** REWRITING ** Tidal Wave

Chapter Eight

As it turns out, Kiera was the president of, well, everything. She told me not confuse this with popularity, because she was definitely not part of that crowd.

She snorted. "If you want to be popular, go hit up Alyssa. She might have a pretty face but that girl is such a--"

"Nightmare?" I asked.

Kiera laughed. "I was gonna say bitch but hey, whatever floats your boat."

After a few moments of careful consideration I agreed with her,"No, you're right. Bitch is a better way to describe her."

Kiera's eyes brightened. "See! I knew you were going to be a good friend! You're already agreeing with everything I say!" The teacher at the front of the room turned around to glare at her.

"Miss. Walters isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," she batted her eyelashes at him and then added, "sir."

"Well, Miss. Walters. Could you and your friend...?" he glanced at me, asking for my name.

"Ellie Parker," I mumbled for the second time that day. Now everyone in the room turned around to look at us, suddenly interested in our little affair. They all recognized my name.

"Ellie Parker," he repeated dryly. At least this guy didn't know who I was. He looked back at Kiera. "Well, would you and Miss. Parker please wrap up your little conversation so we can all get back on track?"

"Of course!" Kiera responded. The teacher nodded, feeling satisfied, and turned back to the whiteboard. Kiera cleared her throat and raised her hand.

The teacher turned around yet again, and rolled his eyes. "Yes, Miss. Walters?"

"I'm sorry, sir. But when you seemed to catch my name, I didn't seem to catch yours."

The whole class tittered and the teacher turned bright red. "Seth Perry," he answered, clearly flustered and not realizing his mistake.

Kiera grinned so wide it looked like it hurt. "Ok, thanks," she paused for a moment,"...Seth." The class laughed even louder.

"Miss. Walters, if you could see me after class it would be very much appreciated. And from now on call me Mr. Perry," he said, trying to regain control of the classroom.

Kiera fiegned concern. "I really wish I could, but I just got to go with my friend Ellie Parker here to an very important guidance appointment before lunch."

"Oh, and what would Miss. Parker have to go to guidance for?" As soon as the words left his mouth, it clicked. He looked at me with wide eyes. 'Seth' failed miserably at trying to recover from his remark but Kiera just brushed him off by asking if we could leave early because now we might need a little more time. He quickly agreed and even carried my backpack to the door for me. I hid a smirk. As soon, as Kiera and I entered the hall, we bursted into a fit of giggles.

"I've never used that before as an excuse!"

Kiera was shocked. "You're not serious," she deadpanned. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Never really thought of my father's... accident of something I could get something from. Except weird stares."

Kiera smiled like she understood."And pity?" 

I nodded. "And pity."

She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Well, you wouldn't get any of that from me." I half smiled and we continued walking down the hall, on our way to the cafeteria for lunch. We got there at least twenty minutes early. Kiera knew something was wrong. "Do you want to...want to talk about it?"

I shook my head and stared at my hands on the table. "You really don't have to do that."

"Yes," she answered,"I do." I looked up at her with surprise. But now she was absent-mindedly glancing out the window that covered one of the huge four walls. I stayed silent. I didn't know how to answer her. She took this as a sign to continue. "When I was younger my dad was an.. um.. he was an alcoholic. I moved here after he left us. My mother, my four little sisters, and I." Kiera took a sharp breath. "He took everything. Money, the house, our dog."

I reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. I had only known this girl for a couple hours but it felt like forever. She still looked out the window. "I'm so sorry, Kiera." I heistated before continuing. "Do you ever...ever talk to him?" She quickly turned back to me and laughed bitterly, even though nothing I had said was funny. I could see the hatred blazing in her green eyes.

"No. He's as good as dead to me." I took her words in stride but Kiera immediatly realized her mistake. She gasped. "Oh Ellie. I'm so sorry. You know I didn't mean that? Beacause I--"

"It's ok," I whispered so softly I didn't think she would hear it, "You don't have to walk on egg shells around me." My eyes started to burn. I could see tears appear at the corner of her eyes too. She sniffled. 

"I just..just..wanted to know that you aren't alone. I thought I was alone." I took her petite body in my arms and held on tight.

"Thank you," I whispered. She hugged me tighter and cried harder. I did the same. It was comforting knowing someone else knew what I was going through. 

A few minutes later, voices started to drift into the caferteria. We broke apart and looked at ourselves. We both couldn't help but laugh.

"We're a big sorry mess aren't we?"

"Yeah," I agreed, wiping under my eyes,"we are." 

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Such a cute friendship moment for Ellie and Kiera <3 Please vote and comment what you think!