Hidden Burdens (working title)

An Anxious Apology

John eventually got home sometime during the night a few hours after everyone had gone to bed. Normally, Ben and Kayla preferred that the kids didn’t stay out late on a school night, but since it was a special occasion, and John had called to check in with them to make sure it was okay, Kayla told him he could.

Because he had gotten home late, John was the last one up and awake the next morning. Kayla, who was taking all the kids to school, offered to get them all breakfast from the coffee shop on the way. With Claudia having called shotgun, Kimmy took the back seat, sitting the complete opposite from John. 

John tried to ask what Kimmy wanted, but was ignored. Despite constantly checking for him the night before, Kimmy’s anxious pride got the best of her and still wanted nothing to do with John. 

“Don’t make me come back there and tickle you,” Claudia playfully warned, twisted in her seat. Unlike Ben, Kayla didn’t say anything about it, even when Claudia followed through on the threat and climbed through the four front seats. 

“Claudia, stop,” John was the one to step in when Kimmy kept squirming away from her hands against the side of the jeep and protected herself from the older girl’s hands with her own. 

Claudia stopped when Kimmy blurted out, “chocolate milk and danish.”

“Thank you,” she said, returning to her seat as if proud of herself.

Kimmy hugged her backpack to her as she stared out the window, pouting, when she heard John ask if she was okay. Her knee flinched when his hand brushed against it in what was supposed to be a kind, gentle gesture.

Once Kayla ordered and passed everyone theirs as it became available, John passed back Kimmy’s for her. 

Kimmy took her pastry and chocolate milk from him without meeting his gaze.

 When John received his coffee, Claudia questioned, “How can you drink pure, black coffee?” with an intrigued disgust.

“Like this,” John replied and dramatically took another sip, holding his pinky in the air as if he was putting on a performance onstage.

Claudia rolled her eyes as she turned to face forward again. “You’re such a dork,” she said with a smirk.

“Why, thank you,” he said as if Claudia had given him a compliment who just shook her head at nothing in particular.

Kimmy listened to the teens playfully bicker while remembering how, for the longest time, Claudia did not like John. Now, all of a sudden they seemed to get along? 

To more of Kimmy’s dismay, Claudia was dropped off first. At least John moved up to the front seat, but he continued to talk to her when John asked if she wanted to listen to her music. It was Kayla who reminded Kimmy, she didn't have to speak to John but she did have to acknowledge him. 

“Are you still upset with me, Kimster?” 

Kimmy sucked in her lip, moistening the dryness away as she stared through her window. A weight pressed on her shoulders. 

John eventually left Kimmy alone, turning forward to start up a conversation with Kayla. Instead, he put on a jazz station. 

Relief came when Kayla pulled into the drop-off in front of the elementary school and Kimmy was able to jump out of the jeep. She was reminded to grab her breakfast trash on the way to throw in the trash can. 

Kimmy speed-walked to her class and timidly opened the door. By this point, Mr. O'Reilly insisted she could come inside if he's there, without waiting for him. Kimmy still felt she needed to at least stick her head in first to make sure it was okay.