Chapter 3: Truce.

Four weeks after Will and Anne’s arrival, Kim was really stressed: she got bad grades, she got on really badly with everybody, she argued with her dad all the time… She was so in a bad mood that the littlest thing bothered her. Then, a specially stressing day, Kim couldn’t avoid that an argument with William turned into something more.

- I told you to leave me alone… - Kimberly said impatiently.

She was in the living room trying to study and William wouldn’t stop throwing little pieces of eraser at her.

- I’m bored, you should be proud of being my reason of having fun. – He said, also ‘doing homework’.

- I’ll be proud when I kick your arse.

- Uh, that was really mean… - He said pretending to be afraid, and then threw another piece of eraser at her.

- Leave me the hell alone! You’re not even doing homework, go away! – She shouted at him. She had unconsciously stood up and looked at him fiercely.

- Ok, ok… - He said.

He went to the kitchen but, while passing by next to her, he threw at her the lasts pieces of eraser and kept walking.

- Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

Kim run towards him, jumped over him and they both fell out the floor. William, who ended up under her, hit his head hardly.

- Since my mum died I’ve had to fight every day to wake up. My life was never easy, but since you and your mum came here, you completely ruined it!

She was on her knees over him. She had grabbed his shirt and, while yelling, she shook him. He only looked at her astonished.

- And your mum, how many times I’ve heard her talking shits about me to my dad! She says I’ve got too much freedom, I’m a spoiled girl, and he should to guard me! And then, your friends. They’re always criticizing me, insulting me and making fun of me, my boyfriend and Sally. And you do nothing about it! You laugh with them or agree! Don’t you know how it feels? Have you ever stopped to think about it? Do I mean this little to you…?

Kimberly had tears going down her cheek. She remained quiet waiting for an answer, but never thought of hearing what William said next.

- I'm sorry... - He said, looking right at her – I'm really sorry...

They were deeply looking at each other and Kimberly knew he was being sincere, so she get off of him and sat on the floor, with her arms around her legs. William slowly got up looking at her astonished; but she was looking somewhere else, like the horizon.

- I never saw you like this, you're really scary...

She still didn't say anything, so he continued talking.

- I know I'm not exactly 'Mister Friendly', but... it's not my fault that your mum died, nor our parents met, nor we came to live here, I didn't even wanted to...

But seeing that Kimberly was still absent-minded, he left her alone.

That night, Kim decided to shower before going to sleep and, when she went to her bedroom, she had to go back some steps and walk forward again to make sure that was her bedroom: William was sitting on her bed, like waiting for her.

- Knock, knock. - Kimberly said when she entered. - I think... you're in the wrong bedroom.

Will smiled and asked:

- You sleep here, don't you?

- Yes... - She answered a bit wary.

- Well, then I'm in the right bedroom. - He said as he got up. - I wanted to talk to you.

- OK. May I get dressed before? - She was just wearing underwear and a towel.

- Sure. - He said, but he didn't move.

- Yeah, that means 'go and come back later'. - She said, because the boy hadn't got the message.

- Come on, can't I just turn around? I don't want to waste time and who knows how much it takes to you to get dressed.

William was determinated to stay, so she thought about it.

- Al right, but if I turn around and you're looking, I'll castrate you.

Will pretended pain and turned around. She put her pyjama on quickly and got into bed.

- I'm ready.

He turned around and sat on her bed, very close to her.

- I listen. - Kim said a bit nervous because of he suddenly getting closer.

- I've came so we can make a deal. It may seem that I do, but I actually don't enjoy it when we argue, so we're going to have to change. For example, when...

It seemed he to be going on and on, so Kimberly interrupted him.

- Get to the point.

- OK. - He said – I ignore you and you ignore me. I won't get into your life and you won't get into mine.

- Right... does that include the bad murmurs?

- No more bad murmurs. - He said while shaking his head.

- And... does that include a 'I'll shut my friends up' too?

- Mmm... I'll try. But then you're going to have to talk to your friend Sissy and make her stop stressing me and pulling silly faces every time she sees me. - He said with vanity.

- First of all: It's Sally, not Sissy; and second: I'll try.

The boy rose his thumb up and stood up to go, but Kim grabbed his wrist and made him sit down again.

- Wait... I just wanted to apologize for what I did today, I don't know what happened to me, believe me, I don't usually get fits like that.

- Oh, no, I'm the one who should apologize. You had reasons to get mad at me, I admit I'm annoying. And you're right about the other things; about my friends, I mean. It's true that I haven't thought of you, I mean, in how you must feel when... well, you know, and it must be the most anti ethic thing in the world not knowing to be in the skin of someone else.

Kimberly was freaking out, and it must have reflected in her face, because William asked:

- What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?

- It's just... I would never have imagined those words could ever come out of your mouth.

The two young laugh and she continued.

- At last, that attitude of yours of being a nice guy is not bad.

- Yeah, it's just I'm realizing now of the person that there's behind so much... black stuff. After these weeks living with you, I don't know how I didn't realize before that you're cool.

- See? That's called judging without knowing...

Kim couldn't avoid that some tears came out of her eyes by saying that, after listening to what William had just said.

- Hey... Why are you crying? - William asked when he saw her, and got a bit closer

- It's just... after so many years taking your jokes, your insults... taking you hating me for no reason... taking your sucker friends, your wonderful girl friends always flattering around you, knowing myself that I'll never have you...

- What...? - He said lowly when he heard the last thing she had said.

She seemed not having listened to him and continued talking.

- After all that... that you come now and tell me what you told me... for me it's like you said you've always loved me...

She talked like if she was writing it in a personal diary, like if she didn't know he was right there, but then he spoke.

- Do you mean... that you like me?

She looked up horrified and put her hand over her mouth, like saying 'Did I say it loudly?'.

- Well, yes, I won't lie to you... But not now, but before meeting Tom. And I didn't like you, I was crazy about you.

- Wow... - He said and, after a few seconds, he put his hand on her cheek – Well, you know what? You're much better than any other girl in school. I've dated a few of them, but I've never loved any. They're very superficial, very silly. But you... - he started to caress her cheek and to get closer – you are sweet, smart... and very pretty...

Kim's heart started beating really fast. Will was closer each time, very closer... Their noses were almost touching... But no, she didn't want to, she couldn't, she had a great boy who she really loved, and the young boy who was now almost kissing her was only a dead illusion.

- Will...

He moved away slowly, got up and walker towards the door, but stopped at half the way.

- So... is it a deal? - He asked the girl about starting to get on well.

- It's a deal. - She said with a shy smile, then he turned around and left.

That night, Kimberly didn't have a well sleep, because she had the horrible feeling of having cheated her boyfriend.

Chapter 2: News

After 2 o 3 months, Kim and her dad kept trying to live a normal life. One day, her dad decided to surpriseher with a new:

- Kim, I have to talk to you. - He said while sitting on the sofa next to her.

- Ok, tell me.

- Well, the thing is... is...

- Yes? - Kimberly said laughing.

- Well... in the past weeks I've been seeing someone and...

- Oh, dad...

Kim saw that coming, but she couldn't help it but feeling betraid.

- Yes, listen, I'm not replacing mum at all, but I've felt really lonely since then and I've found a lot of affection in this person.

His dad was being really honest, so she tried to be understanding.

- I understand... Who are we talking about?

- She's a colleague from work, her name's Anne, and I'm sorry but I don't intend to put up with any immature behaviour from you.

He was so serious that he intimidated her a bit.

- Ok. No, don't worry, I actually knew this day would ever arrive, I just wasn't ready...

- No, I said that because there's something more. - John clarified.

- More...?

- Yes. Look, this house is too big, you know, and... - He started.

- Oh God... - Kim whispered knowing what his dad meant.

- Yes, I've thought that...

- Tom and Sally could move here... - she still whispered.

- I told her to move here. - His dad said with authority.

- No way! - She screamed.

- They are! I'm in charge here and I said they're coming to live here tomorrow!

Kimberly hadn't ever seen her dad in that mood and she felt like crying, but then she realized the last thing he had said.

- They? Tomorrow?

She was freaking-out.

- I said I wouldn't put up with your immaturity. Go up to your bedroom.

He had calm down, but was speaking a bit sad because of his daughter's behaviour.

It was Sunday, and Kimberly woke up believing that what her dad had told her the previous night had been a dream, but then remembered it had actually happened. She stood quiet on the bed with closed eyes, reflecting on the conversation they had had, thinking about the details... He had said 'they', that meant that Anne was bringing someone with her, maybe she had children... That thought made her shiver, because she hated kids. But maybe it was someone older, someone of the same age as her. That made her another shiver: if that person was old like her it had to go to her school, and she didn't get on with anybody. She thought about the other thing her dad had said, 'tomorrow', that meant that day, so she decided to call Sally and tell her what was going on.

Half an hour later, the blond girl went downstairs to have breakfast and talk to her dad. Her phone call turned out to be useless, as her friend got to lower her spirits by telling her not to worry about the kids, because maybe it was a cat, which ones Kim was really afraid of, or worst, an old and wrinkled aunt, and Kim couldn't stand old people.

When she found her dad in the kitchen she didn't know what to say, but luckily he started first.

- Anne and her son are coming at 8 pm tonight; - Kim got a disappointment – we'll have dinner, show them the house and you will take her son to his bedroom. He'll sleep in the one next to mine. I'm confident that you'll be polite all the time and you won't show me up in front of them. If you don't, Kimberly, you will let me down and I won't rely on you anymore.

Kim could only nod after such speech.

- Oh, one more thing. - Her dad said more relaxed – You'll have to help me out with the cooking.

- Of course I will, dad. - Kim said and hugged him, as her mum was the one that used to deal with important dinners.

That evening, Kimberly was free to hang up with her friends. They played to guess who was going to be her mysterious ‘step-brother’. They even made bets, but at 5 o’clock she had to go to help her dad.

At 7.30 pm everything was ready: dinner cooked, table laid and house clean. Kim was very tense, she eagerly wanted to know who were going to be the people she’d have to live with since that day. Minutes passed by and John was a bit nervous too. Kimberly looked herself in the living room’s mirror and saw a little spot in her shirt. She run out to change clothes, but when she gave a few steps the bell-door rang…

- Shit! – Kim exclaimed thinking of the spot.

Her dad told her off for saying a swearword, told her to leave the shirt alone and go to open the door. She sword again to herself, opened the door and then…

- You! - She screamed.

- Her? – A boy with blue eyes and fair hair exclaimed, staring at his mum in wide-eyes.

- They… - A pretty and elegant woman with brown hair said, looking at John.

- And we… - He said, pointing at himself. Then he shook his head to clear his mind. – Do you know each other?

- Come on, are you kidding me? What are we doing at this freak’s house, mum? – He asked his mum rudely.

- God, Will, where does this behavior come from? How dare you? – The woman said embarrassed.

- Shut your mouth, brainless snooty, or I’ll do it for you! – Kim said to the boy.

John, who was disconcerted and saw William coming with a reply, decided to intercede.

- That’s enough! What’s the problem with you two?

The guys didn’t reply, they were busy staring fiercely at each other.

- Well, - John continued more calm – it’s obvious you know each other… This hasn’t started right, why don’t you come in so we can solve this while dinning? – He added looking at Anne.

- Yes, good idea… - She said.

When they entered, she kissed John, and Kim pulled a face.

While having dinner, John tried to start again, so he decided to make the introductions.

- Kim, this is Anne Thouson. – He said with hope in his voice, so Kim forced a smile. – And he is… well, you already know him… - She rolled her eyes.

The dinner went quiet, only altered by some low mean commentaries and by killer looks. At dessert time, Kimberly and her dad went to the kitchen to take some cookies and make coffee.

- This is terrible, I can’t believe it… - Kim said to herself shaking her head, while making coffee.

- But, what’s the problem? What’s wrong with that boy, Kimberly? – Her dad said looking at her without understanding.

- Dad, William is one of the poshest and most popular boys of my school. – She said like the problem was obvious.

- Oh, well, look how lucky you are, you’re going to live with a popu…

- You don’t understand it, do you? Dad, look at me, I’m the most unpopular person ever. That jerk has got ¾ of the school in his pocket, if not all, and all of them hate me, including him.

Her dad looked at her, left the cookies on the table and got closer to her.

- Look, I don’t know either what problems you have exactly or why you don’t like each other, but William is going to live here since tonight, in your house, and you’ll have to learn to coexist. – He said seriously, then took the cookies and came out of the kitchen.

Kimberly took a few seconds to think about what his dad had just told her. She just couldn’t believe, the last boy she would have said was the one that was going to live with her. Her friends wouldn’t ever believe her.

When she went back to the living room with the coffee, William was much more polite, he even gave her a fake smile when she threw at him his cup. Kim was sure that his mum gave him money or something like that when they were alone to him to behave well.

A while later, the moment of taking William to his bedroom arrived. Kimberly’s heart was beating really fast. She didn’t know what could happen up there, after all, they had never been alone before. What if suddenly he got a fit and hurt her? He knew that Kim wouldn’t run out to tell his dad, she wasn’t like that… She moved those thoughts away when his dad told her to help William with his baggage.

Once upstairs, Kim showed him reluctantly where the bedrooms were.

- This is a bathroom, at the end of the corridor there’s another and downstairs another. This is my bedroom, this is my dad’s and your mum’s, and here’s where you are going to sleep. If you need something you know where your mummy sleeps. Good night.

She reeled all this off parrot-fashion and believing that Will would say something rude to her, but all he did was nodding.

- Bye. – He said and locked himself in his bedroom.

Next morning, when Kim went downstairs to have breakfast, everybody was already in the kitchen. Then, his dad told them that he would take both of them together to school.

- You must be kidding… - William whispered, but Kim got to hear it.

- Hey, if you don’t want to come with me…

- Kim… - His dad interrupted her with warning.

That day everybody in school stared at them. At 7.50 am, as they took one step out of the car, all the students looked at them astonished. There were immediately murmurs and some shouts.

- Dude, what where you doing with that freak in a car? – Will was asked by a friend of his.

- Nothing, I’ll tell you later…

Then, Kimberly heard Sally’s voice.

- Kim! – She waited for her friend to get closer. – Why was Will in your car?

- Right, what’s going on? – Her boyfriend asked her confused.

- Guys, you won’t believe it…

They sat in a bank while she explained them everything, until the bell rang. Her friends had such a sceptic face that it seemed it was never going to get normal.

- So, you mean that you’re going to live with… - Sally started.

- Shush! Don’t talk about this here, we continue later. – Kim interrupted, because people were very gossip.

In the following days, the relationship between Kimberly and William was getting worst. They argued at every time and for everything, and their parents were sick of that.

- I said I shower here! – Kim yelled while trying to get William out of the way between her and the bathroom.

- You never shower! You always have black in your eyes! – He answered while clutching to the door.

- There are three bathrooms in this house! Stop arguing! – Anne yelled from the stairs.

- Dad, you know I always shower in this bathroom, tell him to go to another one! – Kimberly shouted to her dad, who was downstairs watching TV.

- That’s not true! You saw I was coming here and it occurred to you after that. You only do it to bother me! – William yelled, and then pushed the girl away from him and closed the bathroom door.

Kimberly hit the roof and went to other bathroom.

- Gosh, I’m tired. Will they ever stop quarreling? – Anne said to John in the living room.

- I’m tired too, honey, I don’t know what to do with them… - He answered.

Chapter 1: The hardest goodbye.

It was a grey, cold, rainy day, a day that perfectly combined with Kimberly’s mood. She felt dark and cold in the inside, and all she was doing was look at that coffin where the person she had loved the most was lying, and, if they weren’t in a cemetery, anyone would’ve said that person was sleeping. Kim didn’t feel anything, only a distant voice belonged to a man that looked like a priest that was talking about the woman in the coffin, but all he was saying was rubbish that some idiot had written in his place; but he… no, he had no idea what he was talking about, he had no idea about the pain of the people standing there, probably he didn’t even know that woman’s name.

Kimberly felt a warm hand holding hers and turned to hug his dad, while only one question was in her mind: ‘Why to me?’

A few minutes later, she saw everybody was leaving the place and felt her dad’s hand was pulling hers. Then, she knew she had to say goodbye:

- Goodbye, mum…

Winter was coming, so when they went home it was already dark. As it was during the week, they had an early, quiet dinner. Later, John walked her daughter to bed.

- Dad, I don’t know why you made me wear this ridiculous dress. – Kim said to her dad, while she hung on her closet a horrible black dress with lace edging.

- Honey, you know that people wear black clothes in funerals, that mourning stuff. – John answered patiently.

- I’m not referring to the colour, dad, all my clothes are black, remember I’m Gothic. – Her dad rolled his eyes, as he hated that matter. – I’m referring to the fact that it has a horrible shape, and it was grandma’s…

- Kimberly, your grandma gave it to you with all his love and, plus, it was what… your mum would have wanted you to wear. – He added with grief.

- No, mum would have wanted me to wear what I wanted, being myself, and you know that.

Her dad sighed like saying uncle.

- Goodnight, honey. – He said, and kissed her in her forehead – If you need something or you feel alone, just call me.

- Ok. Wait, - she added as her dad was leaving – don’t you forget something? – Then, she pointed her eyes, which were covered by black make up that brought out their blue colour.

- Oh, right. Your mum always told you to remove your make up before going to bed…

- Exactly. – Kimberly nodded, smiling sadly, and went to the toilette.

There, she sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. Reflected in it, she saw the image of a 17 years old pretty girl. She had long, straight, blond hair, with black highlights underneath. Her skin, pale and thin, covered a slender body. Her lips were thick, and the lower one was pierced. Looking at her eyes, she noticed a tear going down her face, so she removed her make up quickly and went to bed.

Next morning, Kimberly woke up early to go to school. She went downstairs to the kitchen to have breakfast and said good morning to his dad.

- Hey, you don’t have to go to school today if you don’t want to, I’ll call your tutor.

- No, it’s Okay, it will be good to be with Sally and Tom. – She said while sitting down in the chair.

And it was true. Sally was her best and only friend; Kim was very fond of her because she didn’t care about what the girls in the school said, and she kept being her friend despite of the black clothes and make up. And Tom was her boyfriend; she loved him so much, plus, he and his friends were emos and they knew how it was like to be the freak of the school.

Kim noticed that in front of her there were honey spread toasts and a cup of coffee. She looked at her dad inquiringly.

- I made the breakfast for you. – He said full of pride and joy, because he didn’t do it since she was a little girl.

- I don’t drink coffee, dad. -  She answered in low voice.

It was a strange situation, and a bit embarrassing. John was trying to start filling the empty his wife had left but it seemed that there were details about his daughter that he didn’t know, like she didn’t drink coffee.

- Oh… I’m so sorry, Kim…

- No, it doesn’t matter, I’ll drink it anyway. I can’t stand black coffee, but white coffee is not that bad… - Kim said, raising the cup to drink it.

- You really don’t have to do it…

But Kim had already sipped it, and couldn’t avoid pulling a face.

- Ugh, it needs a bit of sugar. – She said after hardly swallowing. She added one more spoonful and drank again. – Oh, much better. – She lied.

Her dad smiled satisfied and continued reading the newspaper, and she took the opportunity to add three more spoonful of sugar.

At 7:55 John dropped her at school and went to work. At the moment that her friends hugged her, she felt happy for having gone to school.  When the hug finished, she looked at them as if she hadn’t seen them for months. Sally was a slim girl, with brown, curly hair, brown eyes and a great smile. And Tom, a hefty 18 years old good-looking boy; he had black hair and his fringe covered almost his two eyes, which were grey and had black make up. He wore piercings, in his ears, lips and in one eyebrow, and he wore black clothes.

- Honey, I’m really sorry…

- I’m so sorry, Kim…

Her friends didn’t stop saying things like that all the way to the entrance door, and she thanked them with a sad smile. Normally, and despite of their dark clothes, they went unnoticed at school, but that day Kim felt that everybody was looking at her. In that moment, they passed in front of the cool people of the school, the richest, the poshest, the ones that everybody looked up to.  There was the typical boy all the girls were crazy about: William. He was really good-looking, tall, fair hair, and had some light blue eyes that captivated anyone, like Sally, who was one of the girls that was crazy about him.

When they were passing in front of them, Kim wouldn’t have been surprised if they had started shouting things at them, as usual. However, when they saw her they stood quiet and looked at her with pity, only for a moment; then, they kept laughing and talking with each other.  

That day was a bit out of routine, since all her classmates and teachers offered her their condolences. They didn’t do it for her, but for his mum, that was famous around the neighbourhood because of her kind soul, and was very loved by the people in the area. It was a sad loss.

Some time later, Christmas arrived, a time that used to be cheerful and magical to the family, but that year was different. Normally, John and his wife, Rachel, had some days off and took the opportunity to make a little trip to the mountains. That year, though, father and daughter were invited by Sally’s family to spend Christmas at their house, since the girls’ parents were close friends. Those weren’t the happiest days, but John and Kim felt happy for having friends like them. That way, the grief was stopping.