The Hidden Descendants

Chapter Three

Berkley

The first half of the day drags out tirelessly. It's lunch time and my stomach is a mess. I'm starving, badly. I could eat an entire cow right now, I swear. My granola usually tides me over until this time of day. The one meal I get for free. Sometimes, the only meal I get for the day. Today though? I don't think their ham sandwich and chips are going to satisfy this starvation I am feeling. I think I only have five extra dollars on me. I was hoping to save it for tonight. Maybe stop by the carry out, grab something to eat this evening. I think I'm going to have to cancel those plans and spend it now, maybe grab an extra sandwich and fries to go with it. God, I'll look like a pig, but then again, the only person that will notice is Kelsey. No one else sees me. Thank goodness for small miracles.

I reached for a tray because I'm going to need one today. I won't be able to carry all this food myself plus my other things. I load my tray up and pay the cashier for everything before I head outside to the tall oak tree behind the school. The same place I've been eating lunch since I've arrived here.

Blonde wispy-hair waits in our spot for me. I toss my backpack to the ground and follow behind it with a plop.

"Hungry?" Kelsey points at my tray.

"Starving." I answered just before tearing into the cold, dry sandwich in my hands.

Kelsey is unusually quiet compared to her normal peppy self. I looked up and met her sympathizing eyes. "No," I held up my hand. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

I pointed at her face and circled my finger at it. "That. Look at me like you feel bad for me."

"I do feel bad for you," She mutters under her breath as she picks at her freshly made salad her mom made for her at home.

"Well, don't. We've been over this, Kels. I don't need anyone's pity. I'm fine. In fact, better than I have been in a long time. You can't look at me like that and expect this friendship to work."

"Why though? Huh? Why can't I feel bad for you, B? I feel bad because you are my friend. I care about you. I want the best for you. Not knowing if you're eating, or have a safe place to lay down at night..." A shudder ran through her body as those thoughts ran through her head. It's funny because sometimes, most of the time, I'm not eating, and I don't know where I'll lay my head at night. "It really worries and bothers me, Berkley."

"I've made it this far, Kels. Just try not to worry, okay?" She held my eyes for a few seconds too long before she gave me a subtle nod. She knows I'm lying, just like I know she will continue to worry. I started to dig into my food again, but as I picked it up and glanced at Kelsey over the sandwich. She's just moving her food around in its container, sulking. I know I have to give her something to ease her mind. "Hey, how about this? If I ever need someone to worry about me, you'll be the first to know, okay? If I need help or food, or whatever, I'll let you know. Okay?"

Kelsey's head snaps up. "Yeah? Promise?" her hopeful, blue eyes gleaming.

With a half smile, I nodded. "Promise."

I watched the tension leave her shoulders as they dropped back down to a normal place and she beamed with a satisfied smile. I can't help but return it with one of my own. I've never had anyone care about me the way she does. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't nice. Out of all the schools I've been to, I never let anyone get close to me to consider them a friend. I knew I was on borrowed time before I had to pack up and move to the next home. When I started here and realized I would make sure this place worked out until I became an adult, I decided not to push Kelsey away. It took me a solid year to finally open up to her as much as I have. Which is still a miniscule amount compared to everything I could tell her. She knows enough though. No reason to make her worry more than what she already does.

"Soooo, did you hear about Abel getting caught with Jasmine Shoupe? In Mr. Humphreys classroom!"

My jaw drops open. I knew those guys were idiots, but getting caught in school? In a classroom? Apparently, I gave them too much credit. "Seriously?"

Kelsey nods her head enthusiastically. "Seriously!" She takes a bite of her food, "The word is that they both now have to serve Saturday schools for an entire month." she speaks with her mouth full.

"Ouch," I shrugged my shoulders. "It's not like they don't deserve it. We all know that their group gets away with murder around here. They could punch someone in front of Principal Laney and the person on the other end would be the one in trouble for getting in the way of their fist."

Kelsey burst out laughing. "You're not wrong. Either way, I think it's hilarious one of them, or the two of them finally got a punishment for something. Karma is a wonderful, beautiful thing."

I raised a fry in the air as a solute. "You can say that again."

"What are you doing tonight? Do you have to work?" she asks me.

"I'm not sure. I always stop by to double check, ya know, just in case." I pack up my belongings and gather my trash onto my tray. "I don't really have a schedule. If Al needs a body, I jump in."

Kelsey shakes her head in disbelief. "I still can't believe he allows you to work there. You're not even eighteen yet." Her eyes widen, "Don't get me wrong, I think it's great. Really great to be honest. The fact he opens the door to you to make some money when you need it, knowing he, himself, could get in trouble for it. He isn't scared?"

She said 'when you need money' as if it's only once in a while. No, my dear friend, I always need it. It's not a matter of when I need it, but a matter of when I can get it. Still, I lifted a shoulder to her question without correcting her. "I'm not really in control of his emotions. Whether he is or isn't scared about it, either way, it doesn't affect me. I just show up when I'm needed and leave before we get caught."

"Well, if you aren't needed tonight, my mom told me to extend the offer to you of coming over for dinner. I figured if you did, then maybe we could work on that biology assignment."

I winced. "Yeah, about that..." I trailed off.

She levels me with a stern look. "You haven't even started it yet have you?" I just stare at her, because we both know I haven't. So, Kelsey lets out a sigh. "Well, if you don't work, then come over."

The bell rings, indicating our lunch period is over and we have ten minutes to get to our next class. As I grab my things, I answer my friend. "Yeah, if I don't have to work, I'll be there."

We make our way inside at the same time as everyone else does. Across the yard, a head of dark hair and brown eyes caught my attention. Kingston is looking right at me while he walks with his friends back to the building. His head is tipped and his eyebrows drawn down. He's studying me. There seems to be a question there that he doesn't know the answer to. Well, tough luck buddy. This girl doesn't answer s**t. Especially coming from someone like him. Ever heard that 'curiosity killed the cat'?

I turned my head away quickly, and made it the rest of the way inside with a twisted feeling inside me. My stomach knots, and my brain works in overdrive, willing my feet to carry me over to King and ask him what the deal is. Thankfully, something else inside of me is stronger, because instead of approaching the people I am invisible to, I make my way out the door, and down the hall to my next class.