Paper Wishes novel Chapter 7

I looked back and forth between our cashier and Kai and wondered if this was the mystery girl he was interested in? She had blue eyes and long dark blond hair. I thought that she was very pretty.

"Did you finish the assignment for Japanese class? I had some trouble with it," she said. It was obvious that she was trying to engage him in conversation as she totaled everything up.

"Yeah, I did. It wasn't that hard, maybe you should try using the book's companion CD? I've heard that helps."

Isn't he just being a ray of sunshine? Maybe he was one of those guys who reverted to the childish if-I-like-a-girl-I-should-be-mean-to-her mentality because he didn't know how to deal with his feelings otherwise. As I handed the cashier-her name tag identified her as Ann-the money I owed, I rolled my eyes internally at how asinine this whole situation was.

If Kai liked her he should really just tell her instead of being aloof in person and going home to do an Internet search for advice on how to confess his feelings. Since he wouldn't tell me who it is that he likes I shouldn't interfere and risk making a mess of things, I told myself. I'd never seen him act so cold toward anyone, so he must have felt something for her-one way or another.

After Ann gave me my change and the tickets, Kai brusquely grabbed our snacks and walked away, a look of hurt and shock crossed her face. I gave her an apologetic smile before I ran to catch up with him. I've never seen this side of him before. I didn't know he was even capable of being so short with someone.

"You don't even know what theater we're in," I said when I caught up to him.

"I was just going to wait for you here," he said. He gestured with his free arm toward the open area where the benches and cardboard standees were-out of the line of sight of the concession stand and Ann.

"Is there any particular reason for that?" I raised an eyebrow, perplexed by his strange behavior.

"Now isn't a good time to talk about this," he said. His eyes darted in the direction of the concession.

Oh. Something was up.

"For now, let's leave it at that I don't like her very much." His glasses slid down his nose and he gave me an unhappy look that said, 'Drop it.'

My brow furrowed as I tried to understand Kai's sudden change in attitude but he implied that he would tell me more later on so I decided to let it go-for now. In an attempt to lighten the mood I said, "I know what it is."

He frowned slightly. "What?"

"You're nervous about watching a scary movie and you're still upset that I said I wouldn't hold your hand for emotional support!" I stuck my tongue out at him and scurried off in the direction of theater number eight, where the movie of our choice was playing.

I looked back over my shoulder to see Kai was momentarily caught in a stupor as his mouth hung open. Before he caught himself he looked down and smiled, shaking his head before he jogged after me, snacks still in hand.

*****

Beware The Sheeple

"That movie was horrifying," Kai shuddered as he put his car keys down on the kitchen counter. "And the scariest part was, I was so thirsty," he added with mock horror.

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