I looked down and tried to decide which bikini I wanted to bring, making Kai get embarrassed on the trip would be totally worth it! I ended up picking a strawberry themed bikini and stuffed it in my bag along with my other things.
"I'm ready to go, Dad!" I said, picking up the big backpack. My original plan was going to bring a duffel bag, but why bother? I ran downstairs and ate some breakfast with Dad, since I won't be around for the next two months, and gave him a tight hug.
"So, Kai is going to drive you to the campsite, right?" Dad asked, pulling me into a fierce bear hug. He looked at my bag and asked if I had everything I needed, "Dad, the school is providing everything kids need. I'm going to be fine!!"
"Hey, I've been camping, nothing is fine if you don't have the right stuff!" Dad said, crossing his arms and giving me the stank eye. "Especially if there are boys involved. I know what they will be trying to do during the trip. Stay away from them, okay? Promise me you'll stay away from boys, sweety."
I don't think I can, Dad...
"Sure, whatever you say," I lied, patting Dad's shoulder and walking over to the couch. Kai wouldn't be here for an hour or two maybe, so I had all the time in the world to make myself look better.
Ever since I admitted to liking Kai, I've been more nervous to see him!
When Kai left a few days ago, I was more and more self conscious about seeing him and trying to look my best around him. I was wearing my cleanest BTS shirt and darkest black ripped jeans, with my hair hanging off to one side. But, I was still wondering if I looked like a complete dork and if I was okay looking, at least.
"HONEY, CAN YOU GET THE DOOR, PLEASE?" My dad asked from in the kitchen, he was hacking away at some pancakes while watching the news on his phone. I rolled my eyes and walked over to the door and checked through the peephole.
My heart fluttered as I opened the door and saw Kai standing there with his own bag and messed up hair, like always. I sighed and let him in with a smile, closing the door behind him. Turning, I faced Kai and glanced at the kitchen door.
"Dad, what are you doing?"
"No boys," Dad said, munching on a piece of pancake and glaring at Kai, who was looking around the room.
He smiled and looked over at my dad, "I'm nothing to worry about, sir. All I am is a trashy guy no one cares about."
"Wha-?" I mumbled, tilting my head. Wait, what's wrong with his eye--?
"Anyways, your daughter and I must be going now. The school is going to close the gates on anyone who doesn't show up," Kai said, turning to me and winking. I just then noticed the bruise on his left eye.
It's so swollen and dark, Kai must've gotten it recently...
"Oh no," I mumbled, remembering from that day....
"I have to go to my mom's house!"
Did he get that when he went home? No, it couldn't be true, his MOM wouldn't do that to her only son. Kai tells me all the time about how much he loves his mom..
"Kai?" I asked, walking beside him as we headed over to his car. I was worried something was going on at Kai's house, and I wanted to know. "Kai, stop."
"Hmm? What is it, Angel? You forget something?" Kai asked, looking over his shoulder. He stopped and furrowed his eyebrows, turning his head and grunting. "Don't even ask, Angel..."
"But--"
"DON'T ASK!!" Kai yelled, stomping over to his car and opening the passenger side door. "Get in."
I wanted to know more, to find out about Kai's situation. But most of all, I wanted to call the cops, just in case. "Thank you," I mumbled, shy all over again. I sat in the car and looked down at my clasped hands, on the verge of tears.
Kai got so defensive, it must be bad. But, he doesn't want me to get involved because it's serious, too. I want to help him.... Seeing him in pain....
I looked over at Kai, the bruise visible underneath his violet bangs, I want to help him so badly...
**********
"Mom, what are you talking about?!" Kai growled, looking over at his injured mother. Her normally sleek hair, knotted and tangled. Blood poured from her lower lip, a cut visibly large and infected. Kai kneeled besides her and held back his tears, She is in so much pain....
"What's going on here?" A voice boomed from behind Kai, making his mother clutch his arms tighter as fear made its way into her soul. "Oh, your miserable excuse for a son came to visit you, didn't he?"
"Shut up, you pathetic bastard," Kai cursed, glaring at his step father with anger building in his heart. "You can injure me, but you can't touch my mother anymore, fucking pig."
"You little shit," Kai's step father lunged at him.
But, Kai was quicker. He grabbed his mother and jumped out of range, placing her by the rundown leather couch and kicking the T.V. in her path, blocking her from any attack this dick might dish up. Kai looked back as a crash echoed through the empty halls and rooms, Brent's head smashed through the wall and left a gaping hole in the plaster.
"Idiot," Kai mused under his breath, extending his claws and smirking. Kai, looking up when Brent pulled his head out of the wall, closed his eyes and breathed. Fighting was one thing, but, in front of her.....
"Come on, fuck-face. Let's see what you've got," Kai ran to Brent with his claws extended and ready to kill. Kai and Brent collided, slamming into another wall. Kai bit down on Brent's shoulder and clawed at his arms.
I have to take him down, to keep my family safe!!
"GAAH! You HELL HOUND!!" Brent cried, pushing Kai off and looking a his bleeding arms. Gashes ran all the way down, blood pouring onto the floor and making red stains. "Fucking MONSTER!!"
"I'm going to call the cops on you for domestic violence, Brent. You're going away for a long time, asshole," Kai yelled, turning to find the phone. Suddenly, Brent's arm wrapped around Kai's throat, locking his head in an arm bar, and began choking him.
"Fucking fag, you think you're better than me? You're the one that bangs guys for fun," Brent snarled, tightening his grip, not letting Kai breathe with all his might. Kai cried out, wasting air as tears poured from his eyes.
His nails sliced through Brent's arm, cutting flesh and heading toward the bone. Kai could barely see, the room became fuzzy and unclear as tears flowed down Kai's cheeks.
I.....won't.....be able....to see her again, will I...?
"LET HIM GO, NOW!!!"
Brent's arm released Kai slowly, and the room became less foggy and it was easier to breathe. Kai gasped for air, falling to the ground and panting. I was so close to death, I was about to die.
Kai looked behind him and saw his mother holding a broken vase, breathing with a glare in her blue eyes. Kai's mother dropped the vase and ran over to him, looking him over with a worried expression, "Are you okay, dear?"
"I-I'm fine, Mom. You gotta get out of here before he--," Kai stuttered, grabbing to hold onto his mother's wrist.
"No, you need to get out of here," She said, pulling Kai to his feet with a grunt. "If anyone's not safe around here it's you."
**************
"Angel? Angel, get up, we're at the campsite."
"Huh? We are?" I asked, tired and rubbing my eyes awake. I looked out the car window and saw some teachers and students there with the camp staff. Yep, we were there alright. "Oh, thanks for waking me up."
"No problem," Kai said, ruffling his hair to hide the black eye. He sighed and looked over at me again. "Sorry for snapping earlier, it was a reflex. I'm always covering up cuts and wounds when I go out, it's just become so normal for me that I guess it isn't healthy for a teenager like I am."
"Of course it's not normal, covering up and making stories for injuries. You need to tell the police about this, Kai!" I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into a hug. I held back just a little, so that it wasn't obvious. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you..."
"Bad happening to me? What could happen, Angel?" Kai asked, pressing his head against my chest and wrapping his arms around me, making me blush."The only thing that could happen to me is a bad hangover."
"Shut up," I whispered, hugging him tighter. "you big dummy."
"Says the dummy," Kai held me close, sighing and smiling. My cheeks became hot as we pulled back and looked into each other's eyes, as if we were gazing into each others' souls.
"Kai," I mumbled, smiling while leaning in, waiting for the perfect moment...
"Angel," Kai moved forward, creeping his hand down to my waist. We closed our eyes and continued moving toward each other, waiting for the perfect kiss...
"Hey! You two, get out here and load up your stuff in your numbered cabin!"
"GAAH!!" Kai and I jumped, looking out through the drivers window. Mrs. Nokia, our math teacher, was standing there and tapping on the glass. Her cat like eyes glared at us, her orange hair cut off at the shoulders.
She tapped on the glass again, "Get out here, love birds!!"
"Damn," I mumbled, blushing and pulling back. Kai nodded to Mrs. Nokia, reaching over to pull the trunk lever open. He opened his door and stepped out, walking over to the trunk and popping the hood open.
"Okay, come get your stuff," Kai called, pulling out some of his luggage, which wasn't much. I grabbed my big bag and slung it over my shoulder.
"DARK ANGEL!!!" Alycia came running over, looking angry. She stomped between Kai and I and glared at me. "Where have you BEEN?! I've been waiting for over an hour to get to our assigned cabin and then have some MAJOR girl talk with you! How are we going to--?"
"Um, hello?" Kai said, tapping Alycia's shoulder and smiling sweetly. "Are you the amazing Alycia that I keep hearing about?"
"Yes, playboy. Now, step aside," Alycia grabbed my wrist and pulled me to our cabin. "See you later at the swim meet by the lake!"
"Wait, swim meet?!" I squealed, looking back at Kai. He shrugged and waved, blushing profusely. Heading to the cabin, Alycia slammed the door and glared at me.
"What are you doing, kiddie?" She asked, crossing her bare arms in front of her sky blue tank top. Alycia smiled and shook her head. "You've fallen for that idiot, haven't you?"
"NO!" I screamed, immediately covering my mouth and blushing. Alycia began laughing and I started to tell her to shut up before everyone in the forest could hear her. "I don't like like him, I just like him is all. So SHUT UP!!!"
"Okay, fine. You don't like like him," Alycia wiped her eyes free of tears. But couldn't hold in the laughter, "YOU LOVE HIM!!!"
"STOOP!!" I whacked Alycia's arm, telling her to stuff it when the camp counselor started to call kids for the beginning of supper. I hurriedly got dressed in a long sleeve turtleneck and some black shorts. Alycia rolled her eyes and walked out the cabin, waiting for me to meet her at the dining hall.
"FIVE MINUTES TILL SUPPER!!" The announcer rang, making students hurry past me and Alycia. Becoming nervous, Alycia and I speed our way to the large hall. The lodge came into view, big and imposing, unlike the cabins for the students. And everyone stood in lines, waiting to get their food and sit with their friends.
"We need to hurry," I said, looking at Alycia. She smiled and nodded, glaring at the crowd of monsters that stood before us. Alycia sped through the crowd, her vampire-like speed astounded me to this day while I trailed right behind her.
"Make way, weirdos!!" I laughed, pushing past students as they laughed at my corny stupidness. I stumbled over someone's foot and watched as the ground made its way to my face at two times the speed. I landed and immediately got back on my feet.
"MOVE IT! I'm so hungry I could eat one of you!!"
****************
"So-GULP- when is this, so called, 'swim meet' going to happen?" I asked, powering my way through some cookies, the essential part of any dinner.
Alycia chewed and shrugged while staring at her burger, "No idea, the counselor said 'Sometime this week,' that's all I know so far."
She swallowed and looked up at me, "Why?"
"No reason, just thought you might know," I said, tossing my wrapper and burping. Earning a laugh or two from some neighboring boys. I looked over and saw them staring at me intently, looking me over with smiles on their faces. "What's wrong with those guys?"
"Hm?" Alycia looked over at the table of guys and rolled her eyes in disgust. "They heard about Kai's joke from way back when no one noticed you. Word got out that you two did it on school grounds and now everyone is looking for a piece of your ass."
"Idiots. They think that we ACTUALLY made it past second base, right?" I asked and glared at the students. They chuckled it off and continued with their conversations, whatever they may be. I looked up at some stars and scowled, again. "Why did life go out like this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing," I closed my eyes and excused myself from the meal area, saying that I got a stomach ache and wasn't able to continue with the night games. Alycia, my best friend, basically family couldn't answer my question.
No one would be.
How had my life spiral out of control? Kai and I only knew each other because of school and the fact that we were neighbors. He was one of my closest friends till middle school, then he started to distance himself from everyone. Signed up for basketball, went out to party every night, and then show up at his dorm to sleep it off or get laid.
Girls and guys noticed him and wanted him. For money, for sex, for anything and everything. I was pushed away, and only picked on and messed with by Kai and his harem of fans every so often. I had grown accustomed to this high school life, being able to come up with a sharp response to every jab.
It had been my life for years.
But, Kai surprised me with his big plot twist, even if it was just a joke. He scarred me, taking my heart and ripping it in two and throwing the parts away in the fiery pits of Hell for me to look for. And, I made the heat worse when I challenged him, without thinking. Causing more things to spiral out of control.
Kai had me in the palms of his hands, literally and figuratively. I was a puppet with strings attached, though nobody could see them. Sooner or later, I found my heart and sewed it back together and replaced it back in my chest.
Though my heart was never the same.
It was irregular now, beating out of pase whenever he was around. My chest becoming breathless every time he kissed me with his sweet lips. I wanted to see him more often with every passing day. Kai ripped the one thing that made me who I was and helped me fix it with his charm and jokes.
"Why did life go out like this?" I asked myself again while staring at the full moon in the sky. I walked into the woods without thinking and stopped at a little lake. Sitting on a boulder and messing with some moss that had grown onto the side of it. I pulled at the small plant, wishing it was my crush instead.
I looked down at my succubai tail, watching it curl and spiral as the violet skin wrapped around my thigh. My wings flapped at some over hanging branches, snapping them and I watched the twigs fall to the grass covered floor. I shook my head, wanting to clear my thoughts, though they wouldn't go so easily.
Walking back to my cabin, tired and needing sleep. I brushed past tree limbs and big boulders with a heavy heart. If Kai and I never started this battle, we wouldn't be as close as we were now. Even if our love is fake, it feels real to me.
I opened my cabin door after the games where over, after everyone went to sleep and flopped onto my bed. Staring at the ceiling, I slowly feel asleep. Dreaming about Kai again in the forest.
But this time, things were quite different...