The City of Darkness and Blood

Chapter 7

Many years later, in 2008

As I navigated through 12th grade, I often found myself sitting alone in the bustling cafeteria of St. Johnson High School, contemplating my status as the third most famous student. Despite being recognized for my good looks, I never quite rivaled the popularity of the cheerleading squad or the football team. Meanwhile, Kendall's mother had achieved the esteemed rank of Chief in 2005, a career milestone that filled us all with pride. Kendall herself harbored ambitions of following in her mother's footsteps, a drive that fueled her relentless pursuit of academic excellence. Lost in these ruminations, I was suddenly joined by Kendall, her smooth brownish-blonde hair cascading past her shoulders, and Herman Garcia, a friend since our freshman year. "Hey," Kendall greeted warmly, breaking my reverie. "Hey, guys," I responded, offering a slight smile. "So, Jason, what's the plan for this weekend?" Herman asked eagerly, his enthusiasm palpable.

"What?" I replied, caught off guard.

"The prom, man! I'm pumped. I've got a slick suit and some great cologne—I'm all set to meet some chicas. Who are you taking?" Herman inquired with a grin.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I was thinking of going solo."

Herman looked at me incredulously. "Solo? Jason, amigo, it's prom! Every guy dreams of meeting girls and having a blast. And here you are, thinking of flying solo. What gives?"

"I don't know. Just not feeling it," I murmured, my gaze wandering.

Herman turned to Kendall with a bemused expression. "Can you believe this guy?" He then turned back to me. "Jason, this school is practically throwing girls at you."

"Pfft," I brushed it off casually.

"He's got a point. Remember in eighth grade? Girls practically chased you down," Kendall interjected with a playful smile.

"Well, can't blame them," I replied modestly, trying not to boast.

"Alright, I'll go to the prom," I relented finally.

Herman grinned approvingly. "Good call. Now, who's the lucky lady?"

The question lingered in my mind. Who would I take to the prom? "Well, there is a girl who might be interested in going with you," Kendall suggested coyly, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Really? Who?" I asked, curious to hear her suggestion. "Me," Kendall replied without hesitation, catching us both off guard. Herman and I exchanged surprised glances. "Mi? The Chinese exchange student?" I asked. Herman chuckled and said, "Sure, she's cute but built like a brick." "No, Jason, I mean—" Kendall began to clarify.

"Unbelievable!" a sharp voice interrupted, drawing our attention to a commotion near the exit. Betty Hoopsick, a pale-skinned girl with ginger hair, was arguing with Jermaine, the football captain. "Come on, baby, I meant to tell you," Jermaine pleaded desperately. "Screw you, asshole! We're through, and you can go to the prom alone!" Betty stormed off in a huff, her friends trailing behind. As Jermaine walked away, visibly upset, Herman remarked with a hint of humor, "Wow, Jermaine and Betty broke up. Sign of the apocalypse." "They seemed like they'd last forever. They've been together since 9th grade," Kendall remarked thoughtfully. "Some relationships just aren't meant to be," I added, watching the drama unfold with mild interest. Betty approached our table, pushing Herman aside to sit next to me. "Hi," she greeted flirtatiously and gently caressing my arm. "You heard about the prom?"

"Yeah, so?" I replied nonchalantly, taken aback by her forwardness.

"In case you didn't know, I dumped Jermaine and need a date. You'll do. Besides, you're cute," Betty flirted shamelessly, her confidence unwavering.

"He's already—" Kendall attempted to interject, her concern evident.

"Were you talking to me? No, you weren't. So, shut it," Betty snapped dismissively at Kendall, who fell silent.

"I don't know," I hesitated, uncomfortable with Betty's direct approach.

Betty's friends joined in, ignoring my uncertainty and trying to persuade me with their charm. Their collective effort seemed designed to sway my decision. "Come on, sweetie. Don't you want to go out with me?" Betty coaxed, her persistence beginning to affect me. "You're attractive and all, but—" Betty kissed me abruptly before I could finish, catching me off guard. Kendall's jaw dropped in shock as I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Caught at the moment, I relented. "I'll see you at the prom," I agreed reluctantly.

Betty smiled triumphantly and left with her friends, leaving Herman and me slightly irritated by her boldness. "What a piece of work," Herman muttered, "Lucky you, Jason." "Yeah, lucky," I muttered, feeling a pang of regret already. Looking at Kendall, I realized she hadn't spoken since Betty's abrupt advance. Concerned, Kendall gathered her things and left without a word, her disappointment palpable. Herman and I exchanged uneasy looks as the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.

Later that day, after classes had ended, I found Kendall sitting alone at our usual spot in the school courtyard. She was lost in thought, absently flipping through the pages of a textbook. I approached quietly, sensing her preoccupation. "Hey, Kendall," I greeted softly, sitting beside her. She looked up, offering a faint smile. "Hey, Jason. How was your day?"

"Same old, you know. Yours?" I replied, trying to gauge her mood.

"Fine," she replied vaguely, avoiding eye contact.

I sensed something was bothering her. "Is everything okay?" I asked, genuinely concerned.

"Yeah, just... thinking," she murmured, still not meeting my gaze.

"About what?" I prodded gently, hoping she would open up.

"Just stuff," Kendall deflected, her tone guarded.

"Okay," I said slowly, not wanting to push too hard. "Well, if you ever want to talk about anything, you know I'm here, right?"

Kendall nodded, her expression unreadable. "Thanks, Jason."

Silence settled between us for a moment before she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you excited about prom?" I chuckled softly and said, "Excited? I guess. It'll be interesting, that's for sure." Kendall nodded again, her fingers nervously tracing patterns on the textbook's cover. "Yeah, it should be... interesting," she said.

"Are you going with anyone?" I asked casually, genuinely curious.

She hesitated briefly, then shook her head. "Nah, I think I'll skip it this year."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "I thought you'd be all about prom. Isn't it, like, a big deal?"

"Not my thing," Kendall shrugged, her tone calm.

"Fair enough," I nodded, accepting her answer. "But hey, you can join our group if you change your mind. It'll be fun."

"Thanks, Jason," Kendall said softly, a hint of gratitude in her voice.

We sat in silence again, the courtyard buzzing with the chatter of students winding down from the day. I glanced at Kendall, wanting to say something more but unsure of what. "Anyway, I should probably head home," Kendall finally broke the silence, gathering her things. "Yeah, me too," I agreed, standing beside her. "See you tomorrow?" With a smile and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Kendall replied, "Yeah, see you." As she walked away, I watched her retreating figure, a pang of curiosity tugging at me. I wondered what was on her mind, but Kendall had always been private. Whatever is on her mind, I'll be there for her should she need me.