by Wendi Wilson
“Please, ma’am, you’re hurting her.”
I’ll never forget her smile. It was pure evil, her eyes narrow and lipstick staining her teeth. I shivered, not really understanding what was happening. It didn’t take long for me to figure it out.
Holding the kitten aloft, she grabbed the fleshy part of my upper arm and jerked me forward. I watched my ice cream drop to the wooden floor of the porch as she dragged me into the house. I fought her grip at first but she only dug her long nails harder into my skin, making me quit my struggling and walk faster to keep up. We walked quickly through the house to the back door, my mother following silently behind.
She dragged me through the back door, all the way down the wooden staircase to the beach. We trudged quickly through the sand, my eyes burning as I tried to fight back the tears. I was scared and my arm hurt and I didn’t know what we were doing down by the water. She released my arm and held the kitten up in front of my face.
“You need to learn a lesson,” she said, her voice strong and determined.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, not really sure what she expected me to say.
“I will not tolerate any animals in my house,” she said shooting a meaningful look behind me at my mother. Glancing back at me, she smiled that evil smile again. “You are to blame for this.”
I scrunched my eyes in confusion, not understanding what she meant. Before I had a chance to question her, she pulled back her arm then slung it forward, a high-pitched screech ringing in my ears as I watched the small kitten fly through the air and land with a splash in the sea.
My breath whooshed out of my chest on a scream as I took a step into the foamy water. I had every intention of swimming out to save the poor creature but Ms. Coraline’s sharp talons once again gripped my arm, keeping me where I was.
“Hey.”
I jerk to a stop, that one soft word pulling me from the memory. Bryce stops as well, looking at me through squinted eyes. He cocks his head to the side, studying me.
“You okay?” he asks. “You looked like you were a million miles away.”
“Fine,” I say, shooting a quick look over my shoulder.
He looks in that direction, too, then back at me. “Are you sure? You seem kind of jumpy.”
“I said I’m fine,” I snap as I start walking again.
I hasten my footsteps, hoping he’ll get the hint and let me be. As much as I wanted to see him before, the memory of Ms. Coraline’s vindictiveness has changed my mind. I can’t chance talking to him. There’s no telling what the old woman will do if she finds out.
My hopes are dashed as I hear his footsteps shuffle quickly to catch up. I see him in my periphery but decide not to acknowledge him. Maybe if I ignore him, he’ll give up. My nerves are wound up, waiting to see what he’ll do.
“Did I do something to piss you off?” he asks when we’ve walked about a quarter mile in silence.
I suck in a deep breath and sigh. I stop walking and look behind me once more. No one but me and Bryce are on the road, and we’re far enough away from the house that Ms. Coraline couldn’t possibly see us. I motion for Bryce to follow as I step to the side of the road and skirt the large bushes planted there. I keep walking, not looking back to see if he followed, until I am buried deep in a copse of trees out of sight of the road and any cars that may pass.
When I’ve gone far enough, I stop and turn around. A large body crashes into mine and arms circle around me, stopping me from tumbling to the side as I instinctively try to jump back. My body flashes cold then hot, frozen in his warm embrace. I’m not sure if I should try to extricate myself from his grip or pull him in closer and snuggle against his chest. I seriously consider the latter before he takes the decision from me, releasing me and taking a small step back.
“Sorry,” he says, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “I thought you were going to fall.”
The action causes the white thermal to strain against his muscled chest, which I’m still staring at in a daze. Reality crashes in, and I lift my gaze to his, wiping the back of my hand against my mouth to make sure there’s no drool. One dark brow shoots up, and I know I’m busted. He caught me checking him out...again. I clear my throat, closing my eyes for a moment to regain control of myself.
“Thanks,” I whisper, opening my eyes to stare into his once more.
I see a smile flash across his face before it drops as he looks from me to our surroundings. “What’s with all the cloak and dagger stuff? Are you ashamed to be seen talking to me?”
One side of my mouth lifts into a lopsided grin. “Yeah, right,” I say under my breath before I raise my voice to a normal level. “Of course not. It’s...complicated.”
I watch his arms cross his chest as he says, “Try me.”
I glance upward at the patches of blue sky I can see through the canopy of bare tree limbs. I don’t know how to explain. I don’t even know why I feel the need to explain this to him at all but I do. The idea of him thinking I’m ashamed to be seen with him turns my stomach. I look back at him and sigh.
“I’ve been forbidden to speak to you.”
His head jerks back as if I had slapped him as a look of disbelief crosses his face. “Excuse me?”
I shake my head. “You heard me, Bryce. I’m not allowed to see you, talk to you...anything. It has been decreed,” I say with a hint of sarcasm.
“Why would your mom...”
He trails off as I shake my head again. “Not my mom. Ms. Coraline, herself, has ordered me to stay away from you. She saw us talking last night on the beach and lost it.”
“But, why?”
“I have no idea.”
“Wait,” he says, shaking his head and pacing back and forth in front of me. “Isn’t the old lady your mom’s boss?” At my nod, he continues, “Does she really think she can tell you what to do? I mean, you’re not her kid. What did your mom say?”
I put my hand out and grasp his forearm, stopping his agitated pacing. “I have to do what she says. I don’t really know what will happen but if my mom’s reaction is any indication, it’s bad.”
His eyes are glued to my hand. I jerk it away from him, my face heating with a blush. Bryce lifts his blue gaze to meet mine, and I feel like a rabbit in a snare. I can’t move. Can’t breathe. Bumble bees erupt in my belly. My heart starts to flutter in time with their angry buzzing. I swallow thickly, forcing myself to hold his stare.
“So,” he says in a low voice, taking a step closer, “if you’re not allowed to see me, why are we here?”
I refuse to back up, even though he’s so close I can feel the heat emanating from his body. Keeping eye contact, I say, “Because I refuse to let that old hag tell me what to do.”
His smile reinvigorates the buzzing in my belly. “Is that the only reason?” he asks, his voice almost a whisper as he leans in even closer.
I suck in a broken breath, forcing my eyes to stay open and focused on his. “No.” No? Why did I say no? Yes! I meant yes! Oh, God.
He flashes me one of those real smiles, the one I saw last night on the beach, and takes a step back. “Good to know,” he says before turning and strolling away.
I close my eyes and grind my teeth together, concentrating on taking slow breaths. When I open them, he’s gone. Disappointment races through my body. I don’t know what I hoped for but this isn’t it. He left without even saying “bye” or “see ya later” or anything.
“Good to know,” I mumble. “What does that even mean?”
I head back out onto the road and look both ways but Bryce is nowhere to be seen. Turning right, I start the slow walk to school. I’m so deep in thought, trying to figure out the enigma of Bryce, that a shock zips through me when I suddenly find myself in the school parking lot. Shaking my head to clear it, I pick up my pace and head for the doors.
“Kai!”
I turn my head toward the sound of my name and see Ana running toward me. I stop, waiting for her to catch up. When she reaches my side,
we turn as one and head for the entrance of the school.
“What’s up, Chica?” she asks.
“Nothing.”
She grabs my arm and pulls me to a halt. Her brown eyes lock onto mine for a few seconds before she wraps her hand around my elbow and pulls me to the left, away from the school doors and around the corner to the back. When we are far enough away not to be heard by the arriving students, she releases me and taps her foot.
“What?” I ask, cringing at the defensive tremor I hear in my voice.
“That’s a good question,” she says, tapping a finger against her lips. “What is it? What’s happened?”
I shake my head and try to wipe away the frown I feel pulling my lips down. “It’s nothing, really.”
“Kailani.”
I groan, knowing that tone. She won’t let up until I tell her. I let my shoulders droop and lean my body against the wall. Shrugging my backpack off my shoulder, it drops to the ground with a thud.
“It’s Bryce.”
Her eyes widen, then narrow, sparkling with humor. “I knew it!”
“Keep your voice down,” I urge, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone heard her and thought to investigate.
“Sorry, Kai. What’s happened now?” she asks in a quiet voice.
“Last night he came to the beach while I was swimming. We only talked for a few minutes but when I got back to the house, Ms. Coraline summoned me to her parlor.”
“Uh oh.”
“Right?” I shake my head with a sigh. “She forbade me to see him. Said I couldn’t speak to him or even look at him.”
“What? She has no right...”
“Apparently, she does,” I cut in. “I talked to my mom, and she said I have to obey her.”
Ana frowns and shakes her head. I thought it was ridiculous when my mom told me to do as Ms. Coraline says, and it’s comforting that Ana agrees with me. It makes me remember how glad I am to have her as my best friend. She’s always on my side, no matter what.
“So, is that all?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
A grin flashes across her face as she says, “That’s nothing. You and I both know you’ll go out of your way to see him if for no other reason than to cross the old witch.” When I only smile, she continues, “So what else happened?”
My face falls. “I saw him this morning.”
“And?”
“And I told him what happened. I pulled him into the woods where we wouldn’t be seen and told him everything the old hag said.”
“What did he say?”
“He seemed really agitated at first, like he was upset that I’d been ordered to stay away from him. Then he asked me why I was with him, why I pulled him into the woods to tell him, if I wasn’t allowed to speak to him.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him I don’t let Ms. Coraline tell me what to do.”
“Kai, you’re blushing! What are you not telling me?”
I take a deep breath to try and quell the bees that erupt in my belly. “He asked me if that was the only reason I was there...and I said no.”
Ana’s head jerks back in surprise. With a brilliant smile, she asks, “What did he say?”
“Good to know.”
“Good to know? What does that mean?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. He disappeared before I could ask him.”
“What do you mean disappeared?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. When I opened my eyes, he’d disappeared.”
“Why were your eyes closed?”
I flinch. I hadn’t meant to reveal that bit of information. “Well...okay, God, Ana, I’ll tell you. I was embarrassed. As we talked he kept coming closer and closer. By the time he asked if that was the only reason I was there, I’d lost my senses entirely. He was so close, I thought he was going to kiss me or something.”
“Did you want him to? No, don’t answer that. Of course, you did.”
Refusing to confirm or deny her statement, I continue. “Then he backs up suddenly, says ‘good to know’ and walks away. I closed my eyes to regain my composure, and when I opened them, he was gone.”
Ana stares at me but her eyes are unfocused, and I can tell she’s thinking. She nods as if coming to a conclusion and refocuses on me. Threading her arm through mine, she nods toward my backpack. I pick it up, and we head back toward the front of the building.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” I ask when the silence becomes intolerable.
Ana leans in so that her mouth is close to my ear. “He likes you,” she whispers.
“I don’t...” I start to say but she shakes her head as we come around the corner and wind our way through a group of students heading for the doors.
“Later,” she says.
I nod in agreement. All sorts of arguments against her conclusion wind their way through my mind as we part ways and head to our lockers. Bryce Howell can have any single girl at this school, maybe even the taken ones, with the exception of Ana. Why would he want an awkward, freckle-faced redhead with a creepy old lady hell-bent on keeping her away from him? He wouldn’t.
But I can’t deny the feeling that rushed through my body when Ana whispered those three words. For just a moment, I believed her, and the feeling was amazing. Elation. That’s the best word I can come up with to describe it. I was elated.
I shake myself, pulling my head out of the clouds and back down to earth. If Bryce does like me, he has a funny way of showing it. Of course, what would I know about boys and how they show their feelings? Nothing, I admit to myself. Not a single thing. I close my locker and walk slowly toward Mr. Jonas’s class.
Chapter Six
I walk into homeroom and see Ana waving to me from the back, an empty desk beside her. I put my head down and make my way down the aisle. Plopping into my seat, I look at her, hoping to continue our conversation before Mr. Jonas arrives and starts calling the roll.
I lean toward her to speak but one look at her has me straightening in my chair. Her face is glowing as she leans forward and smiles at someone on my other side. I whip my head to the left and suck in a harsh breath.
“Bryce.”
The word comes out as a choked whisper. He was staring intently at the front of the class but at the sound of his name, he turns his head and shoots me a roguish grin. Once again, those darn bees take up residence in my stomach.
“Yes, Kailani?”
I jerk my eyes toward the front as Mr. Jonas closes the classroom door and heads toward his desk. He opens his laptop and calls names out in a monotone voice. I squeak out a “here” when he calls my name and hear Ana giggle. I shoot her a death stare, and she sobers quickly.
“Okay, class, pull out your math books and turn to page eighty-eight.”
As I flip the pages of my book, I feel a tap on my left shoulder. I glance over, turning my head as little as possible. Bryce is leaning toward me, motioning with his hands. I swivel my head in his direction, and he smiles. Pointing at the open book on my desk, he mouths, “Can we share?”
The bees work themselves into a frenzy as I nod and push the book slightly in his direction. A loud screech echoes throughout the room as he scoots his desk toward me while still sitting in it. Every head in the room jerks toward us, and I feel my face heat up. Before I drop my gaze to my lap, I see several sets of narrowed eyes shooting daggers at me. The junior girls are not happy with this development.
“Mr. Howell, I thought I gave you a textbook yesterday.”
“Sorry, Mr. Jonas. I left it at home. It won’t happen again.”
I peek up through my eyelashes at our teacher to gauge his reaction. He looks dazed for a moment before shaking it off and turning his back to the class to write on the board. I turn incredulous eyes toward Bryce, who is leaning in close and staring intently at my math book. I’ve never known Mr. Jonas to let an unprepared student go without a lecture. I look over at Ana, whose head is swiveling back and forth bet
ween Mr. Jonas and Bryce with raised eyebrows. She meets my gaze, and I shrug, mouthing, “Weird, right?” before refocusing on Mr. Jonas and attempting to take notes.
My determination to be a model student is short-lived. Bryce scoots his desk a fraction closer, leaning in and snaking his arm behind me, resting it on the back of my chair. My breath hitches in my throat. I silently curse myself, and him, when the corner of his mouth lifts slightly. He’s enjoying this.
I redouble my efforts to pay attention to the lecture. Bryce is playing with me, relishing my obvious discomfort. I steel my spine and ignore his proximity. I know I can do this. Pretend he’s not here. Pretend I can’t feel the warmth of his body against my side and smell the fresh scent of citrusy soap in my nostrils. I feel nothing. That’s my new mantra.
It seems to be working until I feel a light brush against the side of my arm. I look down and see Bryce’s hand resting on the back of my chair, his thumb sweeping light strokes against my arm. I raise my head and take a deep, calming breath before turning to him with a raised brow. I’m determined to play this cool.
He’s staring at his notebook, scribbling out math problems. There’s no cocky grin, no look of innocence, nothing. As I watch, his eyebrows screw up in concentration, trying to work out a difficult step in the math problem. All the while, his thumb continues to lightly caress my arm. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it and for some reason that makes me smile.
He glances up and catches me with the grin on my face. Smiling back, he whispers, “What’s so funny?”
Shaking my head, I refocus my gaze on my own notebook and try to will away the blush I feel heating my face. I know he can see it. My embarrassment ratchets up a notch as I think about how I must look. With my red hair and freckles, my blushes are never flattering.
My heart skips a beat, then pounds double time as Bryce wraps his whole hand around my bicep and softly strokes it. Up and down. Up and down. Each pass causes my breath to hitch as I try desperately to ignore it. Before I realize he’s moved, I feel his breath on my neck.
“I love it when you blush,” he whispers near my ear.