ethereal (k.l.)

•NINE•

The day after Kian asked me to homecoming in the cutest way possible, I knew I had to tell the girls. Walking into school that morning was like stepping into a trap that I knew was there. I knew exactly what I was getting into, I knew they would yell and scream and make a huge deal out of it. And I would hate every minute of it.

Third period History was the only class Rachel, Selena, Emilee, and I had together without the boys. We all sat in the back of the class while Mr. Stevens began talking about some important moment in history. I turned to face them and whispered so no one else could hear. "I have something to tell you guys." A huge part of me was dying to tell someone even though I'm not a fan of telling people my business. It normally turns into gossip and drama.

"Let me guess: Lawley asked you to homecoming." Selena whispered back with a huge smile.

"Yeah, how did you know?" I asked. But I shouldn't doubt Selena, she knows everything about this school and no one has to tell her anything.

"Everyone knows, it's all over the school." Emilee said. "Haven't you seen the picture?"

I raised my brows at her as my heart rate picked up slightly. "What picture?"

Rachel pulled her phone out and showed me a photo of Kian and I at Starbucks yesterday. "This girl sent it to her friends and her friends sent it to their friends and now everyone knows."

"Do you know who took the picture?" I asked. Why would someone do that? All of my anxiety was overwhelming me because everyone at this school knows. I didn't want to be the main topic of anything at this school, especially not a dating rumor. I can't go through that again.

Selena shook her head and gave me a sympathetic look. "Sorry, doll. I don't know who sent it first, but I know that Jc sent that pic to all of us." She said and motioned to Rachel, Emilee, and herself.

I let out a sigh and sat back in my seat. This wasn't what I was expecting to happen.

•••

As I walked down the hallway, everyone's eyes were on me and they were whispering things to their friends. I wanted to shrink down to the size of a crumb. Anxiety flooded my whole body as I took one step after the other.

A girl with fiery red hair and black eyes stepped in front of me, causing me to stop walking. She had a sinister smirk as she looked me over. "So, you're the girl who Kian's with. Never thought I'd see the day." She said, flicking a long strand of hair out of her face with a perfectly manicured nail.

"We're not together, he just asked me to homecoming." I said quietly.

She laughed, "Sure, that's all it is." She said sarcastically. I looked around the hallway to see everyone watching, no sight of my friends or my sister or Kian. "Why you?" I looked back at the girl. "Why would he pick you, the nerdy new girl?"

I didn't have a response because I couldn't come up with an answer, either. Why me? I had asked that question many times myself.

"That's none of your business, Sienna." Kian walked up beside me and gave the girl with red hair, Sienna, a look. And not a very nice one. For some reason, I felt like I was saved from a horrible situation, even though I was right in the middle of one.

She smiled at him, "It's everyone's business since that picture is all over the school."

"I don't give a fuck about a picture, just leave her alone." He said in a firm and dark voice. I've never seen this side of Kian before, he's so angry and protective. I didn't know how I felt about it, maybe a little scared, but also safe.

"Whatever." She snarled and rolled her eyes. "You can't hide your little nerd girl forever." She then sashayed away as if she was the queen of the school and everyone began walking to their classes.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and felt Kian's hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him to see his eyes filled with worry. "Are you okay?" He asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine." I could tell he didn't believe me entirely, but before he could question anything, I asked him a question. "What's up with her?"

He sighed, "Long story." He said, then wrapped his arm around my shoulders and began walking us to our next class.

I had so many questions. Who's Sienna? Why does she suddenly hate me? Who took that picture? What's the long story?

But I let it go since Kian was right beside me and that was all I needed in that moment.

•••

"I'm really sorry about what happened." Kian said for probably the thousandth time. He didn't do anything, so I don't know why he keeps apologizing.

We were currently sitting in his car as he drove me home from school. He offered again, and I didn't refuse. "Kian, stop. It's not your fault." I told him.

"But I know you don't really like attention and all that." He said. "I'm just worried about you."

I chuckled lightly, "I'm okay, really. It doesn't matter, they would've found out when we showed up to Homecoming together, anyway." I came to that realization after the whole Sienna thing. I stopped worrying about the situation after that. Yeah, it bothered me that people were talking about me in the hallways, but this is high school. I'm pretty sure that's going to happen no matter what.

He nodded, "Yeah, that's true." He pulled up to my house and we turned to each other. "I'm really glad that you're my date, though." He said and smiled at me.

I smiled back and bit my lip, "Yeah, me too."

His eyes were smiling, bringing out the shine in them. His smile was the most adorable thing in the world, I would do anything to look at it for even a second. With the way my heart skipped beats and my mind went fuzzy, I knew this boy was going to get me into trouble. He's going to make me fall for him, I'm sure. I wanted that to happen. That part scares me the most.

"I should get going, my mom's probably waiting for me." I said. I unbuckled my seatbelt and placed my hand on the door handle.

"Okay, bye, D." He said.

I smiled at him, "You didn't call me nerd."

"You're more than that." He said.

And again, he made me smile so hard my cheeks hurt. I'm pretty sure they were red from blush, too. I tried to hide my face with my curls and looked down at my hands in my lap. Then I felt his hand reach out and brush the hair out of my face. I turned to him to see that he was already looking at me as if he was admiring a piece of art. I wondered how he could look at me like that. Compared to most, I am a finger painting made by a three year old and they are Mona Lisa. What did he see that made it turn it around?

"I, uh..." I stammered, not knowing what to say. "Um, bye." I said, giving him a nervous smile and then walking out of his car.

What is wrong with me?

I still smiled all the way up the driveway and when I walked through the front door. And there my mother was, like she was waiting for me to come in.

"What took you so long?" She asked with a teasing look.

"Nothing..." I drawled out and began walking upstairs.

"We should invite that boy over for dinner sometime!" She yelled. I groaned in embarrassment and she laughed.

•••

Hey LawleyPops! New chapter :)

What do you think of Sienna?

The next chapter is homecoming...

Comment, vote, and follow!

Love, KikiBabe