Chapter 4
"Daughter!" Fanny exclaimed for at least the fourth time since they'd gotten in the car. Patton was driving, Fanny had taken the front, and Kuki was stretched out in the back.
Kuki rolled her eyes. Why was it that she was the only one who wasn't freaking out about this? "Yeah, Fan, he has a baby. But, I think you need to get over it because he needs us to be his friends," the Asian girl explained.
Fanny swiveled around in her seat to look at her friend. "I think he needs you to be something more, Kooks," she snickered.
Another eye roll. Patton's hand reached over to thread itself in Fanny's hair. "Leave it, baby. Kuki's right."
Her friend's head whipped around to glare at the dark haired boy, who promptly zipped his lips. Kuki's fingers found their way to her silky hair, the beginnings of a French braid forming. For the first time, she let herself wonder about the mother of this baby. Who was she? A girl at a bar, according to Wally's earlier rant. Kuki wanted to know why this girl left her baby. Was she scared, ashamed, selfish? This led to the next question: why did Wally take her? And the next: Why did Wally come to McClintock?
The Asian teen was soon overwhelmed by the urgency and quantity of the questions she formed. Being with Wally, even just as a friend, was not going to be an easy road. She would have to be prepared for harsh truths and probably a few lies. Kuki didn't care; she liked the blonde haired boy.
The car pulled up in front of a diner. It was small, crowded, and 50s themed. In short, Darla's was every bit the cliché high school hangout spot. Kuki loved it there because she felt like she was in a movie. She often felt that way, with her popular best friend and perfectly ironed cheerleading uniform. Kuki opened the door of Patton's Jeep and clambered out, spotting Nigel and Rachel as she did so. "Hey Rach!" she called.
Rachel turned and grinned, grabbing her bald boyfriend's hand and dragging him towards Kuki. "Hey!"
Nigel was student council president, class president, and a member of every single board the school had. He was also McClintock's only bald student. People tended to remember that fact a little better than the rest. Kuki thought he and Patton's blonde friend fit together perfectly. They both sat on that cusp of nerd-dom and they just worked.
Fanny usually claimed that the pair "disgusted" her.
"Are you excited for the game tonight?" Nigel asked Patton, looking up at the much taller boy.
Patton smiled. Sometimes, Kuki liked him better than Fanny. He was so nice. "Totally, man. But, right now, I'm just starving."
Kuki's redheaded best friend laughed her "I'm being obnoxious to make you think it's great to be me" laugh and grabbed Patton's elbow, hauling him towards the tacky restaurant. Once they were a safe distance away, Fanny's hand found its way to the boy's back pocket.
The Asian teen watched as Rachel's blonde eyebrows scrunched together, accompanied by a sigh. "She doesn't like me very much, does she?" Rachel asked.
It was times like these when Kuki wished she wasn't associated with Fanny. But, then she would remember the way Fanny has been after Mushi and how sometimes her friend seemed like the only constant in her life. Kuki pursed her lips, trying to figure out the nicest way to word the inevitable crushing of Rachel's hopes. "It's not you. That sounds really cliché. But, honestly, it's just Fanny. Eventually, she'll be confident enough that you won't be viewed only as a threat, but that day hasn't come."
The remaining trio began the trek from the parking lot. Nigel placed his arm around Rachel's shoulders, tucking a stray blonde strand behind her ear. "Aren't Hoagie and Abby coming?" the blonde asked.
Kuki nodded in response. "Yeah. Hoagie had some science thing. They should be here soon. And, I don't know if you guys met the new kid, Wally Beetles? I mentioned he was coming earlier."
"Wallabee Beetles. 6 foot 3, point guard, potentially promising student, hothead, slacker," Nigel listed off. A grin spread across his face.
"Impressive," Kuki giggled. She didn't know how the couple would feel about Wally's baby and she was a little afraid to ask. It was a well-known fact that despite Rachel's quietness, she was hugely opinionated. As well Nigel.
Nigel opened the door to Darla's when they reached it, letting both girls enter before himself. "Does he really have a baby?" Rachel looked to Kuki for an answer.
"I don't think he'd lie, Rach. But, I guess I haven't seen her," she responded. Kuki slid into 'their' booth next to Fanny.
Rachel followed suit, sitting next to Patton. "How'd it even happen? It's weird, Kuki; you have to admit. Unless you know something?"
Kuki shook her head. "I'll let you know as soon as I do."
Rachel was apparently finished with her questions and Kuki took the moment to glance around at the diner. All the Friday night regulars were present. Her group, a few other kids from McClintock, and some old guys. She smiled. It wasn't so crowded so that meant they'd get to have their favorite waitress, Darla herself. The older woman always claimed she hated the kids, but Kuki knew deep down there was a soft spot for the group of them. The ebony haired girl turned her gaze to the door so that she could get Wally's attention as soon as he arrived.
"Kuki!" Fanny's voice and the sharp smack of metal against bone broke Kuki's daze. She rubbed her wrist lightly with her other hand. "What pyramid should be do for the quarter?"
She rolled her eyes in response. "You're the captain, Fanny. Just pick one. They're all good. And, was it really necessary to hit me with a spoon?"
Kuki went back to staring at the door after Fanny gave a sharp nod of red hair. She discovered that Wally had already arrived at the restaurant and was talking to the hostess.
"He's with us!" Kuki called out.
Wally was sent over by the girl on roller skates. He approached the table awkwardly, weighed down on one side by a large backpack and on the other by a smiling baby girl. "Hey, guys," Wally said hesitantly, shifting his possessions around to give a slight wave.
"Hi!" Kuki exclaimed. She smiled at her new friend. She glanced around the table, noticing that Fanny's face was turning red.
There were several different reasonings behind Fanny's face discoloring. It happened when she was mad, embarrassed, shocked, uncomfortable. Kuki was feeling discomfort was behind this one.
Wally scratched his head. "I need a high-chair. Would you mind holding Lucy for a quick second, Kuki?" the boy asked, clearly embarrassed.
Kuki shook her head. Wally handed her his daughter.
It was the very first time Kuki felt the warmth of Lucy Mae Beetles in her arms. And she simply couldn't let it be the last.
A/N: Took forever and I don't even like it. But, I have some stuff planned so the next wait shouldn't be so long :D