12| Exception
Both of them looked at me as she ran out of the cafe. "What?" I asked in confusion.
"You're not gonna ask why she didn't hug you?" Kendall asked hesitantly.
"No, why would she hug me?" It didn't bother me until they just pointed it out.
"Uh, because you're her friend too?" Brandon asked.
"Yeah, but um, I'm also me, she knows better than to hug me," I shrugged, "I'm the exception. I'm taking a break too," I said, standing up and heading outside to grab a smoke. I leaned against my car, watching some cars drive by, some people walk around, in and out of the cafe.
I'm the exception. I'm the one that's different. I'm the one that's fucked up.
By the time I finished the cigarette, they both came walking out. "We're gonna call it a day, you gonna head out?" Brandon asked me.
"Not right now, maybe in a minute. I can't go home reeking of smoke," I said, killing whatever was left of the cigarette.
"Wash it down with a milkshake, strawberry," he chuckled.
I rolled my eyes in response before saying bye to both of them. I was sitting on the hood of my car when her car pulled up again.
Why is she back?
She stepped out of the driver's side with a grin on her face.
Then the passenger door opened and, I'm assuming he is, her dad stepped out with her.
She locked the car and walked over to his side, linking her arm with his.
"You have to get their strawberry milkshake, we had so many earlier," she laughed, heading towards the entrance.
"We're just stopping by though, okay hun? And we gotta get one for your mom," her dad said kind of sternly.
"Okay, dad," she sang, holding the door open for him. I almost smiled to myself seeing the bounce in her step. While they were in there at the counter and ordering, she saw me from the window.
She said something to her dad before jogging outside and up to my car. "Hi," she said, her hands in the pocket of her jacket while the sky was painted in multiple colors. The sun was setting and the wind was blowing in a low hustle, throwing her hair all over her face.
"Hey, is that your dad?" I asked, glancing at him through the window, noticing him watching us scrutinizingly.
"Uh, yeah, that's my dad," she said, turning to look at him. "What are you still doing here?"
I shrugged, "I didn't feel like going home."
She narrowed her eyes at me, "You came outside to smoke," she stated.
"No, I didn't. I was taking a study break," I lied.
"No, you weren't. I can smell it." I gave her a small shrug. "You should quit. Seriously, it'll kill you," she said, pushing her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear.
I clicked my tongue, shaking my head, "I'm too scared to try."
"So? Just do it," she shrugged, "And if you fail, at least you'll know you tried.
You have to give it a shot." We fell into silence.
I was staring down at my shoes but I could feel her eyes on me.
"I'll help you." I looked up at her, my forehead creasing in confusion.
"Give them to me, we'll reduce your intake," she smiled.
"I don't think it's very appropriate for me to be handing you cigarettes while your dad is watching," I mumbled, looking around at the parking lot which was slowly emptying out.
"Then give them to me tomorrow," she rolled her eyes, sitting beside me, pulling herself up.
"You should get back to your dad," I said, turning to face her.
"We came to get milkshakes, you want another one, strawberry?" she smirked.
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head, "Even Brandon's calling me that because of you."
"Good," she mumbled, "Maybe calling you a strawberry will make you sweeter."
"Strawberries are normally sour, actually."
She laughed, "Then what is sweet?"
I thought for a second. "Uh, actually the sweetest fruits in the world are mangoes," I said.
"Would you rather I call you mango?" she arched a brow at me, "Cause that's not a very cute nickname, but you can be the exception," she shrugged.
The door to the cafe opened and her dad stepped out, holding their food and drinks.
She hopped off, "You are the exception," she grinned, "Bye.
" She ran up to her dad, taking the drinks from him while he held onto the food.
"Who was that?" her dad asked as they walked to their car, right past me.
She turned to look at me, smiling, "Just a friend, dad."
"Just a friend?" he questioned.
She laughed, opening her car door. "Just a friend," she said, glancing at me before slipping inside the car.
Her dad rolled his window down and looked at me. I sent him a wave and he nodded in response. "What's his name?"
"That depends on what I feel like calling him. There's mango, strawberry," she laughed, "But that's Nathan."
"Call him over," he said encouragingly.
I pray she doesn't.
"Let him be, dad. Interrogate him another time," she said. She waved bye at me before starting her car and driving off.
I lay back on my car, letting out a sigh while staring at the sky. It looked beautiful with shades of orange, pink, purple, a little bit of blue.
"Well, well, well, won't you look at that. Looks like someone just had a date with little miss new girl." He always comes to just ruin the mood, doesn't he? I rolled my eyes, ignoring him. "Isn't that right, Nathan? Did you enjoy her?" he asked.
"Fuck off, Jack, let's do this another time," I said without sparing him a glance.
"Why? Are you scared?" he asked.
I sat up, looking at him and his pathetic friends.
"No, but I thought we should do this where we get in trouble with the principal rather than the cops.
And anyway, you're the one with an image to protect," I said, hopping off my car.
He stumbled when I pushed him back to make room so I could move past him. "Now shoo," I smirked.
He glared at me but left with his friends in a jiffy.
In a jiffy? Ew, who says that?
I went inside the cafe, paid for my stuff, grabbed my things, and then headed back home. I parked the car in my driveway and then turned the ignition off but I sat there for a couple of minutes. I gathered my stuff and then went inside.
"Where the hell were you?" he asked. He was still in his work attire so I think he just got back. He's an accountant.
"I was at the cafe with friends," I said, hanging up my keys on the coat hanger.
"What friends?" he asked.
"Brandon," I answered. That's only half the truth.
"What about that Emma girl?" he questioned.
"Yeah, she was there. Her cousin was too," I said, grabbing takeout from the fridge.
"Did you drink?"
"No."
"Smoke?"
"No."
"Nathan," he said sternly, glaring at me.
"They didn't, I did," I admitted, heating up the food.
"How many times?" he asked.
"Just once." That genuinely wasn't a lie but he didn't seem to believe me, judging from the way he eyed me suspiciously. "Just once, dad. I..." I huffed, "I might try to quit," I mumbled.
Surprise took over his features while he looked at me head to toe. Normally, he analyzes numbers, right now he's analyzing me. "How come the change of heart? You weren't agreeing to that until last night," he said, putting his hands down on the counter.
"I had a little guidance some people should have given to me earlier," I scoffed, taking the food out of the microwave.
"Don't talk to me like that. See, this is what you do, Nathan. You push me way too far and then when I... when you get hurt, you start acting like I've never tried explaining these things to you."
I laughed dryly, "Right, when I get hurt because that happens on its own. It's magic, isn't it, dad?" I asked.
"Take your food and go up to your room," he huffed.
"No place I'd rather be," I said sarcastically, taking my stuff and jogging upstairs. I threw everything onto the floor and sat on my bed with my food.
Brandon told me once that my household was abusive.
I denied it because it's not like he beats me up every day, sometimes I get away with a lot of things, it's just that when I do something that embarrasses him, he loses control.
But he's never hit me too hard, nothing too serious.
Maybe a slap, a shove here and there. I've just gotten used to it now.
At first, I used to flinch when he raised his hand to slap me. Now, I just stand there waiting for it to happen. No flinching, no wincing, nothing. He tends to stop faster when he realizes I'm not actually listening to him.
It's also why I spend a lot of nights at Brandon's place, but I get the feeling his parents don't really appreciate that. I may have to find another place to set up camp.
Maybe tonight.
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