The 29 Days (Kendall Schmidt AU)

Chapter Six - Day 5

Nicole

I grew up to believe that Saturday mornings were made for mom's award-winning banana pancakes, taking Nadine to the park, and catching up on some academic reading for extra credit. They definitely were not made for doing early grocery runs, trying to cautiously avoid Kendall Schmidt down the dairy products isle, and dropping my keys only to find Kendall picking them up for me.

"You dropped these," Kendall said proudly. He hands the car keys to me, his left arm carrying two grocery bags at once. Does he do weights? Why does he cover up his arms in hoodies all the time? Am I really focusing my attention on what could be his beautifully sculpted arms?

A deep voice jolts me back to reality. "Are you taking the keys or not? I've been told I could use a better car," Kendall chuckles as he says this. He is referring to my mom's rented Sedan. I can feel my cheeks turning pink.

Kendall dangles the keys in front of my face, so I grab them from his grip. 

"It's my mom's car," I said defensively. Now with the car keys in my possession, I then let myself enter the car through the front. I throw the grocery bags into the front seat and slide myself into the driver's seat.

Before I could shut the door on Kendall, he places his hand on the car door and shows off his signature sly smirk; his undeniably attractive smirk.

"I'll pass by your house later at five," he says almost too kindly. I was about to laugh at the idea of Kendall being kind to me, but I just remembered he can't come by that late. Wait, he can't come by at all!

"Five?" I try to appear shocked. "I... have plans tonight."

I reluctantly try to make an excuse. Do I actually want to see Kendall on a weekend? Outside school?

"Of course you have plans tonight! Silly girl," he says, messing up the top of my hair. "I'm taking you out."

Did Kendall just ask me out? Why do I have so many questions? This has got to be another dream. Somebody pinch me awake.

"No," I replied firmly. I could've sworn he had a hurt look on his face, but I decided to just focus on his eyes slowly shift into a darker shade of green.

Kendall laughs at my response. "Hasn't it been clear to you that I don't take no for an answer, Nicolette?"

"First of all, it's Nicole. Not Nicolette. Second, hasn't anyone told you that the world doesn't revolve around you, Kendall?" I say all these while I attempt to start the car's engine. "Do you really just like scaring people for fun?" I'm still trying to twist the key firmly enough for the engine to start.

Oh, and of course the car engine just had to give up on me. Right on time, dear Sedan.

"Geez, Nicole. Even on weekends you need a ride from me," he says with a matching eye roll and chuckle. Does this guy always have to thrive on people's discomfort and misery? He throws his head back laughing, then offers a hand. "Let's just go use my car."

I don't take his hand. "What about my car?"

He scans the area to see if people are looking at us, but it's way too early for anyone our age to be here. Besides, they're all too hung-over from last night's party. Speaking of parties, why isn't Kendall drunk? He doesn't look like he came from a party at all.

"We'll call for someone to tow it and drop it at your place or something."

"Drop it?!"