The Story of Why

Keda - My Mom Makes Me Go To Church

~ Keda's POV ~

I closed the door behind me and leaned back on it. My heart was beating so fast. He kissed me, I thought, he actually kissed me. I guess the whole "just friends" thing won't work out so well now. Not that I'd rather be friends...

"Keda? Is that you?" my mom walked hurriedly to me.

"Yeah, mom, hey," I said, waiting for it.

"Where have you been?!" she yelled. There it was.

"Sorry, mom. I was with Drew," I said.

"You didn't even text me! How was I supposed to know where you were? And being out this late with a boy -"

"It's not even 9!" I interrupted.

"Where did you go? What did you do? I cannot believe that you would just leave without saying a word! You are so irresponsible! Inconsiderate! What if you were kidnapped?!" she shrieked.

"I'm sorry."

"NO! SORRY DOESN'T CUT IT YOU SHOULD -" and she droned on and on. I told her I was going to be in my room and ran up the stairs. I shut the door to my room. Normally I would go to bed feeling really shitty, but not even my mother could ruin my good mood. He kissed me. I decided I would call Izzy and tell her about it. I picked up my cellphone and dialed her number.

"How was it?" she asked as soon as she picked up her phone.

"Good, great...he kissed me," I said.

"OH MY GOD! FINALLY!" she yelled into the speaker.

"I know, I know, I'm so happy," I said. We talked a bit more until she had to go, then I went to bed feeling really happy.

I woke up the next morning to my mother's cheerful voice.

"Keda! Come on! Time for church!" she called. Her mood changed so frequently, this bright attitude didn't even surprise me. In fact, I was quite relieved she had sort of forgotten about yesterday. I hurried and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I put on a cute purple dress and went downstairs.

All throughout mass, I thought of him. The kiss. The way he grabbed me and held onto me as if he wanted to never let go. The way he smiled into the kiss. He had asked if I was going to church. Maybe he was planning on waiting for me at Tim Horton's? The more I thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He's probably expecting that I'll be alone again but no. That was only last time because my mom had to pick up Olliver. Ugh, now it was going to be all awkward and terrible with my mom there. I hope she won't start yelling at me again like yesterday.

Then a guy came up to me and asked, "Could I sit here?" I told him yes. He sat down and I was just about to continue thinking about Drew coming to Tim Horton's and meeting my mom when I realized that that voice was very familiar. I looked up.

"Drew?!" I whisper-shouted.

He grinned. "Hey," he said smugly. I noticed he was looking at my dress with great interest.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. He was wearing a light blue button-up and a black blazer on top of it. He looked so damn hot.

He put his finger to his lips in a shh gesture. I turned to my mom, who was sitting on the other side of me, and saw that she was paying no attention to Drew and I at all. She seemed very interested in the mass. I sighed and stared off into space, since Drew wouldn't talk to me.

After church was over, we stood up to leave and Drew went up to my mom and shook her hand. "Hello, Mrs. Rendale. I'm Drew, Keda's friend," he said, smiling.

"Oh, hello Drew," my mom smiled, "are you here with your parents?" she asked.

"No. Unfortunately, my mom wasn't feeling well so she decided not to come to church today.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I hope she feels better soon," my mom said. They talked for a while longer when Drew said he needed to go. He bid us goodbye and walked out.

The drive to Tim Horton's was long and boring. My mother drove me in silence for most of the ride. Then, "Drew seems very nice," she said.

"Yeah...yeah he's really nice," I told her.

"Polite too," she said, "Are you dating?" she asked.

"I don't know," I replied honestly.

"Oh. Well don't fall for him if you're not dating yet. Boys can be very cruel. A lot of men flirt with several women at a time-"

"Thanks, mom. But Drew's not like that. And, if he is, I'll kick him where it hurts, alright?"

"Okay." And so we drove on in silence.

A few days later, Izzy invited me to this party some popular girl had invited her to. Everyone likes Izzy, you see. Populars, jocks, band geeks, literally everyone. I wish I could be more like her. Anyway, when we got to the party at this random popular girls' house, it was full of bodies, punch, and the stench of alcohol. Then I saw Drew with a crowd of other people I had never met before. His face lit up when he saw me, and he introduced me to a bunch of his friends. Izzy and Drew's friend, Eric seemed to hit it off pretty well.

Drew and I snuck away from his crowd of friends and went outside in the popular girls' backyard patio. We sat on the chairs and just talked. I felt a little bad for leaving Izzy, but the last time I'd seen her, she had been dancing with Eric. I don't think she'll miss me too much.

Then Drew started talking about his dream of becoming an author one day. I asked him what he would write about. He smiled and said, "Us, of course." He was so cute. We talked and talked for another hour, then went back inside because it was getting cold.

When the party was over and I had to go, Drew kissed me goodbye, a soft, sweet kiss that made my stomach feel all fluttery. Izzy clapped her hands and said "Aww," in unison with Eric. I grinned and that was that.