Kehlani stepped into the house quietly, shutting the door behind her as she stepped in fully. She was immediately welcomed by an unwelcoming, oddly quiet place. She wasn’t surprised though, neither was she disappointed. She got used to this when she was thirteen and she pulled off the ‘everything is fine’ blindfold from her eyes.
The place was a mess, reeked of alcohol, clothes scattered everywhere and she scrunched her face when she noticed her dad’s underwear on the table. She remembered six years ago moving into this bigger house with so much excitement and smiles. Having moved from Colombia to pursue her writing dreams and thankfully her parents understood. She and her parents said goodbye to their old lives and moved to the United Kingdom after she got a scholarship to the University Of Cambridge.
It was a perfect beginning.
Until it all went wrong. Where had it gone wrong exactly? Right from her father cheating, to the fucked up life she was living now. Everything had changed.
Kehlani rushed past her parent’s room and straight into her room with an exasperated sigh. Tossing her bag to the ground she fell face down to her bed, then grabbed a pillow, putting it over her head.
Tomorrow will be good, she reassured herself hopefully.
……...
Kehlani frowned, dropping her books on the table before ignoring the loud bang it produced.
Monday morning was officially ruined. Why on earth would Mrs. Caitlyn ask her to write a romance novel despite knowing it was something she wouldn’t like? That was just so cruel.
“Great.” She mumbled in sarcasm, eyeing the notepad on top of the book pile.
“Hey Kehlani”
A familiar yelled loudly and snapped her out of her wallowing. It was so easy to spot Trinity Azalea in the crowd mostly because she looked like she had been hit by a rainbow and besides she looks too bubbly and if there was one person who was always so happy to go to school that was, Trinity.
She watched Trinity make her way towards her. She was dressed in a black crop top with a splash of bright colors, with light blue jeans, then over it was a multi-colored blazer.
The colors blended perfectly with her light skin and long blonde hair that was currently concealed by the black furry hat she was wearing.
Trinity flashed her signature megawatt smile revealing her dimples as she stopped before her.
“Girl you look awful” Trinity teased with a chuckle, leaning in to peck her right cheek and she quickly caught a glimpse of pink shoes.
That’s Trinity all right. She rolled her eyes as Trinity got settled beside her.
“How about I splash you some colors? I brought the jacket I believe will ...” Trinity trailed off ransacking her bag.
Kehlani watched Trinity pull out a blue hat, and without asking Trinity put it over her head, with a huge satisfied grin. Trinity squeaked, pulling out her phone from her bag. She watched Trinity do some stuff on her phone before holding out her hand with the phone.
Kehlani almost rolled her eyes as Trinity took a selfie, then another, and another.
At least she wasn’t forcing her to smile this time.
Trinity dropped her arm, turning to face her. “Now grumpy, what got you looking all…?” She eyed her. “I can almost see the dark clouds over your head”
Thankfully today Trinity was with no makeup, the ones that made her look like a fairytale scarecrow. Trinity's dark brown eyes pierced into hers, staring expectantly at her.
Trinity looked better naturally, if only her stubborn friend believed that, for real. Trinity was a definition of American beauty, tall and as the Americans prefer skinny. Trinity was a living Barbie.
“You weren’t online yesterday” Trinity started with a concerned expression on her face. “Everything cool?”
“I’m fine Trinity,” She mumbled.
Trinity eyed her suspiciously then glanced at the book pile on the table before them.
Trinity frowned a bit. “What’s this?” She asked and picked up the book on top of the book pile. The big note pad with a cover decorated with Sonic the hedgehog pictures.
Her eyes moving from Trinity to the book, watched Trinity study the book with keen interest.
The failure of her attempts to be more precise. She could imagine Trinity trying to read past her scribblings since she heard the depressing news from Mrs. Caitlyn this morning, trying to make some sense of it.
Trinity looked up at her, then back at the book, then back at her again, and then she gasped loudly. Her eyes were huge with excitement and delight. And maybe mockery she couldn’t be so sure.
“Am I seeing things or does the genre say Romance?”
Kehlani ran her hand through her face, exhaling loudly. Her gaze met with Trinity’s expectant gaze as she took her hand off her face.
“Yes it does. That’s my poison”
.........
Kehlani watched Trinity pull open the window to get rid of the alcohol stench that welcomed them as they had arrived home from school. Their walk home had been quiet, especially since Trinity had been with her departmental friends discussing their new project and some other stuff she hadn’t paid attention to.
Although she was beside Trinity throughout the entire walk, she hadn’t said much. They weren’t her friends anyways, she didn’t have many friends and if Trinity could count as much then, she had many friends then. The whole making friend’s process seems terrifying especially since they would all be prying in sooner or later. And besides she was doing great with just Trinity.
“Better. Now we just have to wait for all today’s bad energy to go out the window” Trinity said, pulling off her blazer and hat, letting her straight long blonde hair free.
Trinity wouldn’t say anything or ask even, that was one thing she appreciated about Trinity the most aside from being the best. Trinity knew, although they didn't talk about it. Just like a lot of things remain unsaid between them. It was far better that way, for her.
“Why would Mrs. Caitlyn do this to me?” She finally spoke, pulling off the cap Trinity had put on her head earlier, moving to stand before her dressing table.
Trinity chuckled, falling onto the love shaped couch not far from the window. “You make it sound like she punished you”
“She didn’t just punish me, she sent me to hell.” She growled. “How can she tell me to write a Romance novel? That’s not my thing”
“Yes Kehlani you say that every time. But think of it this way you don’t have to write depressing shit at least not now and again it’s a good opportunity to renew your scholarship” Trinity told her.
“I don’t write depressing shit”
“You focus on horror and tragic endings. And the school thinks you are some emo teenager”
Kehlani frowned, folding her arms over her chest. “That’s what I like”
Trinity scoffs. “Well there is more to that. The hot boys, the six packs, the hot steaming romance, the yucky kisses, the dicks and of course the hot sex”
“Nice,” She said dryly.
“And I’ll help recommend some romantic movies, songs and maybe porn if necessary”
“Why does this feel like some sort of initiation?”
Trinity squealed happily. “I’m so excited”
Kehlani smiled at her before turning her attention back to the mirror. Her skin wasn’t as bright as Trinity. She had medium tanned skin, with hazel eyes and unlike Trinity she had a more chubby face and no dimples. And her long, curly black hair really needed to be groomed, she realized.
Back when she was home she was considered very pretty but on getting to the United Kingdom she began to doubt, feeling a lot more insecure even.
She opened her mouth to speak but stopped at the sound of a loud, almost deafening door slam. Her eyes met briefly with Trinity before she looked away.
“Why are you such a dick Henry?” Her mother half yelled followed by loud footsteps.
“Dick?” Her dad's voice followed much louder than her mother’s voice. “You Grace, ruin everything. You are just so stupid”
Her mother gasped loudly. “Go tell that to your sluts, you bastard”
It’s funny how her parents went from adoring each other to hating each other, disgusted even. She settled herself by the edge of the dressing table, grabbing the bag of chips beside her.
“You are the slut, the worst mistake …”
Trinity scrunched her face, jerking off the small couch. “One moment”
Trinity stormed out of the room without waiting for a reply, leaving the door wide open she leaned against the railing looking down.
“Could you two please keep it down” Trinity half yelled. “Some people are up here trying to make themselves useful” She scolded dryly.
Kehlani would have laughed, if she wasn’t crushed at the moment. She blinked back the blasted tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.
Trinity chuckled watching Kehlani toss another squeezed paper into the trash can, a frown marred her very beautiful features. It was kind of funny watching ‘Cambridge Legend’ fumble over something so easy. She had met Kehlani at a workers retreat years ago, though they hadn’t been workers. She had been there to interview some distinguished guests present that day, while Kehlani was in charge of doing a review of the retreat. She and Kehlani hadn’t immediately clicked, especially with Kehlani calling her a ‘Color accident’ and sincerely Kehlani was intimidating. Kehlani was perfection, always calm, collected and everything under her was nothing less than perfect and then she suspected Kehlani of being a ‘Witch’, she was just so creepy. And then Kehlani won the writing and creativity competition the school organizes, three times in a row. Her interest in Miss Perfect increased. Everyone adored her, boys literally bowed at her feet and the lecturers all adored and respected her. She so
Kehlani paused, looking up from her plate. Both her parents' attentions were now on her, studying her intensely though her mother looked super chilled about the situation she couldn’t say the same about her father though. “A friend” She answered her mother’s question with a shrug hoping they’d drop the topic.Her father snorted, eyeing her with disgust. “Yeah of course following your mothers footsteps” Kehlani watched her mother’s hazel eyes darkened, looking ready to lash out. Her mum was American, and like Trinity her mum was perfect American standards, then she had married her dad, Henry and moved to Colombia with him, where they had both made her and raised her. Her mum was skinny but a little busty and certainly taller than an average Colombian. And her mother loved to flaunt the body God blessed her with, which hadn’t gone well with her father one bit.“What are you going to deny? Very soon she’d start going around with those tiny skirts begging to be fucked.” Kehlani clenche
Kehlani sucked in a deep breath, as she stepped out of her cooped up house, looking around cautiously and immediately her eyes met with neighbors from the house next door they gave her that knowing look before giving her a forced smile then continued their jogging. She knew she was the hot topic. She mostly was. They all knew and they didn’t try to hide too, always giving her looks, turning their head to whisper and then the pity, the sickening sympathy. She tore her gaze from them and began down the lane. It was a little early leave for school but she needed the escape, especially before her father woke up. She glanced up and watched Trinity run down the lane to her, she increased her pace. Trinity offered her a small smile between pant, not trying to hide that she was scanning her body. Trinity's eyes stopped on her face, her right cheek to be precise. She had applied some make up at that spot but it seemed she did a terrible job. She opened her mouth to say something, what exac
Kehlani eyed Hardin’s back view cautiously as they made their way home, well just the two of them because Trinity had errands to run at the supermarket so she left school early, but not before putting Hardin at her tail to guide her. Who needed guidance? She already said no if not because she had seen the disappointed look on Hardin’s face, that it mattered she knew more than to get emotionally swayed by someone but then she still had to make it up to him. Hardin was nice, persistent but the one thing she appreciates was that he knew just when to fuck off. He didn’t ask, hasn’t since that night. She knew Trinity had something to do with it, but it didn’t stop Hardin, he wouldn’t do it with his mouth but with his eyes yes, looking at her like she was obliged to reveal all to him. He might have managed to keep his mouth shut but he was still doing a terrible job with his eyes. “Hey Kehlani” A voice snapped her out of her thoughts, hitting her leg on a huge rock on the ground before
Kehlani played with the sponge in the soapy water, twirling it around in the water. Today was exhausting, from the loads of work at school and not to talk about ditching what she should be entirely focused on now, the romance novel. She hasn’t made any more attempt after that day she submitted trial two and got the same remark, but Trinity was benefiting from it, sold both failed romance novel to some guys in her department, who apparently needed it for…she couldn’t remember because she never really paid attention to the details when Trinity was told her about it, it was certainly the least of her concerns now. These past two days for her had been with little sleep, and it’s all thanks to the guilt she was dealing with over what she did to blue eyes. Normally she always had all her emotions intact, but not this time it seems the guilt was eating her up, messing with her head. And yesterday she had passed that same path twice hoping she would run into him and apologize for being rude
Kehlani played with the sponge in the soapy water, twirling it around in the water. Today was exhausting, from the loads of work at school and not to talk about ditching what she should be entirely focused on now, the romance novel. She hasn’t made any more attempt after that day she submitted trial two and got the same remark, but Trinity was benefiting from it, sold both failed romance novel to some guys in her department, who apparently needed it for…she couldn’t remember because she never really paid attention to the details when Trinity was told her about it, it was certainly the least of her concerns now. These past two days for her had been with little sleep, and it’s all thanks to the guilt she was dealing with over what she did to blue eyes. Normally she always had all her emotions intact, but not this time it seems the guilt was eating her up, messing with her head. And yesterday she had passed that same path twice hoping she would run into him and apologize for being rude
Kehlani eyed Hardin’s back view cautiously as they made their way home, well just the two of them because Trinity had errands to run at the supermarket so she left school early, but not before putting Hardin at her tail to guide her. Who needed guidance? She already said no if not because she had seen the disappointed look on Hardin’s face, that it mattered she knew more than to get emotionally swayed by someone but then she still had to make it up to him. Hardin was nice, persistent but the one thing she appreciates was that he knew just when to fuck off. He didn’t ask, hasn’t since that night. She knew Trinity had something to do with it, but it didn’t stop Hardin, he wouldn’t do it with his mouth but with his eyes yes, looking at her like she was obliged to reveal all to him. He might have managed to keep his mouth shut but he was still doing a terrible job with his eyes. “Hey Kehlani” A voice snapped her out of her thoughts, hitting her leg on a huge rock on the ground before
Kehlani sucked in a deep breath, as she stepped out of her cooped up house, looking around cautiously and immediately her eyes met with neighbors from the house next door they gave her that knowing look before giving her a forced smile then continued their jogging. She knew she was the hot topic. She mostly was. They all knew and they didn’t try to hide too, always giving her looks, turning their head to whisper and then the pity, the sickening sympathy. She tore her gaze from them and began down the lane. It was a little early leave for school but she needed the escape, especially before her father woke up. She glanced up and watched Trinity run down the lane to her, she increased her pace. Trinity offered her a small smile between pant, not trying to hide that she was scanning her body. Trinity's eyes stopped on her face, her right cheek to be precise. She had applied some make up at that spot but it seemed she did a terrible job. She opened her mouth to say something, what exac
Kehlani paused, looking up from her plate. Both her parents' attentions were now on her, studying her intensely though her mother looked super chilled about the situation she couldn’t say the same about her father though. “A friend” She answered her mother’s question with a shrug hoping they’d drop the topic.Her father snorted, eyeing her with disgust. “Yeah of course following your mothers footsteps” Kehlani watched her mother’s hazel eyes darkened, looking ready to lash out. Her mum was American, and like Trinity her mum was perfect American standards, then she had married her dad, Henry and moved to Colombia with him, where they had both made her and raised her. Her mum was skinny but a little busty and certainly taller than an average Colombian. And her mother loved to flaunt the body God blessed her with, which hadn’t gone well with her father one bit.“What are you going to deny? Very soon she’d start going around with those tiny skirts begging to be fucked.” Kehlani clenche
Trinity chuckled watching Kehlani toss another squeezed paper into the trash can, a frown marred her very beautiful features. It was kind of funny watching ‘Cambridge Legend’ fumble over something so easy. She had met Kehlani at a workers retreat years ago, though they hadn’t been workers. She had been there to interview some distinguished guests present that day, while Kehlani was in charge of doing a review of the retreat. She and Kehlani hadn’t immediately clicked, especially with Kehlani calling her a ‘Color accident’ and sincerely Kehlani was intimidating. Kehlani was perfection, always calm, collected and everything under her was nothing less than perfect and then she suspected Kehlani of being a ‘Witch’, she was just so creepy. And then Kehlani won the writing and creativity competition the school organizes, three times in a row. Her interest in Miss Perfect increased. Everyone adored her, boys literally bowed at her feet and the lecturers all adored and respected her. She so
Kehlani stepped into the house quietly, shutting the door behind her as she stepped in fully. She was immediately welcomed by an unwelcoming, oddly quiet place. She wasn’t surprised though, neither was she disappointed. She got used to this when she was thirteen and she pulled off the ‘everything is fine’ blindfold from her eyes. The place was a mess, reeked of alcohol, clothes scattered everywhere and she scrunched her face when she noticed her dad’s underwear on the table. She remembered six years ago moving into this bigger house with so much excitement and smiles. Having moved from Colombia to pursue her writing dreams and thankfully her parents understood. She and her parents said goodbye to their old lives and moved to the United Kingdom after she got a scholarship to the University Of Cambridge. It was a perfect beginning. Until it all went wrong. Where had it gone wrong exactly? Right from her father cheating, to the fucked up life she was living now. Everything had change