Apologize

Will You?

Kayla's PoV

RRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNGGGG. RRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNGGGG.

I groaned and walked towards the front door. Why did I even run out of the library? I left everything in there-

"Hi, Sunshine! You left your stuff." Ash was standing outside my door. I was dressed in only a long, grey T-shirt that barely reached above my knees. He saw me practically naked. Panicked, I shut the door. The doorbell rang again.

"Who was it?" Dad called. He was busy doing laundry.

"Just.. A friend!" I answered as I ran upstairs and covered myself in a large fluffy blanket. I can't believe he saw me looking like such a slob! Well, I kinda still look like a slob, but oh well. I ran back downstairs and answered the doors again. Ash raised his eyebrows and had that agitating smirk on his face again.

"Just give me my stuff, idiot," I grumbled, snatching my backpack from his hand. "How'd you even find my house?" I tossed the backpack onto the couch across the room. It missed. I left it.

"Paige told me. I know you don't want to talk about it so, fine. I get it. Families are tough. But I do have a completely unrelated question." I crossed my arms and told him to go ahead. "Why aren't you wearing pants?" Ash snickered. My face turned bright red.

"Get your stupid ass out of here," I fumed. He shrugged as I turned him around and tried pushing his back so he'd leave. He stayed put.

"Okay, okay! I do have a serious question." I kept pushing him. He's pissed me off enough today. Ash turned around and rolled his eyes as I kept trying to push him away. Why did he have to be so strong? "I wanted to know if you'd like to go to the Masquerade Ball with me!" He announced loudly. I paused, then crossed my fingers that I heard him wrong.

"No thank-"

Dad popped his head in and interrupted me, "Of course she would!" Oh my God, no please. Dad heard us. And he just accepted my invitation to hell. Aren't dads supposed to be overprotective and shit? How am I this unfortunate?! I mean... If I was brave enough, that's how I would have answered.

"Will you?" Ash's eyes were hopeful. Was he being genuine about this? I bit my lip, the same spot where I'd made it bleed earlier, and looked at dad.

"Sure. As FRIENDS," I didn't want anybody getting the wrong idea. Especially dad. If the masquerade ball is on Thursday next week, then I have 9 days to get everything prepared. I don't nearly have enough money for a good dress yet, only around 50 dollars right now. But maybe if I babysit for enough hours... It could just work.

•••

"Natalie, put that down!" I squealed. Day two of babysitting. Yesterday I had to babysit the sweetest little girl named Lily for two hours. It went well. Today I'm babysitting three kids: Natalie, Mason, and Brad. I have them for three hours. Today Paige is helping me because she needs some money too.

"Brad, bugs aren't food. Spit that out!" Paige ran over and got 3 year old Brad to spit out the ladybug he tried to eat while I got 7 year old Natalie to put down the lighter she'd found. 11 year old Mason was on the couch, reading Gathering Blue with content. Mason was the quietest in the house, which isn't a surprise because she's also the eldest child.

Paige and I made some macaroni for supper and I tried to think up a way to get them to chill out for a while. "Okay, who wants to hear a story?" I announced. Suddenly, all eyes were on me. The two younger kids squished themselves onto the couch with Mason. I whispered my idea to Paisley and she nodded. She was going to act out the story as I narrated. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was never good at public performances. Even if it was in front of three kids.