Kismet

Chapter Ten

I stop to unlock my phone, checking Ethan's text. It says,

       "Well I have to tell you some news too." 

      And then another, probably after I didn't answer, "U there?"

      "What kind of news?" I message back.

      There's a pause before he messages back. "Im not sure i should tell u now."

      "Why?"

      "Because you didn't answer back :("

      I smile a little bit, and type, "Sorry. Whats your news?"

      ". . ."

      "Ur seriously gunna make me apologize over the phone?"

      ". . . "

      "i am deeply and regretfully sorry, and I will always answer your texts right away. Ok?"

   I wait for his answer. After two minutes, I start to think he's not forgiving me for answering back, when my phone rings, startling me. It's him. I press the green button and hold it up to my ear.

   "What?" I demand.

   "Hello."

   I sigh, closing my eyes. "What do you want, Ethan? Why didn't you message me?"

   "I wanted to hear you t-. . . I wanted to hear your answer," Ethan says quickly. "Just don't question my process, Kiki."

   "Don't call me that," I tell him. "And what did you want to hear me say?"

   "So. . ." he says faintly, clearly stalling.

   "What is it?" I say, growing a bit impatient. "Hurry up and just tell me."

   "Do you want to really, really, really know?" Ethan says slowly, drawing out the last 'really'. "Really really?"

   "Yes, I want to really really really really know!" I say.

   "Okay, so my friend's having a party this Wednesday, and he said invite whoever, because the party's going to be small with the people he invited himself. I'm bringing you and Danny. Well, Danny's going to pick the both of us up. So technically he's bringing us. . ." He stops his chatter, like he's thinking.

   "So Danny's driving me and you to this random dude's party?" I ask quizzically. "Does- will he go to our school or what?"

   "Yes, and yes."

   "What's his name?" I ask, sitting on the edge of my bed.

   "Evan. His parents will be 'hosting'," I could imagine him putting air quotes around that word. "so thing's won't get too out of hand. If you want to swim, bring a suit. But if I were you, keep your phone and things in another girl-bag-thingy or whatever, in case they have a pushing-people-into-the-pool thing going on."

   I nearly laugh. "Okay, Ethan. This Wednesday? At what time?"

   "Be at my house around seven-ish."

   " 'Kay," I tell him. "And just to let you know, it was kind of stalkerish to get my number from my brother, Katniss." I jokingly hang up after that.

   I am wary as I walk down the stairs a few hours later. I'd spent the time in my room reading the rest of this one book I loved, wasting the time that I have to spend on a boring summer day. I am wary because I have no idea what to expect with Mom. Would she tell my family or no? I wish she would. They deserve to know.

   "Kiara!" Chris suddenly screams, slamming his door open. I whip my head around and run up the remainder of the stairs, peering down the hallway in panic. At the last step, my foot slides off the edge of the carpeted step and I hit my shin hard on the stair. I grimace and stand to my feet in the hallway, rubbing my chin painfully.

  "What?" I ask quickly. "What did you hear? Did Mom tell you?"

   He looks at me funny. "I didn't hear anything from her. But guess what!"

   I sigh. Whether it's relief or annoyance, I don't exactly know. "What?"

   "There's only twenty five days of summer left!" Chris shouts. "I can't wait until it's over!"

   Now I am the one to look at him oddly. "Why is that good news, Chris? You've always hated school and even wished on your last birthday that summer would last forever. Remember?" I say it slowly, like I'm talking to a three year old.

   "That's when I knew people," Chris says certainly.

   "What?" I ask, baffled.

   "I knew people," Chris repeated. "I got to hang out with other kids. I don't have any friends now, though. But when school starts, I get to be with kids my age again."

   "That makes more sense."

   "Duh!" Chris says, speeding past me down the stairs. His feet thump-thump quickly, then land with a joustling BANG as he probably jumps down three steps, as he's always have done.

   I turn around and also head down the stairs, but more like a civilized being than my brother. I glance into the kitchen. Nothing. I walk into the living room, where Chris is laying down on the couch watching cartoons. No signs of adults anywhere.

   "Where's Mom and Dad?" I ask him.

  "Mom went for a drive," Chris tells me. "and Dad's still sleeping. I think."

   I feel a bit guilty at that. Not at Dad sleeping, but that Mom went for a drive. She's most likely distressed at me. I wish I hadn't yelled at her so much. It wasn't really her fault. Well, not all of it, anyways. I shudder the thought away.

   I glance outside. The sun was shining, lighting up the room rather than bulbs. As I glance at the new wall clock, it's ten past eleven. Instead of worrying, I plop down next to Chris and start watching Ben 10, blurring out my thoughts as I watch him turn into one of his monster-forms.