Perfect School

I searched Kyra's face and then sighed. "Jonah, I need to talk alone with Kyra and Andrew. Can you close the door?" I didn't look at him, but knew I'd have to give in to his ministrations a little bit to placate him. My mind was fully focused on tactics and self preservation. I was in a dangerous position right now, even if the danger wasn't exactly going to be physical.

Kyra:

When he closed the door I went to sit between Andrew and Kira. I let out a soft sigh. I couldn’t hide that I was disappointed. “I’m glad you’re here.” It was honest but it wasn’t all I felt. Mostly what I was feeling was betrayed and tricked. Of all the people to tell, I thought I would have been first.

"And?" I didn't look at Kyra when she sat beside me. I kept my gaze locked on the door and my expression carefully neutral. "I know you have more going on inside you than just that."

Kyra:

“I wish you would have told me, but I guess I understand why you didn’t…” I glanced at Andrew. He watched us now with full attention. I fidgeted with a hair band on my wrist. “What I don’t get is why you brought Jonah of all people. I don’t see how having him here is better than doing it on your own.”

At that I flopped backwards and closed my eyes. "I need a push. Small as it might be...but I didn't want to be dragged along." Sighing silently I shook my head. "Jonah...would rather see me out from under Marie's control. He actually was pushing for me getting closer to all of you before Michael and Krissy ever asked if I wanted to visit."

Kyra:

“Jonah doesn’t give a fuck about you,” I snapped. “He’d rather see you out from under Marie’s control and right under his. He doesn’t care about anything other than his own self-serving goals. You know. Why the hell would you feed that?” I couldn’t help but be angry with her. Jonah, really? She wanted a push but not from people who actually gave a damn about her.

"But at least he's willing to listen to what I want too Kyra." I felt heavy, drained already. "and what makes his self serving goals any different than yours? I didn't want to be part of a family at first, and you kept pushing and pushing."

Kyra:

“Don’t you dare compare me with him. I wanted the best for you. That’s what drove me. I wanted you to have what I had because you’re my friend and my cousin. I wanted you to be connected with people who would care for you instead of use you. You aren’t a goddamn weapon, Kira, you’re a human being. I know that.” I let out a long frustrated huff.

“I’m too hungry and tired to deal with your twisted reasoning.” I slid off the bed and left the room without another word.”

Andrew:

I watched my sister go with a sigh. “Well. Welcome to the family, I guess,” I said. I opened the text from Zero and sent her an update that Kyra had more or less stormed out of the room after calling Kira twisted.

"That went about as well as I expected." I murmured more to myself than Andrew. But at his voice I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at him. "I'm sorry. For making her upset like that. I'm sure you'll have to deal with some of that emotion now."

Andrew:

“You don’t have to apologize to me.  I think it may have been a poor choice to bring Jonah here.  But it doesn’t affect me.  I can ignore him.”  I shrugged my shoulders.  “Kyra just cares about you.  That’s why she got so upset.”

"I know she cares...I just...I don't get all of this. I don't know what I'm doing. They told me they don't want me to just act through it. I'm clueless." Rubbing my face I shook my head. "I should have just gone home. I could have avoided all of this."

Andrew:

“It’s part of being a family. It’s not always pleasant. When people care about each other this intensely it’s going to end in some strong emotions. It’s all part of the deal.” I slid off the bed. “You’ll get used to it. It may seem crazy now, but it will be worth it.” I went to the door. “Michael said dinner would be ready soon.”

I raised my head and opened my eyes to watch him walk to the door. "Right...tell Zero I said hi and to not distract you too much. Might as well give Kyra the treat of having her entire family around." Flopping my head back down I closed my eyes once more then groaned as I forced myself to sit up.

I raised my head and opened my eyes to watch him walk to the door.  "Right...tell Zero I said hi and to not distract you too much.  Might as well give Kyra the treat of having her entire family around."  Flopping my head back down I closed my eyes once more then groaned as I forced myself to sit up.

Jonah:

I waited in the hallway for Kira after I heard Andrew leave. He looked back at me as I came out on my room. I was beginning to think that staying was not in my favor. If Kira was the only one here who had more positive feelings than negative ones toward me, I was not in good shape. I hadn't won over Michael or Krissy in the week I had been here. I hadn't won over Kyle in the couple months he was at the school. And I had not won over Kyra or Andrew in the years of knowing them. This was a hard bunch to please. The whole family.

I was slow to actually get to my feet, and slower still to walk out the door. I had to stop however as Jonah was standing just outside waiting for me. "The walls don't seem thick enough to hide screaming." I folded my arms and stared at the floor. "This was a mistake. Bringing you, staying for extra time, and even agreeing to all of this family business."

Jonah:

“Perhaps,” I said and stepped up close to her. “Do you want me to go?” I asked, looking down at her. I had watched her for a week with her parents. I already knew the dynamic of her with the twins and even Kyle. I doubted that staying would do much more good. And yet I wanted her to want me to stay. Or to at least have some hesitation in her eyes if she told me to go.

I rubbed my face with both hands. Did I want him to leave? I wanted to leave. Being here no longer seemed like the best course of action. I hesitated as I looked up at him. "I don't know Jonah...I don't even know what it is that I want anymore..." I looked away from him feeling more vulnerable than I had in a long time.

Jonah:

I put my hands on her shoulders. "Kira, it's okay. Someone else has chosen everything for you in life. Now that you're venturing out on your own, it's understandable that you would be uncertain. You just need to think about what you want out of life. What's most important to you. It won't be easy, but it's part of being your own, untethered person." I brushed her cheek with my fingertips then stepped back.

"I'll take one choice of the table. I'm going to leave so you can be alone with just your family. But you still need to decide what you want Kira."

I looked up at him as he spoke. He was right. Someone had always made my choices for me and I only ever had little bits of leeway here and there as to what I could or wanted to do. Here now however I stood with all the power in my hands and I didn't know what to do with it. Almost imperceptively I leaned my face into his fingertips.

"You are going to leave? When?" A slight furrow came to my brow.

Jonah:

"Soon. I'll pack. You go have dinner with your family. And keep an open mind, Kira. Everyone here wants to be with you the way you are. You don't have to fake it." I gave her a lopsided smile. I got what I wanted. She was conflicted about me leaving. Perhaps she would even miss me when I was gone. Maybe she would even be pleased to see me when she got back to the school.

I searched his face. I felt he was being genuine with this. He was doing this for me. I was sure that he wanted something for himself. Perhaps he already got it. But he did want me to be free. "Thank you Jonah." I murmured softly, looking down at the ground. "Are you leaving tonight?"

Jonah:

"Yes, I will. I'll get a cab so I don't disrupt your family," I said. "For the record, I'm glad I came here even if you think it was a mistake. I liked spending time with you that wasn't related to our job or our school or Marie."

I started to nod and move away. But then his words hit me and I felt a slight stirring within me. “Yeah? I think that’s the first time you’ve said something and I found it sweet...”. Shaking my head I nudged my shoulder into his and then moved down the hallway.

Kyra:

I sat with Andrew in the living room while my dad, Krissy, and Michael talked in the kitchen. I glanced up when I saw Kira but looked away quickly. I was just glad she came alone and not with Jonah. I was still frustrated but I hid it better now. I didn't want my dad or Krissy to see that something was wrong between us. Our whole family was reunited. I wanted it to be perfect for them.