alive

eleven

Kate

It was around seven in the evening when Kai walked down the stairs, rubbing her eyes. She looked better, her skin was back to it's warm color and the bags under her eyes were gone. Jaesuk was starting to make dinner in the kitchen and Vivian was asleep beside me on the couch. Kai took a seat on my right and laid her head on my lap. "We should probably go now," her voice trails off as she closes her eyes. "We should," I say, her eyes open back up. "Should I ask someone to carry you back? It doesn't look like you'll be able to hold yourself up," I ask and she gives me a tired smile. "It's okay," she slowly gets up and pokes Vivian. Vivian jumps up, breathless. She looked scared for a moment until she realized it was us. "We're going to head back. Thank you," Kai says, pulling Vivian into a short hug. "Thank you for the pancake," I look at Jaesuk and he nods.

I decided to sleep with Kai tonight since she said struggles to sleep without me. She was fast asleep on my left with her back facing me. I wasn't very tired after the nap I had already. I was sitting up and leaning against the bed frame, staring at the wall in front of me.

"Hey," Kai takes a seat next to me. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked up from my book. It's my lunch period, but Kai is a grade above me, I don't know why she was here. "Why aren't you in class?" I ask, looking around the crowded cafeteria. "I don't like Biology," She smiles. "Why are you alone?" She asks, taking my book out of my hands and reading the back of it. "I don't talk to people," I mumble and she frowns. "Their loss." She returns my book to my hands and stands up. "Do you want to go to a movie?" She asks, I furrow my eyebrows, "Gus cancelled," she mumbles. "Why didn't you ask Arden?"

She lets out a sigh. "I enjoy being around you," She mumbles and I couldn't help but smile. "I enjoy being around you as well," I look up at her and she bites her bottom lip with a smile before reaching her hand out. "What's it about?" I ask, grabbing onto her soft hand and standing up with her. "Talking dogs or something," she shrugs. A couple of guys that were messing around bumped into me, about to walk off but Kai pushed one of the guys and he fell to the ground. "What the fuck?" She glares daggers at the boys. The one she pushed stood back up and helped me off the ground with an apology. "Dickheads," she mutters to herself before looking back at me. "Let's go," she smiles, grabbing my hand once again before we left.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realize that Kaia was scratching at the door. I slowly get off the bed and open the bedroom door to let the cat out. I was relieved to see that it was a little light outside. I unlocked the front door and walked out with Kaia beside me. I took a seat not far from the stream and watched Kaia walk around in the grass patch. I jumped at the sight of a tall man towering over me. I fell back against his legs and realized it was just Jaesuk. "You and your sister next to stop sneaking up on people," I huff, he smiles and grunts while taking a seat next to me.

I felt awkward because of how quiet he was. We had been sitting in silence for the past ten minutes. "What are you doing up so early?" I break the silence, he turns his head towards me and sighs. "Vivian woke me up," he grumbles, looking at Kaia who just rubbed her face against his knee. "Why is she up so early? And if she's up, why isn't she talking my ear off?" I ask, he smiles lightly. "She had a nightmare and came to sleep in my room," he explains, "It happens every night." Maybe that's why she looked so scared when Kai woke her up earlier. I nod, unsure of what to say.

"Your brother is cute," He blurts out after a couple moments of silence. I was taken aback by his abrupt honesty. "I'd like to take him on a date," Jaesuk continues, I smile at the thought of my brother going out with someone. "He's never been on a date before," I tell Jae, "I've not either," Jaesuk says with an innocent face. I laugh. "I'll tell him that you want to go on a date," I say, with that, Jaesuk stands up. "Thank you," he says, reaching his hand out and helping me stand up.