Page 13 of Reviving Kendall

I’m pretty sold on it this morning and since I have to work later, it would make more sense to drive. I’ll never make it over to the store and in to work on time if I’m walking. Snatching the keys down, I walk toward Gramps’ door. I knock softly, but there’s no answer. I hate to wake him up, but I need to make sure that he isn’t going to need them today. It’s not like he can drive, but sometimes the neighbors come over and borrow the car to run errands for him or take him to the doctor when I can’t.

“Gramps?” I call out softly, knocking again. I get no answer. One of my biggest fears is that I’m going to come knocking one day and the no answer will mean the worst. I know it’s inevitable. We all die at some point. I just don’t want it to be right now. There’s rustling on the other side of the door and I let out a relieved breath.

I hear him cough before saying, “Kendall? Everything ok?”

Cracking the door, I give him a few seconds warning and then peek my head around the corner, “I was going to take the car today. Would that be ok?”

He tries to hide his shock, “That’s perfectly fine. Robert did everything I needed him to do yesterday. Just drive careful please.”

“I will, Gramps, promise. I won’t be back after school. I’m going to run to the store before work. Want anything?” I ask.

He shakes his head then stops, “You know, I saw a commercial the other day for some of those white fudge covered Oreos. Your Nana would have loved those. Could you pick some up for us?”

I smile, “Of course. How are you feeling?”

“Better than I have all week,” he says smiling.

“Good,” I tell him, “I’ll be back later tonight. Call me at the school if you need anything or need me to bring the car back.”

He nods as he slowly lays back down, “I will, Pea. Drive safe.”

His words choke me up and I have to shut the door before I start crying. Gramps and I have never really said that we love each other, but his use of the nickname Pea reminds me that we don’t have to. It’s enough just to know that he cares, because we both already know. My heart takes a deep stab wound as I think about losing him. Not today Kendall. Keep your shit together.

I manage to make it all the way through school without running into any trouble, other than Mr. Parker telling me that if I’m going to start driving to school that I’ll need a parking pass. I spend my lunch break in the office filling out paperwork and waiting on the secretary to get her ducks in a row, but it pays off. Waiting until last bell, I rush out to put the sticky thing on my window, so I can hurry to the store.

“Goddamn it,” I say getting frustrated. The thing is monstrously huge and super sticky and for some reason keeps trying to crinkle on the window. I’m about ready to give up when a male hand reaches around and takes the sticker from me.

“Here let me help,” a voice says. I look up to see Billy Terth, the school’s quarterback, smiling back at me. Embarrassingly enough, he flattens the sticker in less than five seconds.

I want to thank him for his help, but my mouth is glued shut. His dirty blonde hair shines in the sun and with his hazel eyes plus a bright white smile, there’s no doubt that he’s a looker. He doesn’t run in Derrik’s circle, but that doesn’t mean that I trust him. Call me a stereotype if you want, but I don’t put anything past that asshole.

“Thanks,” I say finally.

He smiles wider, “You’re more than welcome. Those things can be kind of tricky at times.”

If I was feeling anything towards him, his next words would have crushed them, “I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new here?”

“You’re kidding right?” I say not able to stop myself.

He looks taken aback, “What?”

“Dude, we’ve been going to school together since the fourth grade,” I say backing up to open my door. “And what’s even worse is the fact that we have three classes together right now.”

His eyebrows draw down on his face as it scrunches in confusion. When I start the car, he backs away throwing me a smile and a wave. It’s actually a fucking creepy smile. His look is how a runner looks at the finish line. It makes me miss Lucas and the other guys. They may be arrogant prep boys, but at least they are genuine and don’t give me the willy nilly’s.

I try to shake it off as I go into the store. Conscious of my time frame, I know I don’t have a lot to spend picking anything out. Doing the next best thing, I get someone to help point me in the right direction. I manage to make it out of the store with a working smart phone, whatever the fuck that is, and a month’s worth of service for less than ninety bucks.

The first thing I do when I get to the car is save Lucas and Teagan’s number in the contacts the way that the guy showed me in the store. It takes me about five minutes, but I also figure out how to send them both a text message letting them know that I finally got a phone and giving them my number.

“Shit,” I say glancing at the time. “Shit, shit, shit.” I’m going to be late for the first time ever. I’ve got five minutes to make the fifteen minute drive to the restaurant. After Charles’ words the other night, I don’t think he’ll fire me over it, but it’s more than that. Nana and Gramps raised me with a work ethic of knowing better. Early bird gets the worm and all that hoopla.

Unfortunately, it looks like I won’t be getting that metaphorical worm today. I’m ten minutes late and have to rush through throwing my uniform on in the bathroom. Trying to make up for being so late, I work my ass off into the night. We are busier than normal and since I’m trying extra hard, tips roll in.

By closing time, there’s a fat wad of cash in my pocket. I’ve been staying so on top of everything that by the time Charles locks the doors, all I’ve got to do is fold some silverware up into napkins and the dining room will be done.

He walks by and pats me on the shoulder, “You’re the best employee I’ve got girl.”

I smile at his back and he says, “Just don’t tell the others.”

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