Changed - The Soul-Bound Cataclysms

Who Is He?

GEOFF

I'm sitting at the kitchen table, 

waiting on Kendall returning. 

She gets fright seeing me sat there, unexpected. 

it's not that unusual for me to be here, is it?

she jumps out of her skin with a squeal.

 I'm a little dishevelled, probably due to the empty bottles of Bud next to me.

there's only four…. five !with the one I've just opened!

 The lines around my eyes, deeper these days, 

but I still had my youthful looks, 

just a little less ironed out.

 Still a handsome man for 38. 

 "s**t! Dad! Good job you are a doctor, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" She berates jokingly. 

 " Language! " I laugh

 " Sorry I didn't mean to frighten you by sitting at MY table in MY kitchen" 

 "Why are you?" She asked concerned,

 "y' know we have a living room with a rather comfortable sofa, and a tv that you can watch these things we call tv shows." 

Sarcasm trickled from her, making me smile. 

there she is!

I had missed my little girl and her quick-witted retorts. 

 I'm surprised at her attitude.

she seemed …

 Dare I say it, 

kind of happy?  

Shes even changed her colour from blue.

 she is now in a red,

 well kind of red, magenta maybe, 

I pondered to myself. 

An off-the-shoulder pretty top and black skinny jeans with flat open-toed sandals showing her multicoloured piggies.

 It was a warm colour, a better colour. 

A colour of love and passion.

I've been sitting waiting for her to return home, 

left work early, to be here for her. 

I know she is struggling the most with the changes. 

Missed her old home, school and friends.

Joel was off at Uni, living his life and Roni. 

Well, that little firecracker could settle anywhere and make a decent life.

She made friends with people so easily and I knew I didn't have to worry about Roni or Joel. 

she had already been at a neighbour's for tea, twice. 

Kendall on the other hand,

 she felt things deeply, 

she hurt more than the other two put together,

 ever since her mum... 

Or Should I say, Carol! 

The thought of her sent that dropping feeling into the pit of my stomach.

dread

 Kendall was so confused and I could see rejection colour her face every time I look into that sweetheart's face.

it killed me and angered me. 

Fucking Carol!!! 

I raged inside.

 "I wanted to catch up and check your day wasn't as bad as you were expecting.."

 I put my head in my hands, continued, 

pushing out the chair for her to sit with me, 

she did. 

" I know this is hurting you,

 it's hurting me knowing that you are so upset. .. I"

 "Dad. Stop!" She interrupts

" I'm sorry for being a colossal b***h, sorry language, I know"

 she giggles slightly

 " We all made this choice together,

 and I need to come to terms with that. 

I just miss them, you know? " she admitted. 

fuck kid! you're breaking my heart here! 

I did know, her friends, 

the 'Trinity'. 

The Twins.

 I almost stopped the move because of the bond the three shared. 

Almost!

I fought so many battles in my head and heart 

about taking her away from her two best friends 

and the cosy life she had built for herself on the back of her rejection...

 f*****g Carol!! 

The anger tried to escape again,

 I swallow it back down, where it belongs.

She was still talking and I fixed my attention back firmly on my daughter, 

who was now animated and talking to me.

 She was back again, 

my heart felt like it could soar.

 even though my heart wasn't inside my body anymore.

it was there in front of me, 

telling him about her day. 

It was at Leeds University, studying, 

but knowing Joel there was probably a distraction in the form of a pretty girl 

and the rest is upstairs in her room 

watching an old American teen show that she's addicted to. 

Roni had said her day was ok.

 lots of questions and introductions but everyone seemed nice

 She attended the local High School not far from her college campus.

 And now here was my Kenny telling me that she had made friends.

Even met up with them at the bar to do homework.

wait… what!

 "Bar? 

What bar? 

You're seventeen!"

 I couldn't help myself. 

I didn't want my seventeen-year-old hanging around at bars with god knows who. ..

 "It's a hangout dad,

 look we get stamped if we are underage. 

It's the coolest place.

 I promise there was no alcohol, just cokes and fries. 

I swear."

 She holds onto my hands, squeezing them reassuringly.

I sighed

 " Okay Princess, I trust you. 

I'm glad you had a good day,

 not going to lie, 

I've been fretting all day for you." 

I squeezed her hand back 

" Get yourself up to bed and get some rest, 

I love you, baby girl." 

She went to him, wrapped her arms around my neck and held me.

 Enjoying her scent, she always smelled of dove, daisy and female lynx deodorant.

 her smell. 

"I love you too, Daddy"

 she kisses my head and unwrapped her arms,

 heading to her room, 

she suddenly looks exhausted,

and I suddenly feel it.

 like my whole body had been tensed and that hug had unlocked every knot in my muscles. 

She hadn't hugged me in over six weeks.

and now I could rest.

 I needed that.

I stand behind her and called her name 

"Ken," she turned. 

 "Love that colour on you hun, 

shows your red in your hair. My little firebomb!" 

I smiled and entered the living room. 

Going to watch that thing she called a tv.

 I laughed at my wit.

KENDALL

I woke early the next morning, looked out the window, 

it was a glorious day, for September, in England.

 I chose my outfit,  

Celadon green. Fresh and new.

 a T-shirt and white denim skirt and her mint pumas.

 I decided to leave my hair loose,

 natural waves catching the light, the red highlights making it look like flames flickered around my head. 

I did my make-up with a little more effort than yesterday.

me, Roni and Dad ate together.

 In harmony. 

Dad was telling us about his new job, 

he seemed to like this new position I noticed.

 He had a spring back in his step.

 They all did. 

They dropped Roni off at school first.

Then carried on down the road a few minutes and they were at Crenshaw.

They waved each other off

I headed to where my new friends are congregated at the steps, at the entrance.

 They all waved as I approached and the bell went.

 "Cutting it fine there, ain't ya Waterstone?" 

Leo raised his eyebrow a little. 

Mocking.

 "Nah, right on time Leo, see!"

 Pointing my finger to the sky but meaning the bell 

that had just finished ringing. 

He laughed at me and walked off with Chase. 

 " first class Waterstone? " he turned and shouted to me. 

I'm confused, 

yesterday he seemed to be indifferent to me and a little annoyed,

 last night he was pleasant enough and this morning he's plain friendly. 

I hooked my arm through Hollys.

 Libby was at the gym, she was in the cross country team so trained three mornings of the week and every other night.

 "What's his story?" I jerked my head towards Leo. 

Holly grinned

 "You got a crush, Kenni?"

 " What? No! " I'm startled. 

"I just didn't think he liked me all that much 

after him getting so annoyed yesterday 

at my introductions in classes"

 Holly laughed, it sounds like bells 

"he wasn't annoyed at you! 

He was the new boy last year,

 so he knows how utterly tedious and embarrassing those things can make you feel." 

Holly was genuinely startled at me thinking Leo didn't like me.

 I felt shame for judging him now and for thinking of him a bit of a tool all yesterday.

 "So it wasn't me? 

He was just trying to help?"

 The thought had never crossed my mind.

 Now I am feeling utterly grateful to Leo. 

 Leo was still waiting on me replying to his question,

 what is the question again?... oh yeah.

 about what class I had. 

I handed him my time table.  

He took out 4 different colour highlights and started on the time table.

Handing it back to me a few minutes later and now it was all colourful. 

 " Pink is the classes you have with Holly,

 Blue is mine,

 green is Chase and yellow is Libby," he explained.

 I felt a genuine appreciation.

 before I knew it I had walked over to him and hugged him,

 he flushed scarlet and laughed

 "hands-off Waterstone, I was just being helpful!" 

 I nudged him in the shoulder and looked at the three of my four new friends 

"thank you. All of you.

 You have made this mahoosive change so much more bearable."

 I beamed at them all,

could feel my eyes begin to well up with tears

 of joy. 

 Chase ruffled my hair and flung his arm around our shoulders,

Holly on his other side. 

"We've all got English together... 

Come on soppy asses!" 

Giggling they all went off to English.

I sat at Holly's right side

 Chase and Leo were behind us and Libby on Hollys left side. 

we're working on Shakespeare - Othello, but my head was full of memories of the Blonde beauty at the bar last night.

 my tummy filled with butterflies just picturing his gorgeous face.

calm down. calm down little flutterby's!

 I had to find out more. 

Taking out a blank piece of paper I started writing and passed it silently to Holly.

Hey, who were the two guys at the bar last night?

Holly quickly scribbled back.

What guys?

She passed it back, Kendall rolled her eyes,

 trust Holly to not notice the two angels that stood there merely feet away from us.

 Then she remembered Holly only had eyes for Chase. 

I giggled and wrote,

There were a dark-haired guy and a blonde?

 think they worked there, 

they went into the back!

Recognition crossed Holly's face.

Zane Bollinger and Avery DuPont?? Brothers,

 adopted I think.

 Zane owns the bar. He's cool. 

Avery can be a d**k. 

They are hot though aren't they?

my face flushed reading it and I looked at Holly and nodded my agreement

 Hell yeah, they were!

Suddenly the note was taken from us by Leo, his eyes rolling reading it. 

Chase looked a little dejected, seeing what Holly had written but then he just laughed at her. 

Not fearing competition.

 anyone with eyes could see Holly was crazy about Chase and vice versa.

 Suddenly the note was back in front of us.

 Holly craned her neck over to read what Leo had wrote

Wipe the drool up ladies, you have no chance. 

Zane doesn't date and Avery is a first-class knob!

 Now get back to Mr Shakespeare before I send this note to Dollys in the mail!!!! 

we both looked at Leo and laughed. 

I noticed Libby looking a little pissed off but I didn't have time to ask as the bell rang out.

wonder what's got her so moody?

 I stuffed the note in my bag. 

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and banter, 

for some reason Leo and I bounced off each other, 

both giving each other as good as we were getting. 

I enjoyed having these new friends, 

they took her mind from Abi and Toni.

 oh… there you are! hi, lumpy!

 except I kept getting an odd feeling from Libby,

 but I couldn't put a finger on what it was. 

As the bell announcing the end of the school day.

 Libby appeared in front of me.

 "Hey, Lib, you okay?" I genuinely wanted to know. 

Libby looked up and down the corridor, nerves etched across her face. 

Her stunning face is taut.

 I felt a pang of worry

 " Libby? What's wrong? " my voice raised a little higher.

 "In here." 

Libby coaxed me into an empty class. 

Panic suddenly gripped me and I whipped to face Libby, 

who now had tears streaming down her beautifully made-up face, making tracks of mascara down her cheek.

 "Libby, what's wrong?" 

I went to comfort her but Libby backed away. Wiping her eyes.

 " Please let me say what I have to say and don't interrupt. "

 she couldn't look at me.

I nodded and perched on the end of a desk. 

 "Was you and Holly writing about me in History? What's going on between you and Leo? Do you like him? Does he like you?" 

Libby couldn't get her questions out quick enough and looked offended when I burst out laughing. ..

 "Oh Lib, no, of course, we weren't writing about you!"

I rummage in my bag and pulled out the paper with the conversation we had been writing this morning.

 "I was curious," I explained.

I saw relief cross Libby's face then her eyes crossed, worry etched there once more.

 I carried on 

" and there is absolutely nothing going on between me and Leo, 

I didn't even think he liked me as a friend until this morning.

 We just have similar personalities.

 Do you like him? 

Why do you look worried? "

Libby looked at her, sincerity in her voice

 "yes, I like him. we hook up now and again" she looked to the floor like she was embarrassed. 

I rubbed her upper arm like she did to me on my first day and comforted her

 "Hey, nothing wrong with liking someone Libs. 

Is the feeling reciprocated?

 Is that why you look so worried?" I asked, 

seeing the tension etched on her face,

she was too pretty to mar it with apprehension. 

Libby shook her head. .. 

"What is it then?"

 She read the note again. 

"You have to stay away from Avery DuPont! He's dangerous." She stated and I could hear the fear in her voice.

 what the holy hell! 

How would Libby know if he was dangerous? 

How did she know anything about him?

Libby could see the questions in my eyes.

I could tell She was not going to go into details.

“Avery DuPont was a mean jerk. and that is being polite”

I looked at Libby.

"How do you mean dangerous?

Who is he?"

I could tell She was not going to go into details. 

 “Avery DuPont was a mean jerk. and that is being polite”

I looked at Libby.

 "How do you mean dangerous? 

Who is he?"