Miracles

Chapter 16

~Eli's View~

Kim chuckles and snatches the contraceptive from my grasp. "No, it's my brother's. I'm waiting for his bitchy girlfriend to come for it."
"Okay. While we wait, tell me about yourself." I say.

"I'm a talkative, explorer, poet, and... here comes my brother's girlfriend." She gets up. "Let's go meet her."
I follow Kim to meet the lady who is staring at me like she's seen a ghost.
"Here." Kim hands her the contraceptive.
"Who is this?" The lady asks, not paying Kim any attention.
"My boyfriend. Stay away." Kim drags me away from the lady.
"Why did you say that?" I ask as we walk back to our spot.
"I don't like her. There's something about her that freaks me out and we've only met twice. The third time, I feel won't be good." Kim shudders.
"Alrighty! Kim the talkative explorer and poet." I salute and she laughs.
"It was nice meeting you." She says.
"Nice meeting you too." I smile.

"Can I have your number?" We both ask at the same time. We chuckle and exchange our phones.
We swap phones again and her cheeks go red. "You saved your number as 'Mine' with a ring and love emoji?" She chuckles.
"I'm your boyfriend, right?" I wink. "You saved yours as 'Weird park girl'. I don't think you're weird."
"What then do you think?" She asks.
"I think you're-" I start but her ringtone cuts me off.
"It's my mom. Just a minute." She answers the call.

"Hi, mom... I'm coming... Okay... Wait for me... Bye." She ends the call and turns her attention back to me.
"I'm sorry but I gotta go. I'll text you."
"Okay, I'll be waiting for that text."
"Talk to you soon. Bye." She waves and walks away. I wave back, watching her retreating figure.

I smile and walk back home. I think I just made a friend.

...

~Stewart's View~

"Babe, you won't believe this. Your sis-" Edna freezes as she sees the person I'm in the room with.
"What has his sister done?" The boss asks, lighting a cigarette. Edna gapes like a fish.
"Nothing." She answers quickly.
"Don't lie to me." The boss strides closer to her. "I want to know the interesting news."
"It's nothing interesting. Just teenage drama." Edna says.
"Teenage drama is always interesting. Tell me now, I want to know." The boss demands. Edna shudders.

"His sister has a boyfriend." She says quickly.
"A boyfriend. Who is he?" The boss asks. Edna looks at me sadly. I have a feeling this is bad.
"The baby's brother." She answers. My eyes widen.
"Which one?" The boss asks.
"The youngest."
"This is great." The boss claps, turning to me. "I wanna meet your sister tomorrow."
"She's just fifteen. She doesn't have a boyfriend." I inform her. "And she just moved here."
"Are you telling me that your girlfriend is lying?" The boss asks, looking between Edna and me.
"Kim told me herself," Edna says out of fear.
"That's it. Your sister admitted it herself." The boss smiles. "I'll meet you and your sister tomorrow at noon. I'm very honored to meet her."

Before she leaves, she walks over to the baby's crib. Puffing smoke, she says, "Be good babysitters if you want to get paid."

"I'm sorry Stewart. It just came out." Edna apologizes.
"You just dragged my little sister into this mess." I walk around the room.
"What is she gonna think of me? My poor mom is going to be so disappointed." I run my fingers through my hair.
"I'm sorry babe. You know how that woman scares me. Maybe she might spare Kim?" She says, unsure of herself.
"Edna! Are you listening to yourself? You know she doesn't leave witnesses." I snap and head to the room.
I receive a text from the boss. It's a picture of Kim entering my mom's house with the caption, "Very beautiful sister you've got there. Don't disappoint me."
I punch the wall and decide to take a shower before I text Kim.

...

~Eli's View~

"You guys don't believe me, do you?" I ask my amused looking friends. "Amen, you know everyone in this neighborhood. How come you don't know Kim?"
He just shrugs and turns his attention back to his phone.
"Sorry, Eli." Hee smiles sadly.
"Maybe a picture will do," Elliot says.
"I already told you, I don't have her picture," I say, almost annoyed. Elliot chuckles. "Calm down little bro." ,
"This isn't funny. Where are Eloise and Cadmus? They'd believe me."
"Their sleeping." Hee answers.
"Why don't you invite Kim over," Amen suggests.
"Mhmm." Elliot and Hee hum.
"I will." I get up from my seat, irked. "Tomorrow."
"We'll be waiting." Elliot teases making the others laugh.
I roll my eyes and trudge upstairs, taking Snowball with me. At least he won't make fun of me.

Slumping on my bed, my phone screen lights up.

Weird park girl: Hey boyfriend ;)

Me: Hi.

Weird park girl: What's wrong :(

Me: Nothing.

I receive a call from Kimberly and I quickly respond.

"Eli, what's wrong?" She asks with concern.
"You exist right?"
"Of course, I exist. Why are asking me such a question?"
"My friends think that you exist in my world alone."
She giggles. "Well, it's okay if they don't believe you because I'm glad I exist in your world alone." She says and I smile.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Are you free tomorrow?" I ask.
"My brother is taking me somewhere but I'm free afterward. Why?"
"Umm, do you wanna co-" I start but she cuts me off.
"Send me your address and I'll be there." She chuckles.
"Okay. I just sent it." I smile, running my fingers through Snowball's fur.
"Seen. Tell me about yourself." She says.
"I don't talk much but I'm friendly, I like red and I also like to explore."
"Cool. We're both explorers." We chuckle.
"Do you like to cook like your mom?" Kim asks.
"Not really. What about you?"
"I have a phobia to fire so I don't do much cooking but I can whip something up." She says.
"Oh okay, cool. Earlier today you said you're a poet."
"Mhmm." She hums.
"What do you write?" I ask.

We stay in silence for some minutes. We haven't ended the call but she's not talking. 

"Hello?"
"Kim?"
"Kim? Are you there?" I ask but still receive no answer just... soft snores.

"Hello?" A woman comes through the phone.
"Hello."
"I'm Kim's mom. Can you call tomorrow? Kim is asleep." She says.
"Oh, okay. Goodnight ma'am."
"Goodnight dear." She says and I end the call.

Kim fell asleep.
"Am I that boring?"