One Night Stand with My Best Friend

She’s going

“Where are you?” I asked him immediately after answering the phone, at this point I was already moving away from the kitchen to the hallway.

“Home.” Kyle spoke again in that lost tone. I was concentrating on him and leaving the apartment that I didn’t realise Sav had took grab hold of my hand to slow me down.

“Stay right there. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” I told him.

I was reluctant to cut the call but I knew I had to.

“Who was that?” Sav asked me. “What happened? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

I shook my head, desperately trying to free myself from her hold.

“I gotta go. I’m sorry, I’ll call or text you later.” I promised.

The worried look on her face was going to haunt me until I called or texted her but with a grudging effort she let me go. I was glad at that moment that the kitchen wasn’t connected with the living area so I didn’t have to pass by it to say my farewells to everyone.

“Just tell the others that I had an emergency.” I called out to her before opening the main door and exiting the apartment.

I couldn’t think of anything but Kyle at that moment as I dashed down the stairs and practically hauled myself into my car as I reached it.

The fact that this had happened before prepared me for the outcome. In fact, it seemed to be forming a pattern; every three or four months and each time Kyle was unpredictable with the actions he took.

So with that in mind, I stepped on the gas, getting hooted off by angry drivers as I swerved past them to the direction of Kyle’s house.

In precisely ten minutes I was pulling over Kyle’s father’s house, I managed to park behind Kyle’s own car—he had managed to buy without the help of that pompous ãss.

I dashed out of my car, locking it briefly before sauntering to the direction of the entrance. Just as I turned around the corner, I stopped suddenly at the heart-wrenching sight before me.

Kyle was sitting on front porch; he had his head between his knees, one hand fisted on his mass of sandy brown hair as the other hand scribbled vigorously on the porch. If you didn’t know him, you’d think that he was just mindlessly doodling on the pavement but I knew him. I knew what had happened.

I ran up to him and sat before him. I took hold of his hands and tried to pry his distant eyes away from his thoughts so that he would look at me.

He took one moment to see me and when those lost and broken eyes caught mines, my heart literally felt like breaking.

I did the only think I could think of. I pulled him up and wrapped my arms around him. The fact that his body was stiff as a statue told me how serious it was this time. I tightened my arms around him, pressing my head against his chest until he felt me. He wrapped his arms around me, buried his head between the crook of my neck. I felt his body shaking as a response and I knew I had to get him out of there as soon as possible.

No words where shared between us as I simply broke from the hug, took his hand and dragged him to my car.

Once safely inside, I began cruising away from his house. He sat in the passenger seat with his eyes shut close and his head pressed against the window.

“What did he do this time?” I asked him. His only response to my inquiry was a frown marring his features and the shake of his head.

I wanted to console him, to tell him whatever it was this time; he will get through it like he always did. But I knew these words at this right moment had to be kept to myself. He didn’t want to speak because he was battling with himself inside.

I drove in absolute silence for twenty minutes and at every traffic stop I’d look at how he was doing and each time his scowl seemed to deepen. It was difficult to watch because he was scowling at nowhere in particular, and this told me whatever he was thinking, he hated himself for it. He was brooding and I needed to get him out of it.

Once I pulled at my driveway and parked in my spot, I got out, expecting him to be trailing behind. I was about to lock the car when I realised Kyle was still inside. He looked lost in thought as he stared fixated at the windshield.

I walked to the passenger side and opened the door to lean on it.

“Kyle.” I touched his shoulder. He flinched and I retreated my hand instantly.

His glaring eyes found my eyes and for a moment he looked like he was searching for something in them. The fact that he looked so lost and desolate made me wonder what that narcissistic bastârd did to him this time.

With hesitant movements I tried touching him again and this time he accepted my touch. “C’mon, Let’s go inside.” I told him.

His eyes were searching mine, the crystal emeralds searing my own as if looking for consultancy. It was getting quite uncomfortable for me to have him look at me like that. I was feeling things I know I shouldn’t have felt because this was Kyle—my best friend—not someone who I should be lusting over. To lust over Kyle wasn’t safe, and at this moment I had to put these feelings and thoughts aside because they were selfish. Right now, Kyle needed me to be his friend not one of those swooning girls at school.

When finally he got out of the car, I took his hand and led him to the house.

I announced our arrival as soon as we were inside and this was followed by singing voices at the kitchen. I lead Kyle there.

I found both of my parents busy dancing to music, Teddy was cooking at the stove whilst Kelly chopped some vegetables wiggling her body to the music in the process. The sight would have been welcoming and funny if Kyle wasn’t in this situation at the moment.

I looked at him and he had a small expressionless smile as he watched my parents.

I cleared my throat to announce our presences and they both whipped around to face us with their jubilant glee. However, I watched their smiling faces take an nosedive as they saw the sight of Kyle.

Without words spoken, Teddy instantly sprang into emotion as he took off his apron and handed it to me. Kelly turned the radio off instantly, her motherly concerned expression playing in her features as she stared at Kyle.

Like me, my parents knew Kyle’s situation. They’ve known since last year, when they witnessed how that imbecile treated Kyle.

“Can you finish the rest of the cooking, Keya? ” Teddy asked me.

I gave him a nod in response as I took the apron from him and draped it on. Teddy went over to the fridge to take two beers out. He then proceeded to nod at Kyle and without words spoken they left the kitchen. I knew my father was taking him outside for a breath of fresh air. It was a ritual, like always when Kyle was in this state.

Kelly was holding me from behind and although we were the same height I leaned back onto her for support.

“What happened?” She asked me in a whisper.

I shrugged. “I guess the usual. He didn’t speak when I asked him.”

I turned around to face her and that worried look on her face as she stared at me almost released the tears I’ve been holding all throughout.

“It’s getting worse.” It’s a poignant statement, both her and I know the truth of it.

Kelly took me into a hug, soothing me. “Its going to be fine. Soon he’ll be gone to college. He won’t ever see that âsshole.”

“Mom.” I scold at her use of language.

My mother released me, stroking my cheek. She had her lips pressed as if to repress some emotion.

“Right now he needs you the most, Key. I completely respect his decision of not letting us report him but if its getting worse, Key, I’m afraid—”

I shook my head to cut her off. “No, mom. We just have to respect his decision. I will be there for him, I’ll try my hardest to distract him off it for a while. We have only two months anyway. He’ll be fine.”

Kelly sighed, shaking her head as if I didn’t understand the whole concept of it. She proceeded to chopping vegetables and I followed her example as I continued where Teddy had left.

We cooked—well, I cooked—for about thirty minutes until everything was ready and at that exact moment when we were preparing the tables. Teddy and Kyle decided to make an appearance. They entered the kitchen laughing merrily and my eyes instantly darted towards Kyle’s. He seemed slightly better, save the distant look that was still in his eyes.

My eyes were questioning if he was okay and his response was a small smile and a slight nod of head. I knew that he wasn’t. It was still there, that hurt, he bore it in his eyes.

They both sat at the dining table whilst Kelly and I finished setting the food on the table. Once that was done, we all commenced into blessing the food and digging in afterwards.

The conversation was light and somewhat cheery. We all strayed away from the pregnant topic that was brimming in our thoughts. We knew Kyle wouldn’t want to hear it, as well as be involved. So we frantically kept the conversation on other things. It was then that I foolishly brought up the party arrangements tomorrow.

“Party? What party?” Teddy already had his frown.

“It’s one of our friends, Sav and I are attending it, tomorrow.” I told them.

Kyle caught my lie at the friend part and he was giving a snide smirk. I ignored him.

“You didn’t tell me about this.” Kelly said.

“What sort of party is it?” Teddy began his over protective interrogation. “What time does it finish? What sort of people are these friends of yours?”

“It’s a house party, dad. I’m not sure when it finishes, I was gonna stay over at Sav’s after it and they’re nice people.” I defended.

“Is there’s going to be drinking?” He asked.

When I didn’t reply, he had his breath hitching. I could tell he was in battle with the decision.

“I don’t want—”

“She’s going, Ted. Remember she’s seventeen. What were we doing when we were seventeen?” Kelly cut him off. I knew he was going to say that he didn’t want me to go.

The glaring look Teddy gave Kelly when she mentioned about their glory days had Kyle almost snickering in his seat.

I glanced over at him and I knew he was finding our banter entertaining. I was quite glad because it kept his mind off unwanted thoughts.

Teddy sighed. “Okay, but I want you to call when you’re going to Sav’s house. I will call her parents too to check if you guys made it.”

I glared at him, ready to protest but my mother was warning me not to with her small shake of her head. I sighed, it was better this way. I made a mental note to myself to call Sav about these change of plans. I was sure she wouldn’t have minded.

“Are you going Kyle?” Kelly asked him.

Kyle’s only response was a shrug. “I might.”With that last resort of conversation, dinner was soon over and I was glad that I cooked because it meant I wouldn’t do the dishes. Kelly offered to do them and so whilst she was washing, the boys and I went over to the living area to catch up on some TV.

I had no control over the remote and I regretted it as soon as Teddy put on the sports channel. Both of them were engrossed on what was happening. I took my phone and texted Sav about the issue of tomorrow and because I promised that I would.

She agreed with me and her reply was in an excited manner. I knew that she now was planning to deceive her parents so she will end up sleeping over at Ryland’s place.