half/closer

half / 11 [1/2]

.......

I'd been groaning a lot in my walk-in closet and it was still morning. I narrowed my eyes at the pile of clothes I tossed on my vanity. Obviously, I couldn't find a proper outfit for the day, causing me to glance at the clock. I only have remaining fifteen minutes before seven and Khloe would arrive soon to pick me up. I woke up earlier than usual because I intentionally set my alarm at five thirty last night. I had consumed my time too long at the bath, wanting to be perfectly cleaned and fresh. I finished contouring my face with light makeup on right places and dried my hair to a lovely braided hairdo, exposing my attractive face and defined jaw.

The last problem at hand was a set of clothes that should match my style.

I just despised being late and seeing that I couldn't find the right outfit for some unknown reason, Khloe might run out of patience and leave me behind. I wanted to know what would it feels like to spend time with my crush in the morning.

Yes, I had finally admitted that I was having a little crush on Khloe Summer. I've come to that term last night after I gave her a kiss on the cheek, which was really not friendly for my part. I'd refused the idea at first but I convinced myself that I wouldn't let myself to get involved sexually with her if I wasn't attracted to her in the first place.

She was so pretty, in a badass way, tall with fair skin tone and stunning eyes. And what got me the most was her awesome personality. Khloe was very intelligent despite always putting herself in trouble at times but that made her more all striking.

It wasn't bad for me to have a crush on her. It was just a little feeling and it wasn't like it's going anywhere. I just wanted her to be one of my best friends as I had intended.

It was already late November and the temperature was slowly dropping. My skin shivered under my silk robe, urging me to just choose my outfit faster. Shaking my head, I pulled out my ripped black jeans, a white top, and a dark gray long rib cardigan.

Once I was fully clothed, I heard a honk outside followed by my Mom's shout, announcing that my friend has already arrived. She didn't ask me whose friend it was last night once I mentioned that she's also a close friend of Arisa. It was totally a lie but I just didn't want her to bombard me with questions about Khloe's family background like an FBI agent.

Stumbling to get my two inches ankle boots, I made a total fool of myself by accidentally shoving the mass of clothes to the floor. I grumbled again and just left them there, speed walking outside to get my bag from my desk.

Kissing my Mom and Dad on their cheeks, I rushed outside without turning my head to what they were saying, with a goodbye wave. Seeing her car in front of our gate, I opened the door and seated in the passenger seat, huffing from almost tripping and running to make it in time.

I scanned her from head to toe. And as always, she had this tricky smile on her strong facial feature, blazing earthly eyes locked to my sky-filled one and wavy medium-length bob haircut, adding to her radiance. She was clad in the teal striped sweater with a knitted scarf around her neck and skinny jean complemented by a pair of white Vans sneaker.

"Marathon at morning, huh?" Khloe chuckled, earning her a smack on her arm from me.

She feigned pain but I didn't fall for it when I slapped her arm again. "Drive now!"

"Ouch... Why are you in a hurry and kinky at the same time?" she asked, cupping my face in her warm hands. My stomach rolled at the contact and things got worse when she bent forward and gave me a light smack on my cheek. While her hands were holding the side of my face, the touch of her marshmallow lips was placed almost to my plump one.

"Good morning, Kinky Boots," she greeted with a wide smile as she sat back on her seat.

"M-Morning," I barely breathed out, feeling the heat on my cheek, glad that she let go. I didn't want her to realize that I was freaking out inside, and blushing red due to her blatant tease and especially the kiss.

It was just a fu.cking kiss on the cheek, dumbass! She was just being friendly!

"Drive," I gestured my hand to hide my blush. "I don't want to be late."

"Why? We can be late sometimes. It's just school," she commented, driving off anyway.

I clicked my tongue and changed the topic. "How's breakfast?" A lame question but it could lead to a tender atmosphere. I needed to ask at least something so she wouldn't get bored with me.

"I didn't get my breakfast," she responded, turning on the stereo. Beatles sang their song 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' which likely tensed me in my seat.

"Y-You should've get your breakfast. It's the—"

"Yeah, it's the most important meal of the day and we shouldn't skip it," she interrupted my statement, waving her hand for emphasis. "But I have to pick you up at seven sharp because I know that you hate being late. And I'm not really a morning person so I'd skip my breakfast a couple of times already."

"You shouldn't have offered to drive me to school if you're going to skip your breakfast," I said with an unintentional firmness in my tone.

Bright eyes shifted at me for a moment before glancing back at the road with a weirded out expression, "Okaaay? It's not a big deal. It's just breakfast."

"Stop by at the Atom Café?" I insisted. "I'll get you something to eat."

"But you were in a hurry, remember? Don't wanna be late at your precious first period," she teased, making a funny face.

I released a huge sigh. "Just please."

She went into silent, halting at a stoplight. I clamped my mouth and mentally slapped myself for being so stubborn. Was I being so caring and obvious? Did she finally find out that I was crushing on her?

"Can you get me some banana waffle and a regular size of café latte with two brown sugar?" she spoke suddenly once the light turned to green, breaking out a wide smile on my face.

"Sure."

When she parked just outside the coffee shop, I hurried inside and ordered what she asked for. My mind was in a haywire, but I was solely focused on what she needed instead of thinking of my own action towards her.

Getting inside her car, I placed the coffee on her middle console before peeling half of the waffle's wrapper. I held out the baked batter near her mouth innocently. Khloe glanced down at it before moving her attention to me.

"I still have my hands, you know," she pointed out, intending to take away the waffle from me but I immediately swap her hands away in annoyance.

"No!! Just bite it!"

Khloe furrowed her brows but eventually bit down the waffle. I watched her chewed her breakfast before she started choking without warning.

"s**t!" I panicked, getting her coffee but she shook her head while gripping her throat. "Too hot?! s**t!"

Khloe gestured her hand incoherently. When I was about to run outside for help, a laughter fled from the devil in the flesh. I froze for a second before grasping she had tricked me. I take it back! How could I forget that she was a professional prankster? She isn't my crush anymore!

"It's not funny, goddammit!!!" I shouted in rage and hit her repeatedly with my hands.

"It's f**k!ng hilarious! You should've seen your face," she continued mocking me while shielding herself with her arms. "Hey, stop hitting me!"

Running out of energy to argue anymore, I shoved the waffle to her and turned my body towards the windows, crossing my arms in frustration.

As Khloe drove off, she tried getting my attention and I completely snubbed her the whole ride. When she gathered that I wouldn't budge, she just finished her waffle and coffee with one hand. Once we reached the school parking lot, Khloe shut down the machine then poked me on my side.

I grumbled and tried to get outside but she purposely locked the doors of her car. I still denied to face her because I was really upset. I was so worried and no one could blame me. Any person would freak out in that situation.

"Hey, I was just making fun of you. I'm sorry," I heard her say softly. Her voice was gentle and sounded sincere, almost urging me to forgive her.

But no! It wouldn't be too easy!

Biting my lips, I sniffed and wiped away an imaginary tear from my cheek, lowering my head so she wouldn't see that I was just being a drama queen.

I felt her shifted in her seat, unlocking both of our seatbelts. I covered my face and made a weak sound to increase her guilt more. Then her arms snaked around my waist, pulling me against her body. Resting the side of my head on her shoulder, moving closer in the crook of her neck, an involuntary smile spread on my lips.

Call me an award-winning actress but I deserved this. I was just making a smart move to be closer to Khloe. I should've been ashamed of my own action but I wanted to relish this moment. Loving the warmth of her embrace, the coffee scent of her skin and the gentle of her voice as she repeatedly apologized to me. It was a long-tight embrace. It felt like a year under the ocean of coffee cream, giving me an illusion of security and peace.

I almost kiss her right then. However, I shouldn't destroy this special thing that we had. At least for me, it was special.

When we pulled away, I could feel my face changing to a portrayal of sunshine— wide smile and bright eyes.

"I forgive you. Just don't do that again," I said, her arms were still around my waist and our faces were just an inch close from each other so I took the opportunity to place a kiss on her cheek. It was strong yet a simple kiss.

Noticing that I left a lipstick mark, I gently wiped the stain with my thumb. She moved tensely at my ministration, causing my eyes to lock at her prominent hazel orbs. I gulped once it fell down to my lips, causing a somersault sensation in my stomach. My heart raced against my ribs while the touch of her skin burned onto my palm like an iron heat.

Slowly, we leaned closer to each other and our lips were almost touching. However, when her phone screeched, it felt like a bucket of ice was poured down on our heads as we both jumped away from each other, completely startled.

No way! Were we going to kiss?!

Khloe silent her phone in a hurry and then she cleared her throat while unlocking the doors. "Let's go?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak at the moment.

We both hopped off, pleased that the car windows were fully tinted. I wasn't ready to be exposed to that kind of situation to my friends who were gawking in disbelief at my direction.

"Just send me a message if you're ready to be picked up back home later, kay?" Khloe saluted at me before she turned, marching towards her clique.

Once I approached my friends, they bombarded me with questions. I mentally rolled my eyes but glad that Arisa and Quinn weren't here to witness the impossible.

"Am I seeing things or Captain Bimbo really drove you here?" Fiona asked in disbelief, demanding an explanation from me.

The black beauty, Lucy followed, shoving Fiona aside to confront me. "Girl, did she blackmail you or something?"

"Or you guys start being friends?" Cathy mentioned the obvious, earning gasps from the other girls. However, I had no time to give an explanation because as soon as the school bell rang, I brushed off their questions and then ran to my locker. It wasn't my obligation to explain what's happening between us because I couldn't really make out anything in the first place, especially from our almost kiss inside the car.

It wasn't like we haven't kissed before but I could feel a different kind of tension whenever I'm with the hazel eyes. Or maybe I was the only one who had sensed it because technically, I had a crush on her.

As she said, we were nothing.

Deciding not to think about it anymore, I tried to clear my head as I rushed to my first period.

••••••••

"Remember, all of you, just be normal," Arisa firmly instructed. "And don't ever mention Tiana."

I heaved a sigh, trailing my eyes to the people around the table. Actually, it was Quinn's idea to gather our friends together at lunch break. For Bailey's sake, we didn't want to make her feel that Tiana was gone in the meantime. Inviting our other friends to our table might be a bad idea but Arisa and I alone were a constant reminder that Tiana isn't here anymore. She couldn't even think straight, talk even last week during lunch because I knew that her mind wasn't here. It would always be with Tiana. Although our favorite girl was already out of ICU and the doctor said she's already stable, from time to time, I would catch Bailey gazing at nothing during class.

"Got it," Khloe nodded, nudging Xander beside her playfully. Yeah, maybe this wasn't a good idea. I forgot to mention that both of them were in an open relationship. So it wasn't like Khloe cheated on him whenever we were making out before. It was just I was the other side of the door.

Anyway...

Basically, we were assembled in three long tables. The gangster-wannabe, Xander, Khloe, Maggie, James, Lucy, and Fiona were all seated across from us. Alec was at my left side, Bailey would be on my right while Cathy was next to her followed by Quinn and Arisa. Our trays were already filled with foods and we were just waiting for Bailey.

"She's coming," Alec announced and I could already feel the heavy force all over the place.

"Just act normal," Cathy muttered as she began to eat her salad.

Bailey placed her food tray on the table and seated beside me. Of course, she noticed the obvious. "Wow, what a crowd," she commented with her soft voice. "What's up?"

"H-Hey Bailey, what's up?" Alec stuttered and I almost winced at his stupidity.

"Just fine," Bailey merely answered, taking her spoon and started eating her mashed potato. It was one of Tiana's favorite and I just realized that everything and everyone around would always remind us of Tiana. Our redhead maiden was everywhere with her perky personality.

My shoulder slumped down in sorrow and the rest of the group fell into an awkward silence. They barely eating their food with their heads hung low. All we could hear was the students' chatter and laughter around us and they obviously had no idea the feeling of being incomplete.

The familiar pain recited a lot of memories within me. Bailey and I almost shared the same feeling. The only difference was I had already lost someone I dearly loved and I was still keeping that depressive event of my life until now. It was the greatest secret I could never reveal. The only people who knew about Cassie were Khloe and Arisa but they didn't entirely know the whole story.

Not taking it anymore, I opened my mouth to speak but a certain brunette beat me to it.

"Bailey, how's your girl?" her question caused all of our heads to turn to her spot. My jaw dropped, utterly stunned and I heard Quinn stopped my Captain from attacking my dumb Khloe. Arisa was fuming, that was for sure. Even Khloe's friends were shocked.

The other brunette beside me removed her attention from her food tray. "She's miserable."

"Damn," Alec reacted with a faint grimace.

Klo, what are you doing?! I mentally chanted in my head. Was she really this insensitive?

"Do you feel hopeless?" her next question triggered Lucy to stand up in fury and everybody began to get pissed off. Heck, I even wanted to throw my tray at her but she was so lucky I adored her so much.

"Will you stop talking already?" Lucy exclaimed with her devious glare while Fiona tried to drag her back to her seat. Lucy wasn't someone to be ticked off because she could kick someone to death with her long limbs. She was our best gymnast for this reason.

"Yes, I do," Bailey uttered an answer again, leaving us more surprise at her responsiveness.

"Bailey, you don't have to answer her question," Arisa said before turning to her girl. "Quinn, can you please stop her?"

In my confusion, Quinn didn't follow her girlfriend and my head started to get hazy of the sibling's confusing treatment towards Bailey.

Nevertheless, my friend disregarded Arisa's pleas and spoke in agony, "Yes, I feel so hopeless," she admitted, her voice was shaking in a low whisper.

I stared at Khloe and she was looking directly at Bailey with all gravity in her eyes. This was the first time I've seen her so poise and resilient.

"That's normal," Khloe countered with a nod. "But I believe that there's no such thing as a hopeless situation because every single circumstance of your life can change. Tiana might be in a horrible place right now but I'm very sure she can hear your voice, all of our voices. Being in the state of coma is like in a residence of indefinite illusions, you'll never know what's real or not. But as long as you keep talking to her, the only thing she will believe as real are your encouraging words. So don't feel like you are already trapped at the end of the tunnel. Just speak and your voice will resonate back to where she will supposed to be."

"Listen to her," Quinn had finally spoken, supporting her sister's words. "She was in a coma for more than a week during summer break before junior year."

I was astounded, not only because of Khloe's statement but also with Quinn's revelation.

"Yeah, it was awful. I still remember her mummified head," Maggie said, scrunching her face.

"Since then, she stopped getting involved with Jet. It was his fault in the first place," James added, disturbing my mind in confusion.

I looked at Khloe with questions ramming inside my head. But she refused to stare back at me. She told her friends that it was all in the past and there was no need to mention it.

Clearly, her friends have no idea that Khloe was still seeing this mysterious Jet. I wanted to blow up, feeling my blood boil at this new information but I bottled it up inside me because it wasn't my right to question about something I had no business with.

"Past aside, I just want you to know that you don't have to confine your emotions by being selfless," Khloe went on, giving Bailey more advice. "It's given to feel wretched and depressed. Just simply let these emotions show to others. Because the truth is, all those people who loves Tiana feels the same and these feelings are something to be shared together as a whole to cast hope and extinguish the fears from thinking you'll lose her in any moment. Got that?"

Bailey nodded and for the first time in a long time, she sincerely smiled with hope in her eyes, "I understand. Thank you so much."

Khloe brushed off her shoulder as if it was nothing but in fact, it was everything. "No problem."

Everyone at the table looked at her in admiration, especially Xander with his heart-shaped eyes. I sought to poke them and make them bloody but my mind was too occupied at Khloe's debut for world change. Goodness, my girl was slaying right now, insert thug shades over her forest eyes.

Afterwards, the thick air around us completely settled down and we ate our lunch at ease without any fighting. The people around us might be wondering why we were all together but I had no concern about their thoughts.

Because I loved this ceasefire and more importantly, I loved being close to Khloe.

........