

"Don't you ever leave without telling me!" She shrieked, shaking me. "That SCARED me! Why did you run away, huh? Why?!"

"Nicole, that man was hitting me and my mom didn't even believe it! What did you WANT me to do?!"

"To talk to me," she swallowed hard, "to stay at my house, not run away to go live in a store! I thought we were friends…"

It was my turn to cry, and she hugged me as I bawled like a baby some more, "She didn't believe anything I said!! I left without a word, because she would think I went to your house and ask for me back! That man was hitting me, and she knew but she called me names—tell me, Nicole, what was I gonna do?!"

"Girl, if you have a problem—we're friends, you come to me and me only! If you would've told me, we would've planned this out first, so you wouldn't have had to live on the streets." She sniffled; most of the crying was over. "…I had too much fun having you over at my house for ten gallon ice cream nights…"

"Wow…how long ago has that been?"

"A while…" she laughed, and so did I. "Hey…if you want, my brother can ask to adopt you. Would you like that?"

Her brother was her only family left, what with her dad walking out after her mother died.

I nodded, hoping that my mother would sign me over.

And she did, with a note that said, 'I never hated you. Come visit me when you finish school.'

And ever since, I've been living with Nicky and her brother.

Though, he's about 21 now and she's 15, and he spends about 11 and a half months traveling the world. He still pays the bills, though. He has the cash transacted to pay for them.

So, I wasn't surprised when a Navigator rolled up next to me and a familiar face appeared as the window rolled down. "Hey, freshman. You look like you need a lift."

I blinked. Each reflex was a sign of increasing perplexity. The hot guy who sat next to me in Spanish II named Dante wanted to give me a lift? From his look, he seemed to be serious but… Why me, of all people to ask? I mean, I really wanted to say yes, but I wanted to say no, but it was really pouring and he was oh so cute and hot!

"Do you want in or not?" So-called Dante repeated the inquiry which fell on almost deaf ears. Before I had time to sound the word no, my muddy, wet shoes gripped the floor mat of the passenger's side as I hopped in and slammed the door.

My arms added emphasis to my chest on accident, I noticed, when I folded my arms for warmth. Not just for that, I was also uncomfortable. My contacts were dry, my DC's wet and muddy, my R4R jeans faded from a dry cadet blue to a dampened royal blue; my tanktop did nothing to keep my warm, and my hat only kept my crown dry. I tossed my purse and messenger bag to the floor betwixt my feet, sighing.

Dante's large fingers worked quickly to turn on the heat.

While he did so, he asked, "Your name's Keili, right?"

I nodded quietly, staring out the window when the Navigator set to motion.

"What inspired that name?"

"I dunno." The school inched out of view behind us.

"Huh."

There came silence for about five minutes, the timeframe in which my mind had calculated how much time was left in my life before this mysteriously hot but could-be psycho guy killed me.

­­—Ringggg!

—She walks in, as I'm walking out…Should I try this once again? Should I try this once again…? And as we kissed, I remember how it felt—

"Hello?" I asked as soon as my thumb mashed the take call button. Of course it was Nicole, with something random.

"Yeah, um…do you want a burger?" She paused to argue with Vergil, or whatever his name is. "No, I'm not on crack! Whatever. Keili, do you want a burger? WEE are getting more burgers."

"Nah, I'm fine," a small smile crossed my lips. "Yeah, I'll see you. Bye."

Click.

"Was that Nicole?" Dante asked lazily, attempting to make conversation.

Defensively I snapped, "And if she is?"

Dante raised an eyebrow. "Then she is, I guess. What do you have against me, anyway?"

"I dunno. You're just…" I trailed off, wanting to say how hot, cute, (a kind of) sweet, sexy, what else…but I couldn't. "I just don't like you."

He busted out laughing, "Oh my Gawd, are you fucking kidding me? Ha! That was great…Why do you…'just not like me'? He turned the corner, blinker clicking in a repetitive rhythm.

"Well…"

"Could it be you're just jealous?" His voice lost all sense of humor. It was replaced with a serious mood as he then swerved violently into the driveway of a large, gorgeous jade house. It appeared twice as big as Nicky's house; you could fit two in there if you tried. The porch had steps leading up, a three-car garage; I felt my blood boil from the fact Dante stated earlier. Am I jealous? What of?? It makes no sense.

Large hands pressured my shoulders to steer me up the steps. I was still wet, and his warmth on my back gave result of sharp breath.

Once inside, I was glad to be welcomed in to such a warm, vibrant atmosphere. Spicy colors tainted the walls of different rooms. Sophisticated furniture and a plasma TV here and there signaled how wealthy Dante really was.

"Put your stuff down on the couch," he suggested, "I'll get you some clothes to change into, so you won't catch cold."

"Gracias," I muttered plopping on the couch. The cherry wood coffee table and drawers were organized to merge into the circle of suede tan sofas in a burnt orange harvest-colored room.

He smirked, and in a strong American dialect, "De nada."

After giving me a shirt and some of his jeans to change into and let hang off my smaller frame, we got to work at his red marble kitchen island. Notes and a couple of text books were scattered here and there, our backpacks hunched against the bottom of the table. The balls of my feet sturdily kept my balance on one of the few bars that strengthened the stool's endurance.

"Mkay, so how does this work?" I asked, opening a pencil pouch to pull out a pencil.

"Give me the infinitives we've learned, and I'll translate them."

"Chocar." (to dislike, used in the same way as gustar, FYI)

"Ouch Keili, that hurt right here," he mockingly faked a blow to the heart. And it was funny too; I laughed super loud. Maybe it was too loud, judging by Dante's face. The 'WTF?!' look crept on his face. The grin grew wide on his face. "That's sexy."

I blushed on immediate reaction. "Shut up!"

I couldn't hide the smile and the next laugh.

We were both laughing our butts off. I don't even know why, but I couldn't stop!

When I finally did, I realized how red my face had turned. "That was weird…"

I didn't notice within the timeframe I said that, Dante had drawn very close to me. His elbow was about 10 inches from my own; I suddenly became uncomfortable in a sense that—

"Your eyes are wicked, babe," he grinned again, blue orbs glittering, "It's a cool shade of like, green and honey. I've never seen colors like those."

My fingers lace short tresses of dark auburn hair and tucked them directly and neatly behind my right ear shell. In each lobe could be seen a purple die with blue dots on every side; the six was the prominently shown one.

And his hand outstretched to mine. I couldn't really tell if he was reaching towards my hand or just the notes under them, however. I was blushing bad enough.

And suddenly—

—Ringgggg!!

—"When I was a young boy, I wanna be somethin' more baby! Well I can't dance now, and I sure as fuck can't sing! Uh-huh—"

"Hello?" Nicole was home; the ringtone belonged to our house phone. Way to save, Nicky!! I put her on speaker.

"Oh my Gawd, Kei, where are you—stop touching the lock, you idiot!!" she shouted at someone in the background. "I thought you were home already!"

"Nah, I got picked up by Dante—"

"Ohh," she snickered, "the guy who stalked you all day?"

One look at Dante let me know how hard he was fighting back laughter, and I was too—I was about to die!

"Yeah…he can hear you, genius."

"…" No comment on the other end.

"So, you're home already?" I changed subject, avoiding silence.

"Yeah, and I locked the door!" She chimed.

Suddenly, someone in the background barked, "LET ME OUT NICOLE!!"

"Hey, HEY! GET BACK ON THE COUCH! SIT!!

Dante and I could bear it no longer. I had tears in my eyes I was cracking up so hard, Dante rolled on the floor, and Nicole did her signature one-liner—"Hahaha…?" like she missed the punch line. I swear I was about to pee myself in these super awesome loose jeans. So I stopped early with an "Oh my gawd, Nicky, you're special…"

"Why, thank you! x3"

So after I hung up with Nicky, I told Dante I might wanna head over there in case she hurts Vergil.

As we climbed into his Navigator, he snorted, "Nothing can kill my brother…I should know, I've tried."

I gawked. "Whoa, brother?"

"Twin, to be exact. Unfortunately," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "He's high-maintenance."

"In what way?" I asked, turning my attention to the outside, the rain slowly drizzling this time. The sky was a bluish gray now, meaning the sun would be out until 8:45 tonight.

"He can be a brat."

"You're probably the same."

"Am not—At least not like him."

"Whatever," I laughed, and then I was reminded. "Hey, who was that blonde sitting next to you?"

"Trish. And she's a BEE-OTCH and a half. My ex is bad news and hella crazy, so don't even mess with her."

I mumbled, "Mkay then…"

Turning a corner, Dante brought up something that seemed quite quintessential to talk about with a new friend. "So who's your lucky number one?"

"No one," I simply answered, wondering why he asked.

"That's a shame, not to be dating…"

"I'm waiting."

"I figured."

"So you're not dumb?" I gasped mockingly.

"Nahhh…I didn't tell you?"

"Nope," I smiled.

"Whispering Heights, right?" we turned into one of Whispering Heights' many complexes and traveled down Marribell Lane. All we had to do is take a right on Red Sky Dr. and a left to Willow St., and then pull into the driveway of our sky blue house, two stories. We didn't have steps save the ones inside and to the second level laundry room from outside. And though Dante's place was awesome, ours was a wonderland of old things. Sword sets in the orange living room, an African accent to every piece in the ivory dining room; downstairs we had the computers in Jake's (Nicky's brother) office, and back upstairs were the rooms, bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen. Hallways colored mango with dispersed pictures of our families and friends led to every room, and to the door we walked through to come in.

First, I unlocked the door, hearing something break. I think Nicole's gone crazy…I love it when she's crazy! It beats having to search for funny shows at night.

"VERGIL!!" Nicky towered over his immobile body on the toppled couch and broken vase shards. "You said there were more burgers in the bag!"

"I did," he gulped, "I thought you were saving them for Keili."

"I said that?" she was momentarily taken aback. "Whoops."

"Wow Vergil," Dante chuckled, "You don't kid when you say you like getting whipped."

"I have never said that," he growled, side-glancing at his red twin.

"…I'm hungry," I interrupted, patting my stomach. No one spared me a thought.

"Sorry, Kei," Nicole grinned weakly, "I ate them all."

"All."

"Mhmm."

"Every one of them."

"Yup."

"…NICOLE!!"

"KEILI!!"

"What?!"

"You dropped your pocket."

My idiot self looked, and before I knew it, Nicole ordered Vergil to get more burgers and he was nearly stumbling out the door.

"…Whipped!!" Dante chimed, amused.

Nicole followed Vergil out the door to 'whip' him some more. Dante and I stood idly in the mini-foyer, TV blaring, the only ambience that kept silence from getting awkward.

Then Dante said, "Hey babe."

"Hmm?" I turned to him, and he caught my jaw from both sides. Before I registered it, the boy I had met 10 hours ago pressed his soft lips on my own pair. My face heated up like that, but I wasn't gonna pull away, it felt right.

And then he pulled away.

"If I see you tomorrow at school, you're my girlfriend," he declared, turning to walk out the door.

"W-what?!" I stuttered.

He kept walking, "See ya."

I was left with myself to wonder what just went on.

Finally, "Hey Nicole."

"What?"

"I'm hungry."

"Me too."

-end-

A/N

OMG THIS WAS A BIG CHAPTER!! MY HAND BURNS FROM WRITING IT!!

And I feel bad…xDDD

Everyone looooveeesss Nicole.

NO LOVE FOR RIKA!! (cries)

Jk. I don't care. I rather people love Nicole than Keili.

Nicole's such a lovable person!!

Keili is sorta…a bump on a log, except when she's going crazy with Nicole.

Which reminds me…