A Change Of Heart - Part 12

Kayla's POV

I came home around lunchtime, only to come face to face with the dragon.

"Kayla, where have you been?! We've been looking everywhere for you!" Mum cried out, more relieved than mad. Or was it the other way round?

"I'm fine, I just got... a little lost," I replied.

That answer didn't seem right, and mum didn't quite accept it either.

"For two days?! You could've called us!"

"My phone died," I reasoned with her.

"Use the public telephone booth, then!"

"I haven't got any spare change."

Mum groaned aloud. "And to think I was about to call the police about your disappearance!"

"At least, I'm safe, aren't I?"

"But please don't do it again, Kayla. You could've kidnapped or even raped!"

Rape. I shuddered at the thought of the man who nearly molested me a week ago.

"Kayla, hunny, is something the matter?" Mum must've seen the look on my face.

"No, no, I'm fine, mum. I, uh, I'm just tired, that's all," I said.

Mum refused to buy my story. "Tell me what happened."

"Well, uh, I was on my way to my friend's house, the one for the project," I started explaining. "And, uh, I don't know, it was kind of a blur."

"Well, what matters is that you're safe now, Kayla," mum said comfortingly. "Now go change upstairs. I'm going to call your dad to let him know you're safe."

I nodded and went straight up to my room, which was still as bare as it had been the first time I set foot here. I really wanted to do some remodeling, but I haven't had the time. Not with the homework and projects that constantly piles up.

I unpacked my bag and took out all the pieces of paper and stationary. Some of the pictures were wrinkled and ripped due to the way I ran all the way from Seth's house to my own. It's amazing how I can find my way back, considering the fact that I was almost always lost for the past few days.

I set apart the usable pieces of paper and the ripped ones. Then I reached for a pair of scissors and began continuing to cut the pictures. I unfurled the poster and applied some glue to the back of the picture and stuck it to a specific spot. I took another piece of the picture and nearly glued it back, until it caught my eye.

It was the torn picture of the Beast, Seth had accidentally ripped.

I stared at it intently. It didn't seem so bad, I could glue the ripped sides together carefully and no one would notice any different. I noticed the Beast's expression. It was a mixture of worry, sadness, anxiety and topped with a forced smile.

Just like Seth's expression when he told me about his past.

Thinking about Seth just makes me feel guilty all over again. But something about his face...

Come to think of it, he was also all red and hot. Why?

I shook my head and cleared the image from my head and continued on with my work. I must've been working for an hour or so before I was done. I was pleased with the result. It wasn't perfect, but it'll do.

I went out of my room for a quick shower and changed into some clean clothes and went downstairs for some lunch. I instantly felt a little better after that. I went back up to my room and took my book out. Beastly. It's been awhile, so I might as well finish it.

By dinnertime, I read the last page of the novel and shut it, and that's when I realized how hungry I was. I looked at my little bedside clock; it said 8:10 pm. It happens all the time, dinnertime and books. Whenever I'm in the middle of a very interesting part, I completely forget the social existence on everything else. I'm in my own little world.

I went downstairs, and found my mum sitting on the dining table, reading a newspaper.

"Look who's finally out of her room," she said mockingly.

"I was busy," I said, heading over towards the fridge and took out some leftover Lasagna.

"I knew you were," she said, smiling. "Heat the Lasagna in the microwave for about 30 seconds."

I did exactly what she said, and spent the next 30 seconds walking about aimlessly back and forth. Mum watched me with amusement.

"By the way, a friend of yours called," she told me.

I stopped mid-step, at the same time the microwave beeped.

"Who?" I asked her, taking the Lasagna out of the microwave. I didn't need to ask this, I knew very well who called.

"Well, he told me his name was Seth," my mum explained. "He said he wants to check on the project you guys are working on."

Seth? Checking up? On me?

"I told him that you were busy at the moment," she continued, "And I told him that you're probably gonna call him back later on."

"But I-I don't even know his number," I said, taking a seat and stabbing my Lasagna with my fork. Which brings me to my next question. How did he know my number? Did he go to the administrator's office to get it?

"Well, I guess, you'll just have to let him know at school, will you?" Mum said, getting up and folding the newspaper. "He sounds like a really nice boy."

"Well... he is, I guess."

"Funny, he almost sounded nervous when I told him you were going to call back."

What was so nerve-wracking about your partner project calling you back?

Mum leaned in closer. "So tell me Kayla, do you have like this... connection, with him?"

I nearly choked on my Lasagna. "Mum!"

She giggled. "Sorry, hun, just asking."

"I just met him, like, weeks ago! And we didn't even start talking to each other properly until yesterday."

"Well some people fall harder than you think."

"Mum!!"

"Okay, Kayla, gee, I'm just giving you a heads up," she said, shaking her head and headed to the kitchen. "Someday you'll thank me for this."

I rolled my eyes and went back to forking Lasagna into my mouth. For some reason, I can't get mum's words out of my head. What if mum was right?

**********************************************************

Comment Replies:

AbBa: I know, and thanks!

Beth: Aww really? Thank you so much!

Stephanie: Not sure what you mean by, "Cool green eyes" but yay! And thank you!

Kat: Thanks!

Natalia S.: Thank you so much!

Koushani: Thank you!

Makayla: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!