Beneath Her Facade

Chapter 10

We all ate in silence until June spoke up "May come on..so you're just going to ignore us all day?" I looked up to see everyone paused eating and is looking at me. I just shrugged in response and continued eating my chicken salad.

"I already said I'm sorry and I'll say it again if it'll make you happy. May Chelly Jackson I am extremely sorry—"

"Sorry for what" Mom and Dad asked simultaneously, cutting April off.

June looked from April to me then back to April and finally at our parents while they were patiently waiting for an answer but I just shook my head as if to say nothing but June started anyway "April confronted May when May was trying to be her annoying bubbly self as usual after we came back from school yesterday, and what she said kinda crossed the lines which hurt May a lot and now she refuses to speak to anyone since then" June shrugged before taking a sip of her juice.

Mom and Dad looked between April and I multiple times before Dad asked "How bad exactly was the confrontation?"

"Yeah how bad? Cause I know you sisters argue a lot but you start laughing together after about 5minutes and May not speaking to anyone after that means you April must have hit her weak spot" Mom added . I don't want to remember again so I quickly get up and excuse myself to the restroom. But after I leave the kitchen I head for my room instead and lock the door.I slide down on the floor to gather my thoughts. Sh*t even in my room I still feel suffocated,I guess I'll just sneak out then. I get up and grab my jeans jacket and my purple flip-flops since it's my only somewhat comfortable footwear.

I jump out the window and walk down the street to where my feet take me. I end up under the shade of an autumn tree and settle down on a rock just beside it. For some reason I love the Autumn season. The way the leaves fall in different colours and how the cold breeze gently gushes and caresses my skin calms my nerves and brings a sense of peace. I also love animals..well except reptiles and ones that crawl...eessh...I shiver at the thought of an animal crawling on me..

Just then I hear the rustling of leaves coming from behind the tree. I turn around to see a kitten staring at me with it's..Oh my gosh ..those pretty cute gorgeous big blue eyes..What??...too many adjectives??..well I'd add more cos they're not enough to describe it..damn..the fur is also pure white as snow. I whisper a small "come here" but all it does is "Meoowww" .I search for a grain or something edible I'd get to get it to some closer...perfect..I found bread crumb and handed it to it. It looked at me for a while before coming up to me . It sniffs my hand before biting into the crumb. I pet it a few times and it purrs in delight before picked it and placed it on my lap. "I'm going to name you Scorchy" I know the name sounds ridiculous but I love it that way "Aren't you cute little thingy...so cuteee!!" I say while still petting it's head.

"Yes it is" someone states from my side and I jump in surprise.I look up to see Taylor standing in front me smiling."Hey what are you doing here"

" I should be asking you the same thing" I reply with my eyebrows slightly raised.

"Well I was passing before I saw you sitting here with the kitten so I decided to approach you. Now what are you also doing here at this time. It's getting dark and it ain't safe here outside alone by yourself."

I sighed " I just needed some fresh air ...and I'm being accompanied by Scorchy here" I say looking at the kitten on my lap.

"We better get going before it's very dark" He adds looking at the sky.

"Yeah " I place Scorchy down gently " I guess I'd see you next time Scorchy..hopefully " i mumbled while it just meowed in response and went behind the tree still looking at me. If i dont leave soon i wouldn't be able to resist those eyes anymore.

I turn towards Taylor and he gives me his hand before pulling me up. Suddenly we get lost in each other's eyes and for a moment there, his eyes actually look like sunflowers. They're sparkling in.... oh sh*t ..I didn't realise how close we were until now. I moved back and dusted off my jeans, looking everywhere but at him. Goodness of my potatoes this is awkward.

"Uh..uhm...l..let's..go..I g..guess"Taylor says scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Y..yeah" We walk in uncomfortable silence but none of us decides to speak up. Half way there I decide to break it since it's killing me

"Taylor?"

He looks at me "hmm?" Damn I get nervous all of a sudden

"W..why do you talk to me so freely "

He looks surprised for a second but nevertheless answers " Why you don't want me to talk to you nicely?"

"No no.. like you mostly ignore or snap at girls who approach you and I never see you talk to others a lot or ever ,so I'm wondering why you're being nice to me of all people. Is it because we're P.E partners?"

"What ? of course not..I can't tell you the main reason why i don't like talking to others yet but one reason is cause some people just waste your time so...but for you I guess...you're different from the other girls" He shrugs and gives me a small smile but I just stare at him dumbfounded .

" Me? different??" He nods and I chuckle humorlessly " You must mistaken me for someone else...seriously...I know I'm quiet at school and all but trust me...if you get closer to me I can be very annoying you'd wish you befriended a goat than me"

"Well i think I'd find your 'annoying' self cute" He grinned

My ears tickled at that but luckily blushing is invisible on me." For real?" I chuckle

" uh huh"

" Even my sisters got tired of me you know" I frowned thinking of what April said yesterday.

"Well I'm pretty sure i can never get tired of you no matter how annoying you think you are. I prefer you that way anyway so " He shrugged smiling cheekily.

"Mm..but i still don't get why you'd hangout with someone as plain as me though. You should talk to the nice girls around the school instead you know"

We stop at my street before he looks at me and begins" Narh Narh ...like i said,you're different from them and that's what intrigues me to talk to you. Those girls you call nice only enjoy flirting and doing other nasty stuff and I find it stupid and unnecessary...they never ask how you are doing or want to get to know more about you which makes them fake people...but you , MayCee are completely unlike and interesting to talk to...back in middle school when all the girls are talking about their new shoes and other stuff , you sit in your own world drawing or creating different shapes with a paper..and even when the other girls bring their dolly play toys..you prefer toy cars and mystery legos instead which makes you unique and it fascinated me everytime i saw you May...it even shocked me the first time i saw you yesterday...you've grown so tall,girls would kill to be your height..and believe me when i say this ..you're really beautiful MayCee so don't let anyone make you seem like you're pathetic and weak" He holds my left hand in both of his hands gazing at me and smiles warmly.

I can't help but smile back.He really has a way to make me feel better and it's making my insides melt. I can feel the butterflies celebrating in my stomach as we just stare at each other and right now I'm not sure what to do. Do I hug him ? But I've not really hugged a guy before apart from my father . Won't I look weir—

I'm not able to finish my thoughts when he suddenly pulls me in for a hug and it's so warm I could be in his arms all day. I hug him back and rest my head on his shoulder. We stay like that for a while before I pull away "Thank you,Taylor" I smile genuinely "I guess I'd see you at school"

"Yep" He smiles back "Definitely..see you later" He turns and walks towards his street

" Bye"I wave and he waves back before I walk inside the house still smiling.