He didn’t have much yet he spent a good amount each day, going back and forth. No matter how many times she pleaded, he wouldn’t let he visit him, she didn’t even know his address.
Plus…“King?” she called when she stepped into the sitting room and didn’t find him there.She checked the kitchen and her room and the guest room but there was no sign of him.King was gone.*“You could have told me you were leaving. I was very worried… Just get out of my phone.”Joan cut the call, entering into Sisi’s car where Sisi was already waiting.“Who was that?” Sisi asked curiously. “Someone.” She replied curtly. Sisi didn’t know of their relationship, didn’t know that King was her best friend neither did any of her other friends. Sisi had seen King a few times but she hadn’t suspected anything. She didn’t feel the need to inform them, she wanted her relationship with King private.No toast?” Sisi asked, seeing she wasn’t in a good mood.She face palmed, realizing she had forgotten to eat. King was the cause. Her mother had not been around to force her.“Sorry” she said apologetically to Sisi, “Mum’s not around and I forgot to make some.”“Its okay” Sisi laughed slightly, starting the car, “I also didn’t eat anything. I was depending on you for food. We'll just stop and get a hamburger or something.”“Okay” she agreed, leaning back in her seat and shutting her eyes.King popped into her head. He called her as she left the house to meet Sisi after not picking all of her calls the previous night and that morning. He told her he had heard she and her mother arguing and had decided to leave to avoid causing more problems. As to why he didn’t pick her calls, he had not slept at home. Where he slept and what that had to do with him not picking her calls, he didn’t say.He just knew how to push all of her buttons, make her so angry and worried and then in one second, make her running to him again.Something landed on her lap and she opened her eyes, sitting up.“That person must have really made you angry” Sisi commented, glancing at her.She widened her eyes, picking up the paper bag on her lap.“You bought the food already!? When?”Sisi chuckled, “When you were busy squeezing up your face and beating up whomever it is that made you angry in your head. You didn’t even notice when I stopped the car”She sighed, shooting Sisi a grateful smile and then opening the paper bag.She popped a fry into her mouth. King or no King, she would live her life.Joan glanced at her friends as they chatted, their books forgotten. She had moved some distance away from them so she could concentrate. Their classes for the rest half of the day were cancelled, they had been informed while in the cafeteria. The principal had collapsed and had been rushed to the hospital. They weren’t allowed to go home do she and her friends had come to the school garden to read along with a few others but then along the way, one small talk and another and their books got forgotten, hers the exception. They were sitting on the grass, the benches ditched.She looked ahead and her eyes met with that of Koty's. He was in the garden also, under the shade of the big tree at the entrance with some of his football friends; and he was staring at her, again. She smiled at him like she always did when she caught him and like always, he smiled back in return but this time he didn’t look away, he kept staring. She looked down at her books, feeling uncomfortable. She wished he would be more subtle. She was sure practically the whole school knew he had a crush on her.She noticed two sneaker clad feets in front of her and she looked up. Koty. She looked behind him to see his football friends staring at them. They looked away immediately.He sat down beside her, dropping his books on the grass.“You don’t mind?” he asked, giving her a small smile. She shook her head making another attempt to concentrate on her books. She could see her friends through her peripheral vision stealing looks at them and snickering.“You’re not concentrating.” Koty commented after a few minutes of silence. She looked at him.“My friends are making loud comments obviously aimed at us and your friends keep sneaking glances in this direction plus the fact that we've become a live movie for everyone in this garden to watch, whose fault is that?”Koty threw back his head and let out a laugh. She stared at him, it had been meant to be a snarky comment.“I like your voice.” he said when he got in control of himself.“Seriously!?” she exclaimed in awe.“I like that you said us,” he added, a bright smile on his face.Her face contorted in confusion, “ That was… that wasn’t… that…”“I know” he laughed again, “I know you didn’t mean it that way.”She blew out a breath, a smile forming on her lips. She was now curious about him. He seemed too good, too nice, too happy, too organized… Was it real? Was he real? Could someone be this… good in the midst of wolves?“Its good you’re really smiling now” he spoke, looking at her with an emotion she couldn’t decipher, “It took me a lot to walk up to you just now. Your other smiles seemed forced.”Her smile disappeared.“I didn’t notice.”“I didn’t say that for you to stop smiling. You’re beautiful; a little smile and you’re dazzling.”The blush appeared without her consent and the laugh came up her throat before she even registered it.“You see” he said, laughing along with her, “Beautiful.”“Thank you.” she smiled after she stopped laughing, looking down at her books shyly.“So you can concentrate on your books now.”“I don’t think so.” she spoke, looking back up at him as he pulled his books closer, “Your compliments won’t let me.”He pushed his books away again, giving her his full attention.“Then I can keep going?” he asked, his smile growing more brighter.“No.” she chuckled, shaking her head, “Please read your books. I wouldn’t like you to fail because of me.”“Well I know I’ve read quite a lot and I wouldn’t fail if I spend this few moments with you.” he insisted.He was definitely a sweet talker.“What if I don’t want to spend them with you?” she gave a crooked smile.“Well…” he glanced around, “You’ll spend them with me even if I leave. You yourself said my compliments are stuck in your head.”She laughed, that was a smooth one.“Joan…” he called after a few moments of them staring at each other.“What?” she asked curiously. His smile had dropped and he seemed nervous. He couldn’t even look her in the eye.“I…” he started, shutting his eye, “I know this may come as a surprise to you or maybe not since I think you already know. I mean, basically everyone knows so you must also know; I am really not a secret person. I just… I’ve really wanted to talk with you for the longest but I've never had the courage to walk up to you and keep a conversation for this long. If not for Adams and Gabriel, I may not have even come up to you now. I’m glad they pushed me because this few moments I’ve spent with you has really gladdened my heart and so I want to ask you… You don’t have to answer immediately since it may seem sudden and I’m not sure if you… if you also… if you…”“Colton Adams.” Joan laughed, giving him a light pinch on the cheek. He opened his eyes, looking at her innocently. He looked so cute; sitting with his back hunched, his body facing hers, his eyes blinking ever so innocently and his lips in a slight pout that she was sure was unintentional; she couldn’t help but give him another pinch on the cheek.“Ow.” He grimaced but smiled afterwards.“Whatever it is you have to say, say it and stop beating round the bush.”“Or I may lose interest.” She added, smirking.He laughed nervously, and ran a hand across his face then he stopped, his smile dropping.“Okay. Joan Michaels” he started, looking her directly in the eye, “Would you like to go on a date with me this week?”“Whatever it is you have to say, say it and stop beating round the bush.”“Or I may lose interest.” She added, smirking.He laughed nervously, and ran a hand across his face then he stopped, his smile dropping.“Okay. Joan Michaels” he started, looking her directly in the eye, “Would you like to go on a date with me this week?”*Flashback…“Joan Michaels, would you like to go on a date with me this week?”She pretended to think about the question, her lips forming into a pout and her brows, furrowing.“I don’t know, King Johannson. What does this date have to offer?” she questioned after a long moment of silence.15 year old King blinked innocently, looking up at her.“A lot, Joan Michaels.” He said, “A princess crown, the best dress ever made in this universe, specially prepared food and my heart on a platter of gold.”She twirled her hair around her fingers, her left hand on her in a pose as she stared down at him, knelt down on one knee, a single rose held up in his two
“Avoid him from now on.” Beck warned, as all three of them shot her accusing looks. She glanced at Koty who couldn’t even keep his eyes open.“I’m sorry… I …” she stuttered in confusion.“Just do what I said.” Beck repeated harshly then they walked away. Beck and Francis supporting Koty on either sides. It was then she noticed they had a small audience gathered around, her friends included.She watched helplessly as they moved farther and farther away from her.*She wasn’t allowed into the clinic where Koty rested; Francis, Beck and Jude made sure of that. She couldn’t concentrate on her books, she avoided her friends perpetual questions and then hurried home immediately the bell rang. Koty was the only thing on her mind, she felt guilty but then she consoled herself with the fact that she had not done anything wrong. She had not known Koty was asthmatic and even if she knew, was she supposed to have accepted his proposal out of pity? Koty didn’t deserve that, he deserved someone
“There’s Koty.” He pointed out.“That’s different. I only felt like giving in out of pity.”“Glad you've figured that out.”“And besides he’s just one guy.”He nodded.“We'll just get married to each other.” He said after a while.She chuckled, “That sounds nice. Our kids will have your eyes.”“I’m joking.”“I’m not.”“I’m not.”They burst out laughing.*King looked back as the train began moving. He watched as she became smaller and smaller until he could see her no more then he turned around and looked ahead. He adjusted his bag to his other shoulder when he noticed it was inconveniencing the old woman sitted next to him and then he leaned back into his seat and immersed himself in thoughts of her; his best friend, Joan Michaels. She was always on his mind. He had teased her about thinking of him always but he was also guilty of that. She was not exactly the first thing he thought of when he woke and the last thing he thought before he slept but she was constantly on h
She would pet him and clean his wounds and then send him back with a kiss; so that every time, no matter the injuries he sustained on his body, his soul wasn’t broken. He still felt happy, like a normal eighteen year old adult living a normal life with the best friend he loved.*Joan stood in front of the school's clinic door, glaring at it. Koty was in there and also his latest bodyguards; Francis, Beck and Jude. Koty was fine, he had come to the clinic for something and she found out and followed him. She had to speak to him whether his friends wanted her to or not; they weren’t his parents.The door opened and Beck stepped out first. His calm look changed to an accusing one when his eyes met hers and he glared daggers at her, stopping his movement.“I have to speak to him.” She spoke regardless, arms folded. It seemed like Koty was directly behind him because he turned back and said,“Colton, no. You’re not speaking to this girl.”“This girl has a name.” she interrupted rudely
She wanted to enjoy a father's love too like Sisi.She wanted to have grand parents and grand relatives, uncle’s and aunts and nieces and nephews that came over for Christmas and thanksgiving like Selena. If possible, she wanted to have little siblings too like Keisha.She would ask her mother when she returned. She would find out why they always lived alone and what secrets her mother guarded so carefully and then she would unravel them ,one after the other.She would find her family.*Her mother stared at her in shock. Her mouth hung open, her bag that she had wanted to place on the kitchen counter hung in mid air and her lashes batted repeatedly over her eyes that seemed like it would pop out any moment.Emotions flitted quickly across her mother’s eyes. There was worry, pain, regret and another emotion that got Joan curious, fear. Why would her mother be afraid?“Mum?” she called and Mrs. Michaels snapped back to reality, her expression becoming masked. She shut her mouth
“I am sorry.” He said finally, letting out a long sigh, “I just… don’t worry so much about me. I can take care of myself.”“I know, you are a big boy. It’s because I care about you that I worry about you.”“I care about you too, you know.”“I know.”A pause.“I'll see you later.” He said and the call ended.She lay back on the bed and shut her eyes.*King stared at the phone in his hands. He wished he could see her.“Hey, you want one?”He looked up to see Jack standing a few feet away from him, smoking a cigarette.Jack was an acquaintance from school. He had invited him to hang out with him and his friends and he had agreed, to avoid going home.He was now in one of their houses, in the living room but he had left to go outside when Joan called. Thankfully, she didn’t hear the music.“No, thank you.” He smiled, leaning off the wall, going back to the house.“Who were you talking to? Some whore?” He glanced back to see Jack following after him.“You can hook me up.”
“King?” she whispered, turning around and there he was in all his glory.She cried out as a heavy load lifted off her chest and she didn’t hesitate to run into his open arms.“You scared me, King! Stop doing that!” she exclaimed, hitting his back.He hissed in pain and she quickly let him go, examining his features.“Did he hit you?” she asked though she already knew the answer. There were no new bruises on his face, just the old ones that were almost done healing but the scars… she would have to get something for that.“Yeah” he muttered, “And then someone else.”*He woke up to see himself tied up, his hands and feet. He pulled against the ropes, they were too tight. He looked around the brightly lit room. It was someone’s bedroom, a male and recently used noticeable by the unmade bed and the clothes strewn around. He sighed, laying his head back on the floor.He should never have agreed to hang out with Jack. He had agreed mainly because he didn’t want to be tempted to go ov
“Hey! Are you okay!?”He stood up, looking behind just in time to see the door slam shut then he looked to the direction where the female voice had come from. A woman likely in her late fourties and a girl, about his age, stood staring at him from the opposite lawn. He bent his head, throwing his hoodie cap over it and then he walked away quickly.*King watched Joan while she stared at him dumbly from the bed where she sat cross-legged while he leaned against her desk. Her head was tilted to the side a little, her lids blinking continuously. He had just finished narrating his tale to her. He had told her everything, everything but the note he found in his pocket and the person who had been trailing him on his way to her home.Her blinking stopped and she straightened, her features going blank.“I…” she started, pushing her braids back. He liked it when she did that.“I don’t know what to say.” She spoke, “You just got yourself in big trouble.” She added, her eyes clouding with w