[2] The Human

Kaya's POV

I twirled my empty plastic cup on the restaurant table, watching it fall and picking it back up again only to twirl it. Looking up at the front of the restaurant, I sighed checking my watch for what seemed like the hundredth time.

There goes thirty minutes.

Taking the cup, I twirled it once again, falling back into my routine until a voice brought me back.

                               "Here you go princess," Dad said as he placed a full plate of fresh crispy fries in front of me. Moaning at the sight of the delicious meal, I took a deep breath in just so the smell of hot oily fries could reach my nostrils making me break out into a large smile.

                                   "Aww, thanks Dad," I replied, batting my eyelashes while glancing up at him taking a seat directly opposite mein the small restuarant booth.

"Welcome," he replied with a grin of his own, handing me a bottle of Fanta, " I still don't understand how a plain plate of fries always brings out that satisfying reaction in you," he said throwing me a curious look as I popped one into my mouth.

Oh this was so good!

Probably helped that I was frick'n starving but nevertheless, I had to agree with him. I did not know the relationship my belly had with a plate of plain fries but they sure did get along just right.

       "Well I, " I began, picking up another fry, "don't understand why, you" I continued pointing the fry at him, "always decide to prepare them for me whenever I come over, in your own restaurant," I added popping it into my mouth, "I mean why not just ask the cooks to do it?" I asked with my mouth full, glancing over at the front of the restaurant.

My Dad, Liam Reynold Joston was a business man.you might have come accross his picture in tlast weeks paper at the official opening of this fine branch.

He owned a chain of well-known fast food restaurants, take-aways, three high end ones in New York and two clubs in Las Vegas. Pretty alright for a Nigerian immigrant with only two dollars to start his dream. My father was a hustler that was for sure. 

He grinned leaning in, "well between you and me, I don't think the cooks at this branch are exactly..." He trailed of glancing around, "hygienic" he mouthed.

I chuckled at his blunt joke, "well I hope they don't think you're going too soft," I responded munching down on another chip, my eyes following the gossiping figures of the restaurant staff who were whispering nervously that the big boss was eating at their branch.

He turned around to the front and all of them dispersed suddenly, with their heads held down low, going back to business.

We both chuckled at the sight, "I don't think that would be happening any time soon. Besides this is a new branch. They are yet to learn," he finished turning back around to face me.

I nodded throwing in a fry.

"So…” he began laying down his fork, “how are you adjusting to all this?" He asked slowly, taking out his napkin, dubbing it across his mouth. My gaze momentarily shifted to his steak, unable to continue holding his inquisitive gaze.

"You mean with mom gone?" I asked now focusing on my lunch.

He nodded, eyes watching me curiously.

"I'm good."

"Kaya" he dragged. I could feel his concerned gaze hovered over me like an eagle,

"Seriously I am," I replied laying down my fork, finally managing to meet his gaze, “it’s no big deal dad, I mean of course I miss her, but she still calls me every other day. Plus,’ I added, “It’s only for this year so...” I trailed off using my bare hands to pop in a chip leaving the sentenced unfinished.

After my parents divorced, I had lived with my mom for about a year, but two months ago, she got a job working as a high end designer for a Japanese brand. She left for Tokyo last week.

I couldn't go with her because of school. I was doing my last year. So, it was decided I finished it under the care of my dear Aunt Lily, then I was free to join her.

Dad nodded, his bushy eyebrows furrowing as he bit into his steak. "Ooh spicy" he muttered taking a sip of his coke.

I grinned watching his changing expressions. My Dad was quite handsome and I’m not saying this just because he is my Dad. I have to admit his teen years were a bit wobbly, a skinny immigrant kid with thick rimmed glasses, trust me, I had seen all the pictures but now, he had grown into his masculine body, developed a rough beard and got suitable glasses he wore in exchange with contacts. Light skinned with trimmed curly hair and he always...always looked good. [

It was sadly one of the reasons why my mom was still in love with him.

"And your new school?" He asked glancing over at me, before his dark brown orbs settled back to his plate.

I sighed thinking back to earlier this morning, "yeah, Aunt Lily and I visited it this morning, you know …to finish my transfer," I blew my bangs away from my face, plopping another fry in "it’s okay, I mean a little low on diversity, but over all I guess it’s alright seeing that I already have a friend."

"A Friend?” Dad echoed raising both eyebrows as he and I had no talent of raising just one.

"Yeah!” I bursted out, leaning back in excitement, “You remember Ally from fourth grade right?" I asked my feet tapping the ground in a rapid motion like an overexcited toddler.

"No," Dad shook his head before freezing, a strange look washed over him, leaning back with a light groan, "Ally bells?" He asked. 

”yes! I didn't think I'd see her again after she moved away,'

"Oh no" Dad groaned leaning in, throwing all manners out the window when he put both his elbows on the table, “not her.”

I burst out laughing, perfectly understanding his reaction. 

"ugh, I think I still I have nightmares where I hear you two giggling and screaming on your little sleep over play dates, blasting that so called pop music all over the house," heshookhis head adjusting his glasses.

"Oh please...” I dragged, a wild smile on my face, “Don’t act like you didn't like it. You used to join in on our little dance breaks,” I motioned, sliding in my seat, doing a funky wave.

Dad chuckled while nodding, folding his arms as he leaned back in his seat, "yeah, and you girls made me dress up as Shrek."

"Well someone had to be," I replied grinning.

”I was the perfect Shrek wasn’t I?” he grinned.

“Well, I mean you weren’t green, but the potbelly worked just fine,” I joked.

His jaw dropped pushing his chair back, one hand on his belly, imitating a drag queen when he said, “I aint never had a pot belly little girl,” accompanied by the snap of his fingers.

I threw my head back laughing, his deep chuckles rumbling along with me until I was finally able to stop.

As my laughter faded so did his smile, developing a slightly more serious take, "Kaya," he began, his tone lower, “I know I’ve asked you a million times in the past week, but why don’t you come and live with me? You know I moved out here because I wanted to spend some time with you before you leave with your mother next year.”

I groaned leaning back, not this again.

"Come on princess,” he urged, “I miss us, I miss this,” he pointed between us, “Our father daughter days. I mean it makes no sense that you want to live with your aunt when your father just moved in a few blocks away," he reasoned.

I sighed, tucking my straight dark hair behind my ear, "you know I do, I do miss this," I said motioning to us, "but you also know why I can't move in with you."

"Really Kaya? Stephanie again? I don't get why you can't just get along with her. Not all step mothers are evil," he huffed seemingly a little frustrated.

"I know that Dad," I lowering my voice a little, coming off a little bit pissed, "I'm not a kid anymore and I know I'm not 'Cinderella’," I huffed, "but I just can't get over the fact that she's the reason why you and mom aren't together. The reason why moms ten thousand miles away and why I had to relocate to this stupid town!" I snapped back, folding my arms, falling back in my chair I glared back at him.

"It’s not like that," he tried to explain but stopped, shoulders falling, “you won't understand."

"Well of course I don't!" I didn’t expect my voice to come out so vicious but it made sense seeing as how much I hated this topic, "I don't understand how a love like that is here one second gone the other, I can't grasp my mind around it. It baffles me! Where can all that love have possibly vanished to? Do you know? Huh, please enlighten me!"

"Baffles? Really Kaya? You going white boy on me?" He asked.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

"Don't you dare roll your eyes at me young lady, I am still your father," he reprimanded sitting up straight. 

"Really?" I mumbled leaning back, "doesn't feel like it anymore."

He paused watching me after I said this, beforesighing, his tone softer, "look, I don't know, it just wasn't there anymore," he ended quietly.

I stood up, grabbing my jacket, having had enough of this cursed topic, "well I do,” I graciously informed him, “her names Stephanie, her and her measly eyed cheer leader daughter " I spat, putting one arm in the jacket.

"Really Kaya? You're bringing Khloe into this?"

"Oh please she's an exact replica of her stupid mother,"

"That's low even for you,” Dad countered. Leave it to him to always defend her against his own blood, “where are you going?"

I breathed out grabbing my phone, "I just lost my appetite."

His gaze fell to my empty plate, thoroughly cleaned fry-less by yours truly, “doesn’t look like it."

"Yeah, well...well" I stuttered, trying to think of a comeback, which unfortunately bore no fruit. "It was good okay?!' I shot back, turning to walk away.

“Come on Kaya!" he called after me.

I didn't bother turning back, ignoring the stares of the other people in the restaurant, both customers and employees.

"Kaya!"

I walked out the door, the gentle breeze the first to welcome me, before my eyes darted around the busy streets deciding which way to go.

My phone buzzed in my hand and I looked down at it, pressing the side button. One new message.

DAD: Love you princess

My lips tugged upwards before walking away while unlocking my phone, checking through my other messages.

Bingo, one from Ally.

ALLY: Hey girl 

Me: Hey tink,

Tink was my nick name for her. Growing up she loved to dress up as tinker bell because she said they had matching last names. You could not dress her up as any other character. It would be goldilocks, tinker bell and Shrek saving the world.

I waited anxiously for her reply as I was about to the cross the road. Looking both ways before crossing, even though I really didn't have to,it was a pedestrian crossing after alliproceeded to walk.

My phone buzzed in my hand,

ALLY: It was great seeing you, you want to hang out?

I looked back up before trying to decide what to say when my whole life flashed before my eyes.

The sight of a big black Range Rover speeding towards me less than two feet away.

Everything slowed down before me, my heart beat, and the man behind me jumping back to the safety of the pavement.

I closed my eyes. This was it. My end.

I heard the emergency breaks of the car, screeching but it was too late. They were too close.

Just way too close.

I would die like this, after a stupid fight with my dad. He would probably blame himself for letting me walk away, my heart cracked at the thought of my heartbroken dad.

My mom would cry her eyes outfor days on end and if they ever catch the bastard who was driving this car, my crazy aunt would beat him to a pulp and bury him alive. This was it.

The end. Fin.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

One minute.

Was this death? I didn't feel anything. Death had been good to me then. I always hoped to die a painless death. Then again, of all the wishes I had wished on shooting stars to come true, ranging from my parents getting back together, to Stephanie and her daughter magically disappearing, a painless death was the first to be answered? Maybe I wasn’t as lucky as I thought.

Wait, was I really dead?

I slowly opened my eyes, hesitating for a moment, wondering what I would see first. The grim reaper, My guardian angel or maybe grandma? Instead I was met with the hood of a big black shiny car, one that was half an inch away from me.

Half a frick'n inch!

My eyes widened as I stared at the big black car, my heart beating wildly, realizing I wasn’t yet dead. I was somehow saved! Saved! Saved and alive I tell you! Alive! I glanced at the tiny space between me and the car, my eyes enlarging even more. If I just leaned slightly in, I would be touching the car.

That was close. Too close.

"You crazy ugly posessed, drunk idiotic stupid Fool!" I screamed at the man in the car. Well, I think it was a man. I couldn't really see anyone through the black tinted windows. It could have been the mafia in there for all I knew.

I had been this close to death. This close.

Banging on the hood of the car three times, I went psycho, "If I could have freaking died, you stupid son of hairless baboon! I swear I would have come back and haunted you! You demented fish! Over grown Bastard!!"

I knew I sucked at insults partly because I never cared to curse and partly because I really didn't have a very bright insulting vocabulary...

"Can't you frick'n read? Do you know what that sign says?!” I yelled pointing to the pedestrian walk sign, “Are you Blind? You pit-bull headed psycho! I will report you for this! Yeah buddy that’s right! Reckless driving and endangering human life! I got your number plate!! I screamed glancing at the number plate below.

KNG6271

"You haven't seen the last of me, you reckless Idiot!! Black lives matter as well!"

This sucker could have killed me! And I didn't go through twelve years of school for nothing, preschool included.

"I'm watching you!!" I yelled pointing two fingers at my eyes then at the car. "I'm watching" I hissed, glaring at the invisible man.

I walked away, ignoring all the people that had come to look. The car still in its position. The stupid driver didn’t even have the decency to get out and apologize. Stupid ugly crazy driver. 

Pulling my jacket closer around myself I stomped away, agreeing once again to my brains proposed notion, this town sucked. I kept walking around until I reached a basketball court the sun beginning its dive down into the glorious sunset. Sitting on the public benches, my gaze followed a bunch of younger kids dribbling across the court.

I should have cracked his screen I thought, thinking back to the reckless fool that almost run me over. Yeah, should have dented his windshield and broke his headlights. Then he would know why you never mess with a black girl.

Ugh, its unfortunate opportunities come once in a blue moon.

I checked my phone, remembering I still hadn't replied to Ally. It probably wasn't the best idea to talk to her while I was literally fuming. Plus, the sun would soon be setting and unless I wanted another lecture from my aunt, I better be heading home. Since I got here I had the curfew of a child in middle school. Aunt lily required an update every two hours, or she would call. I sighed, texting Ally back, finishing it off with a sad emoji.

ME: I would love to but I need to be heading home, So how about tomorrow, at school?

 I added, but just as I pressed send my phone was snatched right from my hands. I stared blankly at my empty hands in shock for a second, before my head tilted down the road where the hooded rascal was sprinting to.

OH MY GOD I loathe this town.

Shooting to my feet, I bolted after him feeling like I could explode any minute.

"Hey! Stop! Thief!! Thief!!" I screeched like a mad woman as I chased the perpetrator.

He was wickedly fast, but I thank God for Johanna, my mom’s personal trainer. I jumped over stacks and dodged people and statues. This was the latest iPhone and my Dad would kill me if it got stolen. well that maybe a stretch. He had all the money in the world to buy me another, but he believed in hardwork and responsibility. Yep that dreaded R word

I had to work as a waiter in one of his restaurants to buy that phone. It was dang expensive. Every bit of my salary money went straight toward it. I had no plans of working another month in dad’s restaurant.

Plus I just loved it.

"Stop!!" I screamed. I don't know why. I mean obviously a thief wouldn't just stop because you said so, unless of course he was Ella enchanted. Oh this would have been so much easier if he was. A male version of her that is.

However, sadly he was not. He was a prime definition of a thief, a heathen.

We rounded a corner still on hot pursuit, faster than those suckers in the Olympics. Oh if Johanna would see me now. I took one last corner and stopped dead in my tracks a creepy grin spreading on my face, the thief was at a dead end.

I may be lucky after all.

I watched as he froze by the wall, the empty alley echoing my heavy breaths, though he seemed to be calm even after running the same distance that I had. Either I must be really out of shape or this guy was in the Olympics. Let’s settle for the latter.

I stared at him, studying him. His broad back was facing me as he kept staring at the dead end. He was tall, with ashe hair, matching shadows that crossed the alley.

The sun was just about setting and my breathing adjusting. I didn't know if I should approach him, one because well he was a boy, anything could happen. As a girl, I was physically less powerful if he decided try anything. It was best I kept my distance. 

I for one was not stupid.

"You're at a dead end buddy, you lose!" I huffed out beating my chest to regulate my breathing as I supported myself by putting my hands on my knees.

"You have me cornered," the guy called back over his shoulder. His accent came out strong but I couldn’t quite put a pin on it. He sounded very American yes, but there was a tinge of Russian?

“Glad you can see that!” I replied with a sarcastic scoff.

He turned around slowly but I still couldn't see his face, as it was well hidden in a crossing shadow, but the rest of his body stood before me, ready for eye feasting. He was wearing a red hooded jersey though his hood was not up, and some dark jeans, towering at an amazing height.

If anything he was good looking, but I'll have to see his face before I rest my case.

"So," he trailed off, "what are you going to do now...estheraï?" He asked.

"Se- what?" I asked before stopping myself from getting carried away, rolling my eyes, I didn't come to have a conversation with this thief, "I'm going to tell you once and once only!” I screeched, “give me back my phone you thief!"

"And if I don't?" he asked calmly.

I couldn’t see his face but somehow I knew he was smirking.

"I will kick your ass!" I yelled back.

I jerked around searching for the rich delicious round of laughter that had suddenly began from nowhere, only realizing it was coming from the thief when he began walking toward me slowly, like he was stalking his prey.

My heart told me to run,to save myself, but my mind said screw that, get your phone back against all better logic. My hands fiddled with the bottle of pepper spray in my jacket, I never went anywhere without that bad boy.

He approached me, finally revealing his face.

Okay... I’ll admit it.

He was handsome, momma told me not to lie. Bewitching grey eyes, full lips and sharp jawline, I might have fallen in love had I not felt like I was prey in this situation. i don't care what he looked like but no emotion was greater than fear.

His cloudy eyes sparkled in amusement, his dark hair lifting up with the light breeze. A pink set of lips held up by a steady form yet he was hiding something in those misty eyes. I could feel the chill in my bones that warned meof it.

His lips twitched upwards until he was standing right in front of me, revealing sharp white teeth. I was engulfed in his shadow as he towered over me.

"I would like to see you try, estheraiï"

I paused looking at him from head to toe. There was no way I could knock him down and the only form of martial arts I knew was 'run away you know you know nothing 'bout fighting.'

He was practically a freaking giant. I may have watched Johanna practice martial arts, and I probably should have joined but the sad truth of it all was that I didn’t.

I didn’t.

Oh my life was full of bad decisions.

But no matter the pressure, I could always trust my wit.

"You want to bet?" I asked slyly, taking one step back slowly.

He grinned noticing my move, "shall we?" he asked in a lower tone, taking a step forward. If this was in another life and not in a dark alley, I would think he was flirting, but I knew better.

My foot new better.

With one swift move I kicked him where the sun don't shine taking a step back when he toppled over, hand over his crotch, releasing a blood curling howl.

I mean literally howled but I had no time to understand why, as I sprayed him in the face with my pepper spray that only got his howling louder, snatching my phone away from him as I sprinted away, my heart beating wildly.

"Fuck estheraï!” he yelled, “You won't run far!!" He screamed after me.

I didn't look back.

I was too smart for that.

Way too smart.

Yep, bad decisions, a whole freaking bucket of ‘em.