It's Not All Roses

Chapter 8

Kiya's POV

I splash some cold water on my face after I twist my hair into a bun. When I smoke I either get cold or hot, and unfortunately for me, I got hot this time.

I'm walking out of the bathroom. Don't get me wrong I don't like to listen in on conversations unless my name is brought up. This time it was.

"Why are you so close with Kiya?" Mae asks.

I stand against the door way and can't help but wonder what he will say, I know he cares about me, ever since we were forced to be partners in a class.

"She's the only girl that I've ever cared enough about to love. I love her."

I smile a little and roll my eyes. "Umm, did I miss something?" I'm standing in the door way looking between the two. "Cause I'm almost positive I heard you say you loved me."

Hero has a wicked smile on his lips, "Of course I love you."

I roll my eyes and walk down the couple steps that leads to my living room. I sit between the two and cross my legs, Mae hands me the blunt, "Well I love you too." I say this with a roll of my eyes.

I don't recall the show that's on. I like to watch reality shows when I'm high because there lives are so much worse than mine, plus I get a kick out of how stupid they are.

"Well, I'm going to shower, behave," Hero mocks me.

I flip him off and he does the same. I look over at Mae and I notice that she's really quiet but her eyes are red.

"You alright?"

She's quiet for a moment, "I have to ask, are you and Hero like... Dating?"

I bust out laughing, loosing all the smoke in my lungs. "Oh fuck no. No. Hell no. Why do you ask?"

She has a looks at me with an embarrassed look, "You guys are just so, you know lovey but at the same time I feel like you guys would destroy one another. Plus you're his cheerleader."

I laugh at the last part, "Niall and him got in a massive fight over that. I still don't know why. Hero broke Niall's nose!"

She just stares at me blankly and I let out a sigh.

"Hero is like my big brother love. Here, I'll tell you the story about me meeting him if you want. He takes long showers."

"Oh I don't know, I don't want to invade privacy," she says.

I laugh again. "No it's cool, I'll tell you." I get up real quick and go to the kitchen, grabbing us some Dr. Pepper, tossing her a can before I set next to her.

"Ready?" I ask.

"I guess so."

———

September 10, 2018

I hang up the last picture of my collection on the wall in the art room. Each of us have a section, I have a total of 32 photographs so far.

"Explain this one to me," a voice says. It's a deep British accent. "If you don't mind."

I turn and all I see is chest, since I'm short as fuck. I look up at him, "What do you think it means?"

"Well it's black and white and it's a picture of an older lady, whom I assume is lonely. She's at a bar, with a glass of water, looking out a window, lost. My guess it represents loneliness."

His accuracy takes me back. "Yeah you're right. Are you new in this class?"

"Nope. I'm a TA for professor Barns. However she's forcing me to do photos this semester," he mumbles.