Rose Tinted Lenses

Chapter 5

Kendall walked through her front door and headed for the kitchen in search of the blueberry muffin she planned to devour on the couch while watching Boy Meets World.

As if she hadn't been dealt enough surprises that day, she was horrified to walk in on something that truly put the cherry on top of a perfect Monday. Megan was seated on the kitchen island with Austin standing between her legs. They were aggressively making out, their hips grinding against each other.

Kendall's hand flew to cover her eyes. "Oh my god, can you actually not!"

There were gasps and the sound of bodies separating, so she deemed it safe to remove her hand.

Megan looked annoyed at the intrusion and Austin looked flustered, to say the least.

"That's where we eat and prepare food! You have your own room you know," Kendall scolded. This always happened when they got back together, they couldn't keep their hands off of each other, never mind how inappropriate the location was.

"You could've knocked." Megan retorted sassily.

It sometimes amazed Kendall that she'd even become friends with Megan in the first place, considering how astoundingly stupid the girl constantly proved to be.

"It's my fucking kitchen and this is my fucking house, so no, I'm not gonna fucking knock." Kendall shouted, not caring in the slightest if she was being rude.

"Hey, don't shout." Austin was defending Meg, as always - like everyone does. "Why are you home almost two hours late?"

Kendall sensed an interrogation was coming, so she walked to the pantry to retrieve her muffin, then made for the door. "None of your business," she said and fled the room, cutting off his response.

***

The following morning Kendall was feeling dreadful. She knew her parents were returning that evening. That meant a family dinner, presumably with another family whose rich, spoiled son her mother would try to set her up with. Oh how she adored her dear mother... not.

Austin glared at her, radiating anger, as she walked into the kitchen. "What were you doing yesterday after school?" he asked accusingly.

Her head spun as she searched desperately for a believable lie.

"Why weren't you at football practice?" she asked, just as accusingly.

He looked at her as if she had grown two heads. "Extra-curriculars never run on the first day of school. You should know that, considering cheer practice wasn't on either."

"Oh, um, I was studying in the library," she said, uncertainly.

"Really?" He didn't seem convinced.

"Yes."

Austin's eyes narrowed but he nodded dismissively none the less. Despite his scepticism, he had bought it.

Kendall mentally celebrated and headed out to her car to pick up Ethan for the drive to school.

"So?" he drawled cheekily.

She knew what was coming.

"How are you and the troublemaker doing, hm?"

"Not another word," she warned. He held his hands up in surrender and slumped into his seat.

They fell into a comfortable silence for the remainder of the journey. By the lockers, the sheep were gathered obediently around Megan. Ethan bid farewell to Kendall and headed to his friends down the hall.

Kendall, feigning politeness, greeted Megan and her loyal sheep.

Megan's eyes lit up as though she had just remembered something. She turned eagerly to face Kendall. "I was wondering, where did you go after school yesterday that made you almost two hours late? Austin was really angry when you ran upstairs with your muffin without telling him."

Kendall fought against letting her anger show. Megan's condescending tone was infuriating.

"I was just studying here in the library. It's no big deal." She couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice.

"Oh, I didn't mind. Austin performs best when he's angry," Megan said nonchalantly, and she twirled a lock of blonde hair around a perfectly manicured finger.

Kendall choked and started coughing like an asthmatic horse. The sheep came to her rescue, uselessly patting her back as she regained her breath.

As the coughing subsided, Kendall straightened and said disgustedly, "Please don't ever say that again."

Megan laughed and the sheep followed suit. "Woah, I'm sorry, Virgin Mary," Megan said mockingly and began cackling with her barnyard animals.

Kendall's jaw clenched so hard she was close to bursting an artery. She smiled, though she was on the verge of drop kicking each of them, one by one.

"Well, this has been fun but I've got to go," she said sourly, and headed to first period.

***

"Am I correct in thinking that you're in a bad mood?" Daniel asked, as he walked with Kendall to second period.

She supposed dramatic sighs and grumpy scowls had given away her state of mind.

"Yes," Kendall said bluntly.

"Why's that?"

She saw that he was genuinely curious. She huffed. "Megan is being more insufferable than usual, lately."

"Isn't she your best friend?" he said, confused.

Kendall grimaced at the label she couldn't seem to shed. "Not anymore. I'm hers, I guess. Ethan's my best friend."

She didn't miss Daniel's eye roll when she said Ethan's name. This wasn't the first time he had reacted like that and it bothered her.

"Why do you always do that?" she said sharply.

"Do what?" He feigned innocence.

"Whenever Ethan gets brought up, you either roll your eyes or make a snarky comment. Do you have a problem with him? Did he steal your girl or something? He is quite the ladies man."

Daniel leaned against the wall outside their classroom and looked down at her with his arms crossed. "Princess, I don't keep girls around long enough to notice if someone steals them," he said.

It was Kendall's turn to roll her eyes as she leaned back against the wall, clutching her books.

"You're such a man-whore," she said, turning her head to look up at him.

She didn't expect to be greeted by the most beautiful, lopsided grin she had ever seen. He could have been admiring a gorgeous painting, but his blue eyes were staring straight at her.

A blush crept onto her cheeks. "Quit smiling at me like that."

"Like what?" His grin widened.

Her face was red hot. "Like that." She cast her eyes to the ground to escape his captivating stare.

His grin twisted into a cocky smirk and he took a step towards her. "Why? Does it make you nervous?" He could see how flustered she was getting.

Kendall took a deep breath and forced herself to make eye contact. Surprised, she saw his face was no more than three inches from her own. His masculine scent made her head spin.

"Not at all," she said, feigning confidence.

"Liar," he smirked.

Kendall stared back, momentarily anxious. It was hard to resist the urge to inhale more of his scent.

She snapped out of her daze, remembering they were still in the school hallway. "Time for class," she squeaked and bolted into the classroom.

Daniel chuckled, thinking about how easy it had been to have an effect on her.