Chapter Text
As the sun smiles through the sky, with its beautiful warmth hugging the trees and buildings, Kel runs towards a broken-down house with trash littered all around it and stands at its door, barely containing his smile. Today was the right time, the right day, and he is not going to break their promise. Not again.
The door opens itself before Kel can even knock. Causing Aubrey to jump. After collecting her thoughts, her eyebrows burrow and she casts her famous frown, known to get any adults to take her side when they used to be kids.
"What are you doing here, Kel?" she growls as her hands cross each other while she speaks.
He giggles, back at her as if that answers her question, "we are going to school together!" he smiles. Aubrey stares at him dumbfoundingly as Kel continues, "remember a few weeks ago before he told the truth about what happened to Mari?"
Aubrey's face fills itself with remorse as she shifts her eyebrows and bit her lips with her face looking down. She whispers in a soft voice, "yeah I remember" she then takes a step back and looks right him looking puzzled, "but what does that have to do with going to school, me?" she asks with a louder volume.
Kel does a little jazz hand and smiles "We promised to be there for each other from now on and I am not going to break this one just because of what happened in the hospital" Aubrey walks closer to him, starting out with a giggle. She holds her mouth as she goes into a fit of laughter.
Wiping a tear from her eyes, she smiles back at him. "Sorry Kel", her face brightens up, making her look almost 5 years younger. "Come on, let's go", she gestures to him to follow her as they walk down the empty road.
They reach the park before Aubrey runs off to go to the store, coming back with a bag full of drinks and snacks. Kel was about to comment about it, but after he opens his mouth he changes his mind and shuts himself up. It was probably for the best for him to not talk about it now.
The only noise around is their footsteps and the rustling of the items inside the bag. Both of them want to speak, but no words dare to leave their mouths as they continue forwards. As they walk Aubrey sees 2 kids in the corner of her eye, but as she turns her head to see them, they are gone. "I must have imagined it", she told herself.
Kel finally speaks up as they near the school. "Well, here we are!" he sighs, looking at Aubrey in hopes she has something interesting to reply with. All that he got back was a nod.
"school pass or new?" the security guard demanded with a smile on his face. Aubrey pulls hers out, while Kel tries to look into his bag. Nothing. He checks the bag's pockets. Nothing. He even checks his own pockets. Nothing. He repeats it again and again, only to realize he left it at home. A cry escapes from his lips as he checks his bag for the last time. He doesn't want to go to the reception, she always glares at him every time he forgets and sighs "again?". It always feels embarrassing to see her.
Jay, who has watched the entire thing, giggles at the scene before him and walks forward with a grin to the security guard, "hey sir!" Jay calls out, "my friend Kel here is not new to this school or anything, but he is as forgetful as a goldfish, is it okay if you let him pass today? Hopefully, he will remember to bring it tomorrow"
The security guard shrugs as he lets the three enter the school. Kel smiles warmly to Jay, who nods in response as they go their separate ways. Aubrey, however, smacks her hand in her face on the entire situation.
"Next time don't lose to bring the card" she grumbles.
"Don't worry Aubrey, I won't" he says, as they start the first day back from school.