Ms. Smith walks down the emptying halls of the school and to her office. It's a medium sized room with an armchair and sofa by one wall, and her desk by the other. There's a large window but the blinds are closed. She sets her bag down by her desk and then sits on the edge of the desk facing Kieran.
"Now, I just wanted to ask if you're okay with the group I paired you with. I was a teenager once too, I know it can be awkward being the new, and in your case being the only guy in your group."
Heat rises to his cheeks and he laughs awkwardly. "Uhh, yeah, it doesn't really bother me."
"That's good. Alright, well, I expect you to visit my office after spring break, I also tutor biology. And I wish you luck on your project!"
He shakes her hand once more and then leaves her office.
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The drive in his Bronco back to his house is uneventful. A touch of loneliness is beginning to creep into his feelings while he sits on the couch. His mom is staying at a trailer at the studio so she doesn't have to drive the two and a half hours every day to get there. His dad hasn't been in the picture since he was six. His father was a marine who was killed in Afghanistan eight days before he was supposed to come home. His mother, Maria, doesn't speak about it much and it was long enough ago that he sometimes forgets.
About an hour later he hears his phone buzz from it's place on the kitchen counter and he walks to get it. The notification on his lock screen reads:
NEW MESSAGE
Brooke: anyone wanna get together tn to brainstorm? My mom...
---------
He opens his phone and joins the conversation.
Brooke: anyone wanna get together tn to brainstorm? My mom and dad are at some work convention for the weekend so my house is free.
Eliza: Harper and I are in if Kieran is.
Kieran: Sure, someone send me the address.
April: I don't have a ride can someone get me?
Kieran: I probably could.
April: I'll text you my address and Brooke's.
Brooke: ok cya soon.
*April texts him the addresses.*
Kieran: I'll be there in 10.
He puts his phone in his pocket and goes back out to the garage, this time taking the yellow Mercedes SL63 Roadster Maria had gotten him after signing her new contract. The roar of the V8 as it comes to life never fails to put a grin on his face.
He arrives at April's house three minutes faster than what Google Maps predicted. Her house is a large modern mansion not far from his. He runs up to the front door and is about to knock when she opens it and falls on to him.
They fall onto the grass behind him and she lands directly on top of him. She quickly climbs off him, her face flushed trying to apologize. He sits there for a second before starting to laugh, then they're both laughing. He walks her down to the car and opens the passenger door, closing it after she gets in.
They're the last group to arrive at Brooke's house. A massive white beachfront mansion. Brooke opens the door for them, and they enter after saying hello. They gather in her living room; Kieran sits on the carpeted floor and leans back on the sofa that Brooke sits on. Harper and Eliza sit together on a brown leather sofa opposite them, and April chooses an armchair.
"So, umm. Any ideas where we should go first?" Kieran asks.
"Well, I think a lot of the other groups are going to go the obvious places, like the Santa Monica Pier, or maybe somewhere downtown." says Eliza.
"So, we shouldn't go there?" asks Harper.
"Right." answers Eliza.
"So we should try and pick somewhere unique." April chimes in.
"I repeat, any ideas?" Kieran says.
No one says anything for a minute, just thinking.
Kieran clears his throat before saying, "I don't know if this would work, but my mom says that our hot tub has a great view of the sunset? Maybe we could get a picture of all of us with the sunset?"
"Yeah, that could work!" Brooke says from her place next to him.
There are murmurs of agreement from the rest of the group.
"Wouldn't it be kind of fun to have a sleepover too?" Harper asks.
"I was literally just about to say that." Eliza agrees.
"Yeah, my house is definitely big enough for us, and my mom won't be home either. What day should we do it?" Kieran asks.
"Not tomorrow, Harper and I are going to a party." Eliza mutters.
"Sunday then?" asks Brooke.
Once everyone is sure the plan works for them Eliza anounces she and Harper have to leave. After they have left Kieran gets a text from Eliza.
NEW MESSAGE
Eliza: just sent you addy, better see you at the party tmr xo
Kieran flips his phone back face down and tries to ignore the slight heat in his cheeks. He wasn't much of a people person in New York, and he's never been to a real party. No chance in hell he's going to miss out on one now.
"Kieran?" April asks. "Are you umm, ready to go?"
"Oh yeah, sorry, bye Brooke, see you on Sunday."
April and Kieran walk out of the house and down the driveway to the parked Mercedes. Once again, her door is opened and shut by Kieran. She tunes the stereo and turns up the volume as they cruise along in the dimming Californian night. Warm air blows on them, throwing April's hair around like crazy. When they pull into her driveway it looks asthough they've been through a tornado. He walks her up to her door and she stand facing him in front of it for a moment.
"Thanks again, for taking me." She murmurs. Her eyes are on the ground and her heart is racing for no apparent reason.
He smiles down at her, "No problem."
She looks up at him and before he can react, she roughly presses her lips to his. It's not a good kiss by any standard, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he places his hands firmly on her waist and adjusts so their lips intertwine just right.
She pulls away, her face flushed. "I- I'm sorry I should've asked if it was okay." she says.
"No, no I don't mind." He laughs.
"I'm not like- asking you out, I just wanted to kiss you, you know?" She says.
"Okay, I'll see you on Sunday I guess." He smiles at her before shutting her door and driving away.