My Best Friend From Childhood

Chapter Two

I always like the first day back to school. I found the new subjects and the new teachers exciting, even though I’m not the smartest cookie in the jar. I found it more exciting because I knew that I was at the beginning of my last year of high school before I can pack my bags and go to one of the many out of state universities.

The one thing that I was excited about when it came to first day of high school; it was the way everyone around me looked at me as I walked through the hallways. Kyle knew that, he knew that I feel anxious whenever I walk down these hallways alone, so he’d never let me do so. He knew that if he wasn’t beside me, I’d probably get picked on or bullied no matter how many times he stepped up from me and warned other not to.

I didn’t tell him though, when kids around school bullied me, I didn’t tell him though. It wasn’t because I was scared that the bully would give me a harder time because I snitched, it was because I was scared of what Kyle would do to them. He has always been one of the kindest and nicest people I know, but he also had an aggressive side when it came to people hurting me.

The first couple of class where normal, we just sat around listening to their teachers talk. I always paid close attention during all the classes, Kyle was in and out of focus as usual. He usually pays attention to class, but Kyle always seemed to get distracted because he has a focusing issues; he can’t seem to be able to pay attention to anything for longer than 20 minutes.

By the time it was lunch break, Kyle I sat at the table closest to the window. I ended getting a plate of mashed potato, an apple, and an orange juice; Kyle ended up getting a slice of pizza, a cola and an apple as well. Kyle was on watching a show on his phone texting, while I had the current book ‘Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan’ on the table as I read.

“What plans do you have planned with my mum anyways?” Kyle asked not looking up from his phone.

“She hasn’t told me yet” I lied as I flipped the page over.

“To think that you disappeared off the face of earth” I heard a guy say as he sat on the table next to Kyle. Dan.

Kyle placed down his phone down, and looked up to his only close guy friend “Danny boy” he smiled “How’s it going?”

“Good, been better” he smiled as he patted Kyle shoulder, he then turned to me with a small smile “Kim. How’s it going?”

I gave him a small smile “Good, been better”

He let out a chuckle then turned back to Kyle “Party at my place, you are coming?” he asked.

Kyle looked over to me. He was about to open his to answer with a no, but I was faster to reply on his behalf.

“He will make it” I told him.

“So, are you coming too?” Dan asked, hopeful.

I shook my head a no “Not my thing. I’m more of the stay at home on the weekend to watch movies and sleep”

“Maybe another time, then” he said, the got up “I will see you practice later”

As soon as Dan left, Kyle looked over to me confused “First it was with Annie, and then with Dan. What are you doing, Kim? Why are you cancelling our plans for me to hang out with other people?”

I sighed “I can’t tie you down for the rest of your life. You’re my best friend, Kyle, not my husband so you don’t have to feel pressured to turn down hangouts to spend time with me. You are intitled to have friends beside me, and girlfriends too” I told him “I can handle some alone time without you”

He chuckled “I don’t feel pressured to turn down hangouts to spend time with you, nor have I even felt like you tie me down” he said “I turn them down because I want to spend time with you. I have more fun hanging out and argue with you rather than spend my time between horny and drunk teenager”

“That’s sweet, but you’re still going to your date and to that party” I said as I pointed at him with the fork.

He smiled before taking a bite out of his pizza with a smile.

***

I usually walked home with Kyle as well, but I didn’t mind walking alone either. I actually loved these few moments where I walked alone without Kyle endless gossiping about whatever happened at school, but I also loved talking to him; it’s just that I don’t a lot of time alone nowadays since we live together now.

The house was quiet when I walked in, his mum wasn’t there either since she’s working overtime. So, I went up to my room and got changed into a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt before I took a seat on the couch in the living room with my laptop on my laptop, and turn on the T.V for background noises.

I didn’t really have anything else I should work on; I didn’t have much going on in my life to be honest. Since class just started off today, I didn’t have homework and I didn’t have anything to prepare for the next day. I didn’t even have a book to read since I finished this month’s reading last night and I don’t get to pick up a new book till the beginning of the next month; it was my way of making sure I don’t spend all my money on books.

I spent the remaining of the night on the couch, where I had pizza for lunch, went through half a season of supernatural in the background, and designed a dozen different logo for the same imaginary company that I made up for the purpose of practice and to add to my portfolio.

At 9 p.m., Kyle’s mum finally walked in, a million bag over her shoulders and her heels in her hand. She walked into the kitchen and dropped all her things in the table before walking into the living room.

“Where’s the other part of the joined at the hip twins?” she asked “Isn’t it Mason’s half price Monday?”

I nodded as I placed the laptop on the coffee table “Yeah, everyone at school is going, so I figure I avoid the awkwardness and just stay home”

She chuckled “Are you ever going to stop avoiding all type of social engagement that related to school and the people there?”

I shook my head “I rather be companied by you” I smiled “What are you working on? Anything I can help you with?”

She smiled “Actually, I have a deadline tomorrow and a lot of things to work on” she said “And I have Chinese takeout as well”

While She went upstairs to get changed and shower, I took a seat in the kitchen as I went through the briefing file of the project and the sketches she was working on as I made some notes on the sketches.

Mrs. Anderson, Shelly, is a visual designer for a marketing and branding company downtown. She would usually have different companies every two to three months. She usually does the branding of the company like logos, company branding manual, posters and different type of advertisement for the companies. It was my dream job, a visual designer I mean, Kyle’s too. So, every time Mrs. Anderson has a new project or is stuck, I jump at the first opportunity to help her for training.

By the time Mrs. Anderson is back, I already left notes on each one of the sketches. She placed both boxes of Chinese food in front of us then started going through the notes and creating the digital drafts.

“You know” Mrs. Anderson started “All of this is too much for one person to do in the company, especially since they want to take on more projects in the same period of time starting next year. Maybe I could talk to them about hiring interns during summer or part-timers”

She then turns to me with a small smile “I already know who’s on top of that list” she said “You didn’t hear it from me, but when it comes to getting work done, I’d always choose you over Kyle”

“I’m sorry” I heard Kyle say “I don’t recall Kim being the child you got birth to. Last time I checked I was an only child and you were my mother”

I turned to Kyle who was standing at the Kitchens door “Your mum is only speaking the truth. Not her fault that you are a lazy ass that takes so goddamn long to get s**t done” I smirked.

He walked over to his mum and placed a kiss on her head “Just remember that when you grow old, I have my reason to not let you move into my house because you chose Kim over me”

His mum chuckled then closed her laptop “You kids should go sleep, it’s past mid-night and a school night after all”

I shut my laptop before I told her goodnight then headed to the stair.

Kyle was behind me on each stop of the stairs and down the hall to my room since his was right across of each other. Before I walk able to open the door of my room, Kyle tugged on my hand causing me to look at him confused.

“Stay with me tonight?” he said.

I tilted my head to the side “You okay?”

He nodded “Yeah, it’s just a beautiful night to not be alone”

I gave him a small smile along with a small nod.

I followed him to his room, placing my laptop on the table before I made myself comfortable under the covers while Kyle was changing in the bathroom. When he came back into the room, he was dressed in a pair of grey sweat shorts and a black a t-shirt.

Kyle’s bed was the same size of mine, twin size bed, which meant that it was only designed to fit one person and a half. So, When Kyle and I shared a bed, it would usually end up somewhat cuddling but somewhat not cuddling. Kyle’s arm would usually end up spread across of the bed and under my neck, while I ended up with my back against his side since I usually sleep on my side and Kyle sleeps on his back. It was really extremely rare that we’d actually spoon or cuddle any other ways.

“How was Mason’s?” I asked.

I felt him shrug “It’s was okay. I would have had more fun if you were there too” he said.

“And Annie?” I asked.

He sighed “Annie was being Annie the whole time, nothing changed” he said “I didn’t spend much time with her since Dan kept on distract me. She invited me out tomorrow to hang out”

“You mean to f**k around?” I smirked.

He let out a chuckle “Not everyone wants to f**k me, Kim. She just wants to hang out. We’re just hanging out and enjoying the company of each other”

I turned to glance at him for a few seconds before I turned back to my side “Ahm, and by the end of the weekend, you’d be doing more than just that”

“It still would be a win-win situation” he said with a small chuckle.