KENZIE POV
Indistinguishable phrases of nagging echoed throughout the hallway.
Once mamma mentioned that only if she was not to wake me up, hibernating the entire summer would have been no issue; even if they came back after a month of holiday.
Factually, I miss my mom. But it would have been much more of it if she would have reconsidered passing down her hierarchy, the invaluable art of ' how to wake the ultimate sleepy ass up 'to my now guardian and dorm-mate. A voluntary spy, planted to shoo the male creatures off.
Like every other he-producer, papa thought of his firstborn woman as a princess and the male commodity as pirates, stealing treasuries and abandoning ships.
Back in time, I reckoned him as a knight in shining armour who would come to the rescue somewhen trouble came.
Fortunately, those 'troubles' never showed up cause.....Rapunzel only dealt with matters after landing the kingdom. Mine was a similar case as being homeschooled was a thing back then.
Something unconfined but voluntary.
Results: No Human Interaction.
"Wake up you lazy ass or I'll steal your first kiss, baby."
Uhhhhhh~
A drowsy trance, drumming alarms, and warm pillowy goodness. Sinking in fantasy, a fresh ball of flesh and bones curled up in 'the' corner bed of room 31, hostel- 7, Virginia High.
---
"Easy Nic, at least do the work suitably."
"Uh, just stick already! Ken, I swear he used the cheap glue again. Men suck!"
Not again.
"And chill out with the verb anatomy. If you go around saying suitably here, these high schoolers would stare like you grew two heads."
"We belong to the same crowd."
"Exactly." She stated matter of factly.
This is gonna be one heaven of a day.
----
"Done, done, done, done, done...."
"Do you ever read these? The bachelorette-bride cult. BEWARE. Culprits in the suspected cult, lure women to wed them and assault the victims before ..."
"Another unsolved criminal mystery. Leave it be. Let's go to the mall. I am getting signals that we'll be getting lucky today." She said snatching the poster.
"From where is that gas station lottery stall?" I chuckled.
"I should have taken the ticket from his sister. She looked so innocent. But again, hard luck. Men are bad women."
"Well tick-tock." I swung my watch in front of her.
"Oh, sister Caroline!"She blurt and ran towards our bikes." Kenzie hurry, we'll be late for the sale."
Rolling my eyes, I scrambled behind her.
"Nicole, it's still early."
"It's never early for a sale and never late for a sorry." Screeching, she sped towards the mall.
"Wai...this girl." I shook my head. "Or should I say the lady that she calls herself?"
---
'Miss. Nicole.'
'Just Nicole.'
Nicole exists as a feminist female attorney. For her, every pirate sucks. When brought up in an orphanage, a traditional one, it certainly doesn't flatter you. And being the prime bully victim is just a cherry on the top.
But life paid back for looting her off of her last name, it gave her sister Caroline. Sister speculated on Nicole's gift early. Just the right amount of spark and no looking back. But not every flame helps you make history, sometimes you become history as well. It haunts her to this day. Shortly after my sister's demise, Nic scored a scholarship to our high school.
When we first met at the trials, who knew she'd work her way through my mum and we'd end up sharing the same dorm, similar grades, and an identical taste in ice cream?
Life paid back fine for her, I guess.
But never enough.
----
'The cookery competition starts now and we are bringing this live just on our channel. Stay tuned.'
"Ain't this the same mall you worked at?"
"And the manager was a bitch, yeah. Quit the same day. Men...."
'Master here seems to show off his excellent knife skills...'
"Suck? I know. But please, bless my ears. No cursing."
"What am I supposed to say then? 'The she-dog species'?"
"That sounds good. Or you can call it 'The female canine'." I said and gave her a tight-lipped smile. Staring long enough, she dragged me in.
"Remember the no cursing rule." Her love for mimicking."No cursing my ass. Sister, what took over me to think this girl's clever?"
'It's halftime and judges seem intrigued by the starters already.....'
"Now hear me out. The fill-up sale starts soon. But for us, it starts now. The plan is simple."
Simple, ok.
"When the manager is in the freezer, walk towards the exit and light the sheet."
This doesn't seem simple.
"This will trigger the alarms meanwhile I sneak in there."
Is this simple?
"The doughnuts must be packed. Pick two bags, run to the checkout, pay, and get out."
It's simple when pigs fly.
"This doesn't seem decent."
"Oh, it will when you taste them. The chocolate ones are the best."
"Maybe I'll stay outside."
"You are no fun". She rolls her eyes after getting no answer.
"Uh.Fine. Wait outside. Go."
Giving her a nod, I exited the store.
'The next round begins soon and we have a wild card entry. Seems a special admission.....'
After pondering amongst the aisles, I gazed at her. The connected store seemed good for a lookout cause be it anything, she's the first-ever friend I've got.
Pacing back and forth, she's watching for a distraction but no indications. The employees are alarmed, due to her having a history here. Not a good one though.
Watching her battle, I concluded a little help wouldn't hurt. It ain't spoiling my innocence anyway.
'With the clock ticking, chefs get the platters out....'
---
This was not simple, I repeat this was not simple. Heaven is simple, it wasn't even logical. Why are we betting our lives on a bag of doughnuts? But Nicole here seems to be fond of them.
"Ken, come."
Dashing outside the store, we ignored the constant cries. An eternity later, the chase discontinued.
"Well, someone brought troops in." She exclaimed, panting.
"Who?" Glancing around, I asked.
"Yeah, yeah. But you spoiled the child".
I shrugged." She said 'fire'."
"That doesn't mean you let her ring a fire alarm."I shrugged again.
"You know what, I need doughnuts right now."
Praising the baker, the next stop agreed on was a grocery. Aside from the 24/7 canteen service, the idea of disturbing someone for a bowl of noodles seemed inhuman. And midnight craving is a teenage virus.
Hunger test-Always positive. No exceptions.
"Uh, it's so good. I can't stop."
"You're getting diabetes at this rapidity."
"But I believe it has already entered your system. Is that dress that eye candy?", she motions towards the glass display.
"Fine, I guess". A mannequin adorns an emerald green dress. It falls just below the shoulder with a thigh-high slit and long puffy sleeves.
"Well look what's better."
She pointed towards the draw banner.
'Are you fortunate enough to get your hands on this piece of art? An impeccable part of history, the lavishing attire of 'The Moon Princess' is intended for a lucky learner. Register immediately.'
Lucky it says. Luck is like the ultimate crush you fantasise about, but never reap. It's the end of summer. New batches start soon and everyone is eager. Draftees look out for the onset and formers celebrate the ending. It's a fresh start for everyone. For me.
"We'd like to register please."
"I'll need your student ID please." The one on the counter said, gleaming.
"Here." Nicole handed over the ID.
"My my, what a pleasant coincidence. I graduated from Virginia High as well. "
"We're freshmen there," Nic replied.
"Now I see why you got in."
"Why?"
"Virginia High is a school that doesn't only grace intelligence but character as well. And the beauties here reflect more than that."
Mind you it's a she. Her tone is enough to validate she is a student of Virginia High if not her manner.
"Uh, thanks," Nic responded.
"And we are done. Hope you ladies win. I would love to see anyone of you wearing that." She gave us the widest grin ever. Thanking her again we walked out.
"Are you sick?", was my first concern as we left.
"No, why?"
"You look...red." Fretting, I reached her cheeks.
"No, I am not." She moved further.
"Yes, you are. When I touched it, it grew redder."
"Geez Kenzie, keep you doctor in there. I am okay."She squished her cheeks.
"No miss attorney, you aren't."
"I am." And she sprinted. I shook my head smiling. Stubborn woman.
A whistle made my ears perk up. Standing at a distance, she tapped her right pocket two times. Reaching my hand, I unlatched the paper.
"Nicole." My eyes met hers.
"Kenzie baby, hope you win." She gleamed.
I glanced at the receipt.
TRINITY MALL DRAW
Receipt number: 00031082005 Issued: Counter 3
Store: Grocery, floor 2
Recipient name: Kensie Brown
* Breathe in, breathe out.*
Itz Kenzie!IN HEAVEN'S NAME!
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ns 15.158.61.48da2
