Didn't Expect (Book 2 of the KBI series)

Chapter One - Still Waiting

I stared out the window, the skies a vibrant blue, clouds lazily drifting by. "What a bright blessed day," I murmured to myself, my mind heavy with memories.

I clicked the next track, searching for a melody to drown out the chaos within.

"Baby, let's keep in touch. You got my number, baby, go ahead and call it up."

Next.

"Something 'bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman."

I scoffed, rolling off my bed—a chaotic landscape of stuffed animals and scattered homework—and hit the floor with a thud. The anger bubbling inside me was an old friend, one I had carried for a year. A year since Kai vanished from my life, leaving only silence in his wake.

Twelve months, eighteen days, fourteen hours, thirty-two seconds, and forty-five milliseconds since he drove away in that same van that once whisked me away from an ordinary existence. The irony twisted in my gut as I thought of how he hadn't even bothered to call.

I chuckled darkly, the sound echoing off the walls of my room. Here I was, reminiscing about a group that had once terrified me—the Deadly Sins—but now felt more like a dysfunctional family than anything else.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a grim news report: *7 DEADLY SINS STRIKES AGAIN, LEAVING 20 DEAD AND 30 INJURED. MAYOR OF—*

My breath came to a halt. I felt the familiar dread knot in my stomach. It was as if fate had a twisted sense of humor, reminding me of the chaos I tried so hard to forget. I clicked on the article, my heart racing as a photo of Kai emerged. He stood there, a sadistic smile playing on his lips, captured mid-escape from the police.

I leaned in closer, studying the blurry image, noting how the lines of his jaw seemed sharper, his muscles more defined. Had he really built more muscle over the year? My mind raced with questions, and I felt my pulse quicken.

I wondered, absurdly, if that smile was meant for me.

I shook my head, a chuckle spilling from my lips. "Now I really sound insane," I muttered, but deep down, I knew the truth: I was still tangled in his web, still waiting for the call that might never come.

I shook my head, a laugh escaping my lips as I realized how far I had fallen down this rabbit hole of memories.

I groaned in frustion and threw myself back on the bed. Mentally backtracking through the year, my brows furrowed at my forehead due to inner confliction. My memories took me back to the day they dropped me off at my doorstep, into my sobbing parent's arms and said they would come back for me.

For what?

I had no idea. All I knew was that I longed to see them more and more and the reason behind them coming back didn't matter. I figured I would be able to contact them given the burner number Kai ensured he gave me on a note that he slipped in my hand on the way back home.

But it had been a year. No contact.

I mean how could he?

I thought for a moment.

He might not know my number...

I paused in the middle of my bed.

What the hell...

THAT BASTARD KNOWS EVERYTHING.

IS ANYONE ELSE PISSED OFF AT THIS?

READERS?

HELLO?

Suddenly the background music began to only intensify my slight headache. Lifting myself up only to pause my music, I fell back onto my bed groaning for the fifteenth time today.

"I. Hate. My. Life." I expressed as I rolled onto my stomach.

I closed my eyes and decided that it was better to prepare for school with the limited time I have left instead of wallowing in my pit of loneliness.

"Goshdarnit." I whispered to myself before forcing myself to truly get up. No more falling back into bed. A wave of determination to wash away the morning blues took over me.  I walked to my closet on a mission to figure out my outfit. Was today a basic day? A fashion day? I settled on the latter, styled my long curls and made my way to the kitchen, where I found my father in a sharp suit.

Smiling lightly, I gave him a kiss on the cheek as he busied himself by making some toast and his signiture black coffee.

"Mornin dad. " I greeted and walked around him to grab a to go cup for my morning tea. I soon heard my mom's soft voice behind me.

"Hayley honey, how'd you sleep? "

I turned and locked eyes with the woman who I was a copy/paste of dressed in a black office dress and her hair locked up into a tight, sleek bun.

"Birth giver, hello. " I said offering her the same warm smile I greeted my father with and paired it with a kiss on the cheek.

"Birth giver? " She questioned.

"Yep." I popped my 'p' as I prepared my drink. I weaved past both of my parents and headed out towards the door.

"No breakfast, hun? " My dad called out.

I laughed maniacally and wiggled my eyebrows, "Breakfast is for the weak, father."

"She's a weird child, Jacob." I heard my mom comment.

I heard my dad's hearty laugh and then he called out to me one last time as I opened my door, "Don't forget Harmony," My ears pearked at the sound of my given name. "-we're going away for a bit on a business trip! Make sure you have your key!"

I nodded, knowing he couldn't see me and called back, "Got it! "

As I stepped out of my house and locked the door, I turned around to notice a jogger wearing a bikini running past my house. I nodded to myself.

I can't confirm whether or not I expected that to happen.

Hopping down my steps, I began to walk towards my car when a strange thought popped into my head.

What if Kai came for me when my parents were gone?

But no.

It's too predictable. He wouldn't come here. It's the same reason why he hasn't returned any of the numerous calls I sent his way. No matter how many times I've been proven wrong, I always managed to make it seem like everything is a message from him, like he planned everything out to see me again; from the random business trips my parents take to a low quality photo take during a shootout, but it never was. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens when they return.

If they ever do.