Troubled

THIRTY FIVE

CORA PHILIPS

When I heard them knock my first instinct was to leave them there, they would go away on there on. But they were persistent, and I still wouldn't have opened the door, because of the blood that was starting to seep into my bathrobe.

"What would you like for breakfast?" Xander asked me with a huge grin on his face.

I know for a fact that they won't let me be until I did what they wanted, and I was starting to get hungry.

"Toast would be fine."

He snaps into action like he wasn't just crying when he looked at the wounds Kyle was treating. I was actually very grateful he didn't mention it anymore.

"Have you started practicing for the talent hunt?"

Before I could answer Xander pops out of the kitchen.

"I haven't really been rehearsing for now, but I will start soon, thank you for asking."

Kyle looks at him for a second before laughing. I would laugh too but I was still in pains, heaving myself down from my bed and down the stairs took more than mental strength. I was down bad and if that stupid dog was not out to get them I wouldn't have opened the door.

"I wasn't asking you, I was asking Cora but you need to start rehearsing, there's no time to do anything else."

Xander looks at my face in confusion, I hadn't told him about it before now, I don't think I was planning to, so I look at the wounds intently, in order to avoid his gaze.

"Cora is doing the talent hunt?!" Xander shrieked.

"You didn't tell him?" Kyle's eyes flickered to my face.

I picked at the fiber of the bathrobe I was wearing.

"I'm doing the talent hunt." I tell Xander.

"How come he knows and I don't?"

"He signed up for me."

He blinked between the two of us, I tried to stop fidgeting with my hands but I can't.

"What category are you going for?"

"You don't know her talent too?" Kyle asked him this just as he stood to wash the bloody material.

"No I don't."

"Wow, even I know that and I'm not her first friend."

I hear Kyle say, I know they will start arguing so I walk upstairs to change out of the bloody bathrobe.

After changing out of it, I clean the other wounds that Kyle wouldn't see. My head was spinning, and for the first time it's because I was hungry and tired.

I manage to go downstairs again and they were still arguing.

"You guys came to take care of a sick person and this is what you do?" I rest my head on the kitchen counter.

"We are sorry, we didn't think." Xander murmured before dropping a plate in front of me, it was toast slathered with butter.

I take a bite, my stomach grumbled in happiness.

"Thank you."

He beamed.

"I take famous Cory is in school?" Kyle asked as he drank from a bottle.

Xander groans,

"Do you guys talk on phone till midnight?"

I roll my eyes and Kyle laughs.

"How else do you know everything about her?"

"He doesn't know everything about me." I say as I take another bite.

Kyle looked me before passing me a bottle of orange juice.

"Eat slowly before you choke."

"Did anything interesting happen in school today?"

"Everything was so bland without you today, it was like someone sucked out all the colors and left us in black and white." Kyle tells me.

I roll my eyes.

"You shouldn't lie to a sick person."

"He isn't, at least not for me anyway. I did feel like everything was black and white."

I felt my face grow warm, so I stuff my face with more toast. No one had ever said I made their world so colorful that my absence was noticeable. Infact my own mother would wish I disappeared completely. I downed my bottle of juice so I don't have to say anything else.

"Shoot, it's time for my rehearsals." Xander exclaimed.

"You have rehearsals?"

"Yeah, I used do it during the weekends until the talent hunt. I want to straighten everything out so I don't flop on the stage."

"You have a teacher?" I asked him.

He nods vigorously,

"He's the best in this town. He agreed to take me as soon as school closes everyday."

"Okay, I should drive you then." Kyle said hopping off the counter.

I felt myself deflate a bit, I didn't want them to leave me, for some reason I needed to be around them, I needed their good energy.

"Oh no, you don't have to come with me, Mr Bates house is along the way to mine, imagine going there and turning back. I'll get an Uber." Xander was smiling as he picked up his bag.

"Well if you say so." Kyle said grudgingly.

"I do say so, I'm sorry I can't be here longer Cora. Will you be coming to school tomorrow?"

I looked at my body, I honestly don't know, but I don't want to worry them so I nod.

"Great, see you tomorrow then." He checks for that stupid dog before slipping out.

"That kid is something huh?" Kyle asked as he put my plate in the sink.

I nod, I don't know why but I liked the two of us together, alone. He knew most of me, he has proven he won't be running for the hills whenever the natural disasters show up. With Xander around, there's a deep fear hoping they never show up in front of him.

"So, how about you practice your drawing and I sit here with you?"

I look up at him since he is standing.

"And you won't disturb me?"

He quirked his left eyebrow.

"It depends on what you think disturbances are." He helps me off the stool I sat on.

"You don't distract me while I draw."

He nods,

"I'll be bored so I can't guarantee anything."

My bag is still in the living room thankfully. My pencils were in there. Actually, I had never drawn anything down here, always in the solace of my room. But I couldn't leave him here and go upstairs. Was it okay if he came into my bedroom?

Screw it. Nobody had the right to judge my way of life. I was going to take him upstairs. I couldn't risk mother walking in and seeing my drawing.

"Don't get any ideas." I say as I take my bag and start to ascend the stairs.

He followed.

"I wasn't, you're the one with the ideas."

I roll my eyes. And for some reason I felt nervous to showing him my room. I stand there for a while wondering if it was okay to bring him into my safe haven. But when I turn and see the smile on his face, I push into it thinking what the hell?