One Problem

Chapter 2

Kylie drives back home and heads up to her room. She paces a few times before she takes out her phone and calls Mel. It rings for a few seconds before she answers. "Yes, Ky?" "Mel, i have a problem." She sighs. "What kind of problem?" She hears movement on the other side. "You know what kind of problem." Kylie groans. "Ohh a problem...." She can already see the smirk on her face. "Can't help you there Ky, I don't know why you called me." She sighs. "I called you because it happened when i was at Malia's house." There's a pause, followed by more sound of movement before someone finally speaks. "Wait! Did you get a boner while you were studying with Malia?!" Ruby shouts. "Ow, my ear!" Kylie holds the phone away from her ear for a second before returning it. "Wait, a minute, what were you two doing before i called?" She smirks. "Uh, nothing." "I think you know what." They both answer before Ruby smacks her arm. "Oh ew! I'm hanging up, sorry i ever called!" "Wait, what about Ma-?" She hangs up before Ruby can finish her question. She sits in bed and sighs. "I'm so screwed...."

--

Malia stood there, confused. What just happened? One second they were gonna work on their project and the next, Kylie just left. Out of nowhere, with no explanation. And dishes, do not count, she was clearly lying. But why? It's not like she did anything, they haven't fought, yet. She rolls her eyes. She blinks a few times, trying to comprehend what happened and why Kylie was acting strange. She grabs her books and puts them back in her backpack before grabbing her mom's keys from the keyholder near the front. She gets in and pauses before she realizes that she doesn't actually know where Kylie lives. She thinks before she opens Instagram

MaliaBakerMLB - hey, sorry to bother you, could you give me Kylie's address? We're supposed to be working on a project together and she kinda bailed.

RubyRoseTurner - um, sure

She sends her the address, which Malia quickly types in through her maps. Really? Only ten minutes away? She decides not to dwell on it as she starts the route and drives to Kylie's. Once she gets there, she grabs her bag and locks her car. She walks up to the door and knocks. After a few seconds, a rather tall man opens the door. "Can i help you?" He asks. "Um, I'm Malia, I'm supposed to be working on a project with Kylie for school?" She smiles sweetly. "Oh, of course, come in." He steps aside to let her in before closing the door. "Kylie! Your friend is here!" Not exactly friends, but ok. Malia shrugs. She hears footsteps before she sees Kylie at the top of the stairs. "Malia....what are you doing here?" She asks. Malia smiles sweetly. "We're supposed to be working on the project, remember?" Kylie swallows saliva was building in the back of her mouth. "Uh, yeah. You're right." She heads upstairs and follows Kylie to her room. "So what happened earlier? We were about to work on the project and you just took off. And you said you needed to do the dishes but i looked into your kitchen while i was downstairs and i saw a pile in the sink, so clearly you were lying." Malia crosses her arms. "You're right, I'm sorry. Can we just forget about it please and focus on the project?" Kylie begs. Malia sighs and nods.

They study for another hour before Malia stands and stretches causing her shirt to ride up. Kylie quickly looks away as she puts her books back in her backpack. "Um, so did you wanna hang out tomorrow after school? Not hang out but you know, work on the project?" Kylie asks. "I mean, better to get this done sooner rather than later." She shrugs. Malia nods. "Agreed. So why'd you take off earlier? I know it wasn't to do the dishes." Malia presses. "Uh...." Kylie starts bouncing her leg. "No reason." "So you randomly run away from strangers often?" Malia smirks. "I mean, you're not technically a stranger." Kylie shrugs. Malia packs up her things and stands. "We don't even know anything about each other." She shrugs.

"I know you recite your cheers throughout the day so you don't forget, i know you play with your hands or your skirt whenever you're nervous, i know you press your hands on your heart and take deep breaths before you cheer for a crowd." Malia stares at her. She hesitates for a second. "You notice all that?" She asks in a quiet voice. Kylie blushes. "I only notice cause you do it so often...." Malia nods. "Oh...." She smiles softly. "Malia, I'm really sorry about what happened that day. I didn't mean to hurt you, i only checked on Ruby cause she's my best friend, not to mention, if I didn't Mel would have killed me. But i was coming to check on you, i swear but you just got up and left before i could say anything." Kylie smiles sadly. Malia sighs. "Yeah, i get it. And i know it wasn't your fault, so i forgive you. But that doesn't mean we're friends." Malia glares at her. Kylie nods. "Got it. I just wanted to apologize."

They focus on the project until a knock interrupts them. "Kylie?" "Hi dad, Malia and i are working on a project together, that's all." Alex nods. "Uh-huh....ok, well, keep the door open...." He gives her a look. "Yes dad...." She rolls her eyes. Malia watches as he leaves. "What was that about?" She asks. "Um, he's just overprotective, that's all. He's been like this since my parents divorced." "Oh, I didn't know that." Malia looks down. "No, it's ok. They've been divorced for most of my life anyways, it doesn't really effect me." Kylie shrugs. Malia nods. "My parents are divorced too." "I'm sorry." She whispered. "It's fine. I don't really get to see my dad often but i have my mom and my sister so, I'm ok. I'm happy." She shrugs.

It dawned on her that she doesn't really know anything about Malia. "Um, anyways, we should probably get back to this project." Malia turns back to her textbooks. "Yeah, uh, let me just use the restroom real quick." Kylie excuses herself. She shuts the door behind her, causing the shelf to wobble and drop something. Malia goes to pick up. "Condoms?" She shrugs and puts it back. She goes back and sits on the bed. She keeps glancing at the condoms on the shelf, hidden behind the trophy. "It's none of my business." She mumbles. She swears she heard rumors about Kylie being a lesbian going around school, maybe this is confirmation that she wasn't? Maybe she's bi or something? Or maybe she's just straight. The thought didn't sit well with her and her heart ached for some reason at the thought of Kylie being straight. She quickly shakes her head. What does it matter to her? Kylie can do whoever she wants.

Kylie comes back and they continue to work until Malia decides to go home, Kylie dropping her off. "I'll see you tomorrow?" Malia nods. "See ya!" She goes inside and heads to her room. There was something off about Kylie, she couldn't put her finger on it but she knew something wasn't normal about her. She's not some ordinary girl. She's beautiful, that's for sure. Athletic, definitely. She didn't seem like an asshole like she initially thought. Then again, it was all just an accident. Could she have been wrong about her this whole time? She grabs her phone and opens Instagram. She searches her name and quickly follows her. She scrolls through her photos, smiling at a photo of her with Ruby and Mel when they were about nine. Ruby. Maybe she'd know. No, she can't just go asking personal questions about her best friend. She settled for insta-stalking, scrolling through Kylie's photos until her phone froze as she was trying to scroll, causing her to double tap and like a photo from 2013. "Oh crap...." It was a photo of her, Mel and Ruby. Kylie and Mel were both lifting with Ruby kissing Mel on the cheek, the caption was Can you even lift, bro? Honestly, it was cute, the problem was, it was from nine years ago. Malia smacks her forehead as a notification popped up.

KylieCantrall - yes? 👀 Can i help you? 😏😂

MaliaBakerMLB - it was an accident

KylieCantrall - mhm, sure....😏

Malia giggles, like actually giggles. Maybe Kylie wasn't as bad as she thought.

MaliaBakerMLB - you wanna hang out some time?