beaming | keith kogane

I | stung

☀

—

MY EAR STUNG, cheek burning from where she'd slapped me, hard. I know that this wasn't my fault, but I couldn't help, but feel the overbearing guilt build up in me. Jasmine stared at me. I could tell there were tears in her eyes from the little wet spots that littered the sidewalk, creating dots similar to rain just inches from my sneakers.

However, I refused to look her in the eyes. Her eyes were always so pretty; a hue of amber that was unique and unlike any other. They held courage, bravery, and so much kindness. Now, I'm pretty sure all they held was the flaming torch of anger. "Is this some sort of game to you?!" I winced from her yelling, but didn't respond.

The door behind me creaked open, revealing my ex, roommate, and Lance's girlfriend, Perla. Her teal curly afro bobbed as her lips shaped into a small frown, knowing that it wasn't her place to say anything and stand up in my defense. Either way, I didn't want her to. "No, it never was," I licked my lips, ending my brief moment of silence.

"I can't control my sprite, you know that—"

I was cut off by another harsh yell from Jasmine, the girl about to land another punch on me. "I think that's enough," Perla stepped in, a teal shield covering my figure. I looked up, drowning in Jasmine's eyes for a moment. Suddenly, her gaze diverted to Perla, lips pulled into a pained scowl. I'm glad she looked away.

Had I stared any further, I'd feel the need to swim. Now I know why Perla was defending me, my eyes landing on Jasmine's flaming fist. Her fire diminished as she slowly walked away, her sprite of courage diffusing. Perla's voice was soft as she held my face with her hands, "You've got to stop showing up like this."

"I know," I quietly said, entering the small house we shared as I slipped out of my shoes. Perla sighed, heading into the kitchen to make tea that would hopefully slow down my love sprite's effects. I don't know why she was still living with me. My reputation and sprites constantly caused trouble. Besides, she still had Lance.

However, I heard her talking to him about it once when he'd persisted on her moving in for the umpteenth time after Mariela—another girl I dumped—left me with two broken ribs and a less positive outlook on life. I just remember her saying, "I don't want to leave Keith just yet, Lance. He's my best friend. I don't want him to be alone."

Alone. Whatever the Hell that means. I was always alone; with my thoughts or otherwise. I was snapped out of my little nightmare, Perla returning with a steaming cup of tea. It let out a sweet smell as she handed it to me, her fingers brushing against mine. I let my lips curl around the tip of the cup I'd grown so used to, taking a sip.

She didn't bother asking about Jasmine; I knew she wouldn't. Instead, Perla kicked her feet up on the couch and opened a slightly racy looking magazine, flipping through it. "I was calling Hunk earlier. Apparently, we're getting a new student in the academy soon." I looked up, quirking a brow. "And this concerns me why?"

Perla chewed on her bottom lip, pulling it in between her teeth as she turned another brightly colored page. "I don't know," She closed the book suddenly, seeming as if she hadn't read anything in the first place, but wanted to distract herself from my sight. "She's a cute lil' thing. Hunk saw her today and said she was pretty special; all happy and such, y'know?"

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, watching the steam move in rolls and disappear in the air before taking another drink of tea. "And she'll just fall for me too? Yeah, no thanks," I said bitterly, part of the cup burning my hand. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, watching Perla switch her sitting position to look directly at me.

"There's a chance she might, but I really doubt it. I still think it's a good idea to include her in our friend group, y'know? Hunk said she was a happy-go-lucky person, pretty bubbly." Perla cracked a grin. I could tell she was looking forward to the additional positivity in our group, and if I was right, she wished that for me too.

I pulled my lips into a scowl, fingers curling around the mug. In a tight voice, I muttered. "No. I don't want to meet some new person that was 'recommended by Hunk'. This isn't a people-person therapy, Perls." I daringly looked up from my mug, her eyes meeting mine in a harsh glare. She mumbled quietly, but I could see the fury in her eyes.

"Don't go judging people you haven't met. Chances are she won't like you and chances are she will, you'll just have to deal with it." She stood up, halfway up the stairs. Her footsteps made the wood creak, giving me a mental reminder to get a carpenter in here at some point. Perla paused, looking back. "Dress half-decently, we're meeting her tomorrow."

The girl went up too fast for me to even let out a groan of annoyance and pure retaliation, my eyebrows furrowing as I stared into the depths of the lukewarm tea. Biting down on my tongue lightly, I thought of the chances. She could fall in love with me or she couldn't. Well, 'love'. Not to mention, Perla's mad at me. No doubt she'll tell Lance too.

If I'm lucky, he won't try to pick a fight with me tomorrow.

Letting go of my thoughts, I finished the rest of my tea before setting in the sink, rinsing it out and looking out the window at the same time. When we first moved in together, I'd always felt paranoid about someone sniping me in the head through that window.

If anyone wanted to snipe me, right now would be the time.