Problems

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

I walk through the double doors of my high school corridor and see Ashley leaning against a locker, flirting with a guy. Way to start off a Monday morning. Suddenly someone wraps their arms around my waist from behind me. My first instinct is to tense up, so I do. "Good morning gorgeous," Kevin whispers in my ear. I giggle and turn around. I scowl him a little, because he scared me and I want to slap him. But when his eyebrows furrow, that feeling goes away. He hugs my waist still, and I hug him back. We turn back to walk towards our lockers, when a sudden Ashley stands in front of us, scowling.

I feel a lump form in my throat.

"What the hell is this?! I leave you guys alone for one weekend, and you're already banging?!" She exclaims. I feel Kevin's fingers lace with mine, and I look up at him. He is scowling now. "Ashley, just because we hugged, doesn't mean we're banging. We aren't banging. We are in a relationship together, and I don't care who knows," Kevin proclaims. I turn my attention back to Ashley, who has her jaw hanging there a little. Hearing Kevin say that put me in a state of shock as well. I'm glad things are official now. "Fine, whatever. Just promise you guys won't ditch me to go make out in a closet, okay?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. I nod and giggle. I'm glad she's not really mad at us, since we are on all good terms for the time being. Ashley can over react at times, and I'm surprised she isn't right now. "So what are you guys up to this weekend?" She asks. I pause, and look up at Kevin. He's so much more taler than me, it hurts my neck. The side effects of dating a guy who is 6'1" when you're only 5'7". He looks down at me and shrugs. "Not sure. Did you have anything in mind?" I ask her, snapping my attention back to her.

"I was thinking of a party,"

"What kind of party?" Kevin asks.

"A regular, teenage party," she answers.

It doesn't sound as bad as she puts it, but we but know Ashley's typical parties. She ends up making out with a guy at the end of it and the beer keg is almost empty. She always tries and sets me up with a guy, but I know it won't happen this time. "Why the hell not?" Kevin says. Before either Ashley or I can speak, the bell to class chimes it's self in. Ashley darts off next to some boy and waves us a goodbye. Kevin looks down at me, and I playfully scold him. He frowns, but I smile. I hug his arm as we walk to first period. "We don't have to go to Ashley's party if you don't want to," he tells me. I feel like he can read my mind somehow. I don't want to see alcohol floating around in red solo cups in people's hand. But Ashley's our friend, our best friend. We can't tell her we don't want to come to her party, she would be a little outraged. "It's not that I don't want to go, it's just that I might not be able to," I explain to him. I feel his arm muscles tense. He hates it when I talk about home. He knows how badly I hate it. "All we can do is try," he says.

We arrive at our first period class and he kisses my forehead. That may have just been enough to distract me for the entire period.

Lunch rolls around and I sit with Kevin and some nerds at the end of the table. I catch a glimpse of Ashley flirting with a few football players and passing out pieces of papers. "What is she doing?" Kevin asks, shoving mashed potatoes in his face.

"Not sure. Not sure if I want to know either," I say. I turn to him with a smile. He looks at me weirdly, with mashed potatoes overflowing his mouth, dripping down his chin. I giggle at his goofy action and he wipes away the potatoes with a napkin. "So how are things at home?" He asks suddenly. I pause for a moment. Nothing has really happened since My father beat Lexie and slapped me, so I guess that's a good sign. "Okay, I guess," I answer finally. He raises an eyebrow. "What's with the 'I guess'?" he asks.

"What's with all the questions?" I snap.

His expression grows from curious to shocked. He looks back at his tray and shoves more potatoes into his mouth. "He hasn't talked to us since he hit us, so I guess everything is alright," I say. I lace my fingers with his under the table, and smile at him. He turns back to me with a smile.

"What are you two weird love birds talking about?" Ashley suddenly asks, sitting across from us. I jump a little at her sudden arrival. "Just about...stuff," Kevin asks, choking a little. He knows I don't like to talk about it for a long time. And I know he doesn't like me talking about it at all. "Well when you come to my party, be sure to not be grinding up all on each other the whole time," she smirks. I giggle a little, but I feel Kevin tense. He takes things a little too seriously sometimes, especially when it comes to our relationship. "We won't. Not for the whole time," I joke. Ashley laughs slightly and I see the air release from Kevin's lungs as he relaxes. He smiles a little too. "Well, we better get to fourth period Cam. See ya Kev!" Ashley says, grabbing my arm. I wave goodbye to Kevin as Ashley drags me toward the exit. I see him smile. and solute me goodbye, then turn back to him milk and chug it down before he gets up. I hope he doesn't get too serious at Ashley's party. I mean, the boy needs to learn how to have fun at least some of the time.