Page 3 of The Pucking Kiss

My grandmother’s expression changed immediately. “Kathy?”

“Yes, my best friend.”

She exhaled a deep sigh. “I know you’re great friends with that girl, but…”

“What is it?”

“Something about her just doesn’t sit right with me,” Grandma Lynn admitted.

I pursed my lips. She had expressed her dislike towards Kathy before, but I never took her seriously. It’s not like I had many friends, to begin with.

“But grandma,” I said, “She’s my best friend for years now. You know this.”

“I know, and I see how close you are to her,” she sighed, “That’s why I try not to interfere too much. I remember one thing when she was over: I couldn’t help but listen in on your conversation, and I just think she doesn’t give you room to speak.”

I nodded, unsure of what to say. I knew my grandmother was only looking out for me and saying these things out of her concern for me.

“But I don’t wish to overstep. Maybe I’m just being overprotective of you,” she backtracked when she saw the befuddled expression on my face. “I hope you have a good night tonight.”

“Thanks,” I said, eyeing her carefully and then shrugging.

Kathy was my best friend. Maybe my grandmother was just overthinking things.

When Kathy finally came over, I greeted her warmly at the door before taking her upstairs to my room. As she flicked through the TV to pick out what movie we were going to watch, I offered her a cookie from the batch that my grandmother had made.

“Ew, no,” she scoffed, “Do you want me to be fat like you?”

I wrapped one of my hands around my stomach, a little stunned. Her words had stung. “I was just asking…”

“Well, don’t next time. You know I’m trying to watch what I eat. I consider this borderline sabotage.”

I held back my tongue, not letting her know that it was my parent’s anniversary today, and eating these cookies made me feel a little better.

“Fine,” I said, deciding it was best not to dwell too much on the topic. “Can we at least pick a movie?”

“I’m just so distracted,” she sighed. “You know, today, I swore that Bryan looked in my direction at least twice in algebra. I know he’s into me. I just need a way to confirm it.”

I bit down on my lip and changed the topic of discussion.

“Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?”

“Ugh, if you’re insisting that much, I’ll have a cut-up apple?”

“Sure,” I said, perking up instantly. “I’ll get it for you.”

I needed an excuse to get out of that room. The truth was, these past few months had been torture because Kathy did not waste any moment and talked about her crush on Bryan constantly.

And since I was on the receiving end of it, it was a little hard to hear.

For one thing, he was my bully.

And also…

“Romai, what the hell is this?”

I walked back into the room to find Kathy holding up my journal that I had hidden away in my side drawer.

“Kathy,” I warned, panic surging through my veins immediately, “Put that down.”

---