The Boy Next Door

18 - Your dad is rich, you're his daughter.

Doug insisted that my father would be extremely uncomfortable if I didn't accept a ride back home, and I wasn't in the mood for experimenting with New York subway anyway, so I took up his offer.

It pissed me off though. How'd he think I was supposed to travel around the city when he wasn't here.

That's right, he never thought about it. He never thought about what it feels like being thrown out into the world after being shielded from everything my whole life.

I thanked Doug and then the driver, and ran into to the Pearson High cafeteria, finding my way to the kitchen as I put on my apron.

I walked through the door seeing Cole already there with Maggie. There were also about 6-7 others already working.

"Sorry I got late, I-

"Don't worry, I been informed by Mrs.Whitlaw," Maggie said.

I nodded slowly. "Cole, tell her what to do, I've got work," She said and walked away.

He nodded and gave me a small smile.

"We just have to cut the vegetables and hand them over to...Earl, Eddy and Lisa, they'll do the rest,"

"That's not so bad," I said.

"Mhhh," He hummed, pulling a blanket off a pile of SO MANY VEGETABLES OH MY GOD.

"Oh wow," I mumbled. "Okay, I can do this," I said to myself.

"Uhm, I thought we'd be faster if you peal them, and I cut, does that work? I have to be back to close the café before 9," He said.

I frowned, imagine going back to work after this.

"Yeah sure," I said, trying my hair up in a bun.

"You know how to peal them?" He asked, as I picked up a potato.

"Why'd you assume I don't. I can do things myself you know," I instinctively said.

"I know Kiara...You said you haven't cooked before. It'd be weird if you were good at it," He said softly.

That's true isn't it. It's fine to be new to things. It's fine to be bad initially.

I sighed. I picked up the potato turning it around in my hand.
"No you're right, I don't know how to do this," I complained, trying to rip of the skin with the sharp side of the peeler.

"Don't stress," Cole said. "Hold it still, move the sharp edge across it smoothly, not too fast," He said.

"mmh" I hummed, chipping off the skin slightly harshly.

"Where were you anyway," He asked, picking up a potato and starting to chop it into smaller pieces.

"I went to meet my dad," I said, focused.

"Hey that's cute," He smiled.

I scoffed, replaying my dad's conversation with me in my head.

Cole looked at me. "What, was is not as fun as you'd hoped?" he asked.

"Not even close.." I said, "and the bar was already on the floor," I mumbled softly after.

"What happened?" He asked, chopping his potatos away with ease, as I sturggled to peal them.

Chopping seems easier.

"Can you peal them, I'll cut," I asked, and he nodded as we switched places.

I sighed. "Nothing really he's just kind of dick," I said, answering his question.

Cole sniffled. "Yeah...happens," He said.
"I thought you guys were close though," He said moments later.

I clenched my jaw.