Boy Next Door part 4
I doze off at some point, awaking in the early hours of Tuesday morning. I was still dressed in my clothes from the day before, and my mouth still tasted like dinner. For a split second, I wonder why I look and feel like such a mess. Then, I remember.
Kid. His feelings. Him yelling at me in class. My head begins to hurt as I am reminded of him. There's no way this is all true. Kid doesn't, cannot possibly like me. Yet the more I try to turn the idea away from myself, the more evidence comes to mind.
The beach in fifth grade: his rage at Soul for giving me the seashell.
Game night in sixth grade: he screamed at every body except me for messing up, when we all knew I was the biggest culprit.
Our seats in seventh grade: his yearlong grudge against our teacher for moving me away from him. I'd even ended up sitting near Soul.
Eighth grade formal: him abruptly leaving our lunch table, unseen for the rest of the day, when I agreed to not having a date to formal.
Homework in ninth grade: how pissed he was when I skipped out on game night to help Soul with homework.
My ride in tenth grade: his facial expressions when he'd see Soul and I walking from the parking lot together.
Elections last year: how happy he was that I wanted to run for Vice President.
Liz was right; I was dense. Very. Kid clearly has had a crush on me since the fifth grade, and I didn't even notice. I reach for my phone, which lay above my head on the pillow, leftover from my phone call last night. I turn the screen on, squinting at the sudden brightness. Many texts from Tsubaki and Liz, but one text catches my attention. One from Kid. Sent at 2:13 am.
K: Liz confessed that she told you. I think we need to talk.
That's it? No, "I'm sorry for screaming at you"? No long message about his feelings? Kid was probably one of the hardest people for me to read. I could only clearly tell when he was upset.
I stand from my bed and make my way to my bathroom, in desperate need of a shower. After a long hot shower, I dry off. I opt for leggings and a t-shirt instead of jeans; I didn't have it in me to wiggle into jeans.
I comb through my hair, staring at Kid's text. I should probably respond... But what on earth should I say? There was so much that needed to be discussed, and I'd rather not do it over text message. Once I finish combing and tie my hair in a braid, I begin typing.
A: I'd have to agree
While it was a stupid statement, it at least didn't make me look angry. I sigh, about to click my phone off to await Kid's answer, when I see text bubbles in the conversation. I glance at the time, seeing it was only 6 in the morning. Had he slept at all last night?
K: Not over text message
A: Yeah
K: Would you like for me to pick you up and go to Deathbucks at 7 and then talk at school? No one will be there that early, we can talk in the library
A: Okay see you then
I read a little to pass the time. It does take my mind off of things more than anything else would, but I still find myself getting lost in thought. I put my book down and lay back on my bed, resting my eyes until it was time to go.
I quietly walk into the kitchen. My mom is already making coffee, and she looks surprised to see me. "You're up early, everything okay?"
"Yeah, I forgot I had to meet Kid at school early to... Work on student council stuff. He's coming to pick me up." My pause was so evident it made me cringe. My mom would have to be extremely gullible to believe that. But my mother's raised eyebrow told me I was wrong. I feign a smile, knowing I probably looked like a fool.
"Alright... Don't forget to text Soul and say you don't need a ride." My mom said. I nod, quickly walking out the door before she can ask anymore questions.
The street was dark, save for a few street lamps. I sit on my front step and pull my phone out to text Soul.
A: Have to go in early to work on some student council stuff, so I won't need a ride
I send the text, knowing for a fact that Soul was not awake yet. If he was, he'd have a lot of explaining to do as to why he was always late in the morning.
Kid's headlights blind me as his black car pulls into my driveway. I stand and walk to the car, opening the passenger door. The smell of vacuum and air fragrance greets me as I slide in. "Morning." He said, backing out of the driveway.
"Good morning." I said, quietly. His yellow eyes quickly move past me and back to the road. The silence is awkward. I gaze out the window at the sights I see everyday. The familiar green glow of the Deathbucks sign flashes before me as Kid pulls into a space.
He holds the door for me as we walk in. I order a medium black coffee, while he gets a latte. I pull my wallet out, but he's already thrusting some dollar bills towards the cashier. I mumble a thank you, stuffing my wallet back in my bag.
Our beverages are ready quickly, saving us from the pain of having to talk to each other. I hope Kid sees as much as I do that we are making no progress right now. I grab my cup, and he lifts the lid off of his. He scoffs. "Look how slanted this foam is. So unsymmetrical." He mutters, evening the foam with his finger. I smile a little at his strange obsession with symmetry.
We get back in the car and drive to the school. Just like Kid said, the place was empty except for a few cars here and there. He leads me through the hallways and through the familiar doors of the library.
My favorite feature of the library was the lighting. While all the classrooms and hallways had bright fluorescent lighting, the library's lights had a darker glow. They gave the room a more comforting, more inviting feeling. But the quick sense of comfort I get vanishes quickly as I'm reminded why I'm here; not to read or do homework, but to talk about something that could potential ruin a friendship 12 years in the making.
Kid sat at a table, and I sat across from him. For a moment, we just stare at each other. It was one of the most awkward experiences I had ever had. Finally, I sigh.
"Kid, I don't really think I'm the one that needs to do the explaining here." I said. He sets his lips in a thin line, flexing his jaw.
"I know. I'm trying to decipher what to say." He explains. I quietly sit as he stares as his hands, his fingers nervously hitting the table. At last, he takes a deep breath.
"First I want to apologize for my outburst yesterday morning. It was uncalled for and wrong of me. I felt guilty about it all day."
I wait a minute to see if he'll say more, but he seems to be awaiting a response from me. "I-it's okay." I stutter, not sure what else to say. He sighs, shaking his head.
"No, it's not okay. It was awful."
"Then why'd you do it?! I'm sick of beating around the bush, Kid. I don't want an apology, I want a reason." I said. Kid's face went white as his mouth opened and closed like a fish. He was at a loss for words.
"I-I.." He stutters, his eyes back on his hands. I sigh, drumming my fingers on the table as I wait for more of an answer. He doesn't give one.
I take a deep breath, not wanting to shout or get angry. "You don't want me to go to Soul's party... Is it because it's Soul's party?" I ask. He doesn't answer, but I see his demeanor falter. I smile to myself in satisfaction.
I try to recall what Liz and Tsubaki told me earlier. "Does your feelings for me have something to do with your hatred towards Soul?" I ask.
Kid puts his hand on his chin, finally looking up at me. "No, I don't like Soul because he's annoying." He said, muffled by his hand. I raise an eyebrow, and he sighs. He places his hand at his side. "Honestly it's not a big deal. Yes, I admire you as a person and think very highly of you, but that has nothing to do with not wanting to go to Soul's party or not liking Soul himself. No, I don't like that you two are friends, but that's my opinion. I don't want our friendship to change." He admits.
"I don't either." I said. Kid smiles slightly, his stern look disappearing. His eyes bore into mine as I searched for signs of dishonesty, but once again my inability to read Kid prevents it.
"Great." He said softly, turning around and shuffling through his backpack. As he does so, my phone vibrates. I pull it out and glance at the screen name.
S: Secret student council meeting? What are you planning?
A: It's a secret!
S: Hey, come on! I won't tell anybody
A: Ask your friend the secretary, I'm sure he'll know
S: Nah I'd rather harass you
A: How uncool
S: Uncool? You're picking up on my slang now? XD
"Ahem." Kid said, turning my attention away from my phone. I had a stupid grin on my face, but Kid wasn't impressed. He frowns at me, making me scrunch my eyebrows.
"What?" I ask, annoyedly.
"I'm trying to talk student council with you, and you're absorbed in your phone!" Kid said accusingly. I click my phone off, having to ignore Soul's text for now. I throw it on the table and put my hands up, showing that I wasn't using it anymore. He shakes his head.
I scoff and roll my eyes. "Sorry I had to explain to my ride why I wasn't there this morning." I said angrily.
"Soul can wait." Kid practically spits. I throw my hands up, aggravated.
"There you go again! Getting so angry with me for talking to Soul!"
"I'm angry because you weren't paying attention to what I was saying!"
I groan, running my hands down my face. "Let's drop it, okay?"
Kid shakes his head, but begins pulling papers from the binder now on the table. I lean forward, examining each paper and putting myself back into my usual mindset.
The day went by much smoother than the day before. No yelling, no crying, and no avoiding. The air between Kid and I would've been much more awkward had Tsubaki and Liz not been there. They kept the conversation going, preventing awkward silences for the most part. Crona was a little oblivious to the situation, and I reminded myself to fill her in later.
Still, I was relieved when the final bell rang. I stood next to Soul's desk, waiting as he packed up his bag. Once on his shoulders, he turns and grins at me. "Let's get going, roomie." He said.
I look at him in confusion, and then I remember. His mother wasn't home, and he would be staying at our house. I've had so much on my mind yesterday with the whole Kid situation that I had completely forgotten. I feel my cheeks redden as he laughs at me.
Once at his bike, he pulls a helmet out of his backpack and hands it to me. "Only one?" I ask, moving the object around in my hands.
Soul shrugs. "Yeah, I'm ordering mine online. There weren't any cool enough for a guy like me." He said with smirk. I roll my eyes and slip the helmet on. I look at Soul, who winks at me and grins. "I like it." He said.
My face was probably beet red. Thankfully, the helmet covered most of my face so he couldn't see it. I laugh and swing onto the bike, Soul sliding in front of me. I wrap my arms around his waist, and we take off.
"I'm gonna go get some stuff at my house really quick, I'll be right back." Soul said, parking the bike in my driveway. I nod and walk to my front door, unlocking it. My mom wasn't home; probably running errands. I walk into the kitchen and pull some food out, knowing Soul was going to be hungry when he got back. I stand awkwardly in the kitchen, waiting for him to return. I shouldn't act so awkward. What do I normally do when I get home? Bring my backpack up to my room?
I sigh and grab my backpack handle, dragging it up the stairs. I can't let myself act strangely around Soul. He picks up on everything, and if he thinks I'm acting even slightly strange he'll call me out on it. I open the door to my room and throw my backpack under my desk, looking around the room. I straighten the accessories on my desk, wondering why Soul still wasn't here yet. He just ran across the street; how much was he grabbing? Did I even leave the door unlocked? No, I'm certain I left the door open for him.
I begin walking out the door when someone yells from the end of the hall. I scream, starting to run for the stairs but tripping over the carpet. I fall flat on my face, my hands over my head as I shake. I hear hysterical laughter, and lift my head to see Soul holding his stomach. He crouches next to me on the floor, patting my head. I look at him angrily, standing from the floor.
"Why the hell would you do that?!" I exclaim angrily. Soul wipes a few tears from his eyes, still chuckling somewhat. I glare at him, and he grins at me.
"Aw c'mon Allie, don't be uncool about it. It was just a joke."
"It wasn't funny! You could've been a murderer for all I know!" I yell, straightening my now rumpled clothes. He was still laughing, and I push past him and start downstairs.
"Allie c'mon." I hear him say from the top of the stairs, but I ignore him. I hear footsteps down the stairs as he pursues me. I walk into the kitchen, my back facing the doorway. The footsteps stop, and I hear him sigh. "Al-"
I grab an apple on the counter and throw it at him before he can continue. His eyes widen and he catches it before it can connect. Damn him and his hand-eye coordination.
"I'll get you back some day." I said, relaxing back on the counter and grinning. He smiles back and takes a large bite from the apple.
"Your first idea of getting back at me was to chuck a fruit at my head?" He asks. I start laughing as he shakes his head, chewing the apple. "I mean, I'd expect some whipped cream prank, maybe some syrup on the floor, but an apple to the head. That's a new one." He said, chuckling and shaking his head. I laugh even harder, shrugging.
"I didn't even hear you come in, when did you come in?" I ask, sitting down at the kitchen counter. He sits next to me, still chewing his apple.
"I came in quietly in case you were downstairs, but I heard noise coming from your room. So I snuck upstairs and waited until you came out." He explains. I shake my head.
"Asshole." I mutter, smiling. He gives me a shocked look.
"Name calling is not cool, scaredy cat." He retorts. I chuckle a little, and Soul gives a small smile. He faces me suddenly. "How'd it go with Kid this morning? Did you two talk?" He asks.
I sigh. "It was okay.. I guess. He didn't really offer a good explanation, but we're okay now. Then we worked on some prom stuff." I explain. I couldn't tell Soul the true reason I'd met with Kid this morning. Kid would never talk to me again if I did.
Soul looks annoyed. "He can't just yell at you in front of everybody and not have a reason for it. There's more to it."
"I'm not going to push it, Soul. He felt bad enough, it's better to not hold grudges."
"Well, you do what you want. I don't like the way he treated you. You don't deserve that." He said, staring into my eyes. I look away, a small smile on my lips.
"Let's start homework." I whisper, grateful my voice didn't betray my attempt to sound natural. He groans, but follows me up to my room to work.
I couldn't sleep. I lay staring at the ceiling, willing myself to fall asleep. But, despite my efforts, my body didn't want to rest. I sigh, rolling over and looking at my clock. It was almost 2 am; I had to wake up in 5 hours. But to wake up, one needed to be asleep. And I could not sleep!
I throw my covers off, standing and stretching. I walk out of my room and downstairs to the living room. I sit comfortably on the couch, turning the television on. I lower the volume to prevent awakening my mother and Soul. My eyes glaze over as I stare at the infomercial, my mind more of a television than the screen in front of me.
I'd gone most of my life without being involved in drama. I thought staying out of the crowd and keeping to myself would prevent much hysteria in my life. Yet, the past two weeks have put me through emotional turmoil, what with my feelings towards Soul, my jealously towards Maka, my guilt from the secret I keep from Soul, Kid's outburst, Kid's feelings... Thinking about it all made my head hurt. I hadn't felt this mentally trapped since I was old enough to understand what had become of my father.
He loved you so much, they'd tell me.
He kept a picture of you in his wallet and showed everybody at work, they'd tell me.
Even in his crippling condition, I remember your father getting up and playing with you in the yard, they'd tell me.
Why would they tell me this?! I couldn't remember him! I couldn't remember when we played, or when we did things together! I was a baby, a child who was clueless to what was going on around her. It wasn't until I was around 6 that my mother finally explained to me how sick my father had been, and how he's always watching over us. She'd even taken me to his grave. I know she just wanted me to feel more connected with him, but I didn't sleep for 3 days after that. My mind had prevented me from it, just as it was doing now.
The water trickles out of my left eye before I have a chance to process it. And before I know it, I'm quietly crying on the couch, curled in a ball, wanting everything to go back to how it once was. I've acted so much more childish these past few weeks; blame it on my inability to handle stress.
"Al?" I hear from the stairs. My eyes widen at the sound, and I begin violently wiping my eyes with my hands. He can't see me crying. He can't. But has anything worked in my favor lately?
Soul rounds the corner, peering into the living room. I keep my face hidden. "Oh. Hey." I said, sniffling. He looks confused at first, then concerned.
"What's wrong?" He asks, walking over to me. I scoot over on the couch to make room for him. He sits to my left, resting his hands in his lap. His hair was messy, but his eyes looked wide awake. Either Soul wakes easily, which is not true, or he hadn't been sleeping much tonight either.
"Just having a ro-rough night." I said, wiping my eyes. Despite my efforts, tears continue falling down my cheeks. I sigh, too embarrassed to look in his eyes.
Suddenly, he turns off the TV. He takes my hand in his and pulls me up from the couch. I gasp quietly as he walks me up the stairs and into the guest bedroom. He shuts the door, lets go of my hand, and climbs onto the bed. He looks at me expectantly as he taps the space next to him. I comply, sliding comfortably onto the bed.
He wraps a protective arm around my shoulders, and I lay my head on his shoulder. "You've been so weird lately. Please tell me what's wrong." Despite his pleading words, his tone is demanding.
"I... I can't."
"Yes, you can."
"No..." I said, shutting my eyes. He sighs, but squeezes me tighter. He turns his head.
"Yes." He said. I look up at him, and see his face is determined. He wants an answer.
I sigh and shut my eyes again. Then, suddenly, "I know, you know." My blood goes cold. He knows? What does he know? God, there's so much he can know. I look at him with large eyes, but his gaze is fixed in the wall.
"Wh-what?" I stutter.
"I know. About my mom and what my dad's doing." He said. A part of me sighs in relief, while another constricts to the point of suffocation.
"How?"
He sighs. "I saw a letter."
"Oh, Soul." I said. He sighs, his eyes showing no trace of tears. He shakes his head.
"He's such an awful person, I hope the fu-"
"Soul." I said, sternly. He looks at me, fury in his eyes. I push all feelings I have for him aside, and look at the boy in front of me. My best friend, the one always there for me, the one who always picks me up when I fall, needs that right now.
"It's all going to be okay." I murmur, Soul nods, his eyes glassy.
"Hopefully." He whispers, pulling me closer to him. I look up at his face, seeing that his eyes were shut. His lips resemble somewhat of a small smile. My eyes finally begin to shut, and I fall into a comfortable sleep.
Wow! It's been so long since I've updated, I'm so sorry! I was writing a lot of my new fanfiction, Tied Together, and wanted to make some progress with that before I continued writing this one. If you want to check it out, I'd really appreciate it! It's a SoMa fanfiction. Hope you all enjoy this installment of Boy Next Door, thank you for everything!
~Greenybean