Chapter 5 DIAMOND HIGH

Karen sat down in her room smiling happily.

Her room was given to her already and Mr. & Mrs. Thomas promised to decorate her room tomorrow to her taste.

If someone could ever told her that she'll be smiling today,, she'd have denied it totally.

But here she was being happy in a home where she was highly welcomed.

The knock on the door disrupted her thought.

" Who's it?" She asked standing up.

Miguel popped his head into the room and smiled before coming in.

" I'm sorry to disturb you" he said.

" No, no. It's fine." She muttered.

" Do you mind joining me downstairs? I don't want you to feel alone" he asked.

" Sure" she said smiling at his genuine action.

" Cool. Let's go" he said and they both went downstairs.

" Do you care for a drink?" He asked when they settled down in the living room.

" No, I'm fine" she answered.

" Okay".

Miguel went to the television and inserted a movie into the home theatre.

" You watch Kdramas too?" She asked surprisingly.

Not like she do watch movies,,, but she do watch little whenever Ava was watching it.

Ever since then, she became a die hard fan of it.

" Yea. Do you?" He asked back.

" Yes!" She exclaimed happily.

" I'm a fan of kdrama" she almost screamed due to excitement.

Miguel smiled at her carefree attitude. With the little time he spent with her,, he knew she'll be an interesting person to be with.

" Then what are we waiting for?" He remarked rhetorically.

They both settled down watching the movie intently.

After a while,, Miguel looked at Karen in shock.

She was fvcking crying!

He quickly moved closer to her. Did he do something wrong?

" Hey, why are you crying?" He asked looking at her amazingly.

" Why does Seo Hwa has to betray Wol Ryung like that. I pity him" she said crying the more.

" Huh? Wait,,,, don't tell me you're crying because of a film?" He asked.

She was one weird girl.

Nods her head frantically.

" Is it his fault that he saved her?" She asked looking at him.

" Do you want me to change the film?" He asked instead.

" No, don't" she said and sniffed in her tears.

She's crying because of a movie and still doesn't want him to change it?

Miguel suddenly burst into a fit of laughter.

" You're funny. Crying over a movie? That's hilarious" he said and continues laughing.

Karen looked at him and pouts.

" It's not my fault, is it?" She said.

" I've never seen your type before" he muttered as he shook his head.

" Now you've seen it" she said and stucked out her tongue at him.

Miguel laughed at her childish behavior before facing the movie.

" Oh my gosh! I love Kang Chi!" Karen suddenly screamed and Miguel quickly covered his both ears.

Jeez,, she's too loud.

Karen looked at him and quickly shut her mouth.

" Oops,, sorry" she muttered before facing the movie back.

Miguel slowly shook his head and laughed silently.

Some hours later, Karen's head slowly dropped on Miguel's shoulder and he quickly looked at her.

He tucked her hair to the back and was mesmerized by her beauty.

Why didn't he see it earlier?

He looked at her for a while and smiled. She couldn't allow him to rest.

She was just talking throughout.

She was one hell of a talkative.

He decided to watch the film finish before taking her to her room.

Michael walked into the living room heading to the kitchen but suddenly halted his movements when he saw Miguel and Karen in the living room.

Miguel raised his head and saw Michael.

He quickly signalled him not to talk so as not to wake Karen up.

Michael looked at Karen's head on Miguel's shoulder for a while before continuing his journey to the kitchen.

He came out a while later and still met them in that position.

He walked past them heading upstairs when Miguel stopped him.

" Michael, can you please help me take her to her room?" He asked.

" Why should I?" Michael asked back.

Miguel looked at him and sighed.

" Nevermind" he muttered.

Michael made a move to leave the sitting room but stopped on a second note.

" Okay, fine" he said and Miguel smiled widely.

Michael moved closer to them and gently carried Karen in a bridal style from Miguel's arm.

" Thanks" Miguel said but he totally ignored him.

Michael placed her on his arms well before going upstairs.

He gently closed the door when he got to her room so as not to wake her up.

He was about to place Karen on the bed when she shifted slightly in his arms.

He looked at her and was dead struck by her beauty for a while.

He cleared his throat before placing her on the bed.

He covered her well with the duvet and was about to leave the room when Karen caught his hand.

He turned to look at her and find her still sleeping.

" Please don't leave me" she murmured sleepily.

" Not again" he said with a groan.

Suddenly, she bursted into tears.

" Dad, I'm sorry. I never intended to do that. I just tried to protect myself from Sophia." She muttered in tears.

He looked at her and gently sat on the bed.

" Dad, please don't do this to me. I have nowhere to go" she pleaded tossing her head on the bed crying profusely.

Michael looked at her and sighed.

Was she suffering from trauma? He asked himself.

He couldn't help but to pity her. Was she suffering from all what she's gone through?

He gently laid down on the bed and slowly pulled her into his arms.

Karen quickly snuggled into him as though she was seeking for protection from him.

He placed his hand on her head and began patting her.

" Everything will be fine" he whispered as he continued patting her hair.

And like that she slowly fell into a deep slumber.

Mrs. Thomas came out of the bedroom in her nightgown drying her hair with the hair dryer.

She just finished bathing.

After she was done drying her hair,, she went to join her husband on the bed.

Mr. Thomas quickly pulled his laptop away and faced her.

" Honey, about Karen,,, are you still thinking of adopting her?" He asked.

" What do you think about it?" She asked.

" I don't think it's right. She still has her parents and we can't just adopt her just like that. We still need her parents consent on a decision like this" he said.

Mrs. Thomas thinks for a while before sighing.

" Do you really think so" she asked slowly.

" Yea. And if you want we can ask of the kids opinion. They ought to know what we intend to do after all she might be their stepsister." Mr. Thomas advised.

" Okay, I think that'll do" Mrs. Thomas said.

He slowly pulled her into his arms and she laid her head on his chest.

" Don't worry, if the kids wants it that way,, I'll find what to do about it" he assured.

" Thank you so much" she said as she closed her eyes to sleep cuddling her husband.

NEXT DAY***

Karen woke up with a groan and rubbed the sleep crust off her eyes.

She slowly sat up and stretched her limbs.

She really slept well last night.

She slowly sprang up when she remembered she slept in the living room.

Did she sleepwalk to her room or what?

Or was it Miguel who brought her to her room?

She smiled at the thought. Can't he be less nice?

She really enjoyed his company last night. He was fun to be with.

She went to the bathroom and smiled when she saw all what she needed was there.

She quickly brushed her teeth and had her bath.

She came out of the bathroom and was still wondering the clothe she was gonna wear when the door opened and Mrs. Thomas walked in.

" Good morning, mum" she greeted smiling happily at her.

Mrs. Thomas felt pleased hearing her calling her mom.

" Morning, baby. How was your night?" She asked.

" Great and yours?" Karen asked.

" Fine. I brought you clothes to wear since I figured out you don't have anything to wear" Mrs. Thomas said and handed a bag to her.

" Really? Thank you mum. But where did you get this from" she asked removing the towel and putting on the clothes.

" I ordered it for you" Mrs. Thomas answered and Karen quickly ran to her hugging her.

" Thank you so much mom. I really don't know how to appreciate you" she said.

" You don't need to. Just continue to be a good girl, okay?" She asked patting her back.

Karen nods her head and pulled away from the hug.

" You should come down for breakfast. Your dad and the kids are waiting for you"

" Okay, ma. Will be there in a jiffy" she muttered and Mrs. Thomas smiled before going out of the room.

Karen quickly put on the clothes before rushing downstairs not wanting to delay them.

She got downstairs and greeted each of them before settling down to eat.

After they're done eating, the boys carried their bags prepared to leave for school.

" Miguel, can I see you for a sec?" Karen asked Miguel.

" Yea, sure" he muttered.

" Meet me in the car" Michael said walking out.

" Erm... Thanks for taking me to my room last night. I enjoyed my night,, thanks a lot"she said smiling at him

" I wasn't the one who took you to your room last night. Michael did" Miguel said.

" Huh?"

" Yea,, you should be thanking him not me" Miguel added.

" Oh, okay" she muttered.

How will she even thank him when he doesn't even talk to her? She asked inwardly.

" Bye. See you later" Miguel waved and went outside.

Karen walked back to the living room confusingly.

Why was he the one who took her to her room last night?

For all she could remember, it was only she and Miguel that was watching the movie last night.

Was he the one responsible for her sleeping well throughout the night?

Different thoughts swirled up in her mind and she sighed cos she found an answer to none.

BRIGHT HIGH**

Ava walked happily to the class. She couldn't wait to see Jake.

She smiled seeing some students whispering among each other while some staring at her admiringly.

She entered the class and the first thing that caught her eyes was Jake.

" Jake!" She screamed rushing to him.

" Oh, hi" Jake muttered as he forced a smile at her.

" I missed you so much" she said clinging to his arm.

" We saw each other yesterday" Jake said clearly enjoying the show.

" Yea... I called you yesterday but you didn't pick your call" she said and looked at him.

" I wasn't with my phone at the moment" he lied.

" But you should have called me immediately you saw my missed call" she pouted.

" I'm sorry" Jake muttered.

" It's fine. Since the teacher is not here,, let's go somewhere private." She suggested.

" I think here is fine" Jake tried to protest.

" Oh, c'mon. Let's go" she said and dragged him outside to an empty class.

Immediately they entered the class, she pulled Jake closer and crashed her lips on his roughly.

It was as though she was kissed starved.

Jake smiled into the kiss and slowly wrapped his arms around her.

He couldn't let this chance go away.

Sam entered the class eye searching for Ava but was disappointed when he didn't see her.

He was walking out of the class when he saw Linda entering the class.

He quickly rushed to her.

" Linda, have you seen Ava?" He rushed his question.

" Er... No" she lied.

How could she tell him Ava is with Jake somewhere probably making out?

" Please tell me the truth. I know you're lying" he said looking at her with pleading eyes.

" I'm going crazy here" he added.

After much contemplations,, Linda told him where she knew Ava could be and Sam immediately rushed off.

She sighed and quickly rushed after him.

Ava moaned softly as Jake continued kissing her not giving her a space to breathe in.

She grab his hands and placed it on her @ss.

Jake in return squeezed them and she moaned out loud in pleasure.

He was so good at it.

They were still making out when the door to the empty class opened.

Sam mouth dropped open at the scene before him.

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Tears slowly spilled out of his eyes.

This was what he has been avoiding long ago.

Karen groaned for the umpteenth time. She was feeling bored.

She suddenly missed Miguel. Cos if he was here, he'd have kept her company.

She stood up from the sofa in the living room heading upstairs when she saw Mrs. Thomas coming downstairs.

Mrs. Thomas smiled warmly at her as she approached her.

" You're bored right?" She asked and Karen nods her head frantically.

" Would you like to go to school?" She asked and Karen looked at her in surprise.

" Yes! Yes!" She screamed happily and Mrs. Thomas smiled.

" Okay, get yourself ready. We're leaving now"

" I'm more than ready, mom" Karen screamed again.

" Okay, then let's go. You'll get all what you need at the school" Mrs. Thomas said to her.

She already discussed with her husband earlier that morning and they both agreed to send her to school.

***

When Mrs. Thomas drove into the school,,, Karen saw the broad name of the school DIAMOND HIGH at the gate.

The school was so big.

They got down from the car and then headed to the principal's office.

After the registration, Karen was given her class number and they both went out of the office.

They met a teacher on their way who was on her way to teach the same class Karen was given to.

" You'll be fine, right?" Mrs. Thomas asked her.

" Yes, mom" she replied.

" Do you need anything else?" She asked again.

" No, you've given me more than enough" Karen said.

" Okay, then. Bye" Mrs. Thomas waved at her before leaving.

" Are you ready now miss?" The teacher asked.

" Yes, ma'am" she replied and they both walked to the class.

Immediately the teacher entered the class, the once noisy class became a quiet one.

The students began murmuring when they saw a new face.

" Alright class. We have a new member among us" the teacher said and faced Karen.

" Introduce yourself" she said to her.

" Hi, everyone. I'm Karen Baker" she introduced.

Immediately she introduced herself,, Michael raised his head and was so shocked to see her.

Miguel on the other hand too was shocked and also happy.