Naked (Wattys 2022)

Part 13

I absent-mindedly walked towards the door and without looking my forehead bumped against someone else.

"I'm sorry."

"What are you doing here?" Calhoun asked curiously and as he saw Kai behind me he put two and two together.

"Would it be okay if Kai joined us?" Calhoun stared strangely at me and I couldn't decipher what exactly he meant by it.

"Hey Calhoun are you okay?" He nodded and then smiled at me. I pulled at his sleeve and tugged softly.

"I'm sorry for making you mad." Calhoun looked at me wide eyed before shaking his head.

"What on earth are you apologizing for? You've done nothing wrong." I smiled.

"Are we going to eat lunch or..." Kai asked in the background.

"Yes sure sure! So is it okay for Kai to join us?" I asked. When I was left alone to my toxic thoughts it made what I experienced on a day to day basis much worse. I'd think about my other abusive parents, thinking  what they'd done to me was with love.

That love was blue marks and broken bones.

Why couldn't I resent the people that tortured me? Why did I have this toxic trait within me? Was I suppose to be vexed?

"Hey are you okay?" Kai touched my shoulder and I nodded. Was I okay?

"Lets go!" Calhoun said as he gripped my hand. We walked towards the large garden and I couldn't help but marvel at the delicate flowers dancing to the tune of the wind.

I couldn't recall the last time I felt this free. I stared at Calhoun and thanked the heavans that I met him. When I looked towards Kai I wished that we could be friends as well.

I kept staring at his face. His eyes, his nose and because of this I hit my head against a pole.

"Eli!" Both guys yelled and I blushed profusely.

"I'm okay I'm okay, let's go." I rushed towards the front and let go of Calhouns hand.

"Oh its Eli!!" Sarah said, smiling widely. She was always surrounded by warm energy and I admired every bit of it.

Everyone greeted except Asher. He was staring daggers at me. Although I was use to such things, it bothered me. I knew I wasn't the best person. I was trash. But his stare made me feel a whole lot worse.

"Hey Sarah! Hey everyone else. Oh, this is Kai everyone." I said before sitting down next to Sarah. I looked up and saw Calhoun and Kai bump shoulders as both of them were about to sit next to me. They stared at each other for the longest time.

I knew then and there that they weren't very fond of one another.

"I'll sit in the middle." Why they disliked each other I didn't know. But it perturbed me to no extent.

Once we sat everyone took out their assorted snacks and breads and placed it in the middle for everyone to munch on. I realised that I didn't bring anything and looked down towards my lap.

"You've been starving." Kai said.

"Please eat something." He continued as he placed a slice of an apple on my plate.

"But-" Kai stuffed an apple slice in my mouth as I stared at him with shocked facial features. He chuckled and I scowled at him

"You're so cute!" Everyone in the circle heard him and as they stared at me with a full mouth I couldn't help but close my eyes.

Everyone began laughing and agreeing with Kai's words.

"He is the cutest and sweetest!" Sarah gushed. Again compliments were something new to me. Something alien. I was cute? I touched my face and the small smile I had been holding in, couldn't be held in any longer.

"Hey." I looked over to Calhoun as I finished the apple piece.

"Here, I packed this for you." I stared at the sandwich and my heart leeped for an unknown reason.

"I would love to eat it but I'm allergic to Avocado." I stared apologetically at him. All his hard work and thoughtfulness behind the gesture was futile. 

"I-I I'm so sorry Eli. I didn't know." I didn't know he packed a sandwich either.

"It's not your fault at all. Please you don't need to go the extra mile for me."

"Guys eli is allergic to avo so please keep it to yourself." Calhoun warned in a stern voice. I didn't like to inconvenience other people. So I just tried to avoid it best I could. When Calhoun blasted those words to the rest of the group I couldn't help but think of ways they could use the information against me.

Would they try to kill me like Aunt Hailey did?

The group of people began talking about trips and asked whether me and Kai would join. The Politeness the exubed was something unimaginable.

"If he's going I don't want to go."

"Asher that's enough! You're crossing the line." Calhoun stood up and stared daringly at him.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Calhoun asked as he stepped closer.

"Cause he loves you you idiot!!" Kane said as if he'd had enough.

No one was surprised but Calhoun. He was oblivious the entire time. I understood why Asher disliked me now and it made me unbelievably sad.

"Asher, is this true?" Calhoun asked hesitantly.

"You have to stop touching me and sending the wrong messages. You're so sweet to me and then you go and do the same thing to everyone else. I know it's because that's how you are Calhoun but sometimes people get the wrong idea." He pushed passed an open mouth Calhoun and left.

He looked at me dead in the eye for a few seconds before walking off into the opposite direction.

Something in me tossed and turned. I could feel the distance getting larger with every step he took.

Why did I always drive people away?