Rose Tinted Lenses

Chapter 11

An envelope was there, in front Kendall. Her future, reduced to a piece of paper.

This was the letter that would tell her whether she had gotten into her dream school, Princeton University.

On top of that, she needed a full academic scholarship to ensure she would not be dependent on her mother's income. She wanted to get away from her mother and never see her ever again. For this required financial independence.

She reached out, her hand trembling, and ripped open the envelope. Holding her breath, she slid the paper out and discarded the envelope. As she opened the sheet she saw:

'We are pleased to inform you-'

"YES!" she squealed, waving her arms, excitedly.

She forced herself to sober up and continue reading.

'In addition to this, we would like to award you a full academic scholarship due to your tremendous achievements.'

Delighted and shocked, Kendall slapped her hand over her mouth. "Oh my god," she mumbled in disbelief.

Wide eyed, she still could not believe that she had actually done it. She had accomplished her lifelong dream of going to Princeton on a full academic scholarship.

After next fall she would never have to see her mother again. Kendall felt exhilarated at the sheer thought of proving to her mother that she could be such a success, she could be, and not because of her mother, but in spite of her.

Nothing could bring down her day.

***

Except maybe Megan's wrath. It was the third time that week that Kendall was skipping cheerleading practice, but she just couldn't bring herself to go.

The uniform was shorts and a sports bra, meaning her arms would be exposed and Kendall couldn't yet expose her wrists, let alone tumble on them.

Not only that, cheer had never been a real passion. She was counting down the days until she didn't have to do it anymore.

"You cannot be serious right now!" Megan shrieked, drawing a crowd in the hallway.

Kendall sighed, wanting the conversation to be over as soon as possible. "I'm injured, there's nothing I can do. You would be a bad captain to make me train on an injury."

This sparked some dark, "Ooos," from the watching students.

Megan's face flamed at the suggestion she might be in the wrong and she stomped her foot. Kendall took this as her cue to barge past and head for the library before Megan burst into flames.

Daniel was sitting in the library massaging his hands, unaware he had an audience.

Kendall giggled. "What are you doing?"

He looked up at the intrusion and dropped his hands.

He straightened up. "Just strengthening my hands for later."

Kendall sat opposite him and began laying her things out on the table. "What's later?"

"I've got a basketball game," he said.

She was momentarily surprised but then she remembered he'd said he played outside of school.

"Oh yeah, I forgot you did that. You nervous?" she asked casually.

He chuckled. "I don't get nervous, Princess."

She looked at him dumbfounded. "Everyone gets nervous, asshat."

"I know you do. I manage to make you nervous on a daily basis." He smirked, placing his crossed arms on the table.

She masked her embarrassment by scoffing loudly.

"Yeah, as if," she scoffed.

His laugh was genuine as smiled at her. "See, I'm even making you nervous now," he said.

She scowled and kicked his leg under the table.

He folded forwards and groaned. "Fuck, that hurt," he grunted.

Kendall smirked in triumph until she realised he was clutching his leg and groaning.

"Wait, are you okay?" she said, concerned.

"Yeah, I should be it's just a-" He tried putting pressure on it. "FUCKKKK!" He collapsed back into the chair, his face scrunched in agony.

Guilt swept over Kendall. Instinctively she got up and knelt in front of Daniel, prying his hands off his leg so she could take a look.

"Daniel, I'm so sorry. Please let me have a look at it," she begged.

He moved his hands and she realised she'd have to roll his jeans up to see the damage.

However, it occurred to her Daniel was no longer wriggling and hissing in pain; he was completely still.

Looking up through her lashes she saw he was smirking, his hands lazily behind his head. "I like you from this angle, Princess."

Humiliated, she shot to her feet. He folded over in laughter. Despite wanting to be mad at him, Kendall also wanted to drink in the melodic sound.

She plopped angrily into her seat and shot daggers at Daniel, who was biting his lip, trying to control his laughter.

They were both engulfed in laughter for the next five minutes or so, before Kendall insisted they get to work.

The next hour was spent productively, with plenty of learning to be done. Around 4:30 they packed up their stuff and headed to the parking lot.

"You should come," Daniel said out of nowhere.

She looked up at him confused, "What?"

"My game later, you should come," he insisted.

She tried to suppress the Cheshire Cat grin that threatened to overwhelm her. Daniel had a way of making her feel wanted. She didn't really care for basketball but the thought of spending another Friday night in her room watching Full house reruns made her rethink things.

She liked the idea of seeing him doing a sport. Though she'd never admit it, she also liked the idea of seeing him in basketball shorts. She loved the idea of seeing him win and watching that captivating smile stretch across his chiselled face. Her heart skipped ten beats at the thought of him winning and then running up to her, picking her up and spinning her around in a tight embrace.

She swiftly banished those thoughts and returned to earth.

"Yeah, maybe," she said nonchalantly.

He smirked and took her phone off her.

"Wha-" she sputtered.

"Relax, I'm giving you my number and texting myself so now I have yours." He handed her back her phone as they walked off towards their cars.

"I'll text you the details, hope to see you there," he said over his shoulder as he reached his car.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. "If I do decide to come, you'll have to come to one of my volleyball games y'know," she said loudly as she arrived at her Ferrari.

"Any opportunity to see you in booty shorts and I'm there, Princess," Daniel said, smirking, and hopped into his car.

He drove off leaving Kendall wide eyed, her mouth agape. She gulped and slowly got into her own car. The butterfly wings flapped so hard she was willing to bet they were on ecstasy!

How did he always manage to leave her feeling so happy - yet so confused?