Pride

“Kai! Kai, how was your summer?”

“Did you have fun?”

“I’ve missed you, Kai!”

I can’t help but sigh angrily as Kai and I walk down the halls. Every god damn second some dumb ass girl is following us, trying their best to talk to Kai. He’s too timid to reply so I always have to answer for him while he hums or nods his head occasionally. I should really get paid for this shit.

“Hey guys! Long time no see!” An all too familiar head of red appears at the end of the hall; Mindy looks as adorable as ever when she jogs over to us. Smiling, she greets both Kai and I. “I see Kai is just as popular as usual.”

I scoff. “If only the girls knew the real him. They wouldn’t be nearly as interested since he’s so useless.”

Both of us glance beside me to Kai who is pouting childishly with his head bowed. I elbow him playfully in the side to tell him that I was only kidding…well somewhat kidding. He really is useless. Mindy laughs, “Why do you put up with Shiloh? He’s so mean to you, Kai.”

“Not really,” Kai mumbles, following Mindy and I into our first period. The three of us take our seats near the back and Kai immediately tenses when the bell rings and everyone files in. He’s scared again. I can tell by the way he stares blankly at his desk.

Rolling my eyes, I kick him beneath the desk, startling him. Kai frowns and opens up his tablet, beginning to doodle pointless drawings inside. Thankfully our teacher arrives before the fanatic girls do and she saves Kai from yet another panic attack.

The first day doesn’t consist of much. Our teachers tell us what they expect from us, what they plan to do this year and such. The day is quick and over before I know it and I’m back home in no time. Shania tries bugging Kai and I for a few moments but we manage to get away and hide in my room.

“It’s only the first day and you’re already studying,” I scoff. Kai is lying on his back on the floor with an Honors English book sitting upright on his chest. His dark eyes move from the words to me. “You are hopeless.”

“I just want to be p-prepared,” Kai says more to himself than me. He’s reading the book again. “I have to keep my grades up s-so I can get a scholarship.”

“Even if you don’t study, your grades will be more than proficient.” Which is true. Although Kai may be practically useless, he does have a brain. He catches onto things quickly and learns faster than a lot of other people. All his classes are advanced and although he is piled with work, he manages to ace every single one. He will be the valedictorian this year, knowing his grades.

Kai flushes at my compliment, which makes me regret giving it. He is such a girl when I compliment him. “T-thank you, Shiloh.”

“Shut up before I take it back.” I put my attention back on Nazi Zombies. Its way more fun killing shit than talking with Kai about school related things. I seriously need to find myself a new best friend, someone who can actually be useful.

But just imagining giving Kai away to someone else’s care makes me sick. As if anyone else could put up with him. I guess I’m stuck with him for life.

“Hey Shiloh,” Kai calls but my eyes are trained on zombies. Biting my lip, I glance down at Kai for a mere moment before returning my gaze to the blood splattering across my TV screen. Muhahahaha!

“Hmmm?”

“I don’t t-think I can make it t-to that movie this weekend.”

“Oh? You have better plans?” I pause the game and look down to the floor where Kai is. He has the book lying down now, hiding have his face so only his eyes are showing. Like this I can’t believe Kai is really 17, he looks like such a baby.

“Well I…um…m-my parents want me t-to stay home and look up colleges and scholarships,” Kai replies, squirming under my gaze. “Do you mind?”

“No, why would I?” I shrug it off, not like we can’t see the movie another time. Besides, with Kai not around I could go out and try to find myself a pretty girl. Then again…even if I did find a girl one way or another she’d break up with me because she’d be too infatuated with Kai. Man, my life sucks. “We’ll just go another time.”

Kai removes the book from his face and smiles. It spreads from ear to ear and his cheeks are tinted a light pink for reasons unknown. “O-Ok! Then since I can’t go this weekend…lets have a movie night on F-Friday before I have to research.”

“Only if you bring your own damn food. Every time we have movie night you eat me out of house and home.”

“I said s-sorry…”

“I don’t care. Is it a deal or not?!” I yell, pausing my game once more because really, this idiot is getting on my nerves. Can’t he see I am concentrating on destroying zombies? It is much more important than our movie night!

Kai pouts. “Deal.”

“Good.” I pull my leg out from under me and kick him in the chest causing him to grunt. Smirking, I sit back down on my leg and say, “Now go back to studying, book worm. I’m trying to kick ass.”