by Clark, Bekah
As she bounced down the stairs in her red peasant top and dark blue jeans, Lyssa’s hair flowed around her loosely. She called out before she reached the bottom step, “Hey Lexx, you ready?”
“You look nice in red.”
Lyssa stopped on the second to last step and looked over to him. She could feel her cheeks going red again. She really had to stop doing that just because he was around.
“Um. What are you doing here?”
“I just got out of work and I thought I’d see what you were doing. That ok?”
He was staring at her with those sexy chocolate eyes and Lyssa found herself melting. For a moment, she almost told him she’d do whatever he wanted. Then she shook her head and broke the gaze, trying to ignore the gleam of gold flecks. Must. Retain. Control.
“Lexa and I are going to the movies.”
A smile flirted on his lips. They were damn sexy lips. She inhaled deeply and commanded her heart to slow down. Her eyes darted to Lexa who was grinning up at her.
“I don’t mind, sis.”
Great. No help there. Lyssa smiled, “You can come with us if you want.”
Behind Kyle, Lexa’s eyes opened wide in surprise. Maybe she thought Lyssa would ditch her for Kyle but that wasn’t her style. She adored her sister and they had plans. If Kyle wanted to tag along, that was what they’d do. After all, Lyssa was sure whatever movie Lexa had picked was not going to be one she’d like. Maybe the company would help.
Kyle didn’t look surprised at all, he just smiled, “You don’t mind me tagging along?”
“As long as Lexa doesn’t mind.”
Frowning at her sister, Lexa said, “Of course I don’t mind.”
“You’re frowning,” Kyle said.
“Not about you. It’s a sister thing.”
He laughed as they made their way to the door. Lexa chimed in, “Lyssa better drive or we’ll be late.”
“Uh-oh, you mean I’m going to be at the mercy of Mario Andretti?”
Lexa laughed, “No. Speed Racer.”
Lyssa shook her head as she followed the two, who laughed the whole way to the car. Great. The two of them were bonding. Next thing would be Lexa giving him advice on how to woo her sister. Looking at the twinkle in Lexa’s eye as she offered the front seat to Kyle, Lyssa believed it could happen.
As they sped off, Kyle had one hand on the dashboard as if that would save his life in a crash. Lyssa shook her head, “You shouldn’t do that.”
“Why not? You drive like those racers we saw the other day.”
“If you’re that scared of me crashing, then you need to not have your hand there. That’s right in the path of the airbag.”
She laughed as he removed his hand from the dashboard and into his lap. He looked over at her, “What am I supposed to hold onto?”
“Nothing,” Lexa chimed in from the back, “Lyssa has never gotten into an accident. She knows what she’s doing.”
Lyssa couldn’t help but push the limit. She drove at a hundred miles per hour down the highway, weaving through what little traffic there was. And that was where she made her mistake. She hadn’t looked ahead before this trip and suddenly there were flashing cop lights in her rearview. With a sigh, she pulled over and put her window down.
The cop walked over and put his hand on the window frame of the car. Bad move for him. Perfect move for her.
“License and registration?”
Her hand shot up and covered his. Before he could react, Lyssa said softly, “Officer?”
The moment his eyes glazed over, she knew he was hers. She could get him to do anything she wanted. Fortunately, for him, she wasn’t a mean spirited girl. She smiled up at him with her most earnest smile. She had to make this look good for Kyle.
“Yes?” He said blandly.
“Can you please give me a break? I was showing off for my boyfriend. We’re just some foolish kids who won’t ever do it again. Please?”
“You know, young lady, driving fast is foolish. I’ll give you a warning this time. Don’t do it again.”
She smiled brightly up at him, “Thank you.”
Before she took her hand away, through the bond she influenced him to erase all data on their car. She probably couldn’t do anything with him about the dash cam, but unless someone reviewed it, there should be no problem. Just in case, she changed his memories about their appearance and let go of his hand. He walked away in a daze.
“How did you do that?”
Lyssa didn’t say anything as she turned the car back on and pulled out. This time she obeyed the speeding laws. Finally, she said softly, “Power of persuasion. He didn’t really want to give me a ticket. I’m a girl after all.”
“Boyfriend, huh?”
Lyssa could feel yet another damn blush coming on, “Well, I had to say something to convince him.”
Kyle said softly, “I’d like to be your boyfriend.”
Falling silent, Lyssa drove as her heart race madly. She swore it was going faster than when she had been racing down the highway. He came out and said he wanted to be her boyfriend. They’d already been out once. And today was kind of a date. Like a mini-date. Her sister was there. Therefore, they were in the process of a half date. So after nearly one and half dates, should she consider him her boyfriend? She wanted to slam her forehead into the steering wheel. What was wrong with her? Before this school year had started, she wouldn’t even think about going out on one date with a guy. Now she was contemplating being Kyle’s girlfriend?
“On a trial basis.”
She could feel Kyle’s brown eyes boring into her as he said, “A trial basis?”
She tossed him a smile as she pulled into the cinema, “Yes. After all, it was just one date. We may end up hating each other after two or three.”
“So,” he said smugly, “you are willing to go on two or three dates. I better make them spectacular so that I’ll get off the trial and become the boyfriend.”
“I think you’d make a great boyfriend for my sister. Just tell him yes, Lyss.”
Lyssa glared at her sister in the review mirror before getting out of the car. She could hear Kyle laughing as she let Lexx out of the backseat. Immediately, Lexa held out her hand and grinned. Rolling her eyes, Lyssa handed her the credit card.
“Three tickets to whatever.”
Lexa dashed off ahead, “You’re going to love it.”
Lyssa called out after her, “I doubt it!”
Kyle sidled up to her right and she glanced up at him shyly, a blush taking her cheeks once again. Staring into her eyes, he took her hand and they started walking at a much more leisurely pace.
“So what are we seeing?”
“I don’t know. Some superhero movie I think. I always let Lexx pick the movies when we go out.”
His lips were to her ear and she shivered as he whispered, “Because you are more interested in old movies. We should do that some night. Just you and me.”
Once they had their popcorn and sodas they went into the theatre and her sister grinned, “Um your seats are there… mine’s here.”
It was one of those the theatres where seats were assigned and they were recliners, which was great when it was Lyssa and her sister. Instead, Kyle went on ahead and popped up the armrest between the two seats to make it like a loveseat. She blushed, damn Lexa playing matchmaker. As she took her seat, Kyle grinned up at her. She shoved the large tub of popcorn between them as she sipped on her large soda.
“I thought you didn’t think you’d like the movie?”
“I like popcorn and you look like you’re going to do something to me if something isn’t between us.”
However, as the movie played, the popcorn ended up on Kyle’s lap and the two of them were leaning into each other. Being close to him was so relaxing that she drifted off. She woke to his gentle caress of her cheek as he smoothed back her hair. In the dim light, she could see the reflection of the end of the movie in his eyes. It shown like stars in the night and she
smiled up at him.
“You really are so lovely,” he whispered softly.
The end credits rolled, but the two of them were transfixed as she stared up at him and he caressed her hair back. They didn’t notice when the lights came up. They didn’t notice anything at all.
“So, Lyss, can I take the keys and you two get a cab?”
Lyssa pulled away from him and stood straight up, gathering her things. Kyle laughed as he watched her. Her cheeks felt hot and she shot a look to Lexa. She had the nerve to laugh at her.
They drove back in silence, Kyle softly taking her hand in the car when she wasn’t shifting. When they reached the house and climbed out of the car, Lexa took off quickly to get out of their way. Kyle walked around the car and stopped to face her.
“Your parents’ home?”
She shook her head and didn’t offer an explanation. For a long moment, they stood there and then he smiled, “I’ll see you in class tomorrow?”
Lyssa nodded and watched him walk away. Her heart was warm in ways she had never felt before. What was it about him? He was human, not Taldian. Nevertheless, in that moment, it didn’t matter. She wanted to know everything there was to know about him.
Chapter 8
As she came down the stairs to cook breakfast, Lexa found Lyssa yet again staring out the window with a goofy smile on her face. Lyssa in love was by far the strangest Lyssa that she had ever known. As she had decided for herself, her sister was in love. Lyssa, on the other hand, continued to strongly deny it. At one point in the week, the two had gotten into an argument.
"Hey, your date is this Saturday, right?"
That snapped her out of her little reverie. She didn't answer right away. As Lexa headed to the kitchen, Lyssa took up a seat at the sofa with some tabloids. Lyssa always tried to keep up with the strange because sometimes the strange was true. Feigning nonchalance, Lyssa flipped through for a little bit before she finally spoke.
"Our date is cancelled this weekend. He has to work."
Lexa bit the corner of her cheek to keep from smiling as she diced tomatoes for the omelet she was making for breakfast. Since the incident four years ago, which drove them to Earth to hide amongst the humans, Lyssa had been stone. Her sister was an icy shadow of the girl she had loved, with occasional glimpses to the lovely person she was. Lexa had been waiting for something to crack those walls. Three and a half years ago, when they first entered the school system on Earth, Lexa had thought associating with others their age would break through the shell. It didn't. However, Kyle was slowly chipping away her exterior and Lexa was enjoying the show. She was also hopeful she'd get her real sister back in the end.
"Upset?"
Lexa watched as Lyss frowned and glanced out the window, "No. It would be stupid to get upset at Kyle just because the other guy has some sort of family emergency.”
Laughing softly, Lexx said, "And yet you are upset."
"No, I'm not!"
Giggling madly at this point, Lexa added, "You can lie to yourself, but not me. You're upset because you like him so much you don't want anyone cutting into your time."
Lyssa tossed the magazine to the couch and got up with an aggravated noise coming from her. Covering her mouth with one hand, Lexa tossed the vegetables into the skillet before adding the egg mixture.
"You know, Lyssa, it's normal to get upset coz your date cancelled. Burying it is only going to make you more upset."
Sitting at the sidebar, Lyssa rested her brow in her palms as she stared at the counter, "What is wrong with me?"
"You're letting yourself feel for a change. I like it."
"I have feelings, Lexx. I worry about you all the time."
With an aggravated sigh, Lexa shook her head as she added cheese, "The only thing you allow yourself is worry about me. You like Kyle. I mean you really like him. You want to spend time with him. It's ok to be upset, just don't take it out on him or he'll think you're crazy."
Lyssa looked up, nervousness gleaming in her gray-blue eyes, "What should I do?"
"Act normal. Well, normal for you. Keep your cool, but don't be too distant. I saw the way you two were looking at each other at the movies; you can't be too cold anymore. When you see him today, play it casual."
“At school, I have been,” she said, but Lexa could see the confusion in her eyes. She'd lived so much trying to stay away from people that Lyssa had lost something. More than anything, Lexa wanted Lyssa to have this love. Even if it only lasted until the school year was up and they were on the move again.
Shaking her head, Lexa tried to put that thought aside. After all, she'd really miss Missy. Thinking about it a little more, she realized she'd miss Anna too. Sighing softly, she wondered if she could convince Lyss to stay until Lexa graduated. Kyle was the only hope on that. But, if he went to college far away, Lyssa would have no reason to stay in Bedford.
Once in school, Missy ran up behind Lexa and draped an arm across her shoulders as they watched Lyssa walk away. Grinning at Lexa, Melissa asked for the third time that week, “So. How did it go? You gotta spill sometime.”
Laughing Lexa shrugged off Missy and opened her locker, “Why do you want to know?”
Grinning wickedly, Melissa leaned on the next locker over, “Kyle is hot as hell. Have you ever seen his abs? I was at a pool party once and I felt like asking him if I could bounce a quarter off of those.” Missy sighed, looking off in the distance for a moment, “Anyway. He’s not interested in me, but I can find out things from you and Lyssa. I’d ask Lyssa but…well your sister is a bit…”
Lexa could see her struggling with an adjective, “Weird? Private? Not given to public displays of emotion?”
Anna came up beside them, “Are you talking about Lyssa?”
With a smirk, Missy asked, “How can you tell?”
Rolling her eyes, Lexa fluffed her curly hair before shutting her locker, “Fine. I’ll spill. You’ve only been asking since Monday. Anyway, they haven’t kissed but I’d say Lyss was smitten. Also, he showed up at the house that Sunday and went with Lyssa and me to the movies. They were staring longingly at each other.”
Missy cracked up and Anna smiled. Melissa then drawled, “How romance novel of them.”
As they headed towards class, Anna nodded and made her way towards her own. Sitting down, Lexa grinned, “I think he’s perfect for my sister. She doesn’t know what to do!”
Missy grinned and let out a sigh, “You really have to keep me informed. I want to live vicariously.”
Lexa let out a laugh that was a little too loud and the teacher called her name. From there, the rest of class was downhill as he called on her twice. Great. She hated Bio. However, she had to get her act together, if she failed she’d have to study with Lyssa and that was never fun.
As they were making their way down the hall, a beautiful tall girl stopped right in front of Lexa. She tossed back her thick ink black hair and her bright green eyes glared down at Lexa. What the hell did I do to this girl? Lexa wondered. The girl let her eyes run down Lexa’s body and then up to her eyes. She oozed disgust as she glared down at her. Lexa almost smiled up at her because she found it so ridiculous. Was this bitch going to try to bully her?
“Listen, bitch,” the girl started in this musical little voice, “stay away from Kyle!”
A giggle bubbled up out of Lexa. She was about to answer when she was blocked from view by Lyssa. Her sister looked good today too. Her long honey blond hair was coiled up atop her head. Her body was clad in a blood red maxi dress that clung to every curve. She was at least four inches shorter than the black-haired girl. But the girl stepped back.
Coldly, deadly, Lyssa intoned, “What do you want with my sister?”
“Tori, let’s go,” a short redhead said, her brown eyes were on Lyssa and she obviously knew danger when she saw it.
“No. I want to know which one of these two bitches thinks they can swoop in on Kyle.”
Lyssa laughed. She had no fear of human bullies. Sh
e could care less if her name was smeared across the school, too. That had actually happened to her the first year they had gone to a human school. Folding her arms, Lyssa cocked her hip out and stared up at Tori with a smile on her face.
“Oh? How long have you two been going out?”
Tori blinked rapidly, “We’re not going out.”