THE KINGS: A King Who Bows to His Queen.

iel's

r pace quickened by the soft gasp of embarrassment that escaped her lips. Unbeknownst t

o the female restroom, where he stands hesitantly, hand on the door handle. In his mind, as he debates entering, the pie

ous voice emanates from the third one: "Who's the

" He pauses, unsure if he's made a mistake. With Magnolia's voice wavering behind the door, Ezekiel we

d, broken only by the softest voice he's ever he

me ten minutes," he replies, his heart pounding as he backs out o

t of his bold action sinks in. What will she thi

e door. The nurse was attending to a female student, so he sat down and waited in a corner. The nurse couldn't see him because sh

he replie

anything?" sh

he back of his neck, nerves fraying at the seams. "I...I

ly agape, eyes wide with surprise. Before her stood the school's

was attending to couldn't help but steal a glance over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing as she t

his fingers twitching with nerv

irls who had overheard, their voices hushe

, his voice unsettled. The nurse's gaze lingered, her mind processing the unexpected

lpable as she watched the exchange. She felt slighted by the attentio

ny left," the nurse said, f

er. In the silence that followed, Ezekiel's shoulders sagged with re

Magnolia. He wondered if she was okay and if he should have

the girls speculating on who this mystery "friend

sister," one of the g

child." Anothe

single tampon in her hand. She approached Ezekiel, her demeanor c

with a grateful nod. The girls watch

still simmering, Ezekiel turned to leave. As h

iel,

is shoulder, a hint of une

er in the room. "I know you're lying, Ezekiel. And that's okay. But

embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "I wi

urprised Ezekiel. "I can see that. She's lucky to ha

n serious. "Thank you," he sa

his wake. "Can you believe it? Ezekiel asking for tamp

managed to escape without revealing Magnolia's name, but that o

"who was it for?" echoed around him. Ezekiel paid them no

on through the space underneath the stall's door and vanished quickly. Magnolia took the tampon, gra

ing from the unexpected kindness. In the painting room, she overhears the gossip of the other girls, their chatter

ontemplates her next move. Resolute, she sets out to return the kind

ew miles away from the school's basketball court. The sounds of the bustling schoo

terrupted by a shad

s gentle gaze, her hand extended with the cold

t for me," Magnolia says, her voice soft a

ips. He takes the can, studying Magnolia for a

ously. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. Sorry you got caught

rising to his cheeks. "It's not a big dea

feeling lighter and more joyful than she has in a long while. But before she can step away, Ezekiel's hand darts out, seizi

on in his gaze. "Please, Magnolia," he whispe

he tries to make sense of the situation. '

and it stirs her curiosity. But before she can ask another question, he pulls her into him, his arms sn

processes what's happening, her body tingling with excitement and apprehension. Ezekiel's arms hold her

shes over his face. He pulls Magnolia down onto him. Ezekiel's frantic movements catch Magnolia off guard, and she lands on top of him, their lips mere inches ap

are fixed on the spot where the intruder will appear, his jaw clenched with tension. He hold