Kendrick’s decision to stay didn’t come as a surprise to me. Or to anyone. He didn’t tell us much, just that he didn’t miss the drama back home and loved his new life here. We all know what he really means is: he loves Allison Gardner. Plain and simple.
I had my doubts about these two at first, but after one insufferable summer of them denying their feelings and chasing each other, they finally made it official. Kendrick spent the summer living on the rather large sum of money he had left from the fights, but he drained all of his savings paying his half of our ridiculous rent. When he got into school, Maria sent him the money she saved up for his studies. He also got himself a construction job that pays in cash—it’s a bit shady but it’s something—since he can’t get a regular one as he’s American. Long gone are the street fights days, and I believe this move to be the best thing that’s ever happened to him—except for Allie, of course.
As for Haze, he’s still living on his “my rich parents didn’t know how to give me love, so they gave me dollar bills” money, but he got a side job to keep himself occupied since I’m rarely home due to my hectic schedule. I came to find out that Bea, Haze’s best friend’s girlfriend, got Canadian citizenship and, more recently, a scholarship to the University of Toronto. It motivated her to move away from Colton Gate. Vic agreed to come with her and get a student visa to enroll in school. Since a bit of Bea’s family lives here, they know people, which allowed Vic to get himself and Haze hired at some auto-repair shop. Same as Kendrick, these two are not allowed to work in Canada, which is why they’re paid in cash.
Haze still has to get his residency to stay in Toronto long-term. He’s not aiming to become a citizen for now, just a permanent resident. Heaven knows the process can take forever, especially for Haze, who, thanks to his bank account, falls under the entrepreneur category. A lot of money means a lot of questions: Do you plan on investing here? What are you going to do with that money? It goes on and on. Immigrating to Canada is a killer headache, that’s for sure.
We haven’t heard from Will much since the day he packed his bags and left. We know he’s still alive from Alex, who’s now seeing Morgan, Kass’s best friend,
I think. Speaking of Kass, last I heard she was kicking butts in law school. We still text, just not as much as we used to. I miss her, but she seems to be doing well. She told me she moved out of Maria’s house and into a dorm with her friend Ethan.
Sometimes, I wonder what happened between her and Will. Did they get back together? Did Will go home to her that day he left? All I know is Will and Kendrick don’t talk anymore. It’s sad. These two used to be like brothers.
“You got time for one game?” Jaden asks Haze, throwing himself on the couch and turning the TV on.
Oh hell no.
“Nope. Not losing him for another five hours,” I cut in.
“You heard her.” Haze circles my waist with one arm and pulls me to his side. Last time they played “one game,” I had such a hard time getting Haze to leave, I asked myself if I still had a boyfriend. Almost signed up to Tinder for a second there.
I had no idea when I agreed to babysit Maika every Wednesday when my parents go on a date that Haze would tag along almost every time. He first started playing video games with my brother, then it was basketball in the backyard, and, just like that, the Haze and Jaden bromance was born. I think we all know the day Haze beat Jay at video games is the day my moody little brother started respecting him.
Haze pretty much has my entire family wrapped around his finger at this point. All except my mom, of course. She’s still a monster in human form, but my dad likes him, and that’s a big deal. Keep in mind we’re talking about the man who once asked my fourteen-year-old date, “Do you have any intention of touching my daughter tonight?” then gave us a ride to the theater and watched the movie with us.
“Just one game,” Jay begs.
“Not tonight. Mom and Dad will be here soon. It’s 8:00.”
“Mom said they’re coming back at 8:30,” he says.
“If mom says 8:30, she means 8:15, you know that.”
Jay sighs and starts a game by himself. I watch Maika lose interest in our conversation and stroll off to play with yet another headless Barbie. One day, I’ll find out what she does with them, I swear it on my life.
Haze yawns his jaw off next to me. I have no idea what they’ve got him doing at the shop, but he always comes home physically and emotionally drained. He’s also never there when I wake up, and some nights, he only shows up when I’m already asleep.
“Long day?” I reach for his hand.
“You have no idea,” he groans. I plop down on the couch next to Jay, and Haze follows. He hooks his left arm around my neck and kisses my temple. Maika’s eyes widen from across the room, and she makes her way to us.
“What’s that?”
“What’s what?” Haze asks.
“That.” Maika points at something. The sleeve of tattoos on Haze’s arm.
He smiles. “These are tattoos.”
“What’s a tattoo?”
Haze gives her a quick summary.
“Did it hurt?” She blinks at him.
“Yeah, at first.”
“Did you cry?” She climbs on top of Jaden without a care in the world. Where most people see a teenager, my sister sees a seat.