Kismet

Chapter Twenty-One

Again, Ethan catches me asleep on the fifth night of staying in my bed. I wake up to him gently shaking me, and I slowly open my eyes. It's early morning- around six thirty. I open my eyes and stare up at him as he stares down at me. I'm startled for a moment.

   "What are you doing here?" I groan, flopping my head back down.

   "I feel very welcomed," Ethan says sarcastically. He puts something in my hand, and closes it around the object. I look at it closely, bringing my hand closer to my face. It's a keychain with, ironically, a bear and a hunter sillouhette against the light blue background. The hunter had a bow in his hand, aiming at the roaring bear. It slightly gave me chills as I gaze at its open mouth and fangs, even if it's a black shape.

   "It's for you," Ethan says, rocking back and forth on his feet. I lean against and elbow, staring at the gift. I look up at him. "It's, uh, supposed to present me, the archer is. And the bear. .  . I guess it's self explanitory."

   I beam a happy smile, not forced at all. "Thank you so much, Ethan. I really love it."

   "You do?" He scrunches up his eyebrows in concern. "It's not too cheesy, is it?"

   "It's cheesy," I agree. "But I like it that way. I have no idea why you would buy me a keychain, anyways. What's with all the gifts and visits and stuff?"

   Now his eyes widen in surprise. "Because I freaking broke your rib and let you fall down a ravine, that's why!"

   "I already told you," I say sternly. "It wasn't your fault. It was my own for not slowing down."

   "But-" Ethan starts.

   "No," I interrupt.

   "But I-"

   "No."

   "Kiara, stop in-"

   "No." I smile and glance up at him cheekily. "No."

   He sighs, and ruffles my hair like a little brother. "Whatever. Enjoy your gift, anyways. Oh, and I wanted to do something before I left today."

   I look at him curiously. "What?"

   He bands down on one of his knees so he's nearly face-to-face with me. I stare into his brown eyes for a moment, suddenly realizing what's coming next before he does it. He leans in and puts his hand under my chin, locking me into a kiss. My eyes are wide as he does so, but it's only briefly. He looks into my eyes for another millisecond. I am speechless.

   "Well, good-bye and get well soon," Ethan says nonchalently, standing to his feet. He turns around and walks through the door, softly shutting it behind him.

   I only stare after him, my mouth still tingling from when his lips met mine. I slowly raise my hand and touch them, as if feeling his lips still attached. I tighten my grip with the keychain, holding it firmly in my fist. What just happened. . .?

   Then I laugh, and fall onto my back, landing on the soft mattess. "Ow."

   I go back to sleep for a few hours, and then read for another two. I finally finish my book, and I check my phone for any messages. Nothing. I lay on my side, facing my window in boredom. I lay on top of my covers, as I'm getting hot from staying under them for so long.

   I think about how Ethan kissed me out of the blue. Well, I take that back. He said he wanted to do it before he left my house. Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe he realized after the kiss he actually didn't like me. He was probably disgusted by my appearance and it dawned on him how much of a slob and bookworm I am. 

   Why would Ethan like me when there are so many other girls out there? Nicer, neater, prettier, taller, skinnier. Less of a bookworm.

   My self-pity thoughts are interrupted when Mom yells at me. "Come and eat dinner! It's steak and potatoes!" 

   I didn't want to get up from my bed, but the smell of steak was promising. So I slowly stood to my legs, stretching. I was almost completely better exept for my back and ribs. Everything else was healing perfectly. I slowly walk down the stairs, to my family all sitting at the table. I slowly sit down, everybody's eyes on me. I eye them one by one.

  "What?" I ask.

   Dad shakes his head and looks away, and so does Chris. "Nothing," Mom says. "Here." She puts a steak on my plate, and I scoop the mashed potatoes myself. I add corn onto my plate, too. Dad prays, and we dig into our food. I realize I didn't have lunch, and so does my stomach. I eat it all in less than five minutes. Nobody's done yet except for me.

   "You're hungry," Dad observes. "Want some more?"

   I shake my head. "No, I'm full. Thanks." I smile at them, and stand to my feet, taking my plate with me. I gently put it into the sink. I pet Shelby as she passes by me, and she arches her back pleasurably. I scratch her head before standing painfully straight again. I feel as though a knife has been stuck between two of my ribs, jabbing me everytime I breath or move.

   I am about to walk up the stairs for another quick nap, but glance out the window and freeze. I look out for a moment, and then turn to open the back door.

   "Where are you going?" Mom asks, turning her head.

   "Outside," I answer.

   "Don't go anywhere!" she calls out.

   "How could I?" I say, tapping my ribcage, wincing. I walk out the door and shut it firmly, standing in the yard. I am immidiately hit by a rush of humid air, feeling it on my skin. I look up to see dark skies above my head, past the treelines. A storm is coming--this town needs more rain, anyways.

   As if on cue with my thoughts, thunder rolls, and rain starts pouring down like somebody let go of the invisible umbrella above the house. I am soaked in three seconds, my hair falling over my shoulders in a heavy curtain. Instead of being smart, I stay out and stare at the rain as it comes down, blinking out the drops. It has been a while since I stood in the rain, feeling the natural cold shower of the sky fall onto my body gently.

   I eventually close my eyes and face the sky. It feels refreshing, being free of the idea of dryness and neatness.

   Suddenly taken on by some craziness in my head, I start to laugh. A real, genuine laugh as if Ethan had said one of his weird jokes. I wipe my face, trying to clear the water so I can see the sky and trees again.

   I am jerked back by my soaking gray shirt, startling me. I stumble back, and Mom hauls me into the kitchen as gently as a truck dragging you by a rope.

   "Ow!" I grimace, clentching my teeth together. I put a hand on my right rib and breathe a hard breath as the knife drives in deeper.

   "You're going to get a cold!" she snaps, clearly angry at whatever I did wrong.

  "You nearly broke my rib even more!" I half-shout through gritted teeth. The stars on the edge of my vision are starting to go away, but the knife isn't budging. I sit down on the armrest of the couch and try to regain my breath, breathing away the pain.

    Some of her anger was gone, and guilt started to form behind her eyes. But her voice was still stern. "You could've caught a cold along with the injuries, Kiara! Rain isn't to dance in when your sick."

   "I wasn't dancing," I mutter. She huffs a breath. "Just go dry off upstairs, and don't leave a mess in the hallway!"

   I roll my eyes when she's not turning and I slowly walk up the stairs, wincing the whole time.

   But it was worth it, I think to myself, smiling. I hadn't been out in the rain in at least a year, and I needed it. I felt like my soul did or something. It really cleared my thoughts. 

   And I now know how I really feel about Ethan. It came to me like a train hit me in my brain, when I was standing out there. I know what I'm going to say to him, when I ask for him to come over tomorrow.