"So, you guys go to the same school?" .Daphne asked, finally finishing peeling the apples. She placed the peels carefully in a small bowl, trying to act casual.
"Yes we do,"Bernard replied, glancing at the plate of apples. "It's neat," he added, shifting the plate away from Raymond, who had been sneaking bites every few seconds. The two of them shot each other glare after glare, unspoken rivalry radiating between them.
Daphne raised an eyebrow," But it is not yet holiday. Why aren't you guys at school? Are you guys in some kind of trouble, or are you on suspension?" She asked, laying out her curiousity.
"No," Raymond said quickly, leaning against the counter, arms folded." Sort of.. A violent incident occurred last week on the campus grounds. Gangs clashed, people got stabbed and shot. Even Bernard got scraped by a bullet."
Daphne gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth as she looked that Bernard. He offered a sweet smile as he nodded, lifting his shirt to reveal a small scar on his side. She winced, scrunching her nose. "That must have hurt."
"It did." Bernard confirmed, bringing the pot over the table. " Some part of the school caught fire and that damaged multiple areas and caused power outage. So classes has been suspended till the gangs are caught and safety inspections are completed."
"Sounds like a disaster." She stated.
"It was a disaster." David said, "the school authorities are on the edge, the burnt areas requires serious remodeling."
" I think I might have seen that on the new." Daphne finally picked a slice of apple "Your suspension ends when?" she faced Raymond.
" The email says until further notice. Maybe when the engineers clear the campus I guess."
"You guys are so lucky, you won't have to deal with books for a while."
Bernard shook his head, " Suspension sounds harmless until days get long and empty,and you start noticing how quiet afternoon can be."
Raymond scoffed, "you're being dramatic."
"I see you guys are having a nice talk without me."
Kendrick finally came down, smelling like someone who just had a bath. His shampoo hit Daphne nose when he came to stand behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder. Daphne shrugged it off as soon as she felt the contact. She wouldn't deny he smelled nice.
Soon, Bernard served everyone a plateful of hot pasta and fried chicken, and every one digged in. After the meal, Everyone cleared their own plate, except Raymond took her plate along with his. He said it wasn't any big deal.
Apparently there was another floor to the building, the stairs leading down to a while big apartment
Daphne followed behind Kendrick, clutching her books to her chest.
"If you plan to murder me here, I'm telling you, you can't succeed."
"Shut up. I'm not the fucking devil. Maybe if you take a little interest, you'll realize how wrong you are about this wonderful guy."
He opened one of the rooms, It revealed a wine cellar. The were three sofas and a table sitting at the center of the room.
"I thought this place might be the best to study."
" Not bad."
"Have a seat your majesty."
"Shut up."
And the tutoring session began…
♦
The house still smelled new.
Raymond sat on the kitchen counter, barefoot, eating cereal straight from the box. Bernard stood by the stove, cracking eggs with one hand, the other holding his phone between shoulder and ear. David leaned against the fridge, scrolling, unreadable as always. Kendrick was by the window, sleeves rolled, coffee cooling in his hand.
"Don't burn it," Raymond said.
Bernard didn't look at him. "You said that last time. It was fine."
"It was charcoal."
"You still ate it."
David snorted.
The pan hissed. The fan above the stove clicked like it might give up any second.
Raymond hopped down and wandered toward the window. "Your neighbor's awake."
Kendrick didn't react.
Bernard glanced up. " Daphne?"
"Yeah. I still remember the time she slammed curtain on me. She is cute."
Kendrick set his mug down. " Don't call her cute," He said calmly, "she's dramatic, always threatening to cut me into pieces. She's a bomb." He sound genuinely traumatized.
"You don't seem to dislike her though." David remarked. "Besides, you like anyone who tells you to shut up,"
" She's has a nice energy, I like her." Bernerd admitted.
David opened the fridge, scanned the contents, then closed it again. " Why is the fridge empty?"
Raymond smirked." That's because you didn't shop."
Bernard turned off the stove and faced them. " Is she coming over later?"
The question landed lightly.
Kendrick shrugged. "She didn't say."
Raymond raised an eyebrow. "So that's a yes."
"It's a maybe."
David watched Kendrick a second longer than necessary. "You've taken a lot of interest in her recently,"
Kendrick didn't answer. His eyes drifted to the window again before he could stop himself.
He remembered the first time he saw Daphne. He was dressing in his room when the wind blew the curtains of his room, and the window across his had been open. A girl dancing in the next house had caught his eyes. She was moving across her room carelessly, but alive in a way.
She laughed at herself when she nearly tripped. And that stayed with him, living in his head rent-free.
Every encounter after had only added to it, leaving him slightly unsettled. Like accidentally meeting her at the store. The way she avoided eye contact, the way she spoke like she was given a stage to speak her mind, the way she bristled when cornered.
She wasn't fragile. She was guarded. She amused him. And Kendrick couldn't lie to himself it was nothing.
Because she was unpredictable In a loud way. Always resisting. And Kendrick always paid attention to resistance.
He found himself adjusting around that without meaning to.
Raymond snapped his fingers in front of Kendrick's face. "You're gone again."
Kendrick blinked. "What?"
"You keep doing that," Raymond said. "One day you'll disappear."
David stood, grabbing his plate. "He's thinking."
Bernard handed Kendrick a fork. "Try eating. It
helps."
Kendrick took it. "She's not a topic."
Raymond grinned. "She already is."
Kendrick didn't argue and sighed.
Bernard slid eggs onto a plate. "If she comes, she eats."