Chapter Ten Kami #3
I sighed and closed my eyes a moment to get my head together. “Sorry, you’re right. Do you want to go out for lunch?”
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Taylor pulled me close and kissed me on the lips. “Everything’s going to be all right, Kami, I promise.”
But it wouldn’t. How could it be all right that my father had moved out of my house? That my parents were getting a divorce? That my friends didn’t like me anymore? That some weirdo was stalking me and trying to make my life hell?
I knew Taylor had good intentions, but there was nothing he could do about all that.
We went for lunch at a burger joint, but we had to cut it short because I was working the afternoon shift.
Taylor dropped me off at Mill’s, and I was grateful that I could just work and ignore my problems. At least for a while.
But just as I was about to count the cash drawer, in walked Danny with his friends.
“Sorry, we’re closing,” I said, noticing the stupid varsity jacket he always wore. Was it the only thing he owned?
“It says on the door you close at nine,” he responded, looking at his friends and laughing.
“It’s five to nine.”
“Yeah, exactly.” He clapped Harry on the back. Victor laughed, and they walked to the table farthest from the counter. Mrs. Mill walked out and looked at her wristwatch.
“Hey, kids,” she called, a bashful smile on her face, “we’re closing in five minutes.”
“That means you’re still open, right?” Danny replied nastily.
Mrs. Mill leaned on her cane. She’d been having back problems all week. I’d been doing virtually everything there because Mr. Mill was now bedbound. Didn’t Danny realize how shitty it was to barge into a place five minutes before closing?
Mrs. Mill tried to smile, telling them, “I could make something quick if y’all like.”
“What do you want, guys? I’ll take the full breakfast with extra bacon and scrambled eggs.”
“Same.”
“Me too.”
I hated him. But what could Mrs. Mill do? She had a business to run. So she took their order, and, as she passed, I told her not to worry: I’d make everything and lock up; she could go home.
The relief on her face made me hate those jerkoffs even more. “Are you sure, honey?” she asked.
I nodded with an uneasy smile. “Absolutely. Don’t worry about it.”
“Well, that’s just wonderful, thank you. Don’t forget to lock the back door too.”
“I won’t.”
As Mrs. Mill left, I went into the kitchen to start cooking. I was so engrossed in the task that I jumped when I noticed Danny had found his way back to the kitchen.
“You can’t be in here,” I said. “Staff only.”
“I just wanted to make sure you’ve got everything under control.”
I stopped beating the eggs.
“You think I don’t know how to make breakfast?”
Danny walked around the pastry table and leaned against it, crossing his arms and giving me one of those charming smiles I could no longer stand.
“It’s still hard to believe you had to get a job.
What happened to the Kamila Hamilton everyone used to idolize?
Do you have any idea how pathetic you look here? ”
I ignored how much that hurt and fired back, “Do you have any idea how pathetic your mere existence is? Now get out.” I pointed at the door.
“Your family is actually broke! The Hamilton dynasty in shambles!”
“Fuck off, moron,” I said, on the verge of throwing the whisk at his head.
“You know, I’m kind of glad there’s some psycho trying to ruin your life because if there weren’t, I might do it myself. Watching you suffer is bringing me more pleasure than you could imagine.” He smiled.
“Are you hearing yourself?”
“Loud and clear,” he responded, and came closer. “You tried to fuck me over, and now it’s your turn to go down… But, believe it or not, there’s a part of me that’s sad to see you go. I do still care about you. I mean, we did go out for two years, didn’t we?”
“Yeah, I keep asking myself what I was high on back then.” I had no idea what he was after. “What the fuck do you want, Danny?”
“I’ve got a proposition for you.”
“I’m not interested,” I said, turning back to my work.
But he kept talking as if he hadn’t heard me: “Get back with me, and your life will be like it was before. You won’t have to work in this dump or ride your bike to school anymore.
No one will dare talk shit about you again.
I’ll even talk to my dad; maybe he can help out with your family’s problems.”
I didn’t expect that. “What makes you think I’d even consider getting back with you?”
“Your life was way better while I was protecting you.”
“Protecting me? Trust me, I don’t need anyone to protect me.”
“Oh, but you do. You think all the people talking shit about you now didn’t feel this way last year or the year before?
You were Little Miss Perfect, you had everything a high school kid could want, and there was a whole army of people who hated you for it, and now that things have gotten ugly for you, they can let their true colors show.
With me around they were too scared, but not anymore. ”
I slammed the spatula on the counter. “I don’t want a goddamn thing from you, Danny! I don’t want your company, your money, your protection, your popularity! Nothing! Did you forget what you did to me?”
“That was just once!” Danny glowered.
“Twice, damn it! You hit me twice, you bastard!”
“Shut up!” he screamed, looking at the door, scared his friends would hear. “Just shut your fucking mouth.”
“Why? Why would I? You keep talking about my reputation and how no one respects me and no one likes me, and why? Because my father got in trouble? Well, that’s not my fault! You, though, the things you’ve done—”
“You ungrateful little bitch! I came here to—”
“You came here to blackmail me.”
We both heard the doorbell chime and looked out toward the front. It was Julian. He peeked through the window into the kitchen and gave Danny a threatening look before asking me, “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah. Danny was just leaving.”
“That’s right,” he said, looking at Julian with disgust. “I’ll let your gay boyfriend have his time with you.”
Danny walked out, and to my surprise, Julian didn’t say anything to defend himself.
“I’m sorry,” I said, approaching him.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine, he’s an idiot. Don’t pay attention to what he said.”
“Well, I mean, I am gay, right? I don’t care if people call me out for what I am.”
“But…” I started, and he interrupted me.
“Seriously, Kam, don’t worry. Are you OK?”
I heard the front door open again, and when I walked out to the counter, Danny, Harry, and Victor were leaving.
“I can’t fucking believe this!” I looked at their half-cooked meals and started cursing.
“Aren’t you supposed to be closed?” Julian asked. “It’s nine twenty.”
I sighed.
“Yeah, exactly. You feel like having breakfast for dinner?”
He shrugged as I put the last touches on the dishes and carried them out. At least tonight I wouldn’t have to eat whatever slop my mother had come up with.