Remember, bold is meant to represent a text, italics are thoughts. Just a reminder so nobody gets confused.
Enjoy.
Karai went to school the next day with bloodshot eyes. She hadn't gotten any sleep after her report to her father. How could she? She'd practically signed April's death sentence herself, and she wouldn't even be able to tell her what was coming. There'd be nothing she could do to stop it.
She sighed, resting her chin in her hands. It was still early. Only two other boys were sitting in homeroom with her. April probably wouldn't even get there until after the bell rang.
April.
Karai snorted, still unsure why she cared so much about her. Was it a crush? She made a face, mentally groaning. She didn't have time for this.
The door opened, and April of all people walked in. Karai stiffened, sitting up in her desk. April beamed at her and slid into her own chair.
"Well?" she asked, grin so wide it looked like her face would split.
"Well what?" Karai said, eyebrow raised.
April made a face. "Well, what did your dad say about you coming over? Is he going to let you?"
"Oh, that," Karai said. She shook her head, trying to focus her thoughts. "Yeah. He was... excited when I told him about it. It wouldn't surprise me if he wanted to meet you soon."
April's eyes lit up. "Great!" She pulled out her phone from her pocket and slid it in front of Karai. "Here, put your number in, and I'll send you my address."
Karai looked at her for a moment and pulled out her own phone, sliding it over. Her phone was more for far away missions and reporting than pleasure. She hoped April wouldn't open up her camera roll. They exchanged numbers, and Karai all but snatched back her phone, feeling a little uneasy when it wasn't in her possession.
Her phone dinged, and she looked down. April had sent her address. It buzzed again, and this time it said:
:)
Karai looked up, and April was giving her the same grin as on her phone, still hunched over hers.
"Is your phone a turtle shell?" Karai asked, looking at her with raised eyebrows.
April flushed, grabbing it and shoving it back into her pocket. "A friend made it for me," she said, lowering her gaze.
Karai snorted. "A friend. Right." Great, it is the turtles... she thought to herself, and all of her resigned guilt came rushing back.
The rest of the day passed by in a blur. April didn't seem to notice much was off, because she spent the day chattering even more excitedly than normal, preparing for their plans. But contrary to popular belief, April did notice, and it made her gut stir nervously.
What if she really doesn't want to come over? April thought, trying to watch Karai out of the corner of her eye. I don't want to do anything she doesn't want to do. Donnie had invited her over to hang out that night, but she'd turned him politely down for Karai. If Karai cancelled on her, maybe Donnie would still be down to hang out? Karai was staring absently at the wall, fingers tapping out some unknown pattern on her desk.
April sighed and glanced at the clock. School was almost over. She started shoving her books in her bag, and the bell rang.
Karai blinked, startled. "Is class over?" she asked, hastily shoving her things in her own bag.
April stood up and pulled her backpack on over her shoulder. "Karai, school is over. That was the final bell," she said, a little bit exasperated.
"Oh," Karai said, looking startled. She stood up and slung her own backpack on. "I didn't even realize," she said, and she sounded so distracted that April couldn't help but feel some of her anger drift away.
"You know, if you don't wanna come over tonight, you really don't have to," she said slowly, and Karai blinked, looking at her like she was crazy.
"What?" Karai said, wrinkling up her nose. "What makes you think that?"
"Well, you just seem kinda distracted," April said, feeling her cheeks start to heat up. "We can reschedule if you want-"
"No!" Karai burst out, and April looked at her, surprised. "I mean, no, I just got into an argument with my father last night. It has nothing to do with you." There was something she wasn't sharing, and April narrowed her eyes. "But I'm really looking forward to it tonight," Karai added, almost a little shyly, and April forgot about the unnerving feeling she was getting.
"Great!" April blushed a little, too, and ducked her gaze from Karai's. She peeked up underneath her eyelashes to look at Karai, whose cheeks were also a little flushed. "Text me tonight when you're on your way, and I'll get dinner!"
"Do I need to bring anything?" Karai asked, trying to gather her feelings under control. Her internet research on what exactly goes down at sleepovers (and man, did that make her sound like a naive little girl rather than the kunoichi she'd trained to be) gave her a decent rundown of what she was supposed to expect. Apparently she was supposed to bring snacks.
"Nah," April said, waving a hand dismissively, "not unless you want to." She hesitated, opened her mouth to say something else, and was interrupted.
Someone cleared their throat, and both girls turned to the front of the room to see their English teacher standing at her desk, looking a little amused. "Sorry girls, but I have to go sit in on detention this afternoon, and I have to lock the door behind me. So if you don't mind..." She waggled her keys at them.
April got the hint, and she turned to walk out of the classroom. Karai followed.
"So," April said, turning to look at Karai, "I'll see you tonight?" Karai nodded. April smiled at her and headed off, backpack hitched up high on her shoulders. Karai watched her go, and decided to head to the nearest coffee shop to bide the time until it was socially acceptable for her to shop up on April's doorstep. She really, really didn't want to go home.
Karai ended up having to run home anyway, to go grab her duffle bag of pajamas and clothes for the next day (and of course, extra outfits because who knew what all exactly they'd get into that night). And then, standing in the doorway of her closet, she hesitated, some funny feeling in the pit of her stomach telling her she needed her weapons, so she ended up shoving in her Tessan and a couple of extra knives into the bottom of the bag. You know, it's always better to be overly prepared.
She ended up walking to April's, even though it was on the other side of town from her apartments. It was a lot closer to her father's headquarters than she realized, and she ducked her head and went the long way around to even avoid going near the building. Her father had some sort of sixth sense about where she was most of the time, and she didn't want to risk being caught in her school clothes and not-quite full set of armor. She'd never hear the end of it, and she was still pretty beat up from her other encounter with him (not that she was complaining or anything, she'd had far worse in the past).
Karai walked up to the apartment door and pulled out her phone.
Here. She shoved her hands in her pockets and stood awkwardly on the doorstep. It was kinda weird not having a doorman; her apartment had one, even though her father had bought out the whole building when they first moved to America.
Her phone buzzed again, and she pulled it out. I just buzzed you in! April's text read. I'll come get you.
Karai let herself in and sat down on one of the chairs in the lobby, resting her duffle at her feet. She drummed her fingers on her leg absently, feeling the normal edge of anticipation rise up inside.
It's just April, she thought to herself. I've been in far worse situations. Battles, even. This is just a sleepover!
Oh, who was she kidding? This was way out of her pay grade.
"Hey!" Karai looked up, and April stuck her head out the door leading to the stairways. "You made it! Come on, let's get this party started!"
Karai took a deep breath, picked up her duffle bag, and followed April, hoping her facial expressions wouldn't betray her for what she had to do.
Sleepover comes next chapter! I can't wait to write it, honestly. Be sure to R&R for a fast update!
