Chapter 7- Beneath The Suface
740 Words
Four years later...
The house buzzed with morning energy. Kate stood in front of the mirror, dabbing a bit of blush on her cheeks. She barely noticed Richard leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.
“Makeup before school?” he teased with a smirk. “Since when?”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Since I’m tired of being the girl who doesn’t get love gifts.”
Richard chuckled. “So that’s it? You’re joining the artificial beauty squad?”
Kate shrugged, applying her lip gloss carefully. “Maybe I just want to feel pretty too.”
“You’re already beautiful,” Richard said casually, “but hey, what do I know?”
Just then, Jessica popped her head into the room. “Y’all ready? Breakfast is waiting!”
---
During their walk to school, Alex narrowed his eyes at Kate. “You’re definitely hiding something.”
“Like what?” she asked innocently.
“You look... different,” he said, giving her a suspicious glance.
“It’s normal to glow up after the holidays,” she replied with a playful tone.
“Hmm,” Richard added, smirking. “Or maybe... someone’s wearing something?”
“I’m not!” she said too quickly.
Alex smiled. “Alright, fine. But what about those girls and their gifts today?”
“Ignore them,” Alex advised. “And if they try to force it on you, use your scary face.”
Kate burst into laughter. “Scary face, really?”
“Try it. Let us know how it goes,” Richard said with a grin.
---
After lunch, the school buzzed with excitement—there was a football match. Alex and Richard were the stars, of course, and the field was already crowded.
Kate stood at the sidelines with her best friend, Lara. They chatted until Kate excused herself to the restroom. Taking the shortcut by the school pool, she bumped into three senior girls, all holding love gifts meant for Alex and Richard.
“Can you help us give these to them?” one asked sweetly.
Kate hesitated. Then she remembered Alex’s advice. She stood tall, narrowed her eyes, and said firmly, “No. Give it to them yourselves.”
The girls exchanged shocked looks, their smiles fading. Kate turned quickly, heart pounding, eager to tell her brothers what she’d just done—but in her rush, she misstepped.
A splash echoed through the schoolyard.
A junior student nearby screamed and ran off.
Alex heard someone shout from upstairs, “Kate! She fell into the pool!”
He dashed down to the pool just as Richard sprinted from the field.
They reached the pool at the same time.
The girls who had confronted Kate stood nearby, already spinning lies.
“She pushed us first!” one of them cried. “She was bullying us!”
Alex didn’t even blink. “Kate would never do that. You’re seniors, she’s a junior—think about how ridiculous that sounds.”
Richard knelt beside Kate, who was shivering and coughing. “I’ll take her,” he said.
“Go,” Alex nodded. “I’ll deal with them.”
---
Richard brought Kate to the art studio, where it was quiet and warm. He handed her a towel from a nearby shelf.
“You okay?” he asked gently.
She nodded, sniffling. “My makeup’s all gone.”
“Guess we’re back to natural Kate,” Richard said with a wink. “Still pretty, though.”
---
On their walk home, Kate kept her head down until Alex glanced at her.
“Your face looks different again,” he said.
Kate sighed. “I told you. It’s normal.”
“It’s not normal,” Richard cut in. “It’s foundation.”
Alex turned to her gently. “You’re wearing makeup?”
Kate hesitated. “Yes… I’m sorry. I just wanted to feel like one of those girls who get noticed.”
“You don’t need it,” Alex said sincerely. “You’re already noticed. You’re naturally beautiful, Katie.”
"Already noticed by who?" she thought for a moment before replying. " I won't wear it again. Promise".
“Good,” Alex said. “Now let’s get home before Mom yells.”
As they walked, Kate's blush crept to her cheeks not because of the promise, but because of the way Alex had said her name. The way he’d looked at her.
Like he saw something more.
- Writer
