♥Chapter 4: ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ɢᴏᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ♥

✿Kennedy✿

Hands shake me awake as I close my open mouth already knowing there's an ocean of drool on my face. My eyes slide open, and I want to attack the person who wakes me up.

Alex stands in front of me, unsure, "Um you're gonna be late for school."

I blink up at him through sleepy and hazy eyes. A frown of confusion masks my face as I wipe the drool with the back of my hand. "What school?"

"Your last year of high school that you couldn't attend."

"Oh." That made me sleepy again as I close my eyes, hoping to go back to sleep.

"Wake up." Alex coaxes me into waking up again.

"I don't wanna wake up," I mumble.

"I'll make you anything you want for breakfast."

I peek open an eye. "Anything?"

A look of regret immediately comes on his face. Why though? It's not like I was going to ask him to bake me a twenty-layer wedding cake without me even having a wedding.

Okay, maybe I was.

Nah, just kidding.

I secretly was.

Just to not trouble Alex on the second day of me living here, I lazily bring my head up and did a full stretch with a monstrous yawn. From the corner of my eyes, I notice Alex rolling his lips into his mouth to hide a smile. A blush forms on my face as I stop stretching and clamp my mouth shut.

"So what do you want to eat?" He asks.

"Do you have donuts?" I absolutely love donuts.

A small frown creases his eyebrows, "Donuts aren't breakfast."

A gasp comes out of my mouth as I grab my heart and pretend to cry. I mentally narrow my eyes when the dang fake tears won't come out.

"How can you say that?" Where are my tears when I need them?

Alex gives a roll of his eye whilst smiling, "We don't have donuts right now. I'll get you some when I come back from work. Now let's just eat whatever is there, okay?"

I give a nod and slide off the bed as Alex strut downstairs to the kitchen. There isn't a bathroom in my room unlike Jake's, so I had to use the one outside.

I walked out of the room and gaze at Jake's closed door. Is he still sleeping? Should I spy on him again?

Deciding to give my ultimate spying skills the day off, I walk into the bathroom and freshen up.

I pick out an off-shoulder floral print dress and pair it with my white sneakers.

Realizing I still didn't have my inhaler I sit with my nebulizer for ten minutes before going downstairs into the kitchen.

Alex was dressed in his police uniform, sipping a cup of coffee when I enter and sit down on the barstool near the counter. Jake isn't here yet. Is he still sleeping?

Alex goes in a brief explanation on how I'm going to attend High School and complete my studies and he already got all my supplies and schoolbag ready.

I frown at him in confusion, feeling glad for his help but still confused, "That's all really nice Alex but...why are you doing this? I mean I'm happy that I get to live in a house and not in an orphanage or something, but I never met you before and you don't even know me. You might later find out that I'm a highly wanted criminal who does killing for fun."

"You're not a criminal." He sips his coffee.

"I could be." 

"But you're not."

"I could be."

"You're not."

"Is that a challenge?"

His eyes widen at my scowl before shaking his head with a smile, "Fine you could be."

"Yup I am." I grin before realizing I admitted being a criminal to a legit cop. My eyes widen in horror and I look at him. "Are you going to put me in prison now?"

He blinks at me before playing along, "I'll leave you with a warning for now."

"What about the dead bodies?"

"Did you hide them?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Where?"

"Threw them in a lake. All by myself."

"Then nobody has to know." He presses a finger to his lips, giving me a firm assuring look. I give a nod in response.

We both turn to our breakfasts silently.

Wait, he didn't answer my question!

Before I could open my mouth, the sound of a door opening reaches us before footsteps thud downstairs. Jake emerges from the staircase wearing a black hoodie with dark jeans. His dark brown hair bounces as he struts towards the front door, not even giving a glance to Alex and I in the kitchen.

"Uh, Jake!" Alex stops him before he could reach the door.

Jake pauses and turns towards us. His dark perfect eyebrows crease into a frown which I'm now thinking is slapped permanently on his face.

  "Why don't you have breakfast with us today?" Alex asks in a slight tone of hope.

Jake stares at Alex before turning his eyes towards me. My cheeks taint pink. I give him a polite smile. He glares and turns around, pulling open the door and walking out. The door slams shut behind him.

A sigh releases from Alex's mouth.

I look at him to see a small look of disappointment and sadness on his face.

"What's wrong with him?" I ask.

He gives a shrug, "We're not that close."

But why does he have to be so rude?

"Why not?" I ask. I remember being super close to my parents. They were my best friends and I used to tell them every single thing. Even if I farted.

"He was close to his mother." A sad smile lines Alex's lips. "Always has been since a kid. I've never been the favourite parent." He chuckles but I could still feel his sadness.

A sad pout forms on my lips as I get up from my stool and walk over to him. I wrap my arms around his huge shoulders.

A small laugh leaves his lips. "You don't have to hug me like this every time, Kennedy."

"You're my favourite person so far," I say and pull away, smiling at him.

He smiles back and pats my head before standing from his stool to his tall height. "Let's get you to school now."

During the car ride, I keep my eyes trained outside the window, looking around at the new streets and places. I even try finding the flashy lights but so far, I don't think I see them anywhere. Alex doesn't even let me touch any buttons.

He rolls his giant truck in front of the school, and I jump down the truck as gently as I could. I don't have my inhaler, so I have to keep reminding myself to be gentle and calm everywhere I go.

Alex waves me goodbye and drives away while I hitch my schoolbag properly and look around at the massive building. People walk in and out and it made me excited to see so many people. I hope I find new friends. I love making friends. Does that mean I'm betraying Gary?

I walk into the school and follow the directions to the school office. From there I get my schedule and locker number. This school is pretty big, so I took a lot of time walking from one place to another. Everyone here looks so pretty and good-looking.

While putting my books in the locker that's in the middle of the hallway, sudden loud voices reach my ears grabbing my attention. I turn to my side to see a guy with a dazzling, charming, smile walking into the hallway high fiving and laughing with people surrounded all around him.

His blonde hair flops on his head and he holds a kind of aura that attracts everyone. People from the sides watch him with a longing dazed look as he handshakes a few guys wearing football jerseys.

Behind him, trails a skinny-looking girl with long brown hair and sharp blue eyes. She wears probably the most expensive-looking clothes, looking like a model straight from the runway. A designer purse dangles from her arm that probably would cost me my legs. In all in one, she looks so striking.

The guy comes near me, and I find myself getting excited to see him from close.

He raises his hand, high-fiving a few people beside me but when he comes near me, he mistakes my face for a hand, and high-fives my face. My head jerks back with pain shooting up my nose.

"Oh shit." The guy stops when he realizes what he did. His mouth gapes open and then he laughs along with a few people around us. "I am so sorry." He holds his hands in front of his mouth, looking guilty, with wide amused eyes. His smile is so cute. "Damn, I'm really, so, so, sorry."

"It's fine," I say, still clutching my nose then realizing I have to breathe, I let go.

"This is why," The gorgeous girl behind him speaks, giving him a narrow-eyed look, "you look around properly before slapping your hands somewhere." 

The guy gives her a grin before looking back at me.

The girl furrows her eyebrows at me. "I've never seen you before. New?"

I give a nod, smiling. "Hi, I'm Kennedy."

"Corey." The guy offers his hand, and I shake it. "Where you from?"

"California. Just moved two days ago." I reply before looking at the girl who's tilting her head at me with a slight frown. "I like your hair." I smile at her.

She blinks at me as if for a moment she wasn't sure if I complimented her or not. "Uh, thanks."

"I like your smile," I tell Corey and he smiles again.

"Say why don't I offer you a drink or something for accidentally slapping you?" Corey smiles widely.

I nod, getting excited about making a new friend. "I love milkshakes."

"Milkshakes, done." He says.

"What about your girlfriend?" I ask looking at the girl whose name I don't know yet.

A huge scoff comes from her mouth and she gives a disgusted look while Corey bursts out laughing.

"I'm his sister." Her face twists into a grimace.

"Oh, my bad," I say.

"Anywho. See you later for the milkshakes," Corey salutes me with a wink before walking away along with his sister following him.

I smile at them before taking all the books I need and heading to my class, following my schedule.

School goes well and I'm super glad I don't have to use my inhaler yet. I'm being super careful with everything I'm doing.

I notice the CCTV cameras in the hallways and stop dead in my tracks. What if these cameras catch me doing something evil or me carrying five dead bodies? Should I stab the cameraman next?

Well, maybe I should just keep my evil plans out of school. They don't deserve to peek into my genius brain anyway.

For now, I just give the cameras a big wave.

I don't get to make many friends. Scratch that, I didn't make any friends. People don't seem inviting or kind at all when I approach them or talk to them. The teachers also don't bother to make me feel welcome or anything.

I try looking for Corey and his sister again but they're nowhere to be seen.

I walk out of the school with a tired body. I've never been the one to walk much or do any physical activities. Half the reason being bedridden for six months since the car crash.

I take out my phone to call Alex, asking him when is he coming to pick me up.

At first, he sounds confused as to why he has to come to pick me up. Then he mumbles a string of curses to himself. He apologizes continuously saying that he never had to pick anyone up from school and that he forgot to make arrangements for that.

"I'll send someone to pick you up, alright? Don't roam anywhere." He says. "I can't leave my work right now."

"It's fine," I say, honestly. "Take your time."

I sit on the grass with my back leaning against a tree, silently watching people walk or drive away in their cars or trucks. My legs spread out in front of me as I pick at the grass, twirling them between my fingers.

"Hey, Kennedy!"

A voice catches my attention and I look up to see Corey waving at me from far, standing near a dark blue flat car.

I smile and stand up. He wants me to walk towards him, right? I'm walking towards him anyway.

"Hi." I smile once I'm near him and his sister.

"Why were you sitting there all alone?" He asks.

"Waiting for someone to come pick me up. He forgot he had to pick me up." I chuckle.

"You want a ride?" He asks, and I immediately think of my secret ninja moves that I can pull out if he turns out to be a kidnapper.

He doesn't look like a kidnapper. He looks more like a British model, but I could be wrong. He might be a British kidnapper. Without actually being British.

"You're not British," I tell him.

He shakes his head. "No."

"I know that." I nod. "You're a kidnapper."

He furrows his eyebrows. "No..."

I give him a reassuring look. "Your secret is safe with me."

"But I'm not a kidnapper," Corey says. "The only thing I kidnap is everyone's heart and attention."

"Ha. Ha," His sister says dryly.

The sound of a car pulling up catches my attention and I turn around to see a black car stopping in front of the school. A tall body steps out and I immediately recognize him as Jake. His sea-green eyes roam around the campus with his oh-so-famous glare on his face.

"Jake!"

It was Corey's sister who takes off running towards Jake.

Oh mama, she can run in those heels?

I watch in confusion as the girl runs and throws her arms around Jake's neck. He catches her by the waist.

Corey notices my confusion. "That's Toothy's cousin."

I furrow my eyebrows, "Her name's Toothy?" Not that I'm judging.

Corey looks at me and chuckles, "No, that's just a nickname she gets called by everyone. She had no teeth when she was seven. Like none, except maybe four or five. She broke all of them within a week."

"Oh." I nod before widening my eyes, "So Jake's your cousin?"

"Nah not mine. Just Toothy's," he replies making me frown in confusion again.

Corey notices and smiles amusedly, "Toothy is my stepsister."

I blink in surprise, "Oh wow."

"C'mon." He jerks his head in a gesture for me to follow him. We walk towards Jake and Toothy who are in a conversation. Jake isn't smiling at her, but he doesn't have his glare. He only looks at her with a blank face. 

"Wassup?" Corey grins when we come near, raising his hand for a high five. Jake glares at his hand, but Corey seems unaffected by it as he turns to pat Jake's shoulder instead.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Toothy asks, looking up at Jake.

Jake tilts his head towards me, "Came to pick her up."

"Oh, Alex sent you?" I ask.

He glares, "Yeah."

A sad feeling seeps to me. Why is he always glaring at me?

"You know her?" Toothy furrows her eyebrows.

"He's my trashman." I blurt.

They all turn towards me.

"I mean not an actual trashman. He only threw my inhaler in the trash. He doesn't carry trash as you all can obviously see. You know? Because you all have eyes. So it's easier for us to see. I always imagine how it would be to see with our belly buttons. I mean would we have to lift up our shirts every time we want to see or will there be holes in our shirts?" I ramble on and realize Jake's glaring, Toothy's staring, and Corey is grinning.

I clamp my mouth shut, a blush rising to my cheeks.

"Get in the car," Jake grumbles.

"Is this kidnapping?" I ask.

"Yes, now get in." He snaps.

I internally huff. Someone has to teach this boy some manners. Or man. Whatever.

I mumble a bye to Corey and Toothy before walking around the car and sitting inside.

Jake sits in shortly after and I almost make loud sniffing noises to get more of the good smell he's giving off.

The car drives off and we're immersed in silence. I try not to openly stare at him, but I do peek from my red hair to look at his large hands gripping the steering wheel.

"So," I start deciding to turn and face him, "How ya doing?"

He doesn't reply. Doesn't even glance at me.

"Hello from the other sideee." I quietly sing under my breath and continue singing in the same tune but different lyrics, "the side on the car. Where I'm sittinggg. Waiting for you to replyyy."

  He turns his head in my direction and I give a triumph smile, "Are you gonna answer?"

He turns back to the road.

I stay quiet for a second before my mouth decides to open again, "So I heard you go to college. You're a college man? How old are you?" I ask, "Wait lemme guess."

I look at his angular face with sharp cheekbones and a prominent jaw. His eyes glimmer with the sun reaching into them, giving them almost a golden glow. He looks so gorgeous. He doesn't seem affected by me full-on staring at him but there's a crease between his dark eyebrows that shows his annoyance.

"I'm gonna say...twenty-one." I guess.

"Twenty-two." He grumbles quietly.

I want to hear more of his deep and dark voice. If only he could talk more and loudly. Does he sing? Does he even know what singing is? 

"Well, I was close," I speak. "I'm nineteen by the way. My birthday is on November 12. Do you believe in zodiac signs? I don't believe in them but I like reading about-"

The car jerks forward, and my body lurches ahead from the seat because of not putting on the seatbelt. My head almost bangs against the front of the car before I grab onto the sides of my seats and compose myself.

"What the buck?" I glare at Jake who purposefully slammed on the breaks. "You did that on purpose because you wanted me to stop talking!" 

"Thought I saw a duck crossing the road." He starts driving again.

I narrow my eyes at him and open my mouth but instead of words, a splutter of coughs erupt from my mouth. I put my hand over my mouth to muffle my coughs. I don't want to cough and annoy Jake when he already hates me.

But my coughs have something else in mind when they come out harder and louder. I'm pretty sure my lungs are going to come out now.

A few moments pass and my coughs finally die down.

I take in deep breaths, wiping my eyes and clearing my throat to get rid of the scratchiness. I glance at Jake to see him focusing on the road with a stoic face.

I quietly look back at my side of the window and keep quiet. Tears prick at the corner of my eyes but I don't let them fall.

I hate this sometimes.

I don't want Jake to see me like this for whatever reason. God knows what he's thinking of me right now.

God, she's just an annoying sick girl. Can her coughs get any uglier?

I don't want him to feel bad about me either. I always want people to take my condition as something normal. I don't want others to be scared to get what I have just because it affects me badly.

Jake rolls the car into the garage of his house and I silently walk inside the house, not saying another word.

I step up to my room as gently and slowly as I can to not trigger another fit of coughs.

Once inside, I plug in my nebulizer and sit on my bed with a dark cloud above my head.

A few moments later- or maybe hours later, since it's dark outside now- my eyes flutter open.

Crap, I fell asleep. I look at the clock to see the time, 8 in the night.

The nebulizer mask still remains on my face and I jump up realizing it's on for more than five hours. I quickly move to switch it off but pause. It's already switched off.

I stare at it in confusion. I didn't switch it off.

Unless I did it in my sleep.

Woah, can I do things in my sleep?

A box on my desk catches my eye and I turn towards it. I don't remember seeing this box here earlier.

Is it a bomb?

Walking over to it, I slowly open the box, preparing myself to be blown up in shreds. I expect some black ticking bomb or a red firecracker to be sitting inside but instead, a harmless yellow inhaler lay innocently inside.

I pick it up and hold it in my hands.

This is definitely a new inhaler.

My thoughts go to only to one person who could have bought this. 

Jake.

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Words: 3,600

Date of posting: 18th March