"So the rumors are true then? She's to be suspended for a week plus community service? That's horrible?" The lanky girl on braises chatter.

Electra the news bearer nods in confirmation amidst devouring her tray of lunchtime meal. I'm sure she doesn't joke with her food.

She wipes her fingers with the paper towel beside her. "One thing I'm sure about Mindy Brookes is that she ain't going on suspension. Maybe a mild punishment, nothing else. Yvonne has always had Mindy film or take pictures of her at every event or silly stuff so why's this one different?" Electra drops the question in her usual domineering manner, giving room for the other girls seated around the table in the cafeteria to delve into the matter.

Lisa flips her hair in style. "Haven't you guys watched the clip?..."

"It was taken down before I could. Why? What's in it?" Electra pipes in.

"She made a personal love confession to Landon Brookes in Hawaii and Mindy filmed and uploaded it without her consent"

"Wait!_" The lanky girl cuts in.

"Isn't he like your bestie or whatever?" She's suddenly directing the attention at me.

I squint in my seat, hating that I got involved in cheap gossip again because of Landon.

"Yeah" I mutter impatiently waiting for King-Cairo.  How long does it take one to answer a call from principal Habril?

"Oh don't mind Kendal. She's totally cut off from what's happening with the popular girls and boys. I'm not sure how he still manages to acknowledge her" Lisa says.

"Lisa don't be so blunt. Kendal is everything Landon likes, ain't that true?" Electra turns to me smiling.

"I'm not sure what you mean but I have a boyfriend and he's one of the big boys too" I don't know why I said that.

Lisa hisses in pure jealousy. "King-Cairo?... Heavens please"

"Damn girl, you know how to get 'em!" Electra hollers.

"If I were you, Kendal Levy, I would've been one of the big chics at school. Or get me into King's mum's reality show. I'll damn well become a popular kid here" Lisa says, I mentally roll my eyes at her.

She's been aimlessly plowing her way through to hang out with the big girls, I'm sure she'd do anything for it.

Yvonne catwalks into the cafeteria and everywhere goes silent. I believe this meant most people have seen the video. Her eyes narrow to her usual table but her friends must've skipped lunch. She sashays out of the hall.

The sight of her reminds me of the times she'd throw dirt on me for always being around her boyfriend Landon. She would dare me not to tell him of her vicious acts to prove I wasn't a lapdog and so I didn't.

But the bullying didn't stop, it got worse especially when Chelsea decided to take matters overboard and threw me inside our school's diving pool. I almost didn't make it out alive but thank heavens I was saved.

Yet I never mentioned a thing to Landon, the only times he saved me from their bullies were the ones they did in his presence. He even threatened to break up with Yvy one time if she didn't warn her friend.

Now remembering the past only makes me realize she's never felt different for Landon even after their breakup. Did she really think he'll take her back?

I chuckle at the thought. The Landon I know didn't return to his exes once he called it quits. He wouldn't do that for his first love Meredith so why Yvy?

My thoughts derail me from the conversations going on at the table. I snatch my bag and head out in search of King. I'm wondering why the principal asked to see him in the first place. We were supposed to sneak out during lunchtime to the hospital. I need to visit Emma and he promised to take me but lunch is almost over.

Someone covers my eyes with their palm, the other hand curving around my waistline. I try peeling the hands off my face but it doesn't budge.

Slowly, I inch my head back and perceive his perfumed scent.

"Landon let go of me"

"Honey, you know me too well," he laughs moving to my front. "I wanted us to hang out at the viewing center this evening after classes, you game?"

"Uh... I'm sorry I can't. King and I are going to the_" he interrupts.

"Oh, relationship duties then?" He nods.

"Lan_" I start but he cuts me off again.

"No K, go ahead with your plans but just remember I warned you about him a thousand times"

"Warned who?.." King creeps up from behind him.

"It's none of your business dudes. Wasn't talking to you!"

"But you were talking to my girlfriend in the middle of the hallway so why won't it matter to me?" He challenges.

Landon looks at him fiercely . I'm not quite understanding the tension between these two.

I watch my boyfriend move closer to my best friend.
"If you think I don't know the nasty things you said behind my back and to my teammates then you must be a big fool, Brookes. Stay outta my business I don't care if Kendall was once your best friend!" He spits.

"And whatchu gon do if I don't stay off your matter?..." Landon recalls both of them standing face to face at daggers drawn.

King-Cairo bites his lip, his eyes shone in mystery but Landon doesn't seem to care.

"Landon stop it please?" I pull at him, needing to defuse the tension.

"Kendal let's go. We don't have to waste our damn energy on him when he's so frustrated he didn't make it to the state competition."

"You say what?!" Landon pushes at his chest. "Damn well say that again!!" He thunders.

"Don't push at me again, I'm warning you, Brookes"

But he repeats the action again and as quickly.
King launches himself at him with a heavy blow but Landon is clever enough to dodge it, he ends up plunging his fist into a nearby locker.

King grunts in pain, kneeling on one foot. I rush over to him and his joints are scraped, blood spilling over.

Quickly, I untie my favorite bandana and wrap it around his fists before taking him to the infirmary. I look back at Landon in sheer disappointment. He used to be more sensible.

After a proper first aid, King was allowed to go home for the rest of the day so he had his driver pick him up.

"I'll miss you, Kendal, we rarely spend time together," King says, holding his wounded fist.

"Yeah me too"

"Can you ditch class just for today? We can go hang out at my place. Binge on some favorite movies and make out" he says the last part in a funny whisper.

I grin feeling tingly all over. "I would've agreed to your ideas except for the last part," I say

"Why? You don't trust it's only gonna end in making out?"

"That's not true... I don't trust myself not to"

"Oh, stupid cliche reply. I know you're scared of having sex for the first time and I understand. I'm not gonna rush you into that. Besides, I wanted you to see my place"

"What of your parents?"

"I practically stay alone" he rolls his eyes in duh.

"Alright, that's if you promise to allow me to choose a movie we'll watch" I suggest.

"You win"

His driver arrived early to take us to his home. It wasn't as impressive as I had imagined the home of the famous Indiana Monarch to be.

"It's comfortable right?" King asks, pulling off his expensive Nike.

I watch as he strolls around the house like he's used to doing everything on his own.

"Lemme show you my room" he takes my hand and leads me upstairs, the wood creaking like it's about to give up under our weight.

"Don't worry it won't break. It makes that sound but it won't break away. It's made with the finest woods" he assures me when I hear the wooden stairs creak.

"But why does everything here look old?"

"Cos it's a hundred years old house"

"What!" I yell in shock.

"My granny handed this house over to me before she died and it came in handy when I needed to leave LA from the buzzing lifestyle of my parents.

"You do live here alone," I mutter.

"Told ya. Welcome to my privacy" he announced ushering me into a tidy white and grey painted room. His bed was in the middle of the room with plain white sheets. Everything looks properly set.

My eyes darted to an object. It's an Egyptian pyramid with a golden tip placed on a stand.

My hand moves over the quality in admiration.
"So you still uphold your tradition hm?" I still ask transfixed on the object.

King's bubbly laughter erupts from the inner room. That's when I notice he's in the changing room. It's a glass door that slides open when a human is a feet away.

I try to make it in but it doesn't open.

I knock on the glass and he peeps his head out.
"What? Have you changed your mind about us having sex?" He jokes.

I blush all over. "Not that. How do you open this door?"

"It can only open for me, that's how I told the builders to make it."

"Oh, customized"

"Yass. I'll be right back. Just find something interesting on the laptop"

He returns looking breathtaking. His hair is damp from the quick shower. He's by the mirror running hot air in them.

"I feel uncomfortable" I say, getting his full attention.

"Oh, do you wanna shower? Maybe a cold one would help you relax babe"

I smile as he calls me babe. King-Cairo is really sweet. He rummages through his wardrobe to get me something nice to change into when I'm done showering.

I crunch on my chips as we watch one of the trending Netflix series_the last kingdom.

We're cuddled in his bed under the duvet, curtains closed and lots of snacks to keep our mouths waggling while we enjoy watching the Danes terrorize the Saxons under the rule of King Alfred of Wessex.

"Do you think Uhtred is ever gonna get his kingdom back?" I ask after bingeing up to the fifth season where the main character still hasn't achieved his main goal.

I turn to see King snoring lightly. A wrap of half-eaten cheerios in his hand.

His soft lips are slightly ajar, letting out soft noises. I run my fingers on his smooth face up to his thick brows which made him seem interesting.

I can't believe he's my boyfriend, I would've never thought a guy like him would be interested in me. King made me feel special without saying it. And I think I love him too.

I lean in and place a peck on his lips.
He stirs and peels his eyes open. His beautiful brows furrow in confusion. We stayed like that in silence gazing into each other's eyes until Cairo pulled me in and ravished my lips like he did back in Hawaii.

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