The WRA Draft

Chapter Seventeen: The Thoughts

(Denver's POV)

As Eliza drove Kasey and I home, I only listened to our conversation partially. Olivia was all I could think of. She looked so. . . miserable. I don't like it.

Percussion practice was the only time I could actually see her and get to talk to her, but the Challenge had deprived me of that. She said she would be at the next practice, but I have mixed feelings about that.

Thinking about it, that the first time since I had first been her house that I had been in her room, which was about a year ago; the first time we had officially met. The first time I was there, it was raining and we played hide and seek. Kasey, her, and I all went into her room and hid. Kasey hid under her bed, Olivia hid behind her dresser, and I hid in her closet. We were in there for a while and I may have snooped. I'm sorry, I saw the box and got curious.

In it were photos. Typical photos; family, friends, achievements, but there was one that I haven't really stopped thinking about. It was an old photo of Olivia with her sister. They were on a trampoline at what I assumed was a relative's home. Eliza was smiling for the camera, but Olivia was caught laughing. Her eyes were shut tight as her wide smile shone brightly in the photo. Her smile was so real, happy. Thinking about it made me grin.

She looked young in the photo, so I could only guess that it was taken at least five years ago. She would have been what, nine? That is awfully young, but she looked so adorable in it.

Wait, did I call Olivia adorable? The sudden thought made me shift in my seat.

"You good, man?" Kasey asked. I nodded.

"Cold chill."

"Are you cold?" Eliza asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. "I can turn on the heat."

"I thought it was on!" Tommy protested. "Is that why I'm so cold?"

"Probably." Eliza shrugged her shoulders. She turned the heater on and they continued their conversation.

Olivia. . . adorable. Why did I see that as such a shock? I mean, she's not ugly. She's pretty, I would say. Her bright blue eyes were always looking around, observing while her long brown hair was always up in some hairstyle. She always said that she hated having her hair in her face, but she loved long hair. She was small but clearly strong. She carries a bass drum on her chest all winter and holds up a piece of metal known as a trumpet in the summer as well as playing softball. But looks don't necessarily mean pretty. Olivia is an intelligent girl. She's on the English academic team with great grades. She had a kind soul, always willing to help. She's determined, focused. Maybe too focused? This Challenge was getting the best of her.

Why did I kiss her? I didn't exactly have a reason to but I did it nevertheless. I kissed her and I'll probably get whatever illness she has later because of it, but I don't care. Why don't I care? What's going on in my head? Puberty. Part of me hopes it is, while the other. . . what do I hope it is?

Wait, do I like her? I think I do. . .

"There you go, guys," Eliza's words interrupt my thoughts. I look out the window to discover that I'm home.

"Hey, thanks," Kasey says putting his beanie back on. I pulled my hoodie up.

"Thanks, Eliza," I tell her and get out. I walk with Kasey into the house.

Once we're inside, Kasey startles me with a question, "What're you thinking about, Denver?"

"Hmm?" I look over at him. He's looking back at me with that older brother look that tells me that I can't lie. I sigh. "Nothing important."

"You barely spoke the entire ride home." He pulls his coat off. He takes two mugs from the cabinet. "Hot chocolate?"

"Sure," I agree, pulling my hoodie off my body. I shivered. "What's it matter if I didn't talk, anyway? Maybe I'm not up for talking."

Kasey laughed. "Please! Every time we leave the Mora's place, you never shut up! Wait, no, every time you see the Mora's, you never shut up!"

I felt my cheeks warm up. "Whatever. I guess I didn't have much to talk about."

"What were you thinking about, though?" He placed the two mugs now filled with milk in the microwave. We took seats at the bar.

I looked around. I didn't see Mom or Dad and Maria was at volleyball practice. Kasey's the only person in my family I can actually trust to keep this quiet for as long as I want. Through a sigh, I confess, "I think I like Olivia."

Kasey jumped up and ran around the kitchen, cheering and laughing. He yelled multiple times, "I knew it I knew it I knew it!" He sat down and pointed at me. "I freaking knew it!"

I watched him bewildered. "You what?"

"I watch you two. You guys got the hots for each other."

"Dude!" I shushed him. The microwave went off. "Scream it to the world, why don't ya?"

Kasey laughed as he pulled the steamy mugs from the microwave and added the cocoa powder. "Sorry, man, but it's clear. Ever since you two actually met and got to know each other, it's hard to separate you. You're always texting each other or talking or having some sort of communication with each other."

"Just keep it down for now, okay? I'm not exactly ready to scream it to the world just yet," I ordered.

"What'd you do after we left?" Kasey asked passing me a mug. I took a sip.

"Excuse me?"

"You were the last to leave her room today. What'd you do? Did you talk to her? What'd she say? Is she really okay?" Kasey continued to ask questions like some sort of reporter.

"I spoke to her, yes. Kasey, she's a mess. I don't know what we can do to help her. I tried to reason with her, tell her that she needs a break. She won't listen. Olivia is a stubborn as Maria," I explained.

"Did she do anything?"

"No, but I did." I take another drink from the mug. Kasey raised an eyebrow suspiciously. He stuck his lips out and made kissing noises questioningly. I nodded, not stopping my drinking. Kasey almost spits his own drink out.

"No freaking way!" he demanded.

"No way what?" Mom asked walking in.

"Nothing," I answer a little too quickly. She gives me a confused look but doesn't push.

Quietly, Kasey demands, "You kissed her?"

I nodded, a small smirk growing on my lips.

"Who'd you kiss?" Mom asked from the oven. I tensed.

"Kissed?" Kasey asked. "Is that what you thought I said?"

"I think and I know." She turned to face us, a cutting knife in her hand. "I'm not deaf, I'm a mom. I hear all." Kasey and I had slightly scared expressions on our faces. Hearing her say that with a knife in her hand was creepy enough. "Now who did you kiss? Care to spill the beans?"

Kasey looked at me. I shook my head, telling him not to. He looked at Mom. She gave him a motherly look. Kasey looked back at me. I set my mug down. "Don't do it."

"Denver kissed Olivia!" he blurted before slapping his hand to his mouth. So much for trust. Mom dropped her knife. I glared at him.

"You're gonna get it, now!" I exclaimed and chased him. Mom stopped us.

"Not with a knife on the ground!" she commanded. She picked it up. "Kasey, get the plates; Denver, the drinks. We're eating now."

"What about Maria and Dad?"

"Dad's staying late. Maria was going to miss dinner anyways. We need to talk about this."

Kasey and I glanced at each other briefly before listening to orders. What did she have to take so seriously about this?