Chapter 6

"Ace," I say, acknowledging his presence.

Which is unwanted I might add.

"I, um, I want to apologize. You know, for what happened earlier," He says, staring right into my eyes.

I was surprised, not all people can look straight into someone's eyes.

Though it was dark, the post lights illuminated his face. It caused me to notice his dark brown hair, he had green-blue eyes that would even look grey if you would not look intently, his face shape was somehow in between oval and square because of his jawline, and kissable lips.

Damn, he looks perfect. And he is only wearing a white shirt, black Nike shorts and flip-flops.

Usually, I would get uncomfortable having eye contact with someone for more than three seconds. But he just kept staring, and I didn't mind.

I now realized why.

"Are we okay?" He asks.

He was waiting for an answer.

And I don't know what answer I would give him.

"Yeah, we're okay. No blood, no foul," I shrug.

Then I looked down at his hand.

His knuckles were purplish-red, and his hands were swollen.

"Your hands.." I start to say and I realize how stupid I am.

'No blood, no foul'? Who the fuck was I trying to be? Freaking Augustus Waters?

His hand was literally bleeding and here I am saying shit like this.

"Oh god, I'm sorry, I didn't-" I say but he cuts me off.

"No, it's fine,"

"But your hand.." I say looking down at it once again.

"It will heal,"

"Not without the proper treatment, you are coming with me," I say to him, grabbed his arm, making sure not to hit his wounds.

We started walking back to my house and told him to stay out front.

Mom didn't hear me come in and I get the first aid kit above the cabinet.

I heard her inside the bathroom and I quickly grabbed ice from the fridge.

I go outside and he's sitting on the grass.

I sat beside him and he looks at me and gives me a small smile.

"You know, I saw a dog pee exactly where you're sitting on," I say and his friendly face turns serious.

"You're joking," He says.

I wish I was.

"Yeah I am," I lie while chuckling. It's the least he can do for screaming at me.

"Give me your hand," I tell him and he puts it on top of my lap once I sat down beside him.

I'm pretty certain the pee hasn't reached this far.

I opened the kit and used some cotton for his blood, I gently dabbed his knuckles and he winces.

"Sorry," I say.

"What are you sorry for?" He asks.

"You winced, I hurt you,"

"No, you did not." He grins.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing,"

I just let the matter go, and continued treating his hand.

"Did your mom tell you?" He asks me.

"Tell me what?"

"Dinner at our house on Friday,"

"Oh yeah, she did. But I'm afraid we won't be able to come." I tell him.

"Why?"

"We're staying over at my aunt's house for the weekend, we're leaving on Friday." I simply tell him. He doesn't need to know the details of what is happening to my body right now.

"Oh okay, I'll just tell mom." He says.

I finished treating his hand, I quickly stand up as soon as he does.

"Thanks,"

"I better go, your mom and dad might be waiting for you," He says.

Dad.

I couldn't help but scoff.

"What?" He asks.

"It's just only me and my mom now," I answer.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," He says.

"It's fine,"

"Well, if it makes you feel better, you're not the only one," He tells me and walks back to his house.

The rest of the week passed by and the next thing I know, we were at Aunt Becca's house.

I was hanging out in the living room after I and mom arrived, and they were both talking in the kitchen.

Why does every gossip start in the kitchen?

"Uhm, Mom?" I call out from the living room.

"Yes, honey?"

"I don't wanna be rude, but I'm kind of tired and I just really wanna rest-"

"Oh sure, your bedroom is upstairs, last room on the right." Aunt Becca says.

I followed the directions and finally, a room where I can rest and have my own privacy.

I put my bags on the floor and laid in bed, after a few minutes, I dozed off to sleep.

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.

It was Ollie.

"Mel?"

"Yeah, it's me. Why'd you call?"

"I got news!" He says enthusiastically.

"What is it?"

"There will be a bonfire near the town lake next week Friday. You should come."

"Hell yeah, I'll come," I tell him.

"Alright, that's all, I'll talk to you later okay?"

"Okay," I answer, then he hangs up.

I was already awake, so I decided to just scroll through my phone, deleting some unnecessary photos.

A while later, Mom calls me from downstairs.

"Mel, dinner's ready!"

"Coming!" I answer.

While eating dinner, I was pretty much trying to start a conversation. Dinner won't be depressing at the very least.

"So, Aunt Becca, how's Billy at the university?" I ask.

"Oh, that boy will be the death of me." She says and Mom and I chuckled.

"He keeps on telling me that they need this certain amount of money, for the props and costumes!" She exclaims.

"Dramatic Arts do need such funds, especially if it's a big performance." Mom comments.

Billy is my cousin. He's practically one of my best friends, he's just two years ahead of me and we get along really well.

"Yeah, well, he better be studying hard and not just going to some frat parties and such, or else I will smack him despite his 20 year age." She adds and Mom and I laugh once again.

Everything was light and it was like I was away from the stress and problems all at once. I needed that break. Before I went to sleep that night, Aunt Becca checks my blood pressure and temperature. She said that everything was back to normal, and my immune system might have been weak these past few weeks, that's probably why I fainted back in detention.

Aunt Becca used to be a nurse. She resigned when Billy was born since she wants to put all her attention to him, Uncle Will works in the bigger city, office work, Aunt Becca said that he usually comes home once a month and stays for a week or two.

The next morning, I woke up and got ready for the day. I went downstairs and I smell the cooking of toast and eggs.

We all had a chatty breakfast just like our dinner last night.

Aunt Becca mentioned the day of their housewarming party. Mom, Dad and I went to help them prepare and Aunt Becca and Uncle Will invited their friends along with the rest of the family.

Us kids, Billy, me and some boy were hanging out at Billy's room. We were playing with toys and video games. Basically, back then, I was that type of girl who hangs out with guys to avoid drama. Not that I really had a choice.

Anyway, Aunt Becca ordered Billy to buy a few things at the grocery down their new house's street so Billy went away for a few minutes.

"Funny thing that I remember, I kind of kissed that boy when Billy left," I tell them and they laughed.

"You kissed Anne's son?" Aunt Becca asked me, still chuckling.

"Well, if that is his mama's name, then yes," I say, and they continued chuckling.

"I would have told your father, but.." Mom jokingly says.

And I swear the kitchen went awfully quiet I wanted to burn something just for the fire alarm to break the deafening silence.