Sweet Expressions

Choosing A Doughnut Is Hard

The morning chill in the air held the promise of success in it for my mission at this early hour. I dropped into the dewy grass from the open window and shivered as I listened for one of the boys calling my name. Nothing but the calm sounds of cars in the distance driving to work. I crouched and moved silently along the yard, only straightening and running once I hit the pavement. I giggled lightly to myself as I got closer to Kota's house. If all went according to Erica's plan we would nab him, going on the assumption that if it was early enough and unexpected, he couldn't refuse. I heard Max bark as I crossed his yard and ran up the steps, breathlessly ringing the doorbell before he had a chance to investigate what Max was on about.

I shifted back and forth on my feet while I waited. Kota had finagled his way out of going twice already and I was beginning to think we couldn't pull the glasses trip off. Erica had assured me that this was the morning though. I had even snuck out of Nathan's house from between himself and Silas so the other boys couldn't alert him that I was coming, being sure that I had a text at the ready to tell everyone where I was...after he answered the door of course. I scuffed my feet at the mat uneasily and sighed. The past week left only one more week that Gabriel and I would be teaching art class, and I was going to miss it terribly, other than the fact that Jenny was still shunning me along with the addition of several of the other students as the week had gone on. I heard the scuffle of footsteps behind the door and the snuffing of Max along the doorjamb. I looked up in time to notice the peephole going dark and reacted by quickly putting my finger over the lens. I held my laughter in while Max barked and Erica's muted voice asked her son who was at the door in an amused tone. It was only another moment before the door was swung open, white pinstriped pajama bottoms and Max's enthusiastic greeting meeting my eyes first and then Kota's frozen expression with those round glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. Since my hand was already in the air from covering the peephole, I smiled and saluted smartly.

"Hurry and get dressed, Kota. We'll just make it to your appointment on time to beat the morning rush."

Erica snickered and prodded him from behind. I noticed she was in a light green robe and wondered if I had come a little too early, but she had said to come before the sun was up.

"Come on, sport. You'd think you would enjoy a morning out with this sweet girl. Come on in and wait while he gets ready Sang, he won't be longer than a minute."

I held out my hand to Max, letting him snuff it and petting his golden fur as I moved into their entry. Erica disappeared into the kitchen, calling out behind her that she had some doughnuts and milk available. Kota held the door open for me and closed it behind me, pulling his phone out at the same time. I quickly reached over and put my palm over the top of his screen and held my own phone up so he could see the text I had ready. His eyes moved to read it and then he was bending forward, chuckling. My eyes opened wide when he placed a kiss on my cheek and put his phone away in his pajama top pocket.

"All right Sweetie. You got me. Go see what that traitorous mother of mine has in the kitchen for you while you wait."

I beamed after his wink and watched him run up the stairs, Max close behind him. I sent my text and moved into the kitchen to see Erica just putting down two full glasses of milk next to a doughnut box. She smiled at me and patted the top of one of the stools. I pulled it out and sat, squirming a little uncomfortably at first and finally settling myself so that I was perched to one side with my leg folded over the other one and my hip out. I watched Erica begin a pot of coffee, feeling slightly awkward now that we were alone. Erica turned to look over her shoulder and gestured with her head towards the box in front of me.

"Go on and help yourself, Sang. There are several different kinds so just choose what you want."

I looked into the box at the different variations for a moment before finally pulling a plain one out. I stopped when I noticed Erica was glaring playfully at my choice.

"I said the one you wanted Sang, not the least likely to be anyone else's favorite."

I relented and halfway picked up a maple bar, checking her expression first. She nodded in approval and leaned forward on the counter between us on her elbows while the coffeemaker spluttered behind her.

"Better. Now, before he comes down, do you mind letting this old woman in on what this is all about? And don't tell me it's just the glasses, because I've never seen him so flustered about anything like this before. Spill."

I gulped and fiddled with the glass of milk in front of me so that a coat of white made a warbled pattern around the inside lip of the glass. I wasn't so sure how much I should tell her, as the betting did have to do with Academy work. She raised her eyebrows when I didn't answer right away and then stood and looked toward the kitchen door when Kota clattered in, hopping because he was still putting one of his shoes on. I put my hand on the back of my seat and twisted so I could see him better, surprised he was ready so soon, but glad he had interrupted the conversation with his presence. He bent one long jean covered leg and tied his shoe quickly, then stood, freezing when he saw me on the stool. I half smiled at him and turned, patting the stool next to me like Erica had done for me. Erica cleared her throat and straightened, folding her arms and giving Kota an intimidating look.

"That was quick, Dakota. Where's the fire?"

He coughed. "No fire, mom. I'm just looking forward to getting new glasses."

He gave her an innocent look and she gave him a disbelieving one back. I took a long drink of milk to hide my amusement, choking in it a little. Kota grabbed a wax tissue from the box and picked up the plain doughnut I had put down. I had only a moment to be glad Erica had suggested I take a different one before he held his hand out to me, helping me off the stool and keeping a hold on my hand. Erica raised her eyebrows at him when he drained his milk and pulled me around the counter so he could rinse his glass and place it in the sink. I quirked an eyebrow as well. Why was he in such a hurry?

"Thank you for breakfast mom, we're going now."

Erica grabbed up an apple fritter and a napkin, following after us as Kota led me through the entry to the door. She handed it to me with a wink and conspiratorial elbow nudge, and then waved to us from the porch as we walked hand in hand down the drive to where Kota's car was parked. He opened the door for me and helped me into my seat belt, closing the door and going around to his side to let himself in. He waved to his mother and started the car, pulling out onto the road after he had checked all his mirrors. He glanced over at me, holding my two uneaten doughnuts aloft and feeling a little bewildered..

"Sorry about that. Are you okay Sang?"

I scrunched my nose in confusion. "Um, yes?"

He looked me over worriedly and flipped his turn signal on. "You were on the stool."

Oh. That explained the rush. I smiled at him. "I was being handed doughnuts at the time. It helped."

He chuckled and shook his head, seeming to relax a bit. I inhaled the sweet maple scent of the bar I had picked and took a bite, enjoying my first taste of it. He watched me for a minute as I chewed and then turned back to look at the road when I looked at him to see what he wanted.

"I'll get you a coffee to go with that since you didn't get to finish your milk, and then we'll head to the optometrist. Sound good?"

I swallowed and nodded, glad we were finally getting to go. The reminder that I had broken his regular glasses would be fixed, which in itself was reason enough. Maybe I could even get to the bottom of what the boys were up to. One had to be optimistic about these things.