Just Listen

Chapter 40

KP's POV

"Why are you sitting like a vegetable and staring?" asked Uncanny as we had dinner.

I grunted in response; dad gave me a stern look. "Why didn't you go to school, Kamilah?"

"Ask her. She should have prepared to have me here."

Instead of scolding me, Daddy just rubbed his temple, "Anyways Vero, will be bringing her son tomorrow. I haven't seen him in years. Please be nice, both of you," he demanded, clearly directing it to Uncanny. As if on cue, she got up glaring at my dad and left the table. She left an awkward silence behind.

"Care to tell me?"

"It's complicated. Also, we may be visiting Uncanny's family with your aunt and nephew."

I nodded and just let it slide. Heading up to my room, I received a notification on my phone. Slowly retrieving it, I nearly dropped it to the floor. I had to sit down for it. "Angelo Santos started following you," I read it aloud. I blinked a couple of times; it had to be a mistake. Moments later, his other account followed me, too. It made my heart miss a few beats as I followed him back. I don't know why it just felt right. Going to sleep tonight would be a breeze.

The next day, I got ready for school and saw that my uniform was on my bed. Someone must have brought it in when I was showering. Either way, it was Friday. I could not wait to see my grandparents. Uncanny drove me to school, whereas Daddy was making all the necessary arrangements for our departure.

Something about today felt different. One; I prayed I would not get to see Lucrecia; since we had to prepare for finals. During lunch, I saw a face that I had only seen once in my life. "Hi there. You must be Kamilah Maeve," he greeted me with a bright smile. It was so contagious. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Vinyl, right?" he nodded. Beside him was a blonde girl, she looked bored out of her mind and quite familiar, but I did not put much thought into it. She just looked uncomfortable in my presence for some reason. Then I took notice of their uniform. "I didn't know you went here."

"That is because I am not an upperclassman. I'm younger than you, remember?" I nodded in acknowledgment. "I've heard a lot about you from my mother. I've always wished to meet you. We didn't have the same classes, and I recently just got back. It is my first year here."

Wow. Vinyl sure was talkative. I wondered where he got it from. He was younger than me, yet he looked so mature and older. I wonder how I've never bumped on him before.

"Damn! I've been so excited that I forgot to introduce you to my best friend slash girlfriend. Kamilah, this is Paige..." Paige? Paige?

Then the realization kicked in, "But Kami!" She stepped forward, trying to reach me as I stepped back, trying to avoid her like the plague.

"You have no right to call me that," I stated. My back was facing her. I folded my arms. "Apology accepted, but it doesn't make us friends," I sighed.

"I get that, but please listen to me," she begged.

"Why should I? You never gave me a chance."

"Would you just bury the hatchet and listen!?" she shouted.

"To what exactly?"

"Lucrecia," she began. "She's not who you think she is."

Okay, now I've had it. "Oh please! Don't you have something better to do? I know it was you who ratted her to the headmistress." I spun around, furious.

"Yes, I did. It was stupid of me. But Kamilah, there's something you have to know."

I lifted my hands in surrender, "I've had enough. I'm late for class." I brushed my shoulder against hers as I walked away.

"No!" She refused, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. I glared at her. My eyes squinting.

"Let go."

"Not after you hear me out."

"I said no!" I yanked my arm back.

"Quit being such a brat and listen to me!" she groaned. "Your friendship with Lucrecia, that girl is..."

"The only real friend I ever had!" I exploded. Paige stepped back in shock. "What did you do? What have you done? You've only bullied me. Made fun of me. How do you expect me to just forget everything?"

The conversation we had before came back spiraling in my head. It was that day I refused to listen to her when she wanted to warn me about Lucrecia. It was only today that I saw her in a different light. She didn't look like a bully.

"As I was saying, Paige, this is-"

"We've met," Paige spoke up, guilt evident in her eyes. "And I'm still sorry for what I did to you."

"I'm sorry that I was too stubborn to listen. Water under the bridge." We shook hands to clear the hatchet.

"Maybe now, you'll accept my friendship?" she asked shyly.

I giggled, "Baby steps."

We then started conversating about random things and getting to know both of them better. Paige was a nice girl, I guess mixing with the wrong crowd had dyed her real personality. I started liking her, genuinely. Her smile wasn't crooked or forced, she looked so innocent and radiant. Especially next to Vinyl. He started talking about his upbringing and it made me curious.

"Where is your dad?"

"He passed on when I was young, but mom did not deprive me of getting to know his family. You are going to love Aunt Rita. She is a walking ray of sunshine. You know, it was because of her and her family that I did not grow up resenting my skin color," his voice became nostalgic. I could tell he was fond of his father's side of the family. What he said made me look at my hands, I guess he noticed because he held one of them in his. "Being different is unique,"

"That's not what bothers me most, I just want to know all my families- origins. I know my dad is white, Uncanny isn't..."

"That never gets old! You don't know how thrilled I was when I found out I had a celebrity relative!" he squealed and Paige facepalmed. He apologized to her for being such a fanbase. 

I rolled my eyes, "If you can't find satan, call one of his demons."

"What? Why?" Vinyl looked puzzled.

"Babe, it's clear as day that she doesn't like Uncanny. I don't understand why you like her. If you ask me, something is off about Uncanny Valley the phenomenon."

"She's a babe," Vinyl whispered, earning a punch from Paige.

Uncanny Valley the phenomenon, I chuckled, liking it. After lunch, Vinyl told me he had a surprise for me that he would bring by my house. It made me curious.