Listen to Your Heart

“Did you know?” I asked calmly, but he didn’t need to answer, the look on his face was telling me everything. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I was still trying to remain calm, but my frustration was growing, and I really just wanted to hit him right now.

“I didn’t think he’d be teaching you, I figured he’d be teaching freshmen or something. I honestly didn’t think he would be teaching you his first year there.” I could tell he was trying, poorly, to defend his actions.

“Whether he was teaching me or not why didn’t you tell me?” I was losing all the patients I had with him.

“I didn’t want to ruin your night, when you got home you seemed so happy to see me, and I didn’t want to change that.” I’d never wanted to throttle Kennedy this much before.

“Jesus, what is it with people bullshitting me today? You do realise you could have told me while I was away. How the fuck is he even a teacher anyway?” I snapped finally.

“You knew he was becoming a teacher. He’s been training for it since he left school Maria, you knew that.” Did I know that? I thought back a moment, trying to remember when any of them had told me this. I had a vague recollection of laughing at John about it at a party one night, but other than that I had no idea what they were talking about. I thought he had been joking. I’d never in my life have believed John actually intended to teach. I always just assumed the band was his plan.

“I thought he was kidding!” I exclaimed.

Kennedy looked at me disapprovingly, “You really thought he was joking? How little do you know about him Maria? He’s a good guy, he wanted to pass on his knowledge to kids. To help him the way some of his teachers helped him. He’s a good guy Maria, I don’t understand what you have against him.” Of course he didn’t. No one ever did, he was a sweetheart to them. He was even a sweetheart to me in front of them, leaving me looking like the bitch. I’d always been to jealous of John. He had everyone wrapped around his little finger, and no one could see him for what he really was and that pissed me off more than anything.

“Oh I don’t know Kennedy, maybe because he’s a bitch to me the second someone’s not looking.” he even had my parents on his side. I thought parents were supposed to believe their kids and support them?

“I’m sure that’s not true Maria, John adores you. He only ever says nice things about you!” I couldn’t help but scoff. Nice things? He really was good at manipulating people wasn’t he, and now he was my teacher and he was going to be able to do the same to the other teachers. Soon even Mr Edwards would hate me.

“Whatever you say Kenny, just take me home.” I wasn’t in the mood any more. I didn’t want to go back to school, today or ever.

“You have a lesson though.”

“I do realise this, however, I am not going. Now are you giving me a lift, or am I walking?” I wasn’t in the best of moods with him. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t told me about John, and I was still annoyed that he didn’t believe me. I’d given up on that battle long ago; he’d figure it out sooner or later.

“Fine, I’ll give you a ride, under the condition that you give John a chance, and you don’t show him up in front of the class.” I was willing to give John a chance sure, but there was no doubt I’d show him up in front of class at some point, all it would take was him saying something to piss me off. I decided not to tell him that though and instead begrudgingly agreed to his terms.

Kennedy dropped me off at home and left almost immediately, he had to get back to work so I gave him a hug and a kiss and told him to drop by later, because as much as I wanted to be mad at him, he was my brother and my best friend, and I just couldn’t stay mad at him for very long. He promised he’d come see me and then left.

I unlocked the door to my house, and without thought climbed the stairs to my room, and before I knew it I was passed out on my bed. When I woke up it was nearly dark outside, and Kennedy was sat in the arm chair in my room reading my copy of Romeo and Juliet.

“You know I never got this? Why risk fucking everything up for some chick? First he was in love with Rosalind and then Juliet, this dude seriously changed his mind a lot. If he’s lived he’d probably have left Juliet a few weeks later.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. Kennedy and I were scarily alike.

“You wanna go sit in my English lessons and tell him that? Pretty sure he’ll rip me to shreds if I try that one.” I laughed groggily.

Kennedy rolled his eyes, “You going to get up lazy? I was going to take you for dinner.” The idea of food had me out of my bed in a shot. As much as I loved English food, it just wasn’t as good as the American shit, “Knew that would get you out of bed.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever; how long were you sat there? And what time is it?” My hair was a mess, and my face was blotchy, I was beginning to burn. Being away from the sun for so long meant I was no longer used to it.

“Not long, I was going to give you another ten minutes before I woke you up, and it’s nearly nine.” I’d been asleep for ages. I checked my phone, and I had texts from both Fran and Clare and even one from John and a missed call from him. I decided to reply to Fran and Clare, and I’d leave John till later. I couldn’t be bothered with whatever he had to say. He’d probably found out I skipped and wanted to give me detention or some shit.

“Just give me a minute to sort myself out.” I ran to the bathroom to brush my hair and teeth and put on some make up. I didn’t bother with anything but foundation. It was only Kenny.

“Ready?” I nodded and followed him out to the car. “Where do you want to go?” I didn’t even have to think about it. There was this small art restaurant in town that served the best food ever and had amazing art. The first time I had eaten there I had cried because of how perfect it was.

“Warhol’s.” I said without falter.

“I should have guessed, okay then. Since it’s your first day back I shall let you off.”

It didn’t take us long to get there, and I was so excited. It was going to be my first meal back home, and I was so happy. As much as I’d loved England and loved the people and it’s culture and it cities. I’d missed home. I’d missed the food. The dusty air; how when it hit you would make you dirty, and it was hard to breathe. All the things I’d hated before I’d left, I’d grown to miss and love in weird way, I appreciated them more and all the things I loved before. Kennedy and I got our favourite booth, it was quiet, and away from everyone, and the art surrounding it was beautiful.

The waitress was making her way over with our menus, but I already knew what I wanted. “Two menus?” She asked. I was about to nod when Kennedy interrupted.

“No, three please, we have someone else joining us.” Just as I was about to as who, a familiar face appeared in the booth, in the seat in front of me.