Kayla stared down at the menu, her eyes scanning the words, though nothing truly registered. She was trying, really trying, to push everything with Kelli out of her mind. This was supposed to be her time, a rare afternoon out with Carter. Ever since she had fallen in with Sara and her friends, her schedule had become more packed than she’d ever anticipated. Between classes, outings, and the constant responsibilities of being Kelli’s guardian, there weren’t enough hours in the day for everything, and Carter had often fallen to the bottom of the priority list. Today, she wanted to change that.
But Kelli’s voice lingered in her mind, sharp and frustrated, like an echo that refused to fade. She doesn’t need you hovering. You’re suffocating me. The words stung more than she cared to admit.
Kayla sighed and looked back down at the menu, gripping it tighter than necessary. She needed to focus on the present, on Carter. This wasn’t about Kelli right now. It couldn’t be.
Across the table, Carter leaned back in his chair, his expression calm and easy as always. The warm light from the restaurant cast a golden hue over his face, making his features look softer, more relaxed. He seemed perfectly at home here, completely unbothered, as if nothing in the world could shake him. It was something Kayla admired about him, his ability to stay grounded, even when everything else felt chaotic.
“Is it okay to just leave all your friends like that?” Kayla asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was quieter than she intended, as if she didn’t want to disturb the peace that had settled between them.
Carter shrugged, a small, confident smile tugging at his lips. “They’ll be fine without me,” he said simply, his tone light but reassuring.
Kayla raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. “Just like that? You don’t think they’ll notice you’re gone?”
“They might,” Carter admitted, his smile widening. “But they’re big kids. They can handle themselves. Besides, I’d rather be here with you.”
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, and Kayla felt her cheeks flush. She looked down at the menu again, suddenly hyper-aware of how warm the room felt. It wasn’t like Carter to get overly sentimental, he was usually the laid-back, go-with-the-flow type—but when he did say something heartfelt, it always hit differently.
“Still,” Kayla said after a moment, trying to keep her tone casual, “I don’t want you to feel like you’re missing out or anything. I know I’ve been busy lately.”
Carter reached across the table, his hand brushing lightly against hers. “Kayla,” he said softly, “you don’t have to explain. I get it. Life’s been crazy for you, especially with everything going on with Kelli. But you’re here now, and that’s what matters.”
Kayla met his gaze, the weight of his words sinking in. He did get it. He always did. But that didn’t stop the guilt from gnawing at her. Guilt for not being around as much, for letting her responsibilities overshadow everything else. Guilt for letting Kelli consume so much of her mental energy, even now.
“You’re too understanding,” she said, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Carter laughed, the sound low and warm. “You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.”
“It’s not,” Kayla said quickly, shaking her head. “It’s just… I feel like I’ve been a terrible girlfriend lately.”
“You haven’t,” Carter said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You’re juggling a lot, Kay. No one expects you to be perfect. Least of all me.”
Kayla nodded, though the knot in her chest didn’t fully loosen. She glanced around the restaurant, the low hum of chatter and clinking silverware filling the air. It was a cozy place, intimate without being stuffy, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to relax. This was what she needed, a break from the constant chaos, a chance to just be with Carter.
“Okay,” she said finally, her voice soft. “Let’s forget about everything else. Just you and me.”
Carter smiled, his eyes lighting up. “Sounds like a plan.”
For the first time this afternoon, Kayla felt the tension in her shoulders start to ease. She wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring, but for now, she was determined to make the most of this moment. And for the first time in a while, she felt like that might actually be enough.
1) “She was trying, really trying, to push everything with Kelli out of her mind. This was supposed to be her time, a rare afternoon out with Carter. Ever since she had fallen in with Sara and her friends, her schedule had become more packed than she’d ever anticipated” Guardianship would likely take a fair bit of time, especially if you don’t have a safe habitat you can ditch the little in. Sara’s friend group would also spread over her schedule like an infection.
2) “She doesn’t need you hovering. You’re suffocating me. The words stung more than she cared to admit.” That makes sense. Kayla’s trying her best, and it would feel like she just got slapped for it.
3) “Is it okay to just leave all your friends like that?” Kayla is uneasy about Carter just walking away from a social gathering is interesting, It shows her lack of social skills and highlights why Sara and friends have filled her schedule.
4) “It wasn’t like Carter to get overly sentimental, he was usually the laid-back, go-with-the-flow type—but when he did say something heartfelt, it always hit differently.” Sentimental stuff from people who tend not to show it too often always feels special.
5) “Kayla, you don’t have to explain. I get it. Life’s been crazy for you, especially with everything going on with Kelli. But you’re here now, and that’s what matters.” He’s a good boyfriend, Kayla’s lucky to have him.
6) “Guilt for not being around as much, for letting her responsibilities overshadow everything else. Guilt for letting Kelli consume so much of her mental energy, even now.” and if she wasn’t doing that, she’d probably feel guilt for not prioritising Kelli enough.
7) “Kayla nodded, though the knot in her chest didn’t fully loosen” Kalya’s really struggling, I’m glad that the struggles of Guardianship are more on display in this story.
8.1) “Kayla felt the tension in her shoulders start to ease. She wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring,” good to see her more at ease, she’d need this time.
8.2) “And for the first time in a while, she felt like that might actually be enough.” good for you Kayla, good for you.
0) Not often you are first post. congrats.
1) Yeah thats kind of the crux of it. Everything has been by the seat of her pants. She also has fallen in with this new group of people in Sara and her friends so she has been trying to balance two friend groups and she isn’t the most socially equipped person in the world to handle it.
Then with Kelli stuff layered on top. She has been just trying to stay afloat.
2) That one did hurt her a bit and Kelli feeling hurt probably said it out of anger/hurt then actually meaning it. One of those I want you to feel how I feel moments that every person has.
3) It does. Sara and her friends also do a lot more then Kayla’s original friend group. Being taken under Mallorys wing also takes away more time. Being invited to things and having social obligations is different for her. As she is much more of a online person with online friends.
4) that is so true. My mom rarely cries and when the few times in my life i have seen her cry almost broke me.
5) He is. He really likes Kayla and treats her special which does make Kayla a bit uncomfortable as she doesn’t like attention.
6) You nailed it on that one. She would feel guilt either way. In some ways Sara’s method is easier in that aspect as Jordan just goes everywhere Sara goes. Where Kelli doesn’t want to go everywhere Kayla goes for starters but Kayla being more a private person isn’t really used to the idea of someone being with her every waking moment of every day.
7) I like the stories illustrating different aspects so its not just re-treading on old ground. So seeing the struggle is an aspect not yet covered and kind of further adds to the world and the lore.
8) Everyone needs those kind of breaks where you can just let your hair down as they say. Let the body relax and just be in the moment without having the worry.
8.2) That is one of Kayla’s main struggles.
I think once Kayla and Kelli have a heart to heart and Kayla just states facts about Kelli’s condition and how she expects her to act while with her when she goes places or she can stay in a new habitat that I’m sure she will get with her parents help. It will give Kayla a place to safely dump Kelli if she doesn’t behave with a simple cell phone to entertain her.
0) Thanks, it helps that the comments on this one have been few.
1) Another way guardianship is like parenting, lol, both in the taking up her time and opening new doors for her.
2) yeah, I can’t really criticise Kelli, most littles would feel that way with their guardians so outbursts would be common.
3) Kelli really opened a door for her sister then.
4) unfortunately some people (like Sara) use this to their advantage when manipulating people.
5) she’ll get used to it
6) Sara’s method is easier for Sara, we’ve seen it take a toll on Jordan.
It would take some getting used to, I’m guessing Kelli and Kayla haven’t even shared a room before.
7) it’s good to see, and Kayla is the perfect choice to show a guardian’s struggles, (that’s why I used her too)
8.1) very important, it will benefit Kayla and trickle down to Kelli.
8.2) I want to hug her so damn badly.
I really like carter. he’s good for kayla. also understandable that Kayla feels guilty about not spending enough time with him. She needs this break. Kelli does too. I wonder what she and Talisa are doing and talking about
I understand this chapter is about Kayla’s feelings but like you I am more worried about Kelli because Kayla has everything and Kelli has nothing at end of the day while going back to that great pic Asuka made on Ep 9. The look of discuss Kayla is giving poor meek Kelli who is cowering to her Giant sister because Kelli has to worry about every little mood swing of Kayla because it could be her end because of the massive size and power difference. Talk about Kayla punching down! Looking at Kelli in this breaks my heart what she is thinking. Ep 9 pic and content is a really bad look for Kayla and like I said many times, I hope she apologies for her treatment of Kelli so they can move forward as a loving sister team. Not a Giant that has a meek, scared tiny animal with no personality left but fear.