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//chapter forty-six • things people do
𓅰彡𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘
HE NEVER SAID IT, but Kiara's friendship was always important to Andrew, even back during the summer he dated Johnny, when Kiara was Sarah's friend. But Kiara and Andrew weren't friends because she was friends with Sarah, Andrew genuinely appreciated Kiara. Her love for the earth and wildlife. Her love of the sea and music. How she found everything precious and fleeting. Andrew admired her mindset.
Andrew wanted to be around someone who actually wants to be around him casually. Someone who thought about him without him needing to remind them of his existence. Someone who thinks to text him first, someone who sends send him random things about their day as it's happening. Who takes initiative to plan activities where it's just the two of us. Who sees his presence as a comfort, who uses me as a confidant for their feelings and experiences, who thinks of him as the first person they want to tell about their day. Someone who will talk to him about themself.
Kiara was all those things. Without Andrew asking.
One day that first summer, Andrew glanced at Kiara, only to see the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. "Why did I think you were an asshole?" she had asked, catching Andrew by surprise with her question.
"Cause I am," He had answered honestly. "I'm not a people person."
Andrew could feel her eyes on him as he focus on the water.
"You've only been nice to me."
"That's 'cause you're different."
For a second, she seemed taken aback. She didn't really peg Andrew for the type to be into her.
"By different... you mean?"
Andrew's eyes flicked to hers. "You don't annoy the fuck out of me by breathing."
Kiara had laughed. "That's the person I thought you were."
After breaking up Sarah's horrible date with Stomper Thornton, they boat back to the Carrera's, in silence. Once they've given Kie's parents the things they wanted for their party, the teenagers go to sit on the porch and figure out what the fuck is going on with Sarah Cameron and the boy they hate most in Kildare.
Rafe was a man, not a boy, though he didn't act like it.
"Fess up." Andrew commands, "Now."
They're sitting on the wooden surface of the porch, and the morning would be beautiful, if it wasn't plagued by thoughts of Topper Thornton.
Sarah gulps, actual despair in her brown eyes. "It's actually so embarrassing. He caught me slugging beer at the Tiki Bar."
