Sweet creature | HighSchool

An optimist understands that life can be a bumpy road,

but at least it is leading somewhere.

They learn from mistakes and failures,

and are not afraid to fail again.

Harvey Mackay

Serenity

The next morning the first thing on my mind was Kai. It was automatic how my my thoughts instantly fixated on him. And his perfectly structured boyish face, with his perfect pink lips that were the right size. The thought alone painted a smile on my face. The smile manage to stay the entire time I got ready for school.
I wore my favorite V-neck baige sweater with lace around the V neck part, throwing on a pair of faded pink cargo pants, and topping it all off with some white sneakers. I decided to leave my hair be, I was thankful my curls were having a good day- so I wouldn't have to touch them this morning. I never even bothered with makeup as I cut the lights off in my bathroom, then grabbing my book bag before I head downstairs. 
I was still smiling as I entered the kitchen where my mother was sitting at her usual spot at the table, watching the news on Tv as she sipped on her coffee. She didn't say much to me yesterday after finding out I cut class to leave with a boy- I mean even the principle did more than my mom, I had detention for a week, and I wasn't skipping it. I just couldn't believe my school punished me before my own mother. Even still - She continues to say nothing - her eyes staying glued to the news station. I decided to join her , I mean if she was going to big deal out of it she would have done it by now.
After 5 minutes of eating and sitting coffee in silence , with only the news playing between us my mother gets up, heading to the sink. I didn't expect for her to say anything until she did.

"So, do you like him? " the sound of her voice threw me off. Now her eyes were on me, she didn't look mad or anything, in fact she looked invested.

It was odd, I've never had a crush even after going through puberty- so luckily the boy conversation never had to get had with me. She had it with my older sister because she was much older, but anytime when they did talk about it, I've alway made it my mission to avoid it. Because at that time boys to me were uninterested, now that's changed . I mean, sure I liked him, but I fear it was more than just a like. I thought about him - dreamed about him. I got butterflies when he spoke, and my eyes were captivated by his. Everything about him made me want more, so "like"was an understatement.

"Yes" I admit, honestly.

"Well, he sure is different- and, if I'm being completely honest with you seeing him drop you off on the back of a motorcycle freaked me out yesterday serenity," my mom says, I could tell she wanted to say more
"It's no you. I trust you," she starts "but boys like that - boys like him, their bad news serenity , and you've been though so much with you're dad, and you're sister and I just don't want this to be some phase." She finally breaths. Her rant over, but; now I was confused. I thought she wanted me to make friends, and wanted me to talk to boys. Or was it just boys like Noah that she wanted me to do all those things with? I couldn't decide rather to be angry or not. It made me feel better that this attack my mother was having wasn't so much about me, but more so about Kai. She was judging him, just like everyone else had. But how can a boy that grew up in church be bad? How can someone that hides their feelings to avoid disappointment be bad for me? How can someone who bleeds too be bad? I mean sure his reputation was bad, but reputations and the truth were two different things. Kai Carson's reputation was bad- but him, himself was not bad - in fact he was an angel. An angel to me, with just a little bit of darkness on the outside.
His light didn't shine any less to me, no matter how much his darkness tries to taint him. But- my mother didn't know that about him, I mean how could she ? So I just smile in response.

"Thanks mom, for the advice.....I'll be careful" I promised. I'm not really sure what expectations I just set for myself when I made the promise, but I just wanted this conversation to be dead, and I would never blame my mother for being worried about me ; I worry about her too. And if a strange, beautiful man came dropping her off at 10:00pm at night, on the back of the motorcycle , I would be worried too. But, she had absolutely nothing to worry about, and even if she didn't trust Kai I do. And that's all that matters.

The rest of the breakfast was easier, mom was being her social self again after clearing the elephant out of the room, and then we both kissed goodbye and went on with our separate days. The drive to school was seemless, I had morning detention for a week that I made sure to be on time for. The detention was for an hour, before school actually started at the back of the school in a room that was unfamiliar to me. I recognized the teacher that monitored the room, he was my algebra teacher I had freshman year before I moved. He was surprised to see me there, but he treated me like rest - telling me to go find an empty desk and don't speak or have phones.
I complied without argument. And, If I'm being completely honest I actually enjoyed morning detention - the room was far off, only me and three other students were here , I guess Kai didn't show up , which I knew he wouldn't but that didn't stop me for showing up and getting this over with. I spent the first day of morning detention with my head in a book - the hour flew by as I got sweep away in my world of fiction. When the school bell rung The teacher and students quickly made their way out of the room, and so did I. I
Gathered my things and started making my way towards my first class of the day. I was going to dread this whole day until my English literature class, because that's where Kai would be, sitting slugging in his chair, without a care in the world. The thought carried me through the way, but disappointment filled me when English literature came and he never came.
To say I was disappointed was an understatement, I wanted him here - with me , selfish I know , he didn't belong to me, and I didn't belong to him - we weren't anything at all, yet I was eager to see him, and disappointed when I didn't. I knew I was going to have to shake this obsession somehow, it was unhealthy. Pathetic even. So, for the rest of the day I pushed the thoughts of him out of my mind as I walked to my last period of the day - biochemistry.
I was surprised to see Noah already sitting at our table. I felt like it's been awhile since I last hung out with him and his friends, and the very last time we spoke was when he was telling me to stay away from Kai, and I basically beat him up about it. I know he must've heard about me and Kai's fiasco yesterday - the whole school was talking about it, but I ignored it . I didn't care what they were all saying because it wasn't true, but - would Noah think the same of me?
I took a deep breath, before I walked in the class and pulled at seat next to Noah. I kept my head down - purposefully avoiding him.

"Hi" The familiar voice belonged to Noah. I knew the sound of his voice automatically. I debated on whether or not if I should respond . We didn't exactly end on the best of terms, but I did miss him as a friend.

I look up. Our eyes meeting, and I'm instantly calmed at the sight of those sea blue eyes, his smile flashes once our eyes meet, and I can't help but to smile back automatically.

"Hey" I breath. I allow myself to relax.

"You look nice today" Noah compliments, staring me up and down.

I smile, "Thanks." I say. It was silence between us for a second before Noah spoke again.

"Is it true that you and Kai Carson are dating?" Noah question, his tone indifferent, and I can tell by his standoffish posture, that's he wasn't happy at all.

I shake my head, dismissing the thought

"No," I spit "not at all."

"So why did the entire English letsture class say that they saw you two leave out on his motorcycle"

Noah was being invasive, and passive. It felt like this was something more than just about me- he was furious that it was Kai. Just like mother - just like everyone else. The thought made me angry.

"Why do you care" I spit out again. Why did he care so much, and what business was it to him? He just judged Kai like everyone else.

"Because he's bad news, and you should stay away from him." Noah counters, his words still harsh and full of anger.

"You don't know him, you don't know anything about him." I say, fixing my eyes off of Noah and straight ahead. Other kids were starting to come, and I wasn't going to cause a scene. Not anymore than I already had.

Noah laughs beside me, it's dry and lifeless. It sounded more like an insulted laugh than anything.

"So, he hasn't told you." Noah says, his words are low - calmer , but still bitter. He was still bitter. But I ignore all of that and focus on his words. I press my eyebrows together confused, now I was looking at Noah again.

He read my expression, and shook his head.

"Of course," he spits but it's more to himself, as his eyes stay glued forward. "Of course he wouldn't mention that him and I our cousins" Noah spits under his breath but I heard every word.

I sit there dumbfounded. Noah and Kai were cousins.