30 Days Together

Chapter 17

Akina had decided to walk to school. She needed to clear her head and think properly. The walk was long and agonising as she replayed Kyle’s last words to her that he had practically yelled at her.

She walked aimlessly with nothing but her thoughts. When Akina reached school, she immediately walked to the library where she sat at her old table. It felt good to be back there considering she hadn’t been in over a week. She had missed the library.

“Good morning Akina,” Ms. Spencer said as she rolled a cart filled with books.

Akina smiled for the first time that day. “Good morning.”

Ms. Spencer had stopped pushing the cart and stood next to her table. “I haven’t seen you around, I was beginning to think you had forgotten all about me,” she joked which made Akina laugh even though it sounded a tad bit forced.

“I would never forget you, Ms. Spencer.”

“Well, in that case, I shall leave you to your reading and get back to shelving these books.” Ms. Spencer gestured with her head and turned to leave.

Akina bit her lip, she wanted to ask her something but had no idea how she was meant to go all about it. “Umm, Ms. Spencer,” she said quietly.

The librarian turned back around with a smile on her face. “Yes dear, is there something that I can help you with?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, please go ahead,” she said and sat down. She placed her hands on the table as she stared at Akina and Akina squirmed under her gaze.

How was she supposed to ask what was on her mind without coming off as one of the dumb teenagers who couldn’t tell the difference between what’s good and what’s bad?

Ms. Spencer had a kind smile, one that made her look like a grandma that it made Akina wonder how old she was. “You can ask me anything Akina,” she said with a gentle tone. “You mustn’t be scared or apprehensive to ask me anything that is on your mind.”

Akina took a deep breath through her nose before she visibly released it through her mouth. “What do you do when you find out that someone you started trusting lied to you about something really important?”

Ms. Spencer watched her intently. Her smile was still prominent on her face. “What do you mean?”

“I need what to know what someone does when a person they trusted lies to them and turns out to not be who they thought they were,” Akina said as her eyes moved to her lap where she was fiddling her fingers.

“Well, first thing you have to do is ask them why they lied,” Ms. Spencer said, “you need to be able to listen to the other person’s side of the story before you can make a conclusion.”

Akina considered what she had said. Had she been in such a rush to tell Kyle she didn’t want to see him? He did lie to her after all but then again she hadn’t given him the chance to explain why he had done,

Ms. Spencer continued, “people lie for various reasons. Others lie because they love and want to protect us from the truth while others lie because they just want to,” she said and then clasped her hands together and stared at her which only made Akina feel uncomfortable.

“Oh thank you,” Akina said. “I will think about what you have said.”

“You remind me so much of my niece, she was smart and beautiful but sad and lonely. You shouldn’t be alone all the time, it tends to mess with the mind.”

“What happened to her?”

“She committed suicide just recently,” Ms. Spencer said with a sad smile.

Akina’s body shuddered at how she had said it. It was like she was talking about her without actually knowing it. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, dear. But please try to not always be alone.”

“I will.”

Ms. Spencer stood up and gave her a smile. “Don’t be a stranger next time,” she said, “and I think you should be heading to class now before the tardy bell rings.”

Akina looked at the old grandfather clock and nearly cursed. She was going to be late and receive detention if she didn’t leave right away.

“Thank you so much, Ms. Spencer,” Akina said as she picked up her bag and practically ran out of the library.

Akina ran to her first class which happened to be on the other side. Yeah, she was getting detention. She bumped into a couple of people but didn’t bother apologising for it, she could care less what they thought about her right now.

Akina made it to her class just as the last bell rang. She released a sigh of relief and opened the door to her class. All the eyes turned to look at her as she stood there. This was the first time that she was the last to arrive.

She walked to her seat just as everyone began whispering and throwing glances in her direction.

“Glad of you to finally join us, Ms. Matthews,” Ms. Watson said coldly and the entire class burst into laughter as the whispers increased.

“I’m sorry miss, I was in the library,” Akina apologised sheepishly.

What couldn’t she have been late for her Math or Physics class? At least those teachers were nicer and wouldn’t have embarrassed her like that.

“I hope for your sake it doesn’t happen,” Ms. Watson said, “because the next time you show up to my class will be the first time that you get detention. Am I understood?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good.”

The class was laughing non-stop but Ms. Watson didn’t say nor do anything. Akina burned with rage at her unfair treatment. She didn’t understand what she had done to deserve such treatment from her teacher.

The class went on for the next forty-five minutes with Akina keeping her head low and scribbling down her notes. When the bell rang, Akina was the first person to get her things and practically ran out of her Human biology class. She couldn’t stand seeing the smug smile on Ms. Watson’s face.

The rest of the day went over smoothly. Akina hadn’t gotten any detention nor had she been late for her other classes. She hadn’t seen Vincent or Wyatt which was a bonus. Akina wasn’t yet ready to talk to Kyle or any of his friends. She still had to think about what Ms. Spencer had told her.

Akina had been rush in telling Kyle to leave her alone, she didn’t mean that was for sure. She liked talking to him and hanging out with him always made her feel alive.

She walked out of the school front doors and froze, there leaning against his car casually was none other than Kyle. There were a bunch of people surrounding him including Wyatt and Vincent with a few cheerleader girls in their short skirts and pom-poms. They were laughing at something that Vincent had said while Kyle ran a hand through his hair.

Akina didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t stand there all day and stare at him talking and having fun with his friends. The thought hurt as she released that he had friends and she was probably just a charity case he seemed fit to help for his selfish reasons. Sucking in a deep breath, Akina hoisted her bag on both shoulders and hang her head low. She didn’t want Kyle to spot her.

She was almost by the school gate when Kyle yelled her name. Akina froze. She was almost there. Why had he called her? Akina turned around and saw him walking towards her with his hands in his jean pockets. The people he was with were all looking at him strangely except for Wyatt and Vincent and that bothered her.

“Akina,” Kyle called her once again as he walked towards her. “Wait up.”

Akina couldn’t get her eyes off of him. His hair was swept at one side and his brown eyes looked lighter, it was as if he had gotten hotter in just less than 24 hours since she last saw him.

“How are you?” he asked with his usual smile.

“I, I’m okay,” Akina answered.

“I’m okay too, thanks for asking,” Kyle replied still smiling,

It felt awkward standing with Kyle and Akina didn’t know what to do. She had missed him and everything about him but she needed mental space from him. She still had to come to terms with the fact that he had lied to her.

“Where are you headed to?” Kyle asked.

It seemed like he was enjoying every single moment that Akina stood there just watching him. And she still had no clue what to say to him just yet.

“Home.”

“Can I give you a ride?”

Akina thought it over. Did she want Kyle to give her a ride home? “No thanks, but I think I’ll just walk,” she finally decided it was best if they weren’t in the same surrounding for much longer because she knew she would waiver.

“I don’t mind giving you a ride. We are neighbours after all and what kind of neighbour would I be if I let you walk home all alone?” Kyle said as he swung his car keys on his finger. “I promise to get you home safe and in one piece.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Please,” Kyle begged. He looked over to his friends and then back at her. “I just want to talk and explain myself. Please.” He ran a hand through his hair and tugged on it quite hard that Akina saw him flinch just for a split second.

“Okay, then I guess,” Akina replied and Kyle visibly relaxed his entire body.

He jerked his head in the direction of his car and Akina looked at his friends then back at him. Did he expect her to walk over to his car? The car that had all his adoring fans waiting for him.

“Are you coming?” Kyle asked as he turned around to find her standing there unmoving. “Is there a problem?” he looked at her but she continued staring at his car and his friends.

The girls there were all hot and had sexy bodies while Akina was nothing more than a stepping stone. A duck among swans. Kyle looked at his car then at her and something final seemed to click as a look of recognition swept across his face.

“Okay wait for me here, I’ll bring the car over. Okay?” Kyle asked and Akina nodded her head.

Kyle walked over to his car and said something to his friends. The girls rolled their eyes and shot glares Akina’s way before they sashayed off while the guys gave him weird hugs before they left. He got in the car and drove over to where Akina stood.

“Get in,” he said as leaned over and opened the passenger door for her.

Akina got in and fiddled with her fingers. There was an uncomfortable silence that hang over them like a heavy blanket. Neither one of them said anything as Kyle drove them, not even the radio was playing and Akina could have used any form of distraction.

They continued to drive in silence as they entered their street. Kyle parked the car and they both just sat there un-moving.

“Look I’m sorry for lying to you and not telling you what actually happened at the party,” Kyle began as he turned over in his seat to look at her. “I know I f****d up but please just let me explain why I did it.”

This was what Akina was waiting for, the moment where he explained himself. But the question was she ready to hear what he had to say? She knew some of all the things he had said were true and that fact hit her hard.

“Please hear me out,” Kyle had a pleading look in his eyes.

“Okay go ahead,” Akina finally said.

Kyle had a shocked expression, it seemed he didn’t think she would give in so easily. “You mean you’ll hear me out?”

“Yes I’ll hear you out,” Akina said and then rolled her eyes. She always rolled her eyes whenever she was with him and that in itself should have worried her but oddly enough, it didn’t.

“The reason I lied to you was that I didn’t want you to see me as a failure. I promised you that I wouldn’t leave you alone but that’s exactly what I did and then you almost,” Kyle visibly swallowed the word. It seemed like he couldn’t say what he wanted to say. “And then you were almost. God, I can’t say without feeling guilty about the whole thing.”

“I was almost r***d, I know,” Akina said. “It almost happened but it didn’t.”

“I know and that was what had been eating up the whole time. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror without feeling like I failed you,” Kyle tugged at his hair quite hard. “I didn’t mean to lie to you like that. I guess I just didn’t want you to feel the same way I felt about the whole thing.”

Akina was silent. She now understood why he lied but that still didn’t make it okay. He had lied to lie and didn’t consider her feelings. “Is that why you are trying hard to be friends with me?” she looked him right in the eyes as she asked him. She needed to see his reaction and decide if he was being honest or just lying to her again.

“What? Of course not,” Kyle looked appalled that she could think like that of him. “Is that what you think, that I pity you?”

“Everyone seems to do it. Why wouldn’t you?” Akina said with a shrug.

“Wow! Okay, that really hurt, literally,” Kyle said looking hurt. “I can’t believe you think the only reason I’m hanging out with you is that I pity you and nothing more.”

Akina looked at him and then looked out the window at her house. The lights were still of meaning her dad was still at work. She was going to be alone with nothing but her thoughts and her journal. The journal that had started everything. “It doesn’t make any sense why you would still want to hang out with me. I’m not popular nor am I one of your many admirers.”

“I can’t believe you right now. After everything we have done together after I took you to the one place that I hold close to my heart. Wow, just wow.” Kyle looked hurt but she was only stating facts, facts that even he knew were true. “You were the one person I took there and then you still think I’d just want to be around you because I pity you. Sorry to break it to but I don’t pity you, I like spending time with you and I like seeing you smile because I’m the one who put it there. I like how you carry yourself and not throw yourself at me like every girl I have ever been friends with.”

Akina was stunned, she had no words for how she felt. His words sounded so raw and emotional that she wanted to believe him. Really, she wanted to believe that someone like him could genuinely like spending time with her and not out of pity.

Kyle continued talking. “I like teasing you because you always get that little twinkle and sparkle in your eyes and how your ears turn red when you’re embarrassed,” he said. “So no, I don’t pity you and I will never pity you. I need you to get that through your head, just like I’m not going to leave you alone no matter how many times you continue to push me away. I’ll always come back.”

“I, you don’t mean that,” Akina said with her head hung low.

“I mean every word I have just said Akina,” Kyle used his index finger to tip her chin up. He looked her right in the eyes and her breath logged in her throat. There was so much emotion in them. “You are an amazing person and you shouldn’t ever think otherwise.”

He slowed leaned in and Akina instinctively closed her eyes. Kyle’s lips brushed her forehead, it was a gentle kiss. One that left Akina feeling breathless even after Kyle had pulled back.

“You are too damn of an amazing person for me to pity you,” he said as he held her both her hands in his. “Please don’t ever doubt that, oh the fact that I like you.”

Akina was speechless, she couldn’t wrap her head around what had just happened. There was so much emotion that her heart was almost bursting over the seams.

“I…...” she stammered as she tried to catch her breath.

Kyle’s finger flew to her lips and hushed her. “You don’t have to say anything, just let what I said sink in.” he got out of the car and walked to her side where he opened her door and offered her his hand.

Akina took it still dazed, her mind was trying to process everything at a speed she wasn’t used to.  

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Kyle said and then wrapped his hands around her and placed another kiss on her forehead. Akina’s hands were limp by her sides but slowly, she lifted them up and awkwardly returned the hug. Kyle pulled away and offered her his usual smile. “Good night Akina. Sweet dreams.”

Akina stood there and watched as Kyle walked to his house, opened the door, and closed it. She shook her head and then walked over to her house with a smile on her face.