Bad For Me

KAIROS POV

WHAT are you doing, Kairos?

The words repeated in my head as I sat at the park bench alone, lighting a cigarette. In reality, they did nothing for me, and I hated how they smelt, but it was another small act of rebellion against my Uncle.

I chuckled as I thought of my situation. Instead of messing about, I was sitting here at a bench in the evening waiting for some girl I barely knew.

Fallon wasn't just some girl though.

I thought back to our first encounter, when I caught her leaning over ogling my bike. Not only did it give me a lovely view of her perfect body, but it also piqued my interest, something that hadn't happened since I moved here.

I had a lot of experience with nice-looking girls, but when she'd turned around, it was a different type of pretty. She looked like those dolls my sister had, with her flawless dark skin, heart shaped face and delicate features. But it was her eyes that drew me in.

Dark brown, and lovely, yet so sad.

How could someone who looked like she did, and lived like she did, be so sad?

From then on I couldn't help but notice her. When she'd pass me in the hallway, glued to the side of her bodyguard-boyfriend, I'd analyse her features. Her smile would always be there, perfectly in place, but it was rarely genuine.

From her appearance I'd expect her to be as delicate as a rose, but our conversations showed me she was anything but. Time and time again she'd surprised me with her banter and quick comebacks. I knew whenever we spoke I had to stop myself grinning like an idiot. Because I found someone who seemed different in this soul-sucking place.

And now I was sat here, holding a crumpled piece of paper and trying to ignore my best friend's calls, but the guy was too persistent.

When my phone vibrated for the first time, I rolled my eyes, and took a drag of the cigarette before answering it. "What do you want?"

"Is that any way to greet your best friend in the whole wide world?" Visar's deep voice boomed down the line.

I smirked."I'm not speaking to Aria."

He made an offended sound. "That wet napkin is not your best friend." I laughed when he exclaimed in pain, presumably from her hitting him. There was the sound of scuffle before Aria's sweet voice flooded through the speaker.

"How are you doing, Kairos?" She asked.

"Decent."

"Those rich kids giving you any trouble? I'll deal with them if they do."

Chuckling, I responded, "You, who almost killed yourself at the gym lifting a 50 kg weight?"

She gasped and I imagined her face pinching in an annoyed expression. "I told you to never bring it up. Visar makes fun of me routinely about it, like every other day."

"It was hilarious."

"I'm happy you found my near-accident hilarious." She responded wryly. "I'm giving the phone back to the idiot- hey! Don't hit me-"

Another scuffle then it was Visar again. "When are you coming back to London bro? They're asking for you at the tracks."

"I'm still in London, stupid." I couldn't help but tease in an attempt to avoid answering.

"West London doesn't count as London." He scoffed. "Especially where you're staying, it's basically the countryside."

"Because you're so good at geography."

"I got a D in my last mock, actually." He boasted with all the pride in his voice and I heard Aria laugh in the background.

"It won't be anytime soon, V. My Uncle's been on my arse ever since I busted his motorcycle."

"I can imagine. I wish I was there to see it."

"See him on my arse?" My eyebrows raised. "Sounds disturbing."

"I see your jokes have become absolute shit since moving there." Visar deadpanned. "But seriously, Wheels is up my arse about you racing soon."

I took another drag of my cigarette before stubbing it out. "Tell him I'll come when he can find someone good enough for me to race with. I'm bored without a challenge, you know that."

"Sure you won't be rusty? You haven't raced since moving." Doubt laced Visar's question.

"I will be fine, coach." I scoffed. "Just let him know, and it should shut him up for a while."

"If you say so. So, how are the girls there? Hot, innit?"

Before I could answer, movement to my left caught my attention. I turned keenly to find Fallon walking in my direction uncertaintly.

"Very." I responded, eyes on her. Even though she'd changed out of her uniform, her outfit screamed rich and sophisticated, but in a way that was bearable. More than bearable actually, as the skirt gave a lovely view of her tight-clad legs.

"I almost forgot, one of the bikers-"

"I'll chat to you later." Hanging up on Visar, I stood as Fallon reached me. Her brown eyes were filled with caution, like she was two seconds away from bolting.

"Hey." She greeted me, eyeing me nervously. Nothing about her body language hinted caution, as she stood with her shoulders back and head high. But it was her eyes. They were too expressive for her own good, something I was starting to like.

"MG." Nodding, I gestured to the bench. "Do you want to take a seat? Get comfortable?"

"I want to know what I'm doing here before I get comfortable."

My head tilted to the side. "I don't know what you're doing here."

She huffed. "Kairos."

I ignored the weird feeling I got when she said my name. "I just said meet me in the park, without any other instructions, and you came. There must be a reason you're-"

"Do you always talk this much," Fallon cut me off, moving towards the bench and sitting. She peered up at me. "Instead of getting to the point? Why did you ask me to come?"

About to answer, I was momentarily distracted when a black curl was blown into her face. My first instinct was to reach out and move it back.

"I can see you're impatient." I directed my attention back to our conversation, bringing out the crumpled piece of paper from my pocket. "So I'll be quick. What do you want to achieve in your life, Fally?"

She silently stared at me for a few seconds, then rolled her eyes. "You say you'll be quick, then ask me a question deeper than the ocean?"

I leaned back, stretching out my legs. "Answer it."

Fallon feigned a thoughtful expression, tapping her finger on her full lips. "Hm, well I can tell you what I don't want to achieve in life. Using my evenings having pointless conversations."

"How does skipping school sound to you? Learning how to ride a motorcycle?" I watched in glee as her face turned shocked with each word I spoke. "What about dancing in the rain?"

"How did you..."

I held up her list. "You dropped it the other day. I asked you to come to return it back to you, and offer you something."

Fallon sighed deeply. "Here we go."

I sat up straight, my expression turning neutral. "I want to help you do all the tasks on your list, this year."

She eyed me for a second, before hunching over and laughing. It was loud yet delicate, and it made me smile. Fallon glanced up at me again before busting a gut again.

"Kairos.." She wiped her eyes. "Man. You're funny. So, what do you actually want?"

I leaned back onto the bench and just looked at her. She would get it.

"You're serious? Why?"

Shrugging, I moved closer to her and held out the paper. "Why not?"

Fallon snatched it from me, dubious and gave it a quick read. "I wrote this ages ago. And I won't have any time to do any of this. We have mock exams in February-"

"Which is next year, more than three months away."

"-And I have a million and one other responsibilities. Plus, what would you get out of it?"

It was a question I pondered as well, but couldn't really come to an answer. What would I gain from spending more time with the pretty girl with sad eyes?

My hand went to my chest as I feigned hurt. "I'm not selfish, Fally. I don't only do things to benefit from it. What if it was out of the kindness of my heart?"

This time she leaned back and stared at me. I grinned, shrugging.

"I don't know. You already intrigued me, then this list added to that. I barely know you, but I can't see you doing any task on this list. It would be good entertainment if you did." Looking away, my jaw clenched. "And God knows I need some entertainment in this dreary place."

It was quiet for a moment, other than the squeals of the children and wind passing through the trees.

"I really don't have time for it, Kairos."

"Make time." I shrugged and her eyes narrowed.

"It's not that easy."

"Look, assuming things went well with your boyfriend, he'll be off your back. So that's one responsibility gone, leaving only a million."

Fallon sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Why am I actually considering this?"

"Cos I'm convincing." Glancing at my watch, I stood up. "Look, sleep on it, then let me know the outcome. You know where to find me."

"Actually, I don't-"

"You'll figure it out." And with that, I was off. As I walked away, my phone rang again.

"Yeah?" I greeted Visar.

"I was trying to tell you, before you rudely hung up, that Rush keeps spreading rumours about you."

My face screwed up and I stopped in the middle of the pathway. "Huh?"

"I haven't been to the tracks in a minute, but Aria told me she heard her brother talking about it. Apparently he's been talking about why you left ends, and taking the piss about your racing. The guys' a prick."

"I'll set him straight when I next visit..." Visar's voice faded away and my fists clenched and the familiar feeling of anger came upon me.

Rush was another biker around our age. Aria theorised we would have gotten along if we weren't so similar. We both had the love, drive and competitiveness for racing. He was the only guy who proved to be a challenge to beat.

But unlike me, Rush loved to play dirty. All he cared about was winning, no matter the cost, because it provided him the attention, women and money he craved. So I wouldn't put it past him to soil my name when I wasn't there to defend myself.

"You need to come back soon, man." I tuned back into our conversation, unclenching my fists and resuming my walk.

"You busy tonight?"

"Nah, why? Wait-" I held away the phone as my dumb best friend whooped. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah." My mind was made up. Racing was the one thing I had going for me, and some arrogant prick wasn't going to ruin it. "I'll get to the tracks, beat Rush up, then make it back in time for your mum's dinner."

Visar laughed, clearly delighted. "I hope you mean you'll beat him in a race." Aria interjected, always the advocate of peace.

I smirked as I reached my bike. "You'll have to come and see."

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