Chapter 18: Chapter 18

“Hey” said a shivering Kendal, standing in front of my door. What is she doing here?

“What are you doing here?” I ask her. She is shaking from the cold and it’s a pity to see her like this.

Her teeth chattering, she says, “Um, I left my home...”

“You did what? And why the hell did you come here?”

“Uh, uh, I…. didn’t, uh know where else to go” She is so cold, she can’t talk properly.

“Ok, come inside” I pull her in and close the door, and raise the room temperature.

I give her a blanket, “Settle yourself, I will make you something”.

She wraps the blanket around her and nods.

After sometime I bring her those hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on them, I know that girls like it that way but I never got it, I don’t even like hot chocolate.

She takes a sip and smiles, “You are good at this”

“Good at what?” I say confused, “You know, making things. I don’t even know how to make a proper sandwich”

“Well, I am glad you like it. After drinking, you can stay at our guest room they have some clothes there. Goodnight”

“Hey, where are you going?” she asks.

“Why do you care?”

“You look tired, did you even eat?”

No. I don’t have the appetite and I don’t want to eat

“No,” she places her mug on the table, “You want some?” she says, as nudged the mug towards me.

“No that’s for you” and I nudged it towards her. “So, why did you leave your home?”

“I hate my mom; she doesn’t care about Kez’s death. She said that this is all just a high school drama”

My muscles tenses, I need to focus.

“I am sorry Charlie. That’s why I left; I can leave if you want”

“No, it’s fine, stay. It would be nice to have you as company, I feel like shit. I am just empty on the inside”

“You really want me to stay Charlie?” she asks, I could barely hear her but and I nod because I need her, I need someone who just feels pain just like me and I know Kendal is the one.

She sticks out her hand and I just stare at it. I suddenly feel all calm and cozy. I take it, she smiles.

God. That smile is the best thing I’ve seen all week.

I sit next to her, never breaking the contact. Her fingers are strong around mine; I could feel the pain in her eyes.

Shit. What is happening?

Her eyes are glistening, and just like that she starts crying.

“Shh,” I wrap my arms around her.

“I hate my life. I just hate it” she says, against my shoulder. I could feel her warm tears against my cold skin.

“I am not an exception to that; you at least have parents who actually care about you, look at me, all my parents care about is money”

“You don’t know them”

“Hmm” is all I can say for now. I am trying not to get too attached to her. I don’t want to lose someone else that I care too.

She’s still hugging me; it’s been about ten minutes.

“Ken, you ok?”

No response.

“Ken?”

I pull her slightly, she’s asleep. There are tear stains all over her cheeks, but she still manages to look cute.

No. Don’t do this to yourself.

I carry her to the bedroom, I am not letting her sleep on the couch, and she’s already cold.

When in put her on the bed, she murmurs something that was inaudible to me.

“What Ken?” I say still trying to know if she’s awake a little.

Our faces are just inches away, I could hear her each and every breath.

“I said… I… hmm… I want yo...” is what I heard.

I smile to myself. My first smile all week, damn. She knows how to work me but I am not falling for it.

I kiss her forehead and turn off the light, close the door and leave.

I let out a long sigh.

I am confused. I know she likes me but I just can’t concentrate on anything but Kez. I love Kezya. And I am not going to betray her.