Exotic

XXVII

Sydney

Kath and I have been dating for a few weeks. She hasn't told the world and left that last post to simmer. Nothing's been confirmed yet and people at school are still asking me about Kath. Until today, where they are all staring at us.

"Why is everyone staring?" I whisper to Kath as we walk down the corridor. Literally everybody was staring. I wasn't sure if they were staring at me or her.

Kath pulled out her phone and showed me her Instagram story on her famous account. It was a picture of us. It was cute. We were just cuddling in my bed and I recognise it to be from a few months ago. The story had a caption which was just two heart emojis. It made me smile.

"They're jealous. They want a piece of this." Kath answered and gestured to herself.

"Well, they can't." I state.

"No, I know," she agreed, "I don't want them to, either. I'm all yours, babe."

"This is actually sickening." Eli gagged.

"Aw, is poor Eli feeling single?" Kath teased.

"You've been together for a few weeks and you're already all mushy with each other."

"Tell you what," Kath started, "You ask Chanse Moreno out, date her for a few weeks and then tell me that."

"I don't like Chanse Moreno, though." Eli said.

"So you have no idea what you're talking about!" Kath replied, "I think that Sydney and I have the perfect level of mush for a young, teenage couple. Don't you agree, Syd?"

"Absolutely." I nod.

"Whatever." Eli hugged and walked away. I felt bad then.

"I feel bad now." I pout.

"Why?" she looked back at me with a questioning look on her face.

"We basically just ganged up on her in an argument. That's gotta make her feel really shitty."

"Babe, she's not offended or anything. She'll be fine. This happens all the time." Kath dismissed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! She's probably at the library or something. Stop worrying your pretty little head." she said and kissed my lips. I heard gasps from all over the corridor as Kath and I kissed. And I really hate these crutches because I can't use my hands to hold Kath close to me. Hence why I prefer to makeout on her bed. I can't do that at home because Mum basically watches me twenty-four-seven.

What's funny is that my Mum tried to get Kath's parents to implement the closed door rule. It was funny.

"Can you please make sure they keep the door open while she's at yours?" my Mum begged Christina and Kate.

"Oh yeah, definitley." Christina nodded.

"I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that anything could be going on behind that door." Kate said. I could tell she was faking it but my Mum fell for it.

"That is such a relief," she sighed, "Thank you both. This means a great deal."

"No problem." Christina smiled as Mum left. As soon as she was out the door, Christina closed it.

"Are you really gonna make us open the door, Mama?" Kath whined.

"Pfft, no!" she scoffed, "Would you like me to keep the door open while your Mom and I have sex?"

"Obviously not... You'd be okay if we had sex?"

That made me blush. I know she's not suggesting anything and is just genuinely curious.

"You're kids! I'm not gonna stop you from doing things that basically every other kid is doing. Party, drink- but not too much- have sex. Live your life." Christina said. Kath lurched forward and hugged Christina around her waist.

"Thanks, Mama." she smiled.

"I love you, kiddo." Christina kissed the top of Kath's head. It's really cute how much this family loves each other. Kath likes to remind me that if we ever got married, I'd be apart of the family too. It makes my heart flutter.

The bell screamed in my ear and I hadn't realised how deeply I was kissing Kath. I got scared and flinched, which caused me to bite down on her lip, hard.

"Ow!" she winced as we pulled away. I noticed that her loo had started to bleed quite a bit.

"I'm so sorry! The bell scared me and-"

"Syd, it's fine. I'll be fine. Let's just go to homeroom." she dismissed. It wasn't rude, I can tell that she's not mad.

"Okay, I'm sorry, though." I say as I kissed her head.

"Stop apologising! I'm fine!" she chuckled. Even though she has blood running down her chin. When we got to homeroom, she got some tissues out and started wiping her lip. I took the tissue from her and wiped it for her.

"You okay, Kath?" Mrs Rogerstone-Montgumery asked.

"Yeah, had a bit of an accident." I answer for her. I could feel Kath smiling underneath the tissue.

"Do you want to visit the nurse?"

I look to Kath who I saw was about to refuse, but her lip was bleeding pretty bad, so I stepped in, "I think so."

Kath's head snapped to me and her face was one of protest but I shook my head, "Come on. Let's go." I said. She held her own tissue as I had to use my crutches while we walked to the nurse's office.

While we waited, I got a call from my Mum. Which I thought was odd. I picked it up anyway.

"Hey, Sheila. Kate's just come around and saying that something has happened to Kath and she's not picking up her phone. Are you with her? Kate's stressing out. Like, really bad. I'm worried she'll put a hole in my carpet."

"Yeah, everything's all good. Just had an accident, that's all."

"Oh, right. Kate said something about a busted lip so I think she's worried that there's been a fight."

"No, no fight. I bit her lip because the bell scared me." I say. Kath just watching while I talk to my Mum. I hold her hand and squeeze it and she does too.

"You bit her lip?"

"Yes." then I realise how my story is missing a bit of information, "We were kissing."

"Ah, I see. Makes more sense."

"Yeah. It's bleeding pretty bad so we're just at the nurse's office."

"Okay, I'll go and tell Kate. She's sick today and she's already stressed enough."

"I hope she gets better. Maybe you should look after her?"

"Maybe." Mum said thoughtfully, "I'll go. See you later, Sheila."

"Bye, Mum. Love you."

"Love you, too."