Perfect School

Krissy:

I brought her water and a few snacks on a tray. I kissed Michael and sent him to get dinner to go from one of our favorite places. I sat down on the edge of Kira’s bed and looked down at my lap for a long moment.

“It wasn’t exactly an accident what happened when I was pregnant with you,” I said finally. I didn’t look at her.

"What do you mean?" When Krissy joined me in my room with snacks and a drink I propped myself almost vertical with pillows and picked through the food. I wasn't all that hungry, but the tray and its contents gave me something to occupy my time instead of looking at her.

Krissy:

“It was a friend of mine who stabbed me. I knew him since childhood. There were so many warning signs. He was obsessive and possessive.” I sighed and turned my eyes to her for a moment.

“My aunt Marie had taken Michael and banished me. That was before I knew I would be having you. My friend came back into my life shortly after and I took comfort in the familiarity. But… I want you to know, there was never anything between us. I was only ever with your father.” My eyes flicked to the pictures on the wall.

“Michael got away from Marie. When he came back, Eric was jealous. I should have sent him away then with the way he acted around Michael. I should have sent him away with how he treated me. But I didn’t. He was an old friend and I thought that meant I had to hold onto him.”

I swallowed. “When he finally decided to leave on his own, the young idiot I was, I went after him. I never thought he would hurt me, but that mistake cost me terribly. I lost my baby. I lost my way of life. I’ve never really recovered fully from it.” I put my head in my hands.

“It cost you to, more than your family. My mistake is why this happens to you. I’m the reason you’re sick.”

Kira:

Her story puzzled me at first. Why was she telling me about an old friend? Why was she trying to explain her relationship with him? Did she need to reassure me that she hadn't done anything with him? I didn't find anything wrong with being with other people. Loyalty after you had made an agreement however was very important.

And after her story came to a close I looked up from the snacks and my brow furrowed. "It's your fault?" I asked softly. I huffed a soft laugh and shook my head. "Do you want to know what I thought it might be growing up?"

I turned my gaze down to the cup of water and picked it up. "I thought it might have been a poor mutation on my part. I thought maybe one or both of my parents might have been drug addicts. I even once thought it was some cruel joke played out by God."

Taking a sip I returned my gaze to her, "But surprisingly I'm not bothered by knowing the truth. If anything it's nice to know the why....so....thank you for telling me..."

Krissy:

I looked at her with my brows pinched together. She was thanking me? “But it’s my fault. Kira, don’t you see? If I hadn’t been such a blind idiot, we would still have you. We would have raised you. Loved you. Kept you safe. You wouldn’t be sick or harmed in any way.” My throat was tight and my eyes stung. “I did this to us.”

I reached out slowly to touch her arm. "Do you think that what I have now is the worst fate I could have had?" I shook my head. "For all the troubles I have endured from what happened to me, you lifted a burden just by words alone." I dropped my hand from her arm and looked at the blankets. "My condition has been there for my entire life. But I never knew why. I never knew why I was basically an orphan. I never knew why I had to deal with my condition. The unknown is....unpleasant..."

Krissy:

“You aren’t an orphan. You weren’t given up willingly. Michael and I, we-” I took a breath, “We love you. Not because we’re supposed to because we’re your parents, but because we’ve seen the person you’ve become. Kira, you’re so strong, and bright. It couldn’t have been easy living with what you have had to, but you’ve done so well. It doesn’t define you.” I put my hand on her ankle, the closest thing to me, and squeezed gently. “You’re beautiful and talented. And even with everything you’ve been through you are anything but weak. I respect you so much for that.”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. In equal measure I felt pride in her words but also nausea. "Thank you..." I murmured again. I didn't know what else to say to all of that. I was used to people complimenting me. Telling me I did good, that I was beautiful. But they always wanted something from me. Even Jonah did it as a form of getting what he wanted. But with Krissy I suspected that she didn't want anything. If anything she wished that she'd been more a part of it all to see just what I'd grown into in person.

Krissy:

I gave a soft smile and patted her leg. “I’ll let you rest. Please call if you need anything at all, okay? I’d be happy to do anything for you.” I stood up from her bead and reluctantly left her room. Michael would be back soon.

Michael:

I carried grocery bags on one arm and clutched two large paper bags in my fists. Tucked under the other arm was a bag of dog food. With a grunt I nudged open the door. Dropping the bag of dog food to the floor I sighed and made my way to the kitchen table. The groceries were just simple things we needed more of. I planned on doing a bigger shopping trip before the twins and Kyle arrived later. But mostly I had gone out to grab our Chinese food from our favorite place.

Krissy:

I heard the door open and hurried to help my husband. I kissed his cheek and brought out dishes for the food.

The next couple days went well. We had some time alone with Kira but mostly Jonah was always by her side. He was being subtle about it, but he was obsessed with her. He reminded me almost exactly or Eric, only he wasn’t an asshole about it.

We decided to keep it a surprise that Kira was here for the twins. Kyle already knew and agreed to keep it from Kyra and Andrew. Kira had agreed to extend her trip for a couple days to spend time with all of us.

Kira:

I hadn't been thrilled to learn that Kyra and Andrew were on their way. It wasn't that I didn't want them here, but I knew just what kind of reaction I was about to be getting from Kyra. She would be hurt that I hadn't told her about coming here. Pissed that I'd brought Jonah along. But I didn't regret that I'd decided against telling her anything.

She'd have forced the trip on me, changed how it all went down, and dragged me along at her pace instead of this slower pace that felt right. And it had taken much work on Krissy, Michael, and even Jonah for them to convince me to remain for a few extra days while the twins were going to be here. It was a looming shadow, and I didn't know until later that it was all a surprise for the twins now as well.

The day they were supposed to arrive I trained alone in the gym and I went off to shower soon after while the feeling of trepidation followed on my heels.

Krissy:

I offered Kira and Jonah the choice of coming with Michael and I to pick up Kyle and the twins but Kira declined saying she would wait at the house. When we picked them up at the airport we told the twins that there was a surprise at the house.

Jonah:

I laid on my bed waiting for Kira to get out of the shower. I doubted very much that Kyra and Andrew would be pleased to find me in the midst of their family. Neither of the two were my biggest fans an Kyle didn’t care for me at all.

Michael had lost most of his respect or me, though he still treated me with cordiality. Krissy, it was clear, did not lake me. It was plain to see that they would rather have spent their week alone with Kira. Even she, who had invited me to come, didn’t need me.

I was working through how I felt about it when the shower went off. It wasn’t that I wanted them to like me, it just felt oddly like foster care. Like I was insignificant. I didn’t like that.

Kira:

I lost track of time somewhere during working out and the lengthy shower. I didn't want to deal with Kyra and the varying array of emotions she was likely to project, and with a sigh I started working my hair dry with a towel. Tossing my other towel over my shoulder I stepped out of the bathroom while continuing to work on my hair. I didn't even have a chance to notice the figure that was in the hall until I'd already walked right into them.

Kyra:

I let out a small squeak that was unbecoming of an assassin. I had not expected someone to come out of the bathroom, much less Kira of all people. “What?” I said staring at her. It took another second for the dots to connect. My eyes widened. “What are you doing here?” It was too much to process all at once. My mind didn’t know what to feel.

"Um...surprise?" I hadn't expected to just run into Kyra, nor had I expected that kind of squeak to come from her. In it's own fashion it was kind of endearing. "I'm supposed to be a surprise." I gripped onto the ends of the towel and let it rest behind my neck. I fidgeted in place, searching her face with the best approximation of nervousness I had in me to show.

Kyra:

“Oh.” I glanced behind me, looking for my brother but he was still in the living room with my- our family. “Wow. Well it is very much a surprise.” I gave a small smile. “Wow. I didn’t expect this at all. I thought they got a puppy or something.” I gave a nervous laugh.

My nervousness slowly faded and I gave a quizical cock to my head as I searched Kyra's expression. I'd already been told that Kyra and I would be sharing a room, as she usually stayed in the one I was currently in. I didn't mind overly much and my things didn't take up much room. But what was confusing me was her reaction to all of this.

"Apparently we are sharing a room." I motioned with my head down the hall and began to head that way. I paused on the way and looked at her over my shoulder. "This...wasn't the reaction I was expecting."

Kyra:

I followed her into what was usually my room. My mind was overflowing with question. “When did you get here?” I asked. That was the most pressing. It was still hard to wrap my mind around the idea that she was here. She was with her parents. She finally accepted them.

I sat on the bed and stared at the floor. This was the question I least wanted right now. I remained silent for a long moment then breathed out slowly through my nose. "A week ago."

Kyra:

“Oh. Wow. So, you came right here.” I dropped my bag on the floor of my room. I searched her face. There was a tap on the doorframe behind us and Jonah leaned in. Jonah.

I had suspected that they were going to the same place when they had left for break. But I had not expected to find him with my family. My family. I stared at him, less than please.

“Hi Kyra,” He said with his easy smile. His eyes flicked to Kira.

Kira:

I nodded as I searched her face in return. I was somewhat saved by the presence of Jonah at the door, though it seemed I went from one peril to another as I took in Kyra's expression.

"Oh boy." I muttered and leaned back on my hands. "Well since all the surprises are out of the way. Might as well account for everything and let it all out. We've been here for a week after Michael and Krissy invited me to stay. I couldn't trust myself to do this alone, and no one else in our little group would have been a good fit. Paublo would have rather not intruded. Asking Andrew would be the same as asking you. And I wanted to do this at my own pace, which you wouldn't have let me do."

Kyra:

“Ha,” was the only thing that came out of me. She chose Jonah over me. That hurt. She had chosen not to tell me. She had been here for a whole week without telling me. Jonah was here with my family.

I tried my best to conceal my emotions on my face but some things were too much. “I don’t like surprises,” came my brother’s voice form the hall behind Jonah. He stepped past him in the doorway with narrowed eyes. Then he looked at Kira and gave a half wave. He walked over to the bed and sat with legs criss-crossed.

"I am not a fan of them either. But everything about this family has been one continual surprise. Does it ever change?" I asked Andrew as he joined me on the bed. I raised a hand to wave at him in return along with a faint shrug. My gaze returned to Kyra and I let out a soft breath.

Kyra:

“You’ll get used to it,” Andrew said. He pulled out his phone and his thumbs went flying over the screen. No doubt texting Zero about this.

“Is Paublo coming too?” I asked. I knew he wasn’t. It was just as unusual that he would be here, with my family, than that Jonah was. I eyed him. He knew it. I looked at Kira. There were so many things I wanted to say, but not with Jonah here. For instance, why the hell did she bring Jonah?