“Are you okay?” he whispered. I nodded, unable to speak yet. “He would be so proud of you.”
I pushed my face into him, clenching my jaw. “No, he really wouldn’t. He’d be disappointed.” I knew I was acting like a bitch. Somewhere, deep down, I was still there, but I didn’t even know how to find that girl anymore. I had no idea how to go through the grief my mum and sister went through and make it back out again. I couldn’t do it. I was weaker than them and found it easier to shut everything out.
“Shh, it’s okay.” He rested his head on mine and held me tight. “You could never be a disappointment, Tegan. I see you, what’s underneath the pain, and I know you’re not a bad person. You’re incredible and beautiful.”
“You forgot intelligent and funny.” I joked, blinking back more tears. I couldn’t even comment on his ‘I see what’s beneath’ comment.
He laughed and replied, “Yeah, and modest, sarcastic, hard work and–”
“Okay, I get it.” I cut him off, slapping his chest and laughing. Wow, I went from meltdown to laughing in seconds. “Thank you, Kai.”
“Anytime, princess. You want me to walk you home?” he asked.
“Can we go to yours?” I didn’t want to go home to the lecture about Kai that I knew was waiting for me.
“Sure, but I’ve not got my car or bike here.”
“Wait. Walk?”
He smirked. “No car. I came with the bed stealers.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Fine, let’s go.” Grabbing his hand, I pulled him up.
Me and Kai spent the rest of the afternoon watching films and having a small water fight – which I lost. I changed into one of his t-shirts as mine was completely soaked and we settled down on the sofa to order something to eat.
“So, who are you avoiding at home then?” he asked after ordering the pizza. I stared at him for a minute. How the hell did he know that? He smiled. “I do pay attention to you.”
I flopped back on the sofa. “Mum. Ava, too, probably, they’re gonna give me a hard time over you.”
“Right, because you’re in love with me even though you have a boyfriend.” He said boyfriend as if it was a dirty word.
“Yeah, that’s it,” I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes, making him laugh.
I really didn’t care what anyone said, me and Kai hadn’t crossed any lines and I really wanted him in my life. No one was going to stop me from being his friend. Ava could judge all she wanted.
We ate pizza and played the Xbox. Well, he played. I was rubbish at it. It was starting to get dark, and I already had three missed calls and four texts from Mum. Kai drove me home and stopped just down the road.
“You want me to stop here?” he asked.
“Nah, the lecture’s gonna happen anyway.” He nodded and pulled forwards until we stopped outside my house. The front door opened as soon as we’d stopped. Not a good sign.
“Just be honest, no one can blame you for loving me.” He laughed, and I slapped his arm hard, it hurt my hand but he didn’t flinch. “Err, Tegan?” He nodded towards my house. Lucas, Jake and Grace were standing outside with Mum and Ava, none of them looked particularly happy.
“Oh, crap.”
“So, this is gonna be awkward, huh?”
Understatement.
We both got out the car and he walked to the boot to get the smurf. Kai wouldn’t let me have it in the car because people might see. I smiled at Lucas, which he returned with a fake one.
“Hello, Kai,” Lucas practically growled.
“Lucas.” Kai nodded once and turned to me. “Here, don’t forget smurf Kai.” He handed it to me.
“Oh, now it’s Kai, is it?” I whispered.
“Hey, you’re the one that named it.” I glared at him for a second, he laughed and walked round to the driver side. “See you tomorrow, princess.”
“Hey, Luke, how come you’re back?” I smiled and hugged him. He put his arms around me loosely, not his usual greeting.
“I came back to see you.” No, he came back because Mum had called him asking if I was with him when I didn’t go home and he’d guessed I’d be with Kai. He was here to check up on me.
He sounded pissed off. His eyes were dark and tense. I ran my hand over his cheek and jaw. His face softened as he looked into my eyes, he slowly leant down and kissed me. I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. He pulled away too soon, resting his forehead against mine. “Tegan, why are you wearing his shirt?”
“We had a water fight. I lost.” He nodded, smiling weakly. “How long are you back for?”
“Two days, we got some more time off work.” I smiled and pulled him into another kiss. “What’s happening tomorrow?”
“Party at Holly’s. Her parents are back soon so this is the last one. You wanna come?”
“No, it’s fine, you have a good time. Is Kai going to bring you home, too?”
I laughed at that. “No, he’ll be drunk. We were going to stay at Holly’s, but I can get a lift home from someone.”
“I’ll pick you up in the morning, stay at Holly’s.”