"So you like Frankie, huh?"

"You surprised?"

"How can I be when I hardly know you?"

I had invited King inside my home and introduced him to Mom. Mom was putting away dishes and wanted me to assist. I was a bit tired, but I happily obliged. I never mind helping her. She was a single mom even when we were with Dad. I do not want to make it harder for her. And I should stop calling Dad...Dad. He stopped being my father the moment that he gave me a black eye.

Hope that he is suffering - or dead.

I took a plate from the dishwasher. I saw my reflection in it. Clean as a whistle. I let out a yelp when King took the plate. I frowned and said to give it back and get his own. He encouraged me to relax while he helped Mom. His parents taught him to be a gentleman. Despite that I was flattered, I still wanted to help. It was not fair for them to work while I chilled. So I got a glass and wiped the inside.

King put the plate in the cupboard. "I told you to relax. Do not make me drag you to the other room."

I handed him said glass and cleaned another. "You will do no such thing. I will punch ya."

"You had better not let your mom hear you talking like that."

My new friend and I were now on the couch and eating lunch. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - except that mine had no jelly. It leaves an awful taste in my mouth - and almost made me puke one time. I hate bringing it up.

King was chewing. "I see no jelly on your sandwich. So it is a peanut butter and bread sandwich. Ha. Did your mom forget to put it on?"

I tucked my legs under me and picked up my sandwich and bit into it. "This may come as a shock to you, King, but I am not fond of jelly."

He swallowed. "Cannot believe what I am hearing. You do not like jelly?"

"Never have. Never will."

"But...you cannot have peanut butter without jelly."

"I have for thirteen years."

"So you are thirteen."

"Yep. Stine and I are the same age."

He popped a chip into his mouth. "What was that for?"

It was my turn to swallow. "What was what for?"

"Why did you mention Stine?"

"I think that it is funny that we share the same age. We are the opposite. I want what is best for folks. Stine..."

"Stine is a crybaby who wants the world to burn," King finished.

"Exactly. Thanks."

"So I heard that he is your tutor."

I groaned and rubbed my forehead. "I would have gone all day without the reminder."

"Sorry, Nikki. I just wonder why you even need a tutor. Not every student needs one."

I set my plate on the table. "Ms. Allen wants me to find my calling."

"What you want to do for the rest of your life?"

"Yep. But I have plenty of time to decide. I can be what I set my mind to."

He grabbed his glass and took a sip. "Maybe you ought to take it from a different standpoint. Make a list if you need to. Find out what you love and what you are good at."

"But I do not know what I am good at."

"What do you enjoy doing during your free time?"

I played with a hair strand. "Well...I am creative."

"Like an artist?"

"Oh, no. I am a horrible drawer and painter. One of my paintings made Mom ill for a week."

"I am sure that your painting was not that bad."

I hesitated. "Want me to show you?"

"It would be an honor."

"You mean that it will be your funeral."

Minutes later, I stood by the bathroom door. I am sure that you can guess what happened. My legs trembled. I was concerned about King. He was puking after he saw my...painting. It was my fault. I should not have gotten it. I have no idea why I still had it.

Would he remain my friend after this? 'Cause I need as many friends as possible.

Silence in the restroom. I rubbed my hands together as I bit my bottom lip. "King? You okay?"

The door opened. King scrambled out and was holding his belly. "I...will never look at a painting the same way again."

I wrapped my arm around him and helped him back to the living room. "Sorry for making you sick. I must get rid of that painting. No. I should burn it."

"I second that."

We plopped back on the couch and continued lunch. A long whoosh escaped my mouth. I rubbed my temples. I was stunned that King was eating. He did not lose his appetite.

King finished his sandwich and glanced at me. "Nikki? You alright?"

I scooped up a handful of chips and shoved them in my mouth. I chewed slowly and swallowed.

"Nikki?"

I brushed my bangs away from my eyes. "Sorry again. I am smarter than that. I should have burned that dumb painting a long time ago."

"You are not the one who wanted to show me it. It is all my fault."

"Not your fault that I am a horrific artist."

"I am positive that you have a hidden talent. Hmm...do you like reading?"

"I love reading."

"You like horror?"

"Depends if there are bad words and gore. I really wish that people would not use either of them. Disgusting."

King was playing with his fingers. "How would you like to join the Writers' Club? Stine and I are presidents. It is a long story how that happened."

"I appreciate your offer, but I have to decline. I want to stay away from Stine."

He scooted close to me. "You want to miss out because of him?"