"So, this is the place, huh? It's nice!"
Kayla offered to take Michael's coat and knapsack as he admired the apartment.
"Thanks," he said, appreciating her hospitality.
"Don't mention it." As he pulled his right arm out of his sleeve, Kayla jumped in to assist. Michael couldn't help but notice that one of her hands was on his biceps, squeezing gently, as the other took over and did the work for him, pulling the jacket off fully.
"So, you like it?" Kayla asked, gesturing towards the open space of the penthouse they stood in.
"Yeah, it's awesome! Such high ceilings. Guess it pays to have rich parents," he ended with a scoff. "So they're out of town all week?"
"Yup, till Sunday night. Four more days of living the life here on my own."
"And what a life it is," said Michael. "So," he went on, deliberately, "we should probably get to work, eh? Mrs. Anderson gave us more homework today than I swear any teacher has ever given us."
Michael and Kayla were in their last year of high school, just a few months away from graduating. He had just turned 18 a couple weeks ago, matching Kayla, who had one of the earliest birthdays in their grade all the way through childhood. Being born the day after New Years certainly solidified that.
The two of them had grown up together since grade three. Though it wasn't until high school started - and Michael had begun to develop - that Kayla started really seeing what kind of a man he was becoming. Broad shouldered; a few inches over the six foot threshold; rigid jawline; dirty blond hair in short, tight curls; lean, yet muscular, long legs on display any time he wore his shorts while circling the track after school; and teeth so white they drew anyone's attention from anywhere in any room.