An Unforgettable Summer [on hold]

8: Don't Cry, It's Only a Joke

CATS POV:

"Hey, Cat!" Kyle calls to me just as I turn to the stairs about to go to my room.

He steps closer, smirking an irresistible smirk and my heart melts a little. His familiar aroma of vanilla and cinnamon follows him and I inhale the heavenly scent.

"Knock knock."

Not again.

"Who's there?" I groan, turning to face him and crossing my arms in a pretend act of annoyance.

"Boo."

"Boo who?" I roll my eyes, already knowing the answer.

"Don't cry, it's only a joke." He laughs his cute little laugh and I chuckle my unattractive snorting process.

"I'm not crying because of the joke, I'm crying because of your sudden insistence on becoming a joking dad. By the way, it's not working." I say and realise it wasn't as funny out loud. Yet Kyle still cracks a smile. Ah bless him, he pities me for not being funny.

Since Alice told us she was leaving to visit her brother, Kyle has been trying to become closer to me. I'm presuming Alice told him to, but it's nice knowing that he's actually making an effort. Albeit, that effort consists of terrible dad jokes, corny pick up lines and snarky remarks.
I'll have what I can get and don't tell anyone, but I kind of enjoy it.

Kyle smirks once again and salutes mockingly as he walks away.

I melodramatically sigh. It's kind of sad I can't really have a normal conversation with someone because of my simply awful converse skills.

I slowly drag myself up the stairs, sort of kind of hoping that Kyle will come back, sweep me off my feet and run away with me into the sunset.

"Oh, Cat?" Kyle pops his head around the corner and my head snaps back almost so fast my neck cracks.

He came back. Sunset; here I come.

"Yeah?" I say my voice shaking a little.

"Would you like to play Mario Kart with me? It gets a little lonely sometimes and mom said we should try to hang out some more." He scratches the back of his neck like a typical teenage boy in the awkward situation of talking to the opposite sex.

Hey, it's no running off into the sunset but close enough, right?

"Sure. But I have to warn you; I'm extremely bad at video games." I say with a smile.

He laughs, "I'll just have to make sure I win then because that would be terribly embarrassing."

This is so different from the quiet, grunting boy that sat at the table and didn't even know of my existence.

This boy is humorous and sweet and completely different.

I'm not complaining though, I'm loving this new side of Kyle Lovado.

• • •

"Hell yeah! I win again!" I yell in victory, punching the air.

Kyle sits sulkily on the other side of the couch, the Play Station control dangling from his grasp.

This is the fourth time I've won and I have to say, I'm pretty damn proud.

I'm grinning manically but I turn it into a small smile and smooth my hair back, suddenly self conscious of my excitement.

Kyle clears his throat and sits up, glaring at me, "I've never been beaten by a girl."
He winces slightly as he confirms his defeat.

Cue evil laugh.