Four weeks after Will and Anne’s arrival, Kim was really stressed: she got bad grades, she got on really badly with everybody, she argued with her dad all the time… She was so in a bad mood that the littlest thing bothered her. Then, a specially stressing day, Kim couldn’t avoid that an argument with William turned into something more.
- I told you to leave me alone… - Kimberly said impatiently.
She was in the living room trying to study and William wouldn’t stop throwing little pieces of eraser at her.
- I’m bored, you should be proud of being my reason of having fun. – He said, also ‘doing homework’.
- I’ll be proud when I kick your arse.
- Uh, that was really mean… - He said pretending to be afraid, and then threw another piece of eraser at her.
- Leave me the hell alone! You’re not even doing homework, go away! – She shouted at him. She had unconsciously stood up and looked at him fiercely.
- Ok, ok… - He said.
He went to the kitchen but, while passing by next to her, he threw at her the lasts pieces of eraser and kept walking.
- Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!
Kim run towards him, jumped over him and they both fell out the floor. William, who ended up under her, hit his head hardly.
- Since my mum died I’ve had to fight every day to wake up. My life was never easy, but since you and your mum came here, you completely ruined it!
She was on her knees over him. She had grabbed his shirt and, while yelling, she shook him. He only looked at her astonished.
- And your mum, how many times I’ve heard her talking shits about me to my dad! She says I’ve got too much freedom, I’m a spoiled girl, and he should to guard me! And then, your friends. They’re always criticizing me, insulting me and making fun of me, my boyfriend and Sally. And you do nothing about it! You laugh with them or agree! Don’t you know how it feels? Have you ever stopped to think about it? Do I mean this little to you…?
Kimberly had tears going down her cheek. She remained quiet waiting for an answer, but never thought of hearing what William said next.
- I'm sorry... - He said, looking right at her – I'm really sorry...
They were deeply looking at each other and Kimberly knew he was being sincere, so she get off of him and sat on the floor, with her arms around her legs. William slowly got up looking at her astonished; but she was looking somewhere else, like the horizon.
- I never saw you like this, you're really scary...
She still didn't say anything, so he continued talking.
- I know I'm not exactly 'Mister Friendly', but... it's not my fault that your mum died, nor our parents met, nor we came to live here, I didn't even wanted to...
But seeing that Kimberly was still absent-minded, he left her alone.
That night, Kim decided to shower before going to sleep and, when she went to her bedroom, she had to go back some steps and walk forward again to make sure that was her bedroom: William was sitting on her bed, like waiting for her.
- Knock, knock. - Kimberly said when she entered. - I think... you're in the wrong bedroom.
Will smiled and asked:
- You sleep here, don't you?
- Yes... - She answered a bit wary.
- Well, then I'm in the right bedroom. - He said as he got up. - I wanted to talk to you.
- OK. May I get dressed before? - She was just wearing underwear and a towel.
- Sure. - He said, but he didn't move.
- Yeah, that means 'go and come back later'. - She said, because the boy hadn't got the message.
- Come on, can't I just turn around? I don't want to waste time and who knows how much it takes to you to get dressed.
William was determinated to stay, so she thought about it.
- Al right, but if I turn around and you're looking, I'll castrate you.
Will pretended pain and turned around. She put her pyjama on quickly and got into bed.
- I'm ready.
He turned around and sat on her bed, very close to her.
- I listen. - Kim said a bit nervous because of he suddenly getting closer.
- I've came so we can make a deal. It may seem that I do, but I actually don't enjoy it when we argue, so we're going to have to change. For example, when...
It seemed he to be going on and on, so Kimberly interrupted him.
- Get to the point.
- OK. - He said – I ignore you and you ignore me. I won't get into your life and you won't get into mine.
- Right... does that include the bad murmurs?
- No more bad murmurs. - He said while shaking his head.
- And... does that include a 'I'll shut my friends up' too?
- Mmm... I'll try. But then you're going to have to talk to your friend Sissy and make her stop stressing me and pulling silly faces every time she sees me. - He said with vanity.
- First of all: It's Sally, not Sissy; and second: I'll try.
The boy rose his thumb up and stood up to go, but Kim grabbed his wrist and made him sit down again.
- Wait... I just wanted to apologize for what I did today, I don't know what happened to me, believe me, I don't usually get fits like that.
- Oh, no, I'm the one who should apologize. You had reasons to get mad at me, I admit I'm annoying. And you're right about the other things; about my friends, I mean. It's true that I haven't thought of you, I mean, in how you must feel when... well, you know, and it must be the most anti ethic thing in the world not knowing to be in the skin of someone else.
Kimberly was freaking out, and it must have reflected in her face, because William asked:
- What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?
- It's just... I would never have imagined those words could ever come out of your mouth.
The two young laugh and she continued.
- At last, that attitude of yours of being a nice guy is not bad.
- Yeah, it's just I'm realizing now of the person that there's behind so much... black stuff. After these weeks living with you, I don't know how I didn't realize before that you're cool.
- See? That's called judging without knowing...
Kim couldn't avoid that some tears came out of her eyes by saying that, after listening to what William had just said.
- Hey... Why are you crying? - William asked when he saw her, and got a bit closer
- It's just... after so many years taking your jokes, your insults... taking you hating me for no reason... taking your sucker friends, your wonderful girl friends always flattering around you, knowing myself that I'll never have you...
- What...? - He said lowly when he heard the last thing she had said.
She seemed not having listened to him and continued talking.
- After all that... that you come now and tell me what you told me... for me it's like you said you've always loved me...
She talked like if she was writing it in a personal diary, like if she didn't know he was right there, but then he spoke.
- Do you mean... that you like me?
She looked up horrified and put her hand over her mouth, like saying 'Did I say it loudly?'.
- Well, yes, I won't lie to you... But not now, but before meeting Tom. And I didn't like you, I was crazy about you.
- Wow... - He said and, after a few seconds, he put his hand on her cheek – Well, you know what? You're much better than any other girl in school. I've dated a few of them, but I've never loved any. They're very superficial, very silly. But you... - he started to caress her cheek and to get closer – you are sweet, smart... and very pretty...
Kim's heart started beating really fast. Will was closer each time, very closer... Their noses were almost touching... But no, she didn't want to, she couldn't, she had a great boy who she really loved, and the young boy who was now almost kissing her was only a dead illusion.
- Will...
He moved away slowly, got up and walker towards the door, but stopped at half the way.
- So... is it a deal? - He asked the girl about starting to get on well.
- It's a deal. - She said with a shy smile, then he turned around and left.
That night, Kimberly didn't have a well sleep, because she had the horrible feeling of having cheated her boyfriend.
