Bad For Me

I felt pretty overwhelmed after the whole thing. Once Luca was done, the photographers he'd hired took approximately one million photos whilst everyone gushed over how cute we were. I wasn't even able to speak to him privately before the bell rang, signalling the end of first period. It was a free period for Luca and I, so no damage was done to my attendance.

"You must feel like a princess." Tay gushed in my ear as we walked out of the cafeteria. I nodded distractedly at her, smiling and thanking people who came up to congratulate me.

"Happy anniversary."

I stopped in my tracks at the familiar sound, but Tay pulled me along. I turned around just in time to see Kairos watching me where he stood near a classroom. Even as I was getting further from him, what I could make out on his face shocked me.

Multiple bruises.

"-wonder if Lincoln is the romantic type." Tay was still chattering away.

I forced my mind to let go of Kairos and focus on the conversation at hand. Why would I be thinking about another boy after what Luca did this morning? "Definitely, Tay. He has a flair for the dramatic."

"True." Tay turned to me, her dark eyes gleaming. "I took your advice and joined the drama club. They start preparing for auditions in like two weeks, so hopefully Linc and I will spend more time together then."

"Wow, that's great!" Alright, way too happy Fallon. "But I must warn you, Luca told me Lincoln turns into a bit of a... tyrant when it comes to rehearsals and the play."

Tay waved a hand as we stopped outside of her classroom. "I can handle it. Well.. I hope so. See you later."

I waved her goodbye, standing in the same position for a minute. Looking down the hallway where I saw Kairos, I fidgeted with my handbag as I deliberated. Don't go and look for him Fallon, you'll be late to class.

Mr Saldo won't care, I'm his favourite.

True, but how would Luca feel if he knew you sought out Kairos?

I just want to know what happened to his face!

WIth my mind made up, I stalked down the corridor. Unsurprisingly, Kairos wasn't where I saw him, but as I walked further I saw a lone figure under the staircase.

"Kairos?" I approached him slowly. He looked up, not at all startled.

"Ah, MG. Thought you'd be occupied with your boyfriend in a janitor's closet after this morning."

I ignored his lewd remark and took a few steps closer. "Are you okay? What happened to your face?"

Up close, I could make out a slightly faded black eye and dark yellow bruise on his cheekbone. He grinned at my question which drew attention to his busted lip.

"You should see the other guy. Seriously, I have a video of the fight."

I sat down next to him, straightening my skirt out. "I'm alright thanks, I'm not too good with violence. Is that why you haven't been around the last three days?"

Kairos leaned back on his elbows, eyeing me with what was meant to be an easy going grin, but looked more painful than anything. "Keeping tabs on me? I am flattered, MG, but I don't think your boyfriend would be a fan."

What? "What does Luca have to do with anything?" I asked, genuinely puzzled and not liking where the conversation was going.

"Cos you're sitting here with me, skipping class for me, acting all concerned about my wellbeing and looking at my face with those eyes, but it's all fake, Fallon. I know it is." Kairos continued.

"And how do I know it's fake? Because when I gave you a speech about standing up to your boyfriend, and you seemed to listen, I didn't expect to see him serenading you a couple days later." Kairos ran a hand over his face and winced. "Especially with that voice of his. Do him a favour-"

"Do me a favour and stop talking for a minute." I cut in quickly. "What is wrong with you?"

Kairos grinned lazily at me, but its usual effect was lost. "A lot of things, to be fair. Take your pick."

Yeah, he was bonkers. "Look, maybe you got too many punches to the head, but you know nothing about my relationship or boyfriend, so cut it out, yeah?"

He didn't respond, simply looking at me. As I stared back at him, I realised there was something off about him. Something... familiar in his eyes. Whilst Kairos wasn't usually a bundle of sunshine, and he always expressed his unwanted opinions, in my short time of knowing him, he'd never seemed so...Sad.

But, whatever.

"Look, I just wanted to check if you were okay and tell you that I want to complete the fun list," I started, standing up. "But I'm not going to sit here and let you treat me like a punching bag because you've had a bad couple days."

Kairos looked away, jaw clenched, but said nothing. I sighed and started walking back to class, only slightly disappointed when he still kept silent.

Afterschool, I sat in the library, debating what to do. I was going to spend the night at Luca's, so I had a couple of hours until then as he had football practice. However, my first class for the ECAT started at six, in two hours.

Why was this a problem you may wonder? Well, no one knew about the classes, and no one was to know, or else I'd get a lecture from my parents, boyfriend, etc. This meant Hugo couldn't drive me, as he could let it slip to my dad. And since the classes took place an hour away by public transport, that was out of the question.

I sighed, standing up and stretching my back. It would be best to decide at home.

Walking out of school, I was making a beeline for the gate to exit when someone called my name. It was pretty deserted as no-one wanted to spend their Friday night at school, so I was pretty surprised.

Turning around, I saw Kairos leaning against his bike with his arms crossed. I debated continuing to walk and ignoring him, but my maturity got the better of me so I approached him.

"What?"

He hung his head as I got closer so I couldn't see his eyes. "I'm sorry for earlier."

Crossing my arms, I waited.

He turned to the side, giving me a perfect view of his defined jaw, and puffed out a breath. "Look, you were right. I was out of order with you because I've had a rough couple of days."

"Mhmm."

Kairos turned to face me directly. "Truth is, I know we're not friends, but you're really the only person I speak to here. And it would suck if that was to stop."

Alright, either his apology was great or I was a massive softie. I let my arms drop and shrugged. "Okay. You're forgiven."

Kairos full-out smiled, his dimple making an appearance. It was a nicer sight than the barely visible stars above us. "Cool. As part of my apology, I want us to start on one of the items on your list." He held up a motorcycle helmet and I stepped back.

"Uh, Kairos. I don't want to learn how to ride a motorcycle today."

He leaned forward, causing my breath to hitch. "Come on, MG. Live up to your nickname."

I held up my hands. "I want to remain living, so no thanks."

He chuckled and shrugged, tossing the helmet up once and catching it. "Alright, baby steps them. I want to show you somewhere, so you can enjoy being the passenger."

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. "You just assume I don't have any plans?"

Kairos shrugged, moving towards his bike as if he already knew I'd agree to coming with him. "You're still here on a Friday night, so I'm guessing they're not urgent. But the place is half an hour away."

I thought for a minute when the solution came to me. "Actually, I have to be somewhere by six... It's in London. If you're able to drop me off there, then I'll come with you."

Kairos didn't even seem to think before nodding, holding out his hand with a small grin. "It's a deal."

I rolled my eyes, trying to seem all nonchalant and not at all excited, and shook his hand. The moment they touched, he pulled me forward slightly with a smile that meant trouble.

We were so close that despite the darkened sky, I could make out the brown flecks in the green of his eyes. With a gentleness I didn't know he could exhibit, Kairos placed the helmet on my head then flicked up the visor.

"Let's go." Just like that, the moment (probably one-sided) was broken, and I inched closer to his bike.

"You don't have a helmet?" My question came out muffled.

He sat on the bike, glancing back at me. "I only have one, because I ride alone. Hop on."

I did so, wedging my handbag between us with a prayer that it wouldn't fall off, and tentatively wrapping my hands around Kairo's waist. He revved once, twice, then we were off.

Thankfully, we were within the speed limit, but it still felt awfully fast. Everything went by as a blur, and the only thing I could hear was the overpowering sound of the engine. More than once Kairos had to slow down when I felt my bag, or myself, slipping off, and my hair that didn't fit in the helmet was whipping at my neck painfully.

Yet, I loved every second of it.

Any apprehension I had about learning to ride was gone. The thought of being in control of a machine that brought the euphoric feeling of weightlessness and freedom overpowered any fear. I imagined myself lifting my arms and shouting, but instead I held on tightly to Kairos as he weaved through vehicles expertly.

After what simultaneously felt like three seconds and thirty minutes, he began to slow down. We parked outside what seemed to be the woods, with scarcely any people around.

I got off the bike, conscious of my skirt and handed the helmet back to him. As I patted down my hair, Kairos eyed me with a smirk.

"The ride was great, wasn't it?"

I mirrored his expression, perking up. "The best. I am freezing, though." My jacket was for style, not warmth. Kairos dug around in his backpack before bringing out some black material and holding it out to me. A... blanket?

"Thanks. You just happen to carry a blanket around?"

He chained his bike then straightened up. "Yeah, it's either that or books, and I get cold quickly. Follow me, we're two minutes away."

I listened until we began approaching the trees. If the sun was still out, I wouldn't have minded venturing there, but the dark worried me.

"Uh, Kairos..."

"Trust me MG, it's safe." He responded, seeming to know my concerns. "I won't let anything happen to you, alright?"

Why did I actually trust him?

We walked together towards the clearing, with me just slightly behind him. After ten minutes of stepping over fallen branches and fighting the ones still attached to the trees, Kairos announced we had made it.

I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders, eyeing the clearing before us. It gave a lovely view of the sky and the quiet chirps of the birds was a melody.

Just to mess with Kairos, I made a face. "Well, it's definitely something."

He rolled his eyes at me, walking further to sit on a tree stump. "I come here to clear my head, not for a photoshoot."

"I'm messing with you," I sat on the tree stump next to him. "Convenient that there are two stumps here, no?"

He hummed. "Yeah, I drove here this morning to chop down that tree for you."

"Shut up."

We were silent for a while, watching a squirrel try and fail at climbing to the top of the tree. When it got halfway up the trunk and fell again, I looked away.

"How did you find this place?"

Kairos ran a hand through his hair. "I was on a drive, passed here and stopped because I was curious. Thought I heard noises so I came to investigate, and found the clearing."

My eyebrows raised. "You walked into the woods cos you thought you heard noises? What if there was a fight?"

He slid me a look that I didn't understand. "That's what I was hoping for. I was itching for a fight. Instead, I got free therapy from nature."

I shivered, glancing at my watch. There was over an hour until my class started, and according to my maps app, we weren't too far.

"You cold?"

"Yeah, but I don't want to leave yet." I responded. "Let's keep talking to distract me."

Kairos brought out a cigarette. "Alright. You're an only child?"

I froze, not expecting the question. It took me a moment to stammer out an answer. "Yeah, I'm the only child of my mum and dad. You?"

He shook his head, blowing out a cloud of smoke that was quickly swept away by the wind. "I'm the oldest of three. Twins, a boy and a girl and the baby, another girl."

"Are you close with them?"

"They're a pain in my arse half the time but I'd do anything for them." He took another drag of his cigarette, his expression darkening. "I haven't been able to see them since I moved in with my Uncle, though."

I frowned. "That sucks. Why not?"

Kairos shook his head. "Let's not get into that."

"Okay." The smell of smoke invaded my senses and my question came to me. "Why do you smoke?"

Kairos glanced at me as if surprised by the query. "What, does it bother you?"

I shrugged and he turned his body to face me, holding out the cigarette. "Try it."

A surprised laugh left me. "No way!"

"It'll make you warm, MG. Try it, I know you haven't tried a ciggy before."

I shook my head, shifting away as Kairos reached out further. "I'll slap it out of your hand, Kairos."

"It's really tasty. I know you're curious. Just one puff, and I'll leave you alone." He egged me on, grinning. I rolled my eyes and grabbed the cigarette.

I was curious, but I also wanted to shut him up. Uncertainly, I lifted it up to my lips with Kairos watching my every move intently. I inhaled and immediately started coughing violently.

Kairos was up quickly, patting my back gently whilst chuckling. There were tears in my eyes when the coughing finally subsided, and I thumped him in the chest. "Why did you make me do that? Why do you even smoke? It's horrible."

The dimpled grin was still present on his face, both annoying and endearing. "Yeah, it's nasty. I do it to piss my Uncle off, but I think I'll stop soon because the smell clings to my clothes."

Breathing in deeply, I rubbed my chest. "Your Uncle, the one on the school board?"

"Yeah. We got along before, but now we seem to clash on everything." Kairos sat back down, facing forwards with his hands clasped. "He always says I'm on some kind of self-destructive path, but I think he can't handle me not following his neurotic rules."

A bitter smile spread across my face. "I can relate. You form your own opinion, or don't do everything exactly as planned, and suddenly it's the end of the world."

"Yeah. When I'm in the house, he's on my case, so I barely stay at home nowadays. And that's still a problem."

"I can't speak for your Uncle, but with my parents, they hate me not being around because it means they don't know what I'm doing. And why wouldn't they want to know what I'm doing every second of every day?"

Exhaling deeply, I watched my evaporated breath fade away. "Home is meant to be a home. Not a jail."

I glanced over when Kairos didn't respond, to find me already looking at me. At that moment, as our gazes connected, it felt like a mutual understanding passed between us. Maybe we weren't so different.

He rolled his lips into his mouth for a moment. "I never... I never thought you'd get it. You have everything."

I looked away. He didn't get it. "No-one has everything." I stood up and the moment was broken. "Should we get going?"

When we reached the motorcycle, Kairo's phone started ringing. I glanced over to see him frowning at the screen. I was debating giving him privacy when he answered it.

"What's going on? Why do you have mum's phone?" He started pacing up and down.

"He's not at home? Do you know where he went?"

A pause.

"She's crying? Okay, I'm coming over, stay in your rooms."

Kairos hung up and turned to me, visibly agitated. "When is your thing again?"

I checked the time. "Just under an hour."

He tapped the motorcycle handles a couple times, thinking. "I live in Wood Abbey. Are your plans anywhere close to there?"

My eyebrows raised. What were the odds? "The same area, actually."

This seemed to reduce some of his stress. "Okay. I need to stop at my house quickly, but I'll get you to where you need to go on time. Promise."

My eyes widened. "We're going to your Uncle's house?"

He held out the helmet to me, expression and stance serious. "No. To my mum's."