ASHLEY

8

   Kayla pulls a chair out and sits next to me at the table, keeping her eyes on Kenenth. "Tell me what you had to tell her," She demands.

   Kenneth sighs and leans back in his seat. "I was just telling her how much I missed you guys. I know you have a lot of questions, one being why I came back here after all this time."

   "You must have read my mind."

   "I know you want to know but I can't tell you. I cant even tell Bria.  I wish I could but I cant. I wish things could go back to the way they use to-"

   "But they cant," I butt in. Kenneth drops his gaze. I can feel Kayla starting at me but I refuse to look at her.

   Kayla rolls her eyes and gets up from the table. She turns to me. "I'm leaving Bria. You can find your own ride home."

   Before I even have the chance to say something she's out the door. I can't believe she would leave me stranded here at work. She always comes to pick me up from practice and when she can't she sends one of her brothers. She shouldn't be mad at me. Kenneth is the one popping in and out of people's lives as he sees fit.

   Kayla is being an awful friend right now. She lets her emotions get the best of her and she just acts out. Its not fair to me or anyone else around her. I can't stand it sometimes.

   I've been saving up to buy myself a car. I don't want to have to depend on anyone to take me anywhere. I want to be able to come and go as I please. I like having my own stuff anyway.

   "I didn't even know you worked here but when I saw you I just had to talk to you. We don't have to be friends but I do want us to be cordial with each other. You feel me?"

   I stare at him for a good long moment, digesting everything he's saying. Do I honestly believe he actually came in to get some food and just happened to find me here? Sounds too good to be true. "Fine." I've always had a week spot when it comes to Kenneth.

   "Great. I can take you home if you want."

   After contemplating my options I agree to take him up on his offer. Its not like I have any other choice, excluding a taxi. All my friends are usually busy and the half of us don't even have a car. I clock out and follow Kenneth to his car. He unlocks the door and I slide in the front seat and throw my bag that I take to work to change after in the back. 

   As we're driving it gets uncomfortably quiet so I decide to ease the tension by turning on the radio. Controlla by Drake comes on and I turn the radio up. I wind my hips in my seat and sing along, quite off key I might add. "I do it how you say you want it. Them girls they just wanna take my money. They don't want me to give you nothing." I do realize I'm probably making a fool out of myself but it's just Kenneth.

   "Bria stop. You hurting my ears. Dang you still can't sing even after all these years."

   "You shut up. You can't sing either last I checked." I'm lying. Kenneth had a nice voice. He just didn't use it like he would of liked to because his dad thought it made him girly and he didn't like that. When he hit puberty it didn't matter anyway because his voice started cracking.

   "Bria?" I don't answer. "Bria?"

   "What?"

   "You like it when I get agressive, tell you to go slower, go faster. Like controlla. Controlla." His voice sounds amazing. It didn't falter not one bit. I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from smiling and turn to look out the window. "Uh huh. I can sing can't I?"

   He nudge my arm but I don't say anything. There's no way I'm going to admit to him that he can sing and play a significant part in boosting his ego. I'm satisfied when he agrees to let that one go.

   "So you're here after, what, four years? Who're you leaving behind now?" I have to ask.

   "No one. You don't make too many friends where I was. Not any good ones anyway."

   "Okay can you stop being so mysterious about the whole thing. I'm made as hell that you're not going to provide any information on why you left but I'm not going to try to force you to tell me. You just don't have to act like that about it!" I yell, frustrated.

   "I'm sorry. Next time I'll just answer yes or no if you want to act like that about it."

   "Don't try to turn the tables on me."

   "I'm-" he begins loudly. He lowers his voice this time, "I'm not. Can we not do this?"

   "I'm not the one doing anything."

   He decides to keep his mouth shut, realizing he lost this argument.

   When Kenneth pulls up to the house I get out and Alan the door. Kenneth waits as I dig through my bag for my key. I don't find it. I could have sworn I put it in my bag. I check my bag one more time then my pockets just in case and when I don't find it I knock on the door. No one answers. I turn around quickly to find Kenneth still waiting. How sweet, note the sarcasm.

   I turn my phone in and check the time. Aunt Jackie isn't going to be home for another hour and a half. I have no idea where Angela is and she's not answering her phone. She's making it clear to me that I can't leave her alone. After waiting for a while I run back to his car. "I'm locked out."

   "You want me to drop you off somewhere?"

   "Yeah. I'll show you where to go."

   "How about you drive there yourself." He suggest with a cocky grin plastered across his face.