Eudemonia
(chapter three)

I woke up not realizing the softness of my back and scent of pillows crowding around me. Hm, I wonder how got home.

"Kendall!" I heard the voice from the doorway, "You're awake! Your friend Jackie is here to invite you for a party of some sort."

Oh, so arriving here at Mellowbrook meeting old but perverted friends and getting a lost-cause discussion with Kick Buttowski wasn't dream after all, hm? I must be delusional.

I took my old pink robe hanging from my old wooden study chair and swiftly slid it over my body. I slipped on my fuzzy white bunny slippers and exhaustedly marched towards the front door. I lazily meandered down the stairs and saw Jackie sitting down on of my mother's old burgundy couches. It seems like those were the only things that symbolized my mother's presence in the house.

"Hey Jackie," I called out to her tiredly, still sore for sleeping on that bench last night. "Were you the one who brought me home last night?"

She scoffed rudely, "No way, I'm not that strong to carry you Kends." So if it wasn't her, then maybe it was my dad. "Though Kick did say you were lighter than you look—"

"Wait, Kick brought me home?"

She was just as astonished as I was, "Yeah! Didn't your dad tell you? He said he found you on the park bench before it got dark. It was a good thing he did, huh?"

Well that was a shocker, "Yeah, I guess he did."

"And from what Gunther told me, Kick stopped in the middle of the stunt just to bring you home! How sweet is that?" She giggled profusely, and giggled even louder at my red blemished cheeks. Since when did Kick have a change of heart?

I decided that this conversation was going nowhere when Jackie kept going back to Kick, "So in case we're not going to waste time here, why don't we go back to the reason wherein you called for a party or some sort."

She snickered, "Trying to change the subject huh, Kendall? Hm, whatever. I was just here to invite over to Gunther's birthday party tonight at the Club Mellow."

We have a night club here in Mellowbrook? And since when did people invite me to anything? "Sure I guess, just tell me where this Club Mellow is located?"

"Tch, seriously Kendall, this formal talk of yours is driving me nuts." I irritatingly grimaced at the brunette. "Club Mellow is just a few blocks away from the Food n Fix. You won't miss it, it's the only building with bright neon lights."

I figured as much it was the perfect place for adults to hang out.

"It's at nine PM, don't be late, dress sexy, and I do hope have fun." Jackie winked before she grabbed her coat and ran out of the door.

I groaned at Jackie's forceful invitation, why do I even have to come? But since I'm a woman of my word, I should come. After all, it's just a party—with alcohol and neon lights.

I went to the kitchen and grabbed some frozen maple covered bacon and eggs. I quickly whipped up a plate full of scrambled eggs, toast, and honey-smelling bacon.

"Seems like you still know how to cook scrambled eggs, huh Kendall?" My dad appeared again the second time, surprising me with his old and rickety voice. "I thought you only lived on coffee, donuts, and ramen noodles?"

I laughed silently and laid the pans and spatulas on the sink. "I don't always live on those things dad; I know how to cook pancakes and waffles too."

"Right, right," he waved his hand over my seriousness, "But you should've made me cook."

I sighed, "Dad, you're uhm… a bit older now and you need to rest rather than work. After all, it's just scrambled eggs and bacon. That's not so bad."

"I am not old!" He said defensively, "And for your information, I can still work up my cardio, little lady."

I chuckled at his tomfoolery, "Okay dad, whatever you say. Let's just eat before the eggs get cold."

We sat down on the old and rickety-as-dad table and ate. He made comments like, "These are the best I had in years" or "Maybe you should've been a chef instead of a boring lawyer like me". I waved off every one of them. But I did enjoy listening to it.

"So what's this party Jackie's inviting you to?" He started as soon as he finished his breakfast, "Something I should worry about, perhaps?"

I choked at the word worry, "No dad, you shouldn't worry. It's just Gunther Magnuson's birthday, no big deal."

He sighed in deeply, still unsure about my answer. "Are you sure? I mean, you're still underage to drink—"

"Dad, I'm twenty."

"The proper age to drink is twenty-one, honey."

I sighed, "Okay fine dad, I won't drink. I'll just drink some iced tea or lemon water."

"Alright Kendall, I'm trusting you then."

I turned to him and smiled, "Thanks daddy. You're the best."

He beamed too, "No problem, hon. Just don't come home devirginized or something."

I punched him softly on his right arm, "Dad!"

-x-

I nervously pulled on the last article of my clothing—red platform booties—and took one last look at the mirror. The outfit I put on consisted of a glittery, mid-thigh black mini-skirt, a transparent white hanging shirt with a big, long bow in the middle, and a brown women's vest.

I decided that the only thing I could pull off—after dozens of outfits—was the innocent and untainted look. So I arrived at the conclusion that I stick with that for the birthday party.

"It doesn't look to provocative, does it mom?" I lifted the picture of my strawberry blond mother and let her face the mirror with my full view image on it. "I wish you were here to tell me so."

I sighed and carefully placed the picture on my brown side table and kissed it gingerly. "I miss you so much."

I walked to my vanity table and put on mascara and red lipstick. Hopefully the flawless skin that I worked on for so long would be able to pull the outfit together. Lastly, I opened my overflowing jewellery box and picked out my mother's golden and beaded choker necklace, a couple of gold bangles to match, and one big flaxen cocktail ring.

I grabbed my blood red purse and Gunther's gift, ran out the door, and headed out to Club Mellow.

-x-

The first thing that caught my senses was the smell of lime and vodka. Everything was lit up brightly. Jackie was right; this building practically puked out neon lightings.

I tried to scramble my way out of the messy, dancing crowd and find a certain brunette. But then, almost everyone here was brown-haired. I tried searching for a possible loud and squeaky voice too—

"Kends! Wow, I'm glad I found you!"

Eh, looks like there was no need for searching. Jackie, for a person I did not expect to, wore something fitting her. She wore skinny jeans and a black and gold sequined shirt. Wearing a gold cuff, a cocktail ring almost similar to mine, and hoop earrings complimented her adorable gold pumps. I made a mental note to ask her where she got those.

From what I noticed, gold seemed to be the color theme for us girls' accessories.

"And dayum, you look sexy!" She twirled me around and pushed me towards the table where a waiter was standing beside it and Gunther sat, happily sipping his tall glass of what seemed like whisky.

Gunther looked pretty well-dressed than what he was wearing yesterday. His legs were wrapped around with dress pants and an attractive blue oxford cloth, two buttons undone. His shoes weren't those Nike kicks that he wore before, but somewhat a Brazilian-type, leather shoes.

"Hey Gunther darling," she purred and climbed on his lap, cradling her head on his neck, "You remember Kendall Perkins right? The girl in love with your best friend?"

He laughed quite loudly, but it was hardly noticeable to the crowd because the music was definitely louder. "Yes, yes, of course my dear apple pie! Wasn't she the one with the lemonade stand? And the student body president or something."

Judging from his laidback slurring, he must be drinking for a while now. "Actually it's just the president of your class. And yes, I was the one with the lemonade stand."

"Ha! Of course, I knew I wouldn't forget a face like yours! Here, here, have a drink, Kendaaall." He propelled a tall glass, similar to his, filled with beer this time. I shyly rejected it, "Uh, no thanks. I'll just have a martini; dry."

The waiter nodded and jotted down my order on his notepad. After writing it, he left us three and made me watch the horrors of those two cuddling and kissing right in front of me.

"You've been classy, huh Kendall?" He slurped his drink and finished it without complications, "I wouldn't be surprised if you ordered bread sticks and lamb chops." He laughed at his own joke and Jackie rolled her eyes.

"She's been studying at Yale, my Norwegian cutie pie." She said, as-a-matter-of-factly, "Formality is sorta her thing."

He guffawed again, almost spitting out the whisky. "Oh yeah! Kick just told me that a while ago!"

"Speaking of Kick," ugh, just please don't, "Where is he?"

Gunther let out a rather gruff, "Tch" noise when mentioned of Kick. "Don't even speak of that frickin' daredevil; he may look manly and tough when he's really such a girl when it comes to clothing."

Both Jackie and I giggled, but then were stopped by a familiar foxy voice that came from above me. "Oh? Though did I ever say, 'Kick, tell me what goes better with my eyes!' while panicking over which shade of blue to choose, hm Gunther?"

And that was when both Jackie and I laughed harder than before. "Shut up, Buttowski!" He grumbled, completely embarrassed. And red, at the same time.

"Drunk already?" He smirked and sat down beside me, "I thought we both promised to get drunk together?"

He scoffed, "What are we, a gay couple? We're bros, but not at everything, dude."

Kick let out a laugh and patted his best friend on his shoulder, "Right, right, whatever you say."

Though it wasn't in my forte to compliment boys, I would say that Kick looked dashing dressed scantily in that closed white tuxedo blazer. His well-toned chest was slightly exposed because of his lack of an undershirt. The outfit completed with dress pants that held Kick's hands in the pockets and neatly polished leather shoes. His dishevelled hair was perfect for the outfit.

"Well," he stood up from his seat and looked towards the bartender, "I'm off to get a bottle of Vodka. Don't forget our shots competition, eh Gunther?"

The young Magnuson replied quite gaudily, "Ha! I never forget anything, Kick. It's you who needs the remindin'!"

Jackie jumped off of her boyfriend's lap which gained a discreet, 'hey!' from the said boy. She ignored him, of course, and moved her arse to the seat next to me. She leaned onto my shoulder and whispered, "Doesn't Kick look sexy?"

I scowled as blood reached my cheeks, "Shut up, Jackie!"

She laughed and pushed me none-too-gently. "I'm just kidding, Kendall!"

I sighed and closed my eyes, "I know, I know. Just don't talk about Kick a little too much."

As if sensing my pain, the brunette nodded in understanding. It seems like Jackie was actually being nice to me after all those years.

"Don't worry Kendall," she winked, "I got your back. After all, that's what girls do, right?"

For once in my life, I finally had a friend. "Right."

"I'm back with the vodka!" Kick said excitedly while slamming down the tray of fermented drinks and my dry martini. He laid the glass of my martini with a smirk. "And here's your drink, beautiful."

The girls surrounding our table—mainly because of Kick here—and Jackie giggle profusely as he desperately tried his best to grab a kiss from me. I blushed and smacked his head away from mine. Seriously, did he drink a bottle of alcohol already?

I scoffed at his failed attempt, "Gee, thanks, handsome." I didn't think they noted my sarcasm. The surrounding, poorly-dressed women just giggled as light as they were before. Jackie was another picture though. She nudged Kick's awestruck and smirking face with a long, syllabicated "oh".

I repeat again, they certainly did not notice my sarcasm. I knew that because Kick leaned in closer to me and held my arms. I assumed he was going to kiss me.

I closed my eyes and waited for the kiss that was going to happen, but then I realized, what the hell am I doing?

I shoved him off quickly and ran off to the ladies' room. Stupid, stupid Buttowski! Does he really think that his failed attempt of flirting will never budge me from my decision? I have spent seven years of my life to move on! Then he just comes and walks in likes it's another stroll in the Mellowbrook Park! He just happens to realize his feelings too? After seven years of mourning and after five hours of travel? Who the fuck does he think he is.

I slammed the door of the restroom and was glad that there was no one there. I angrily locked the door irrationally.

"Stupid, stupid Kick!" I rambled on and on while crouching on the floor weeping my eyes out. Since when have I acted this way about anyone?

"Why are you so scared of liking me back?"

I continued to ponder over his words yesterday, and some part of me wondered that too. I think that sometimes I overreact to certain things; things like these. Or maybe because I'm too selfish; too selfish to let go of my valid perception towards him, it's hard. I know that, but—

"Let's try this relationship."

—But then again, it's all bullshit. All I did was love him! And I have the gall to call myself selfish! I have been selfless all my life; doing nothing but wait and wait. But then all he did was love his stunts more than he ever loved anything else!

"Admit it and stop lying to yourself," he pressed on further, "you still love me, after all those years."

"Ah, bullshit. I knew I shouldn't have come here in the first place."

Too much painful memories.

-x-

"Kendall? Kendall, please open up! It's me Jackie, and Kick's not with me, I promise! He's getting drunk with Gunther!"

I don't remember how long I've been dirty restroom. But it probably would've been an hour or so, judging from the loudness of the club-goers.

"Jackie…" I called out to her, my voice still weak from whimpering and crying, "I'll be out, I promise. J-Just give me some time."

I heard her sigh, "Alright, but if you're in trouble or—or Kick's trying to harass—"

I laughed heartily; she really knows how to make a girl okay. "Yes, yes Jackie. I'll be okay, trust me."

"Fine, hope you come out though." She sighed.

I sighed as deeply as she did; me too Jackie, me too.

-x-

Disclaimer: I do not own Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil.

Ohmygod, I apologize like hell because I'm nearly a year late with this story. I really, really am. I feel like such a bitch because I made you all wait and you guys have been so patient with this fic. I promise, by the end of the year, this fic would be finished (or at least, updated more frequently.)

I've been attached to an Anime too and I've only realized just now that Kendall's outfit is very reminiscent to Grell Sutcliff's outfit. Teehee, is that irony or what?

Search him, and his outfit (aside from the pants and the red coat) is actually very similar to Kendall's.

Review~