005

"Ice cream? "

I asked stepping into the usually busy ice cream parlor here in Granville, which surprisingly isn't really busy today.

Looking around i spot Michael behind the counter handing a vanilla cone to a little girl holding on thigh to her mummy's hand, shinning his perfect set of white pearls at her encouragingly.

It's been long since I've seen him and been in here.

"just what you need "Kyle plays a soft smile while pulling my arm to the platform. Every step we took the overwhelming smell of chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, banana and pineapple filled my nostrils and makes my stomach turn.

I didn't even realize i was hungry until now. Hungry for sweets.

"Lexi " Michael grinned upon seeing me.

"hey Mike "

"you haven't been here in a while "if by 'while ' he means six months, yeah.

Six months! I feel a pang in my chest. That's right, i haven't been here since it happened.

I suddenly don't want to be here anymore. Being here brings back memories, memories i don't want to remember right now. My heart clenches.

Why did Kyle bring me here? Doesn't he realize this is about the last place i want to be right now? After...

"lexa are you okay? "golden brown eyes stare at me with so much intensity and concern. I look down and realize I've been gripping his hand way too hard.

Pulling my hand away, i mumble a not-so-quiet "yeah ".

"are you sure? "

I advert my gaze over to the concerned looking Michael, then to the different flavors of frozen ice cream on the display glass "i just don't think i want any ice cream..."

"of course you don't, but you need it "

"no i don't! Look can we just get out of here? Please. " he stares at me for a little while, searching, reading my emotions and trust me, he's good at that, no matter how i try to hide it he still always somehow figures out what I'm thinking. Then he nods, as if to say 'i understand ' and i let out a breath relieved, but then he turns to Michael and says "the usuals for her and me ".

Michael nods his head and gets to work, while i turn over to Kyle and glare at the side of his head. "i told you I don't want ice cream! "

"no. " he deadpans "but you need it "he turns back to Michael who hands him a small bag of take outs. "let's go "

We walked back out into the car and let the roof open with the wind blowing crazy through my hair. Frustrated for tugging it down, i just rapped it up into a messy bun.

"here "he handed me my cup and usual wafer sticks. Unknowingly a small smile tugs at my lips.

"you know me so well "

"when have i ever not ?"

Still smiling, i pulled off the cover, inhaling the sweet smell of strawberry, banana an peanuts. But that was nothing compared to the feeling of actually tasting this goodness.

God! I forgot how goood the ice cream was. It's like heaven in my mouth.

Slowly savoring the taste of strawberry banana, a low moan escapes my mouth and Kyle chuckles, licking on his double chocolate flavoring.

"i knew you needed this " don't you always?

We savor our ice-cream's in silence until I'm halfway gone before Kyle speaks up.

"so now that you have loosened up, how about you tell me what has been bothering you? "

My brow creased as i advert my gaze to see him leaning one arm on the opened window watching me and the breeze worked wonders to his gelled hair, making it look messy and even sexier.

"what are you talking about? "

"I've noticed it since i picked you up at the Gas Station. Tell me " i swallowed and stuffed a spoon full of ice cream into my mouth, biting hard on the peanuts.

"well? "

"i think I'm slacking"

"i don't understand "

"remember that chemistry test we had last two weeks? the one where Mrs grumpy won't stop glaring at you because of that one time she caught you giraffing your answers? "

"hey! I wasn't giraffing, it was an open expo, and besides you didn't mind. "

I roll my eyes. Kyle has always been more of a practical person than theories, which is why he constantly always failed miserably in math and Mrs Barrett's tests, except when he cheats from me that is.

"i messed it "

"what? "

"i came out with an eighty seven Kyle, I've never scored anything less than ninety nine in my life "

I really don't know what happened but i hate it, maybe it's because I've been so busy with work that i forget to study anymore. But i can't keep slacking like this or it would come back to bite me in the ass.

Kyle stared seriously at me for a few seconds, his eyebrows creased and i can tell he is thinking hard, but I'm not so sure anymore when he gives out and starts laughing heavily like there was something really funny printed on my head.

I just frown and watch him throw his head back in the drivers seat, laughing at me whole heartedly.

What's so funny! It pisses me off because I'm being serious and he thinks it's some kind of joke?

"are you quite done yet? "i ask when his laughter begins to dye down to chuckles.

He raises a finger "gi-give me a -a minute. "he goes back to holding his stomach and resting his head on the wheel still laughing.

Then he starts to cough.

At first i just roll my eyes and get even more pissed off, but when the coughing becomes so serious almost like his choking, i rush over to his side and start patting his back "are you okay? " i rob a few times before he finally stops and looks up at me with a silly grin on his face.

I groan and pull myself away from him back to my side of the car.

"is that seriously what has been bothering you? " he asks ridiculously.

"this isn't funny Kyle! I'm being serious here "i try not to yell.

"of course it's not "he rolls his eyes.

Was that sarcasm!

I huff in annoyance and push the door open, ready to walk home.

"oh come on nerdy! "he trails after me "you are not mad are you?" Not at all.

"don't call me that! "i snap

"why not? "

"because I'm not a nerd. "

"of course you aren't "a bemused smile is playing on his lips as he grips my shoulders to stop me from moving and turns me around.

"you don't have to stress about anything lexa, you are literally the smartest girl i know, so you don't need to get angry over a stupid test. Besides, a lot of people would kill to have a seventy, talk less of an eighty. "he said suddenly looking serious.

"i don't know Kyle. I need that scholarship and ..."

"you will get it "i let out a breath and just stare at him for a while. I believe him though, i will get that scholarship, i have to, Otherwise I'm going to be screwed.

His guffy grin broke into his face again as he tugged on my sleeves. "so on a rating of one to five, how much do i get for that brilliant pep talk? "

"zero point zero "i strolled past him and jumped into the car "you're welcome "

"hey! "he chuckles and walks behind me, "that's not fair "

"no, it's black! " i jump into the car holding back a laugh when i see the look of horror on his face after saying, "now get me back home before i release all the atrotical wastes battling in my stomach inside this beautiful car of yours. "