Signs Of Things To Come

                                    

                                          
After Kenny and I finished hanging out behind McDonald's, I decided to go home and face the music. Roger and Janice got a preview from Clyde, so they were very understanding, albeit shocked to see my bottom lip busted up. 
I texted Bebe the story of how I wound up at the nurse's office with Kenny, and after school the next day, she invited me over. 
I flopped down onto her bed with a magazine. 
"Theo is so hot." I flipped through the magazine and laughed at the feature page on Theo Von. "I love when a guy can make me laugh."  
"Y/n, we have to talk about you and Kenny."
"There is no 'me and Kenny'." I rolled my eyes at her and closed the magazine. "What sparked that topic? That they both have mullets?" 
"Be serious, y/n." Bebe took the magazine away and sat down on her bed in front of me. "Even if there's nothing going on between you guys right now, there's going to be. I see the way that he looks at you. I haven't seen him so... normal since we were kids. He's not angry when he's with you. He's just... his old self. The Kenny we all knew and hung out with." 
"Bebe, come on." 
She laid on her back next to me and stared at her bedroom ceiling, which was covered in Jacob Elordi and Ryan Gosling posters. "I'm serious, and I think you know, too. Honestly, seeing him with you has completely changed my opinion of him. I used to think he just woke up one day and chose to be this violent, bad guy, but clearly he's not... not with you. I wouldn't judge you if you got together with him." 
"Bebe, I have zero intention of getting together with Kenny, I have-"
"I know, too much going on right now, and I get it. But when everything calms down for you, he'll be there, just like he is for you right now. And you'll love him for it someday." 
I looked over at her and sighed, her words echoing in my head. You'll love him for it someday.
The way I'd been thinking about Kenny lately, that day was coming sooner rather than later. But I really did mean it when I said that I had too much going on right now. The meeting with Kyle's dad to settle my dad's estate was coming up, and I had a pit in my stomach. I was agonizing over the decision of whether or not to ask Rhonda to see my mom's suicide note, too. 
My phone buzzed with a text, and I rolled over to check it. 
Clyde 😎: janice wants u to come home shes making dinner 
Me: leavin bebes rn
"I gotta go home, Bebe. Clyde says Janice is making dinner." 
"Awww. Okay." Bebe got up and gave me a hug. "I love you, girl." 
"I love you, too. I appreciate you so much more than I could ever put into words." I gave her a big squeeze and she walked me to her front door. "See you tomorrow." 
I made the short walk home and spent the night enjoying dinner with the people who I now happily called my family. Sure, the only one I was actually related to was Clyde, but I genuinely enjoyed being part of their household. Even Janice's weird health food was growing on me. 
School was definitely a little strange for the next few days following the fight. I heard the whispers all around me, but I assumed people were too scared to actually make a comment to my face. I didn't see the other girl back in school, either, and rumor had it she was transferring to a private school in Breckenridge because her parents were sick of her always getting into fights. Apparently I wasn't the first person to kick her ass at South Park High.