Ice Flower

Chapter 3

Kayla listened to Yusaku's phone start ringing for the third time in the past ten minutes. Once again, he ignored it. She sighed and shifted so that she could face him better while remaining seated.

"Are you going to answer?" She asked.

"No." Yusaku stuffed the phone in his bag, muffling it slightly. 

"Why not?"

"I just don't feel like it right now."

Kayla frowned and turned back to look out the airplane's window. She hadn't bee on one since she was ten years old on a family vacation that their parents had surprised her with. She took a deep breath to hold back her tears. She couldn't think about them. Not yet.

A few hours later she felt someone shaking her and opened her eyes, realizing that she must have fallen asleep. 

"Come on." Yusaku said, standing. "The plane landed."

She nodded and stood, grabbing her bag from underneath her chair and waiting while he got her suitcase out of the overhead bin. The line to exit the plane moved slowly, but she didn't mind. 

When they exited the plane, she could barely believe how many people were crowding basically every spot in the airport. Yusaku noticed her surprise and smiled.

"It's summer vacation." He reminded her. "Some people like to travel during the summer."

"Oh, right." Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. 

As they navigated the constantly changing hallways, Kayla did what she did best- people watch. And it wasn't that hard either. There were plenty of people to watch, and none of them noticed a fifteen-year-old girl in all of the crowds- except for the high school boys who looked like they were on a field trip.

"Come on, Kolter should be waiting for us by now." Yusaku took her hand and pulled her in the direction of the automatic doors that led outside. Once out there, he went in the direction of a hotdog food truck. Kayla frowned but followed him anyway.  

"You're back!" A man with purple hair exited the truck. 

"Kayla, this is my friend Kolter." Yusaku explained, gesturing to the man. "And Kolter, this is my younger sister, Kayla."

"It's good to meet you." He held out his hand and she shook it after a moment's hesitation. "Man, you and Yusaku could pose as each other. You sure you aren't twins?"

"We're sure." Kayla smiled shyly. "A lot of people say that though."

"We should get going." Yusaku broke in.

"Right." Kolter clapped his hands together. "Hop in."

"And here you all are." Kolter pulled to the side of the rode in front of what looked like an extremely old apartment. 

"Thank you Kolter." Yusaku unbuckled and slid out of his seat.

"Thanks." Kayla smiled and followed her brother. 

"See you guys soon." Kolter called after them. 

Kayla nodded and shut the door. Kolter drove off into the direction of the town square they had seen on the way there.

"Come on." Yusaku turned and walked to the apartment. 

"You live here by yourself?" She asked when they were inside, looking around. There was a single bedroom, a kitchen/dinning room, a small living room, a bathroom, and that was it.

"I do. Or at least, I did. You'll be living with me now."

"Right." She glanced around. "Uh... where should I put my stuff?"

"Over there would be alright." He gestured to a spot next to his bed. "You'll sleep in my bed until we figure something else out."

"Are you sure?" Kayla frowned, setting her things down. "I can always sleep on the couch."

"It's fine. I fall asleep on the couch on a daily basis."

"All right then."

An uncomfortable silence came between the two of them. Yusaku shifted, glancing back at the wall being him.

"I have somewhere I need to be soon, if you'll be alright by yourself. I shouldn't be gone too long." He said after a moment.

"I'll be okay." She reassured him. "I've stayed home by myself plenty of times." Actually, she hadn't. This would be the first time, but there was no use in telling him that.

"Alright then." He walked over and grabbed something wrapped in cloth from one of his desk drawers. "I'll see you for dinner."

"See you then." She waved awkwardly. 

She went back up the stairs to the living room. She heard the door open and close and then he was gone. She couldn't help the smile that came to her lips. For the first time in her life, she didn't have to worry about someone walking in while she was doing it. This was going to be a blast.