Smiling through the pain

Chapter Six

*Kade's POV*

Mindy's short. Five foot something; I basically tower over her. Her almond shaped brown eyes are filled with panic, her hands clenched into fists. A few loose strands of dark brown curly hair peak out from under her hoodie, framing her oval shaped face. My heart seems to be beating at hundred miles per second.

Should I say something? Or would it make it more awkward than it already is?  Or do I just....ignore?

Mindy beats me to it and clears her throat before pushing past me and disappearing into the crowd of partying people. I stare after her, watching her hair fly out on either side of her hood, hands in her pockets. 

If that's the way it's gonna be......

"Are you going to come in or not? That music's gonna make my head blow into bits" Manny drawls from behind me. I quickly shut the door and walk up to Manny. My heart is still beating fast- with a wave of anger this time.

"Why did you ask me to come when you knew she was here?" 

Manny takes his time to answer. After taking a long puff out of his cigarette and blowing it out over my face he replies with, "I dunno". He finishes with a stupid grin plastered on his face.

I  pinch the bridge of my nose. Manny chuckles and pulls out a small wrapped up package. "What did you tell her?" I ask while handing over the money. 

"Nothing"

"Manny"

"What? I said nothing"

"Magnus"

Manny's eyes darken at his actual name. "Never call me that" he mutters and takes another long puff out of his cigarette. "Then tell me" I reply calmly. "Just told her you do LSD and some shit about going to the same school. And that you keep blabbering about her. Happy?" 

He.......WHAT?

"Fuck you Magnus" I hiss before storming back into the party. 

I'm already dreading Monday.

._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.

*Mindy's POV*

Maybe it was just a coincidence. It could have been someone else. Some quiet kid. We can just continue ignoring each other as usual and carry on with our liv-

"Mindy?" Teo's bony finger pokes my temple. I scowl at him and continue to stuff Lucky Charms into my mouth. "I called you five times but no you kept scrolling through your phone" he says and crosses his arms with a cute pout on his face. I switch off my phone with a sigh. 

"Yes?" I ask. Teo grumbles a little more and turns away from me. "Seriously Teo you need to stop acting like a five year old and be a freshman" I say while twitching his ear. Teo cries out in pain and elbows me in the ribs. I get annoyed and smack over his head. Teo flinches from the impact and smacks me back over my head. I flip him off with a stink eye. He acts like he's got a heart attack, clutching his heart and shielding his eyes while he pretends to gasp for air. I manage a giggle. 

"Now stop acting innocent and spill T. I'll get late for the subway which I can't on a Monday" 

Teo straightens up and clears his throat. "I got into the basketball team" he says with a wide grin. 

"Teooooooooooo!" I yell and give him a bone crushing hug. "When?" I ask. "Friday" he replies while wiggling his eyebrows. "Kade Brooks is the captain" he adds. 

I feel the smile melt off my face at the mention of Kade. "Cool, I guess" I mutter before getting up. 

Great. Just great.

Fifty minutes later I'm greeted by a bubbly Nike at my locker. She's wearing a bright yellow tank top with black jeans and sneakers. Her hair is in......three braids? 

"What's with three braids?" I ask as I grab my History textbook. "Dunno something different" Nike replies. She starts off on a rant about some annoying cashier at 7-11 as we climb up the stairs and towards our class. 

".......and then he fucking tells me that my credit card expired. Like, how?! It expires in three frikin ye- Mindy?"

My feet remain rooted to the ground when I see Kade get up and start walking towards me. Nike stares at us with her mouth open and begins to edge away from me slowly. 

This so cannot be happening right now....

I glance over his face when he stops in front of me- slightly upturned nose, dark brown curly hair that falls on his forehead, slightly cracked but pink lips. And those hazel eyes that I remember seeing somewhere. Only if my stupid brain could remember where. 

He stares into my eyes with suck intensity I feel like I'm being x-rayed. 

"We need to talk"

*****************************************

Hi. Hello. Hola. Bonjour. I have returned after............................... I can't remember how long :')

I got my Covid vaccine (the 2nd dose) and passed out for two days. Aaand I had a trigonometry test......so......................I'll stop making excuses now.

THIS IS THE FIRST CHAPTER WITH KADE'S POV!!! Which means there'll be chapters with diffe- I choose not to spill ;)

And some special news......*drum roll please*......... Smiling through the pain has been ranked #27 under schizophrenia!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Ok i'll go now :D

One favor though.... can any of you either message me or comment cause I'm going crazy wondering how you guys like it. Please?

Hope you enjoyed the story till here!

Mindy <3