Her Touch

2

Stretching my muscles, those of my back, arms and thighs, I sat up on my bed and blinked a few times, trying to rid of my sleepy state. A loud yawn escaped my lips as I leaned my head back against the bed frame, the hardwood touching my head. Peeling myself away from the comfort of being wrapped up in my blanket, I walked into the room's adjoining bathroom and toward the sink. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I let out another yawn and turned the knob to allow the water to flow.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I immediately stripped out of my clothing and stepped into the shower, before turning the knob, the warm water beginning to comfort my sore muscles.
I grabbed the bar of soap with the washcloth and scrubbed all over my body, before rinsing.
Smiling in content, I turned off the water and my dripping wet body made its way into my room, in search of a towel. The housekeeper had left a few inside my dresser drawer. I walked over, opened it and took out one.
After drying my skin, I let the towel drop to the floor as I walked over to my closet. It was a complete mess—clothes all over the floor and shoes like mixed nuts. I sighed as I searched for a pair of running shorts and a sports bra, luckily having many so it wasn't too hard to find, and also picking up a pair of boyshorts on the hunt.
After dressing, I looked at myself in the mirror and decided to place my hair into a ponytail instead of the messy bun that it was in. The next difficult thing was to find a pair of sneakers. I took a deep breath as I went back into my closet, the sight of the pile almost giving me a headache.
My luggage was so overloaded when I came. My mother would have had to post most of my stuff to me, but I didn't plan on staying that long with grandpa, since I was leaving for college in about a year. Thinking about it made me realize that it was still a long time.
I finally found a matching pair of sneakers and stuffed a foot quickly inside of each side, before walking out my closet and grabbing my music player that was left charging on my night stand, along with my headphones that were already attached to it.
Walking out of my room and down the stairs, I headed into the kitchen to grab something to drink before leaving. My grandfather was probably still at Bridge, or whatever game he went to the club to play with his friends, so he might have been back by the time I finished my run.
I opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water before seeing that my wallet was on the kitchen counter top. I hoped the housekeeper was trustworthy to my grandfather and wouldn't steal, but she did seem genuine.
I picked it up and opened it to see that it actually contained cash. Surprised, I took out a hundred and placed it into the pocket of my shorts by my lower back, which also had a secure zipper.
I placed it down right where I found it, not feeling like running upstairs to carry it to my room. If the housekeeper wanted to steal, she could have already.
Uncorking the water bottle, I leaned it to my lips and took a long chug before resting it down on the counter with three-quarters of it left behind. I didn't want to carry it with me on my run, so I left it there. I would have either gone back for it later or the housekeeper would have thrown it away.
I left the house and walked through the estate gates, the afternoon breeze warm and cool at the same time. I made sure to stretch my muscles first and did my routine pre-run exercise before I began my run.
I plugged the earbuds into my ears and picked a random song out of my playlist as I made my way toward the small park in the centre of the town. I knew peoples' eyes were on me yet again, but the music and my concentration on my run helped with ignoring them.
After reaching the park, I decided to take a seat to rest for a bit, especially since no one else was there. I checked the time on my watch seeing that it was 2:58 in the afternoon. I groaned knowing that school was going to be let out soon, and the little peace the town held would completely vanish. I got off of my lazy ass, the sweat already flowing down my back, since it was a twenty-minute run to the park, and began running back in the same direction I came.
I heard the sound of the annoying school bell and ignored it before I stopped running to catch my breath. I must have been at it like a mad woman to feel so drained, and I still had half way more to reach my grandfather's estate.
I bit down on my upper lip as I saw a small diner not too far from where I was standing. They had to have something to drink. As I walked toward it, the music still blaring in my ears, I pulled out my headphones and slung it over my shoulder as I entered the place. Everyone turned to look at me, well the few people that were in there.
I walked straight over to the counter not paying any heed to them.
"Do you have smoothies by chance?" I asked the lady behind the counter. She looked at me quizzically before speaking.
"Is that the way you dress?"
She stretched herself over the counter and scanned my body. I frowned, not in the mood to be criticized.
"Smoothies?" I asked again. She gave a disapproving look before nodding.
"Only strawberry," she said still eyeing me.
"That will be nice, thank you," I didn't want to say anything rude before she did something unorthodox to my smoothie. I knew how spiteful people could be.
I leaned against the counter waiting for it as she poured the extract into the blender over the ice. She closed the lid of the blender and pressed a button making it begin to churn. I grabbed my money from my pocket, the zip opening and closing being heard.
She poured the result into a plastic cup and closed it with its required lid before handing it to me. I gave her my money and waited for my change.
"You should really wear more appropriate clothing," she said as she handed me my change. I folded it and placed it into my pocket before speaking.
"And you should learn not to ogle young girls," I retorted grabbing a straw. I gave her one last glance and saw the shocked expression on her face, before turning and making my way out of the diner. If everyone in that town was like her, they were definitely not going to like me.
By the time I took a sip of the smoothie, teenagers were seen walking down the streets. I rolled my eyes as a few boys whistled in my direction, making me lift my middle finger toward them as I walked back home, deciding not to run.
The gates were already opened which made me believe that my grandfather was just arriving as well. I walked in and saw that he was not alone.
"Grandpa?" I called in a questioning voice. I recognized the person who was with him.
"Kay, wait, is that what you wore out on the streets?" I quirked a brow.
"It's for running grandpa," I defended making him let out a chuckle.
"I know, honey. Just be careful with the elder women and their disapproving looks," he said before turning to the person who I didn't think I would see so soon.
"You're here," I said to her, making a small frown appear on her face at how harshly I said it.
"Don't be so rude, she is your teacher after all," I took a sip of my smoothie as she just looked at me, "Ava was just telling me about the volunteer work."
He said making me cringe, "and why would she do that?"
I mumbled. Is she seriously trying to get my grandfather on her side?
"Would you like to come inside, dear?"
"Actually..." Ava hesitated.
"Great then, come along, it's getting dark out here, " I followed them but immediately retreated to my room as I entered the house, not that they noticed anyway.
I hopped into the shower, washing away the sweat that had built up and grabbed another towel from my dresser drawer. I let the towel drop to the floor again. I really needed to start picking them up, and walked over to my closet to find a pyjama shorts and a tank top. I heard a rap on my door and thought it was grandpa.
"I'm naked, don't come in," I yelled as I grabbed a pair of boy shorts and slipped it on.
"Your grandfather wants you in the kitchen," I heard the feminine voice of the housekeeper.
"Okay," I answered as I slipped my legs into my pyjama shorts and my tank top over my head. My hair was wet since I decided to wash it because of all the sweat that was built up from running. I walked down the stairs and toward the kitchen, only to see grandpa taking groceries out of the fridge, while the teacher was setting a pot on the stove. What the hell?
"What's going on?" I questioned as I leaned against the door frame that connected the living room and kitchen.
"We are having some people over and Ava offered to help cook," he said making me groan.
"I will just be in my room when that is happening," I said as I walked over to the fridge, opened it and grabbed another bottle of water. The remaining of my smoothie was left on the sink counter. I needed to remember to get rid of it before ants manifested themselves.
"I would like for you to join us. I'm only having it because of you."
I pointed to myself, "me?" I mumbled as I looked at him, "what did mom tell you?" I narrowed my eyes and glared at him, making him sigh.
"Nothing, it's just that you need to learn how to socialize with people."
"Grandpa, you were supposed to be different," I complained resting the bottle on the counter, "this is so stupid," I grumbled crossing my arms over my chest.
"Come on, Kay, at least try, college isn't too far away, so you won't have to deal with my ill-treatment for too long," he chuckled making me frown.
"Fine," I mumbled as I uncrossed my arms and grabbed the bottle off of the counter.
"Splendid, now help us with the stuffed plantains, I know you are an expert at that," I let out a low breath as I opened the cap of the bottle and took a sip, before resting it back on the counter, "by the way, stop leaving your bottles on the counter, it's unsanitary."
I nodded as I walked over to the pantry and grabbed a few plantains, "how much do I need to make?" I asked as he began cutting vegetables, while Ava, I mean my teacher, was stirring something on the stove.
"Six," my eyes widened.
"How many people are coming over?" I almost yelled as I looked at the three plantains in my hand.
"Three people, don't be such a drama queen," he said as he got back to focusing on chopping vegetables.
"There goes his boundaries," I mumbled as I grabbed three more plantains from the pantry