Violence (Sequel to Have Faith In Me)

8: Collisions

'You alright?'

I just managed to stumble on flat pavement. I mean, the cracks in the pavement can be really misleading and unfair to my shoe.

'Y-yeah, I'm pretty good.' I let out a shaky laugh. I didn't know what to say, everyone is entitled to their own music preference, but did he have to slate them?

He wouldn't have said it on purpose surely? He's new, and he doesn't know me at all. I'm sure he doesn't know of my connections, especially as his friendship group are all new to the school too.

'Was it something I said? Do you like the 5 S O S band?' He looked doubtful but also guilty.

That isn't how you say it! I wanted to scream and run from the scene.

'Uh- I mean, well no of course not. I just got distracted and tripped, is all.'

Fuck.

Mouth, why you do dis?

'Well good! I don't think I could be associated with someone who has that bad a music taste, especially after they did a pathetic excuse of a cover of American Idiot.' He laughs awkwardly, scratching his neck.

That stung a little.

I gave a nervous laugh. 'Yeah...' I swallowed the lump in my throat. 'Well you've obviously done your research...' I trailed off, he's obviously given them a chance and got an opinion, I suppose that's better in a way.

'Ha, nah. I have a little cousin who loves them, I cringed when she thought their cover was an original.' He pulled a disgusted face as if he had just had the sourest gumball ever made.

I gave him a fake smile, hardly even noticeable. He has a right to not like 5sos' cover one of his favourite band's songs, I tell myself.

'Do you wanna hang out after we get the kids?' He snapped me out of my thoughts.

'Sure.' I said monotonously.

'Are you okay?' He asked, stopping mid stride. I couldn't help but wonder what his accent was. He inspected my face, darting from eye to eye, assessing my entire body language.

I nodded, taking a sharp intake of air. 'Yeah! Let's go?' I said, playing it cool.

I saw him scrunch his eyebrows but I ignored him. I walked swiftly in front of him, and he had no choice but to catch up and keep up with my pace.

How was I going to get through this? There's something about him that draws me in. We aren't going to have all the same interests and I get that, but what do I do when he starts naively slagging off my family?

I brushed it off. I needed more friends.

'It's okay to make friends, Kayla.' Mikey's voice trilled in my head.

He's right. I can't shy away from this. I need to try, I've had enough of everyone my age (apart from Rose) hating me, I want to have someone to confide in. He seems accepting, the glow in his eyes is accepting, comforting, almost unjudging.

//

We sat down on a bench in the play park; it was near enough empty so we had the whole place to just the four of us. I had learnt that his little brother's name was Diego, and he had the same light tan skin and fluffy brown hair as Zack. His eyes were the exact same shade of dark brown and he was adorable.

'Hey what's your number? As much as I love to run around the school playing cat and mouse, it'd be nice to just get hold of you straight away.'

I smile and took his phone, typing my number in and texting myself so I have his number too.