She shook her head, staring at the road. “It make sure me happy to see others happy. If I smile it makes them smile. Even if you aren’t feeling good, you can make someone else feel good just by smiling at them.” She lived by those words. If she smiled, she could make someone else smile.
Xio hesitated, staring up at his face. “But do you really believe that you will?” She freed herself from his arm, instead slipping her hand into his and giving it a light squeeze. “I can’t make you like yourself, but I’m just going to keep saying you’re amazing and hoping it’ll settle somewhere up in that stubborn head or yours. I can tell you that I’ve seen your self confidence shine every now and then. It was there during our snowball fight and when you flustered me.”
"I know, but you'e feelings are valid too. If you don't feel like smiling then you shouldn't feel obligated to smile just for other people. They'll smile to make you smile so it's natural and not forced. But it's still a good thing to live by."
Kai gave her hand a small squeeze back, releasing a small breath he didn't know he was holding, "No, I don't believe I will. And I'm not stubbon, I… I just have issues I have to work out which prevent me from believing things like that. And that was two times out of probably my entire life where I was confident. It diesn't mean anything."
She sighed loudly. “Whether valid or not, I like seeing people smile.” By her tone it was obvious she wasn’t going to change that. She could smile all she want even if it was all fake.
“Mm… I won’t pressure you. Everyone needs time to heal.” She nudged him, feeling the urge to hug him again. He was more broken than she had thought. She wanted to help him, to at least arrange those pieces if she couldn’t fix them. “Oh to me it means you like me.” She teased, a small laugh leaving her lips. Emotion. She didn’t feel as numb. “Don’t tell me it means nothing to you. I thought I was finally starting to get you to be my friend.”
"I was already your friend before then!" Kai rubbed at his face as he blushed lightly, "You're insufferable, did you know that? Because if no one has told you then I don't know why." It was clear he was joking to some extent and just messing with her as a smile could be seen behind his hand.
By this point they had arrived at his house and he quickly fished out his house key and unlocked the door so he could grab his car keys. He rushed in, grabbed them, came back out again and went to unlock the garage.
“I know.” She winked. “Maybe I’m trying to get you to fall for me. Maybe I’m a witch who can only steal a soul through a kiss.” She snorted at that thought. Her eyes widened and she gently punched him, laughing. “Me? Insufferable? I’ve already known that for a long time.” She bit her lip, holding back a fake grin. If he didn’t like her faking it she maybe could tone it down. “You say I’m insufferable yet you still hold my hand.” She noted.
As he left, Xio stood outside admiring his home. It was bigger than her’s and overall nicer. She did live in the more ghetto part of town. It was the only place they could afford. She joined Kai when he moved to unlock the garage. “Still think I’m insufferable after being alone for a bit?” She teasingly asked.
"Keep talking sweetheart and see where it gets you…" Kai muttered under his breath as he pushed the garage door all the way open. He grinned when he saw his most prized possession, well, one of them. A '67 black Chevy Impala.
"Hop in and let's get going." He headed to the drivers said, and climbed in, starting the engine, "Come on!"
“Oh I’ll talk myself into my grave.” Xio reassured him. She waited patiently for the garage door to open, eyeing the car inside. She was only a little bit jealous. Well, she was a lot jealous. It was a beautiful car. She stared at it, shaking her head when he spoke.
“Wait, really!? I can ride in that?” She grinned from ear to ear, hurrying to the passenger seat and climbing in. The first thing she did was buckle up. Her father had drilled that into her. “This car is amazing…”
"If I didn't want you to to ride in Baby then I wouldn't have suggested I drive." Kai chuckled and drove the car out the garage, quickly getting out to shut it before climbing back in, "Leggo baby." He smirked and set off.
Xio laughed. “So her name is Baby? If I had a car I’d be weird and name it something like the Deer Slayer or something. Then again, that would mean it would have to had hit a few deer…” she frowned. Deer weren’t too common in the city.
She stared out of the window, watching buildings and people whiz by. It was relaxing to drive in a private vehicle after so long. She couldn’t believe how quiet it was.
“Yeah, her name is Baby because she is my baby,” Kyle sighed contently and turned the radio on softly for background music, “I don’t even drive her that often because I walk to school and I don’t want anyone defacing her, especially Jason.”
He knew if he left Baby in the street or at school someone would try and steal her. She was an old car and if anyone took an interest he might loose her.
“I’d me afraid someone would do something too. I don’t blame you. She’s too pretty to be defaced.” Xio laughed. Personifying a car was one thing she hadn’t ever done.
She leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes. Her thoughts were trying to creep back in and she didn’t like that. “You know which hospital right? The big one on the east side?”
"You got that right. She's the most beautiful car in all the land." Kyle looked over and smiled softly before tuning back to the road with a small sigh.
"Yeah, I know the hospital," His grip tightened on the wheel a little, "I've been there before." Multiple times.
“She is…” Xio placed her hands in her lap, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She was exhausted for some unknown reason. Granted, she did stay up well past three AM waiting for her father to return home. She needed him and missed him. This Saturday was his day off.
“Just making sure…” she mumbled, half asleep. Her head fell against the window, a strand of her hair falling into her face. She blew it away, yawning. “I’m tired…”
"Take a nap, Xio. I'll wake you up when we get there." He said softly, offering a smile to go along with it. She looked tired and if she needed the rest then she should take it. He didn't want he at little to no strength when they got there.
“A nap? I don’t need a nap…” was the last thing she murmured before she had fallen asleep. Xio’s body relaxed, all tension she had been holding melted away. This time when her hair fell into her face she did nothing about it.
The poor girl must have worn herself out. Today was filled with many events from her speaking with her father in the early morning hours to the snowball fight in the halls and again to her slight mental breakdown. At least now she looked comfortable and relaxed. Her red lips parted slightly, her chest rising and falling in a calm manner.
Kyle sighed and watched her for a moment at a stop light. He brushed her hair our of her face gently, tucking it behind he ear before the light turned green and he had to move on again. In all honesty he was slightly nervous for two reasons.
One, meeting Jeremy for the first time and how he would react to his powers if he told them and if he would even like him and be okay. And two, seeing his doctor - Dr James Thorpe. After the incident last year and the one before that he didn't want to see his doctor and have to explain to Xio why he knew him.
The drive was long and uneventful, and eventually Kyle was pulling into a parking lot in front of the hospital. He released a deep breath and took another before gently shaking Xio awake, "Hey, time to wake up."
Xio blinked her eyes open once shaken. She groaned and covered her eyes with her arms. “I don’t want to get up.” She whined, a yawn breaking her words. She stretched her legs out, glancing over at Kai. “Are we there?”
Slowly she began to shake her tired muscles awake, unbuckling her seat belt. She sat up, looking around. Her hair was even more of a mess than before. She ran her hand through it, only tangling it more. “Curse natural curls.” She mumbled. Her hair was naturally wavy but those waves often turned into curls.
"If we weren't there I wouldn't have woken you up," Kyle replied, smiling softly at her as he stretched out his back, trying not to hurt himself, "And if you want to see Jeremy then you have to get up."
He sighed and undid his seat belt, taking out his car keys and putting them into his pocket, "Your hair looks cute curly." He muttered, climbing out the car and rubbed at his face with both of his hands.
“Oh. Yeah.” She giggled. She closed her eyes one final time, preparing herself. She did want to see Jeremy. Badly. “I’m up, I’m up.”
She blushed, covering her mouth with her hand. Cute? She shook her head and climbed out of the car, her eyes filled with fear. She put on a face of happiness, however, and trudged towards the doors. “This place gives me the chills.” She admitted. “Reminds me of how badly I was beaten.”
Kyle sighed and walked up beside her, taking her hand and giving it a small, reassuring squeeze, "I can't relate to the being beaten bit but this place doesn't bring back good memories for me either." He pushed open the doors and led them inside, making sure to stay be Xio's side the whole time.
Xio relaxed at his touch, blushing slightly. She returned the squeeze, staring at his face with a longing gaze. “Lets pretend it’s not a hospital.” She decided. “It’s a kingdom for people so strong, they have to be looked after.” Her and her imagination.
Once inside, Xio moved to the desk. There she checked them both in and bit her lip. “The lady said room 314.” She muttered, walking through the halls. Patients whispered and moaned from their rooms while nurses and doctors hurried about. The air smelt like bleach and cleaner. It was too sanitary for Xio. Her hand moved to her ribs, a grimace replacing her smile.
“Can I still hold your hand?” She asked softly, her voice breaking. She felt like crying again. She held it in.
Everything felt to familiar to Kyle and he tried to keep his memories away from the ones he buried a whole ago. He tried not to focus on the to familiar walls. The few familiar doctors and nurses who stared at him for a little longer then necessary. Instead, he turned his attention towards Xio and the fact that she needed a friend.
"Yeah, you can still hold my hand," He replied quietly, "And if you need a hug don't be afraid to ask, okay? I'm here for you."
“Thank you” Her voice was a mere whisper, hoarse and afraid. Room 314 stood right in front of them. Her grip on his hand tightened. Xio’s stomach churned. She carefully creaked the door open, looking around the room. A few flowers and a large amount of skittles - Jeremy’s favorite - rested on the nightstand next to the hospital bed. Laying in that bed was a boy so pale he matched the white sheets around him. His tousled ginger hair reached his ears and green eyes peered curiously at the door. He smiled at the visitors. “Mari!” His voice was nearly gone.
There were many tubes supplying blood and liquids to his body. Xio’s breath hitched. “You idiot… why are you scaring me.” She cried out, the damn holding her tears back breaking. She sobbed as she rushed to the teen in the bed, her hand slipping out of Kai’s. She threw her arms around her friend, complaining to him the whole time.
“Mari calm down. Geez you’re so emotional.” Jeremey mumbled. “I’m sorry to say that I’m not sitting up for even you. It makes my head spin.” He admitted. She shook her head, pulling away and whipping her face.
“You’re stupid…” She mumbled, looking him up and down. He seemed fragile and small. Not the Jeremy she usually knew. Jeremy’s eyes moved to Kai, a low sigh leaving his lips,
“Xio. Did you get another boyfriend?” she blushed, shaking her head.
(This'll be my last post for the night, going to a concert)
Kyle blushed a little and chuckled lightly, rubbing at the back of his neck as he walked closer to get a better look at the other boy, "Sorry, I'm just a friend of Xio's. New friend, actually. I'm Kyle, but uh, you can call me Kai if you want." He shrugged and slipped his cold hands into his pockets. He didn't know why they felt colder then normal.
He hoped Jeremy hadn't heard the rumors about him. Then again, it would be easier to break the ice about his powers if Xio brought it up or it just slipped out by accident. He was still feeling slightly light headed from earlier too.
(Am I fell asleep but thanks for telling me.)
“Kai? The one Jason always talks about? Man that kid is a loudmouth.” His eyes flicker shut for a moment as if speaking is hard for him. “I:m Jeremy. I know, dumb name in this day and age but my mother liked it.” He complained. Xio laughed, a few tears escaping her eyes. She wiped them away with her hand.
“You’re such a dork.” She murmured, looking over at Kai with a soft smile. “Kai’s cool. I was hoping you two could get along.”
“I can do that, Mari.”
