I made my way through the busy hallway, the sounds of chatter and movement around me. I approached my locker, the metal door blending in with the many other lockers lining the hallway. I slung my bookbag inside.

As I closed my locker, my eyes fixated on Rick from across the hallway, with his usual circle of jock friends. He hadn't uttered a single word to me throughout the morning, his silence deafening. It was as if he was avoiding me, avoiding any form of conversation or even looking my way.

Has this been my fault? I just wanted to help him..

Just as I was about to approach Rick, Kennedy appeared in front of me, her face lit up with a cheerful smile. Her presence disrupted my path, her bubbly attitude a stark contrast to my somber mood.

"Hey Girl!" She said

"Hey Kennedy." I gulped and  fixated my attention onto her instead of Rick.

Kennedy followed my gaze and turned around to see who I was looking at. Upon realizing that Rick was the object of my attention.  "Oh." She simply said

"Stop, It's nothing." I said walking beside her.

"He knows that you know, doesn't he?"

I halted in my tracks, my voice filled with a mix of frustration and care. "Yes," I responded, "I tried to help him. I tried to talk to him, to help him release the burden he's been carrying. I wanted to help because I could relate." My words held a hint of my own pain, my own understanding of the struggles Rick was facing.

"Is he angry at you?"

"A part of me feels like he is but then at the same time I feel like he's just thankful that I was there for him."

A warm smile appeared on Kennedy's lips as her arms reached around me, "Celine, you are such a good friend and someday I hope others realizes that." 

꧁꧂

As the school bell rang, signaling the start of lunch, I made my way to the cafeteria. I found my usual spot next to Kennedy and settled down to eat the home-packed lunch Regan had prepared for me.

I attempted to focus on my lunch and the conversation with Kennedy, yet my eyes kept wandering over to Rick. His usual sociable banter seemed absent at lunchtime, and I couldn't help but keep watching him from afar. Despite feeling like a bit of a creep for staring, I couldn't deny the genuine concern and affection I felt towards him.

"They need to stop giving us these fucking expired milk cartons." Kennedy randomly spat

"Next time I'm bringing my own lunch." She continued to rant

A soft chuckle escaped my lips as Kennedy said something, my attention diverted only briefly by a notification on my phone. It was a message from Regan, informing me that she wouldn't be home today until later as she had an interview for a new job.

She also mentioned that Rick wasn't responding to her texts, and asked me to pass the message along to him.

I acknowledged the text and replied back with 'sure' and placed my phone away.

"Who's that?" Kennedy asked

"Just Regan saying how she won't be home because she got an interview." 

"Ooh— house party!?" Kennedy teased and smirked.

"Absolutely not." I laughed and stood up from my seat.

"I have to also tell Rick, he's not texting his mother back."

"Damn, Looks like he's ignoring everyone today." Kennedy said

My steps were steady yet nervous as I approached Rick's table where he was seated alongside his friends. Their laughter and conversation came to an abrupt halt as all eyes turned to me, the sudden attention making me feel self-conscious.

"Rick." I called

Rick's eyes, bloodshot and low, met mine as he spoke with a slightly sharper tone. "What" he said.  

"Uh— your mother won't be home today, she has an interview and won't be home until like 10pm."

"Okay?" he said with a hint of attitude.

"Okay? Why are you saying it like that?"

"Because I can Kinsley!" his tone gets louder.

Rick's friends joined in, laughing at his behavior. It was noticeable that Rick wasn't acting like his usual self – his attitude was off, and his demeanor seemed strangely different.

I rolled my eyes and turned to walk away, but one of Rick's friends couldn't resist making a comment.

I stopped in a stance and gulped.

What does this fucking idiot want?

I turned back to face Ryan, my annoyance growing with each word he spoke. He asked, with a hint of mockery, "So, Black girl, what's it like living with the Hales?" His snickers were echoed by his friends, the disdain in their voices evident.

"It's um, cool I guess."

"Is it?" He stood up from his seat taking a step closer to me.

As Ryan continued to speak, I instinctively took a step back. He chuckled, "You know, I doubt Rick wants you living there with him, so why not come and live with me? We could even share my bed." His tone was suggestive and his words made me feel uncomfortable, a mix of anger and unease stirring within me.

"The fuck is wrong with you, No!" I smacked his hand away that was reaching to my cheek to stroke.

Ryan turned to his friends with a smirk, "I like when they're feisty."

In a fit of anger, my fist lashed out unexpectedly, connecting forcefully with Ryan's face. The surprise of my action registered within me, but the anger fueling the moment trumped my own surprise. Gasps echoed around me as other students watched the scene unfold, teachers and adults racing to intervene.

Ryan, full of anger, made a move to approach me, his intention to retaliate clear. However, Rick swiftly stepped in front of him, his height towering over Ryan, silently asserting his presence and preventing him from advancing any further.

"Were you about to touch her?" he glared at his friend

Ryan, still bleeding from his mouth, seethed with anger, but he avoided Rick's question, his expression filled with fury.

"She touched me!"

"What are you? a bitch?" Rick glared.

"What happened, are you okay Celine?!" Kennedy ran over to the scene.

"Are you defending her right now bro? Don't you fucking hate her?" He spat

"Pick a fucking side." He continue to rant

"Sides? How old are we?" Kennedy interfered

"Guys—everyone stop!  I shouldn't have never put my hands on him in the first place, it was my fault. I'm sorry Ryan."

"Bullshit!" He said

As the guards led me away from the scene, I couldn't resist throwing a discreet middle finger at Ryan, giving him a silent gesture of defiance. Ryan stood there, watching as I was escorted away, his gaze fixed on me.

The unexpected outburst and resulting mood swing caught me off guard. It was difficult to control the emotions that surged through me, my actions fueled by anger and exhaustion.

To be honest, I just wanted the one thing that brought me happiness.

My Mother.

꧁꧂

I entered the house, still feeling emotionally charged from the incident at school. Rina, who had stayed home due to illness, was already there, her presence a small comfort.

Rick followed suit, removing his bookbag and hanging it on the rack beside mine. The familiar routine of coming home after school usually provided some semblance of normalcy, but today, the tension between us was thick.

"What was that?" I spoke

"hm?"

"You today? being all silent and
rude." 

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said trying to walk towards the stairs.

I blocked his way.

"When are you going to stop acting like a jerk!?" I shouted

"When you leave!" He yelled back.

My gaze met Rick's, and a palpable tension filled the air. I gulped, suddenly realizing that I had been holding my breath, my nerves on edge. Rick's yell echoed through the room, adding to the mounting tension between us.

The room was eerily silent as Rick's gaze bore into me, his eyes searching mine. I was struggling to shake off the negative thoughts and emotions swirling through my mind.

I took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly to try to calm myself. With a softer tone, I spoke, "Okay." My voice was tinged with resignation, as if I was surrendering to the situation at hand.

My voice dropped to a soft, gentle tone as I asked Rick, "If I leave, will you stop being angry at everyone?"

Rick's expression shifted into one of puzzlement, his confusion evident. "what?" he replied, clearly caught off guard by my question.

"Answer my question," I demanded firmly. Rick's puzzled expression lingered for a moment, and he seemed to ponder his response.

"You're always so angry at me even when I try to help you, you hate me so much."

"I wish I knew what the real problem is, what have I done to make you feel this much hatred towards me."

"when i first arrived to your home my intentions was to never take your family away or be the one to replace you, it was never that."

"Celin—

"I'm thankful for everything that you guys have done for me Rick, trust me.

"But if that's want you want, okay." My voice soft and gentle

After I finished expressing myself, I tried to head upstairs, but Rick's firm grip on my wrist stopped me. The unexpected contact made me freeze momentarily, my heart racing within my chest as I looked back at him.

"I'm Sorry Kinsley." He muttered