Chapter 9: Chapter Nine
I woke up to the smell of bacon and pancakes cooking as I sat up in bed. looking around the room I realized I wasn't in my own bed, but at my mother's house in the guest room. thinking about the events that happened last night at Mike's parents' house made me feel upset again, I wasn't sure where we stood with each other but I knew I wasn't ready to talk to him. looking at my phone at 8 am, I had no calls from mike or any text messages. throwing my phone back down on the bed I get up heading into the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. looking in the mirror, my eyes were still kind of puffy from crying last night as I told my mother what had happened. feeling my stomach growing realizing I hadn't eaten anything.
following the scent of bacon, I make my way to the kitchen where I see joe sitting at the table reading his newspaper and his mother cooking breakfast.
" good morning, " I say grabbing a cup from the cabinet.
" Hey dear, how you feeling? my mother asks putting pancakes on a plate with bacon.
" I'm okay." I lie.
" here sit down and eat." my mother says handing me my plate. sitting down at the table across from joe, he smiles at me taking a sip of his coffee.
" Hey, Joe," I say greeting him.
" Hey kid, glad you finally came home, we miss you," Joe says as my mother puts a breakfast plate in front of him.
my mother joins us, pouring me coffee, and we start eating in silence.
" so you want to do some shopping today before you head home?" my mother asks stuffing her mouth with pancakes.
" um, I guess," I say sipping my coffee.
" don't you worry, mike loves you? his parents are just old fashion and cant help their prejudice." my mother says.
" what bothers me is that he knew his parents wouldn't approve but yet he took me to meet them anyway," I say upset.
" Maybe he thought they change. this town has its racist but the Luciano has been that way for as long as I can remember" joe says rolling his eyes.
" you should have heard the gossip about our wedding, did that stop us? no" my mother says kissing joseph.
" yea mom I know," I say laughing.
********
mother and I made our way to the mall to do some shopping, she wanted to spend time with me as we made our way to various clothing stores. I bought at least 10 clothing items from forever 21. going to the food court for lunch my mother wants sub sandwiches which sounded good as my stomach growled. looking at my phone I had a text from mike. he wanted to come to get me but I told him no I think it's best we give each other space. I wasn't so sure I wanted to be with mike. sitting down at our table with our food my mother's phone starts ringing. as she began her conversation with whoever was on the other end, I looked around the eating area seeing people laugh, talking. taking a bite of my sandwich.
" Kendra?" a male voice says behind me.
turning around I see Conner. great I thought to myself.
" oh hey Connor!" my mother says waving at him after ending her phone conversation.
" hey I say" not making eye contact with him
" well it's good seeing you, Mrs. Shirley," he says walking away,
" Kendra, why were you so rude to Connor?" my mother asks.
" mom it's nothing, we aren't friends," I say,
" he is like family, he seemed like she wanted to talk to you." my mother says eating her sandwich.
looking over where Conner was, I could see him staring at me with an expression I couldn't read. It's time for me to go back home I thought.
Connor Pov
I couldn't believe who I was seeing. there she was sitting in the food court with her mother. she looked great, it been 3 months since I had seen her. I wasn't gonna past this opportunity not to talk to her. walking towards her with confidence,
" Kendra?" I say as she turns around looking at me.
" oh hey Connor," Mrs. Shirley says waving at me.
" hey," Kendra says dryly.
she didn't even sound happy to see me, she wasn't looking at me either which begged me. I needed to talk to her alone but how? looking down on the floor I see a shopping bag, gabbing it quickly without them noticing.
" you good seeing you. see you later Mrs. Shirley. I say walking away.
walking back to where Chris was I can feel Kendra looking at me, she thought she could just avoid me she another thing coming. I felt Chris looking at me as I walk off heading out of the mall.
'' dude what the hell is up? Chris asks following me to my truck.
" nothing." I lie.
" I saw that chick, what's your obsession with her?" Chris asks sliding into the passenger seat.
"it's nothing, you wouldn't understand," I say pulling out of the lot.
" you shop at forever 21?" Chris asked looking at the bag I tossed in the back seat.
" no, she drooped it so ima going to take it to her." I say
" why didn't you just give it to her at the mall? " Chris asks confused.
" dude just shut up. don't worry about my business." I say annoyed
"you're losing it. I thought you hated her." Chris says shaking his head.
Kendra Pov
we arrived back at my mom's house, she and Joe were going to do some stakes on the grill tonight and salad for dinner. my mom begged me to stay until after dinner. sitting on the couch sipping a glass of wine I hear a knock at the door. my mom and joe were busy prepping dinner, so I guess I had to answer it.
opening the door I see Connor standing there with a forever 21 bag. of course, I left it and he had to be the one to get it.
" Kendra who that?" my mother asked walking up behind me
" oh Connor! I was just telling your uncle joe we ran into at the mall. come in dear," she says as he comes in.
" here you go, you left this," he says handing me my shopping bag.
rolling my eyes without saying anything I take the bag from him, walking to the guest room. I wasn't going to let him get me I thought to myself. walking back to the living room for my glass of wine I hear my mother inviting Connor to stay for dinner, great.
"sure loved to," Connor says helping himself to a beer in the fridge. my mother goings back out back to help joe fire up the grill as Connor joins me in the living room. sitting across from me. I can feel the awkward silence.
" So how have you been?" Connor asks taking a sip of his beer.
" I've been great," I say not bothering to say more.
"you're avoiding me?" Connor asks with a sly grin on his face.
" What makes you say that? I ask feeling nervous
" you left town," Connor says
" that had nothing to do with you. I do have a life." I say rolling my eyes.
"I know what donna told you, it's not what you think," Connor says looking serious.
" oh, so you weren't using me? you don't hate me? or the part where you're a racist asshole? I ask taking a sip of my wine again.
" maybe I was that person, but I'm not anymore," Connor says
" yeah whatever," I say rolling my eyes.
I see my mother heading back inside with a platter of cooked steaks, getting up ignoring Connor I head to the kitchen to help finish preparing the meal.
" did you talk to him dear?" my mother asks
" yea. he's fine." I say grabbing the vegetables to prep the salad.
" he's handsome, I think he likes you," my mother says randomly.
" Is that why you let him stay for dinner? mom me and mike haven't broken up" I say surprised.
" I know. I can tell by the way he looks at you, he asks about you from time to time." my mother says smiling
" mom stop. trust me he doesn't." I say rolling my eyes.
" are you and mike okay? have you spoken to him today?" my mother asks sounding concerned.
" yea, I think we will be," I say not really sure.
after the delicious meal, I decided to do all the cleaning before leaving. Connor was in the living room talking to joe and my mother as I could hear the laughter from whatever they were discussing. when I was finished cleaning I head to the guest room to grab my things, I was ready to head home. going into the living room the chatter stopped when they noticed my presents.
" ima head home mom," I say hugging her.
" awe, is mike coming to get you?" my mother asks.
" I'm waiting for his text, if not ill get a Uber ride," I say looking at my phone.
" I can drive you," Connor says standing up from the couch.
" that's not necessary" I object.
"nonsense dear let the man drive you." my mother says hugging me
rolling my eyes I follow behind Connor thinking this will be a long awkward drive.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone