Chapter 2 #2
“But if I don’t follow the rules at Ashworth Academy, I have to go to another school.”
“So they have set an arbitrary number for you to hit?” Kai says, unimpressed.
“School is already filled with facts they want us to swallow without question. Now they’re forcing you to memorize the curriculum to the point they find satisfactory?
And if you don’t, they’ll punish you by forcing you out. This is bull, James.”
“I knew you’d see it my way,” I say, forlorn. “But what can I do? Aunt Maddy can’t pay the tuition, and I don’t want to change schools.”
“Yeah, not an option,” Kai says, shaking his head. “You can’t leave school.”
I roll alongside a guardrail, looking up at the clouds patch-working the blue sky. “Maybe dropping out will be the easiest option.”
“And then what?” Kai asks, dragging his foot alongside his board to follow me. “You want to work now and be a slave to the man? Nope, you gotta figure out a way to stay at Ashworth Academy.”
“It’s impossible. I’m so used to tuning out everything our teacher’s drone on about.”
“You’re not dumb. If you do listen, you’ll get it. It just sucks you have to feed on their version of facts and history.”
I sling my arm around Kai’s back and rest my head against his arm. “Why can’t I be like you and have parents who can pay for my education?”
“Because if that were the case, you’d be boring like everyone else. Don’t let anyone turn you into the version they want you to be.”
“I’m not interesting, I’m poor.”
Kai laughs. “You’re not poor anymore. Maddy’s cafe is one of the most popular places in town.”
“We still don’t fit in. Most people in Victoria Falls have ten times the money we do.”
Kai pats my shoulder. “Don’t compare yourself to the masses. You’re better than that.”
I nudge him off and shake sense into myself. “Ugh. What am I doing? I’m being such a downer. Your birthday needs to be more fun than listening to me whine.”
Kai grins. “Don’t worry. My birthday will be super fun.”
I smile with surprise. “You look sure about that.”
An excited grin grows wider on his face as he rolls his skateboard away. He gains speed and moves toward a ramp. My heart thumps with glee. I’m so glad my school news hasn’t brought him down. He’s right. I can’t let the teachers and administration bring me down. I’m an individual, and I’m awesome.
The good vibes bubble inside me. I lower into a squat position and force one leg forward, and then the other.
With each movement, I gain more speed. I dip down a ramp and fly up the next.
I gain air and grab my ankle and let out a whoop.
As I hit the ground and circle around Tyler, he cheers me on.
Lewis calls out, challenging me to race him around the obstacles.
Like it’s even a challenge. I run rings around these boys.
Lewis barely waits, flying on his board toward a ramp.
I gain in pursuit, with Tyler on my tail.
As I take the ramp and head for the row of small jumps, Parker moves in from my left.
I leap up, taking advantage of my blades over their boards.
I fly over two jumps at once, and then glide around the next two.
I’m on Lewis’s tail as he takes air, aiming for a rail.
I skid, aiming for the rail as I lower to the ground.
As Lewis shreds the wheels of his board against the rail, I slide underneath, zooming out from under before Lewis leaps off the rail.
I swirl in circles, throwing my arms in the air. “Woo! You guys got nothing on me.”
Lewis kicks his board up and grabs it. “Yeah, yeah, Jamie. Whatever.”
I slow down and look around me. There’s someone important missing.
“Where’s Kai?” I ask and get shrugs in response.
I look around the surrounding green parklands. My eyes follow the winding cement path and find Kai walking with his board tucked under his arm. I cup my hands around my mouth, ready to ask where he’s going, but soon lower my hands.
Ahead, Kai waves to someone. Under a shady tree stands Tabitha Jones. Olive skin, full lips, tight chocolate curls, and a figure that highlights the curve of her hips. The ultimate Miss Perfect.
I almost tumble off balance. I roll towards a rail and hold myself upright. Kai runs a hand over his head and leans in to talk with her. Tabitha twirls a curl between her fingers, pops a knee, and sways her hips as she listens and giggles.
Wait… What?
What is happening? Are they flirting? I didn’t even know they talked.
Why is she here? Why is he talking with her on his birthday? Why isn’t he over here hanging with us?
With me.
“What are you staring at?” Parker asks, stopping by me on his board.
“Ahh, I’m not sure.”
Parker follows my gaze and then laughs. “Whoa. Is Kai with Tabitha?”
“Yeah. What’s up with that?”
Parker nudges me. “Hello? She’s hot.”
I roll my eyes, hanging onto the rail as I slide away from Parker.
My gaze steadies on Kai and Tabitha. He can’t be talking to her because she’s hot.
Kai has never talked about dating. If any of the guys bring it up, he always changes the subject to something more important.
If he did talk about crushes, he’d know I want a boyfriend.
But I keep all that stuff a secret, because I know it weirds him out.
At least I thought it did.
Should I go over there? If they’re just talking, then as his best friend, it should be normal for me to join them. But what if Tabitha asks me a question? I really don’t want to be made the fool when I mumble gibberish at her.
I swipe the sweat droplets off my nose. I try to pull it together, but before I can compose myself, they’ve both leaned in.
Their lips press together. The boys around the skatepark cheer and wolf-whistle, but I’m mute.
I feel like I’m sucked out of my body. I need life support right now.
What am I witnessing? Kai and Tabitha. Locking lips.
Kai’s first kiss. He’s kissing her. Why is he kissing her?
Am I taking crazy pills right now? Am I hallucinating? This is why my best friend thought his birthday would be awesome?
Kai and Tabitha’s shoulders jiggle as they pull out of the kiss. Tabitha covers her mouth as she giggles, and Kai turns in our direction, laughing.
“Would you guys quit it?” he calls out. “Get a life.”
Get a life? That’s the response we get. That I get? I need more than this. I need a proper explanation about what the heck I just saw. Since when has he wanted to kiss Tabitha?
I roll on my blades, shaking my head. I take a few laps around the obstacles, and then Kai and Tabitha approach. She sits on a bench, watching us, and Kai gets back on his board.
My stomach flips, and I swallow hard. Oh my gosh. I think I’m gonna hurl.
“I gotta go,” I say, moving down a ramp.
“Hey, where are you going?” Kai says, reaching out for me.
I hang a thumb over my shoulder as I back away from him. “There’s a bus leaving in five minutes. I’m gonna catch it because Maddy is with Mr. Stuffy.”
“Don’t go,” Kai replies. “Hang out with us. One of my parents can drive you home if Maddy is still out by the time we get back to my place.”
“No, it’s okay.” I move toward him and throw my arms around him. “Have a great rest of your birthday.”
“You’re really leaving?” his tone is wounded.
I shrug, trying to act like it’s not a big deal. “It’s getting late, and it was a long shift at the cafe.”
“Aw, lil Jamie is tired,” Kai mocks, pinching my cheek. “Okay, you go. But tomorrow you won’t need the bus. I’ll be able to drive us.”
I dig my toes into my rollerblades, feeling more upbeat. “What time is your test?”
“I get to skip the third period. Then I can drive us around after school.”
I cheer. “Yes. I’m so excited.”
“I’m not gonna flunk out like you,” Kai teases.
I punch his arm. “Hey!”
“I’m just playing.” Kai pats my shoulder and half-turns away from me. “Okay. You’d better get your bus.”
My jaw rocks as I look past him, where he’ll inevitably turn.
Her.
Tabitha Jones sits in wait.
Maybe I should stay, just to keep them apart. But to what end? What does it matter if he hangs with her?
I give him a dubious look. Why didn’t I know she’d be here?
He double-takes at me. “What?”
I shake my head and backtrack. “No, nothing.” I wave as I turn away. “See you tomorrow. Happy birthday, bro.”
He grins, waves, and turns away. “Thanks, James.”
My stomach tenses as I glide away from the skatepark and into the town square. Kai’s hanging out with Tabitha. He gave her that look. The look every guy in a romantic comedy gives to the main character. That she’s the one.
I tried to blank out as much as I could during the bus ride to the outskirts of Victoria Falls.
Once I get into our small two-bedroom home, I race to the kitchen and plonk a packet of popcorn into the microwave.
The popped bag fills a large bowl, which I take to my bedroom.
I sit cross-legged on the end of the bed with the bowl placed on my lap as I stream a new release rom-com.
I’m twenty minutes in when Aunt Maddy’s keys jingle at the front door.
“Mmm,” Maddy hums as she strolls toward my bedroom. “I smell popcorn. Is it rom-com time?”
I scrunch a handful of popcorn and lift it toward my mouth. “It’s dire.”
“Oof.“ Maddy plonks down beside me and grabs a handful of popcorn. “What happened?”
“Kai.” I murmur his name, shaking my head as I stare blankly at the screen. “He…”
Maddy slides in close, tucking her free arm behind my back. “What’d he do?”
I drop the popcorn and turn to Maddy, letting the incomprehension filter through my expression. “He had his first kiss.”
“Oh, baby,” Maddy coos, stifling a laugh. “You got jealous?”
“How could I not?” I whine. “He’s always acted like he didn’t care about dating, and then he gets someone so easily. That’ll never happen for me.”
“Don’t say that. You guys are only sixteen. You’ve got plenty of time for dating. Plus, it’s normal for feelings to change as you grow older.”
I turn back to the screen and drag my hand through the bowl. “I just can’t believe who he was kissing.”
“Who?”
“Tabitha Jones.”
“Should I know who that is?”
My nose crinkles as I think about how Tabitha and her friends strut through the halls at school. “She’s one of the Miss Perfects.”
Aunt Maddy stifles another laugh, this time less effectively. “Miss Perfect?”
“You know. Those girls who think their crap doesn’t stink. Shiny hair, makeup, and loads of attitude.”
“Well, you’ve got attitude to boot.”
I grumble, hunching over the popcorn bowl. “Not like other girls.”
“Why would you want to be like other girls? You should feel proud that you stand out.”
“Aunt Maddy, I don’t want to stand out.” I huff, plonking the bowl on the bed beside me. “I wanna fit in.”
“Well, maybe if Kai and Tabitha became an item, you can get to know her, too?”
I chew my lip, thinking about the comments the Miss Perfects have made about me. “Yeah. Maybe.”
“Don’t feel so down, baby,” Maddy says, rubbing the space between my shoulder blades. “I’ve got your studying problem figured out.”
I crook an eyebrow as I wait for more. “How so?”
“Milo has agreed to tutor you.”
“Eww.“ I groan. “No way.”
Maddy nudges me. “Be grateful. You’re the one who got yourself into this mess.”
“Why would he agree to tutor me?”
“Maybe because he’s a nice person.”
I smirk. “Maybe because he’s such a big nerd, and can’t get enough of his own homework, he needs to take on mine as well.”
“Stop being such a brat. Don’t go thinking Milo will do your homework for you. He’s helping teach you how to do it.”
“I don’t need him to teach me.”
“Obviously you do. Now, hand me the popcorn. I could do with a rom-com fix, too.”
I pass the bowl. “Everything not perfect with Mr. Stuffy?”
“Stop calling him that. David and I are doing great. It’s just been a long week and I need to chill out.”
“I can’t believe you asked Milo to tutor me. That’s low.”
“He’s smart and you need help.” Maddy digs into the popcorn bowl. “So, was there much lead up to Kai and Tabitha’s kiss?”
“No.” I gasp as if reliving the shock. “I’ve never seen them interact before. It’s like he’s been texting her without ever saying anything.”
Aunt Maddy gestures to the screen. “Kinda like he doesn’t know you watch rom-coms every night.”
“Hardly the same thing. My secret taste in movies is nothing compared to a secret crush.”
“I’m sure he was just nervous. You two will talk all about it at school tomorrow.”
I sigh out, resting my chin in my hands as I watch the hunk on the screen. “We’ll see.”