Roses Are Red

Chapter 3

NOTE: CHANGING CHARACTERS NAMES TO KENNIDI (THE MAIN GIRL) AND GREYSON (THE MAIN GUY)

Mike's POV
I jogged over to Kennidi, "So, about tonight...are you free?" It took her a minute to answer. She was biting her lip as she focused on the blanket of hard cement beneath our feet. Her eyes were uneasy and things were beginning to become awkward. Why was this such a difficult question to answer? Was she angry at me for some reason?
As different scenarios tottered through my head I realised Kennidi's hesitation wasn't anything new. She has been trying to avoid me for a while now. That day I spent with her at the beach was the first time in a long time that I finally-- the one I had always known. I had actually thought that maybe things were going back to normal, but I was wrong.
I was about to address her again, even though I was pretty certain that I already knew the answer. But before my words deserted my mouth she spoke up, finally giving her answer.
"Yeah, I guess I'm free tonight," she finally smiled, her thin flushed lips forming a crescent moon.
I grinned a little too widely then put on a pleading smile, "Awesome. So this means that you can come over tonight and help me eat a large pizza while watching a movie?" A laugh escaped her mouth and she looked at me shyly as her eyes whispered a slight hint of excitement, and my face mirrored her expression. "Fine," she sighed. "But it depends on what movie."
I was surprised at the glow of excitement that was revealed in her face. My thumb and pointer finger grabbed under my chin as I shifted my face to a slight upward slant, making myself look as if I was deep in thought. Looking back at her I said, "Hmmm.... I'll surprise you." I winked at her in a flirtatious way then headed towards my car.
I pivoted around facing my body to her and I started to walk backwards. "See you at six?" I asked as my smile enlarged.
I noticed that she was blushing, trying to avoid the grin coming upon her face, "I'll see you at six."
Both satisfied and shocked with her answer, I approached my vehicle opening the driver's side door. I gave her a quick wave and entered my car.

*************************************
h Kennidi's POV
I parked my car in his driveway and found myself paralyzed.
You can do this Kennidi! Nothing bad is going to happen. You guys are JUST FRIENDS remember? Yeah it got a little out of hand last time you hung out with him but it won't happen again. Okay, so lets say it does happen, no big deal right? It's not like he will hurt you or force you into anything. Come on Kennidi, this is Greyson were talking about here! GREYSON, your best friend since 6th grade, he would never hurt you! Now stop being such a baby and get out of the car! You have been over his house about a million times, what's so different about this time....except for the fact that you are starting to fall for him? NO I'm NOT falling for him! I can't be! WE ARE JUST FRIENDS!
After giving myself a pep-talk for what seemed like hours, I finally got the courage to get out of the car. I shuffled to his door slowly, looking down at the cobble stone path beneath my feet. I took a deep breath as my fist steadily knocked on the door.
After a minute the door opened, but to my surprise, his mom was standing in front of me. She wore a black apron that said "Number One Mom" stitched in pink letters. It was covered with flour and sugar, creating a pasty-white coating. Her semi-grey hair was styled into a messy bun. She had the same eyes as Greyson, a bold blue color encircled by dark, long eyelashes. That was one of my favorite qualities about Greyson; his eyes were mesmerizing.
When she saw me, she beamed.
"Kennidi! What a surprise seeing you here! I've missed you!" She pulled me in for a friendly hug. I really enjoyed Grayson's mom, she was always so welcoming.
"I've missed you too, Ms. FitzGerald!" I let go of her embrace. I looked down at my now powdery shirt and shook my head letting out a slight laugh and brushing the mess off of me, "Is Greyson here? We were going to hangout and watch a movie."
"He sure is!" She turned her head hollering Greyson's name, "Greyson, Kennidi is here!" Her attention worked its way back to me, motioning me to come inside. "Come in sweetie, Greyson should be here any second. He was really excited you were coming over! He even had me bake cookies," she giggled, pointing to her dirty apron. I felt my face heat up, a blush spreading through my cheeks.
"Hey Kennidi," said Greyson with a smile as he walked into the room.
We walked down his basement stairs which led to a large room containing a couch and a flat screen TV situated on a black table in the couch's front view. We flopped our bodies onto the couch.
"This better be a good movie, Greyson! I canceled plans with my boyfriend for this!"
He looked at me confused, "Your boyfriend... you have a boyfriend?!"
I laughed "Yep!"
"What? Who?" The tone of his voice was a combination of confusion, anger, and shock.
I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction. Was he jealous or something? Did he actually believe ME Kennidi Ambrooks had a BOYFRIEND?
"His name is Netflix and he's very charming," I said smirking. He threw a pillow in my direction, glaring at me as a slight grin appeared on his face.
"Ha ha ha, you're really funny, Ken!" Greyson said sarcastically. He was the only person who I ever let call me Ken. I hated the name on me, it was a guy's name. But it was kind of his 'thing' and I liked when he said it. "Well I am a hundred percent sure that watching this movie with me is worth missing your little date with your so called "boyfriend," he rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Well then, what's this movie called?" I asked
"Guess."
I sighed. "Oh so now I have to guess?"
"Mmhm"
"Fine, is it..." I thought for a minute. I was guessing it was one of those thriller-action packed movies that left my body sore from being so stiff through the entire film. "Inception?"
"Nope! But that is an excellent movie."
I rolled my eyes, " Okay I give up. What is it?"
He looked astonished, "You give up already? You just had your first guess!"
"I don't care. I came here to watch a movie, not play twenty questions!"
"Fine, I'll tell you, but you're still a quitter," he smirked, "we are watching the Breakfast Club." I grew extremely excited and all the concern of coming here faded. I LOVED this movie. I was impressed. "You know me too damn well," I said, my face beaming.
This movie was both of our favorites - well, mostly mine, but he loved it almost as much as I did. I smiled at the memories we had watching it in the past. I remember throwing popcorn at the TV every time we saw the principal. We hated that guy!
"See, I knew you would like it. It's just like old times," Greyson laughed, scrolling through the old memories himself.
"Thank you," I said with a smile.
His eyes became curious as he asked me, "For what?"
Honestly I didn't know how to answer his question. I didn't exactly know why I was thanking him. Maybe because he knew my favorite movie, or maybe it was for inviting me over in the first place? No, it wasn't any of those reasons. I thanked him because he made me feel something that I haven't felt in awhile, he made me feel secure and warm inside. I thanked him for never giving up on me even though I have been so rotten to him. I thanked him for always knowing how to make me laugh, something I rarely ever do anymore. But most of all, I thanked him for always being my best friend.
But rather than tell him I simply said, "I don't know."
He nudged me in the arm, shaking his head. "You're so weird, you know that right?" he said, laughing. He smiled and went silent for a couple of seconds. "But you're welcome".
An awkward feeling came upon me and I hastily changed the subject, "So, how about that movie?"
"Right," he walked over to the TV, bending down to fiddle with the DVD player. As he was walking back toward the couch, the screen flashed with color and noise started to run through the speakers. Greyson floundered his body on the couch next to mine causing the cushion under me to slightly levitate. He quickly adjusted himself so that his warm body was close to mine. As the previews started, my lower body thoughtlessly slid down the the long couch until my cheek was resting on his lap.
Instead of pushing me away, he snagged the blanket from behind him and settled it over my body. My brain yelled at me to get up, but I was too comfortable to move. It's not like I never laid on him like this. In fact, I did it all the time because it was normal and not a big deal. But now that my feelings were changing for him, it just felt different.
As the previews continued, the screen showed a young girl who looked about 15 running in the forest away from a man wearing all black. He had a mask on, covering his face. The girl was shrieking as he was inching closer. She was becoming exhausted and running slows. Finally, she comes to a hault, out of breath, and unable to flee her attacker. She looks around and sighs in relief. She thought she was out of sight of the terrifying man. As things became suspiciously still, creepy music begins to play and I could tell that something horrible was about to happen. Suddenly the man pounces out at her, aggressively pushing her to the ground. I jumped. He started stripping her clothes from her body while she frantically attempted to remove the human leach.
I became light-headed and my vision started to blur. I was living the memory in my head over again and it all felt so surreal. It was like he was bombarding me right now, holding me down on the bed. I remember screaming, but he quickly shut me up by pressing his lips to my mouth, vigorously kissing me hard.
I couldn't take it anymore. I had to leave. These memories were unbearable and they were becoming more vivid. Greyson noticed my reaction to the preview that just appeared on the screen and quickly shifted his full attention to me. "Holy shit, Kennidi, are you okay? You look like you just witnessed murder." My body was trembling now, and he pulled away from me and sat up keeping his hand on my back.
"I have to go," I said anxiously, quickly rising from the couch.
"What? The movie hasn't even started." He came to a stance and grabbed my hand lightly. "Kennidi, what's going on?" He was truly distraught and I could see the distress in his eyes.
I yanked my hand away from his and turned my head not being able to look at his concerned face.
"Talk to me, Kennidi!" His voice became a bit more demanding. I looked at him one last time then fled up the stairs leaving him alone and confused.
His mom was in the kitchen washing the dishes as I ran by, "Where are you going Kennidi?" I didn't answer and I kept running. "Are you okay?"
Ignoring her, I gripped the door knob and pulled the door open, slamming it behind me. I quickly got into my car, started the engine, and sped out of his driveway.