by Jillian Dodd
Stay far away from it.
Far, far away.
But far, far away was the wrong thing to think, as my mind is now thinking of fairytales and true love’s kiss.
Pretty soon, I’m standing in front of his sister. She screams when she sees us. “Keatyn, I have been looking EVERYWHERE for you! Where has my brother been hiding you?” (You’ll notice that most of the Aiden scenes to this point are the same as the published version. I think you can tell that he was the one from their very first interaction. And so can both of them. But it wouldn’t be very much fun had they gotten together right away. And what they went through together, how they build their foundation of love, made them so much better as a couple. But, oh, it was torturous!)
“We were, uh.....”
Shit where were we?? I have seriously lost my freaking mind. And I may have to kiss him again to get it back.
I’m thinking.
It’s worth a shot, maybe.
“I made her go on the ferris wheel with me first,” Aiden says, saving me.
“Bad boy,” she says and gives him a playful swat.
“Well anyways, CONGRATS!!!” she yells. Then a whole group of girls are surrounding me, screaming, bouncing up and down, and putting red and yellow boas around my neck, a red feathered crown or something in my hair. And then a banner across my chest, like I’ve just won Miss American. I look down at it and it says, Dance Team in gold glittery letters. “YOU MADE IT!!!” Then she pulls me in and whispers in my ear, “You also made Varsity Soccer, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
I am really excited about that.
And I am now in a whirlwind of Congrats and getting introduced to this bunch of screaming girls, getting pictures taken with them. Then we all get up on stage, the current dance team and the three of us that made it, all decked out ridiculously, and do the dance we learned today at tryouts. Peyton throws me pompoms, and I smile and dance, while thinking about the craziness of today.
All I have to say is, boarding school is no day at the beach.
It’s way more exciting.
When I come off the stage, there is Dawson. Staring at me.
Uh, make that GLARING at me. (I apparently hadn’t yet learned the subtle art of italics.)
I walk straight up to him and say sincerely, “Hey, I’m really sorry about what I said earlier. It was kinda mean of me.”
“You were sticking up for my brother because of what I said about him being the imitation, right?”
“Yeah, he looked sad when you said it, and I just reacted. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. It was kinda mean, if you don’t know us, but he and I joke about stuff like that all the time. Plus he’s my little bro. I have to give him shit.”
I nod.
He lowers his voice and says, “And you’re right about Peyton. I do like her. Speaking of that, the guys told me Riley said you didn’t really do anything in your dorm room.”
“Uh, well, he kinda lied about that. We did kiss.”
“So you kissed Dallas last night, kissed my brother today, and I just saw you kissing Aiden on the ferris wheel. Busy girl.”
“When you say it like that, it makes it sound slutty. I’m really not slutty.”
“Well, all I know is this. My brother has NEVER not told us about a girl he’s been with. He usually brags his ass off trying to impress us. The fact that he lied to the guys about you, tells me he might actually like you. And congrats on dance team. It’s a big honor. All the hottest girls are on dance team. You’ll fit in well.”
“Um, okay and thanks.”
Is it bad that I wanna say what my mom says some nights? I just want an Ambien and my pillow.
I’m so tired and so on stimulatory overload.
But then Aiden saunters up to me, gives me a big hug, which nearly stops my heart from beating, and says, “Congrats. You looked really surprised. I pretty much told you that you made it on the ferris wheel.”
“The ferris wheel is sorta a blur.” I say without thinking.
“A good blur, I hope. Hey, there’s all your friends, worshipers, whatever. I think they all want to congratulate you.” He stops and kisses my hand.
Yes.
You heard that right.
He kissed my hand. Like freaking Prince Charming.
Then he says, “Don’t forget, you owe me a dance or two tomorrow.”
“I won’t,” I say breathlessly.
And then poof, he disappears into thin air.
And I wonder for a minute if he was actually real.
Can anyone else see this demigod?
Oh yeah, Dawson saw me kiss him, so yes. He must be real.
Dallas, Riley, and the rest of the boys all are giving me hugs and congrats and pats on the back.
Dallas says, “You looked great up there. You hungry?”
And I realize just how hungry I am. I really was too stressed to eat dinner.
“I’m starved! Let’s get something to eat.”
While I’m sitting there eating a freshly grilled Philly cheesesteak and homemade potato chips, Morgan comes trudging up to me, pushing a girl in front of her. The girl is also decked out in feathers.
“Meet your new roommate, Katelyn.” (Obviously, Katie, who had her name shortened to fit her bouncy personality. Also, this is my daughter’s middle name, and the more I got to know Katie, I couldn’t give her that name.)
Katelyn gets a big grin on her face and gives me a hug. “Oh, thank God. You made it too. When they told me it was some girl that tried out, I was so afraid once I found out I made it that she wouldn’t have and would hate me. You cool with this? I sure as hell am.”
“Absolutely,” I tell Morgan. “But I’m almost unpacked, so she moves to my room, right?”
“Yep. Molly and I will get everything moved over to your room tonight. Sorry, it just didn’t work for me.”
“Thats okay, no hard feelings,” I say.
Katelyn is adorable. Perky, bouncy brown hair with expensive reddish blonde highlights, button nose, and a sweet smile.
I introduce her to the boys, and she immediately hits it off with Carson. “You guys want to go on the Ferris wheel?” She bounces a bit when she says this. And her ample boobs shake just a bit. She is really quite peppy, and the boys are enthralled.
“You go. I’m gonna finish eating.”
Dallas says he’s gonna stay with me. Then he sits down and says, “Plus, you already rode the ferris wheel.”
“Uh, yeah, I did. Have you?”
“Yeah, I rode it, but I don’t think I had as much fun as you.”
“I take it you saw Aiden kiss me?”
“Yeah. And I’m okay with it. Last night, I dig you, sure, but last night was just, you know, we got high, we kissed. It was just chill, right?”
He reminds me of Brooklyn even more with that comment.
“Right.”
“Now my friend, Riley, on the other hand, he didn’t look too pleased. In fact, he looked pretty pissed. You kiss him too?”
I purse my lips and look up at the sky, trying to decide what to say. What spin I should put on this. You know, I may need to hire a good publicist to survive school here. Someone to put the proper spin on what I get caught doing. Make it sound like it was okay. What do they say? Any publicity is good publicity.
“Look at me,” Dallas says. “The answer to that question is not in the sky. And don’t lie to me. I hate when people lie to me. And I can tell we’re gonna be friends. Good friends. I’m talking TIGHTTTT,” he laughs. “So just tell me.”
So I spill my guts.
“So all summer, I’ve hung out with Brooklyn. He’s been my best friend for three years, and this summer, we became more. We weren’t officially going out, but he told me he loved me all summer, and we spent the whole summer together, surfing, hanging out, smoking, kissing and stuff. And then my last night home, we spent together. Surfing, drinking champagne, kissing, and then we had sex. It was my first time, and it was a
mazing. Awkward kinda physically, you know, but he made me feel amazing. And then the next morning, we watched the sun rise, and we did it again. Like twice. And when I left, I was so sad. I felt so in love with him. But he told me I was going to this school to like, I don't know, find myself and that includes romances. So we aren’t going out or anything. Like I’m officially single. And then I thought you were adorable when I saw you and last night was fun. I mean, I’d go there with you anytime, and I’d kiss you again, for sure. You kiss good. Like sweet.”
He smiles.
“And really, I thought Riley was kind of a conceited jerk, but in a hot way, you know. And then when I kicked that ball in the goal and saw the God of all Hotties.”
“Who?”
“Oh, that’s what I called Aiden before I knew his name. He like does something to me. Like I feel like it was love at first sight. Seriously. But then you guys told me he’s a player, and he pretty much told me the same. But when he talks to me, he is not smooth, like I would think a player would be. He’s nothing like Riley. I mean at least with Riley, you know he’s a player. He doesn’t try to hide it. But then Aiden brought me lunch after soccer, and I thought it was sweet, but then what he said, like it was like this awful pick up line, and I was like whatever. But then right before I went to dance tryouts, he handed me a four leaf clover, like a real one, picked from the ground. And I wondered if he stood there looking for them or what. But I kept telling myself, no players. No players. Then Riley came to walk me to dinner, and I wasn’t quite ready and....”
Dallas says, “Riley already told me what happened. He also told me how you stood up to him in front of his brother. He really liked that you did that.” (I adore how she completely spills her guts to Dallas here.)
“Good. Kissing Riley was like hot. He made me hot, and honestly, if I knew him better, I probably would have let more happen. Because I would know what I was getting into. Like I would know it’s just a thing. Just a hookup. But then Aiden kissed me on the ferris wheel, and I swear, I couldn’t even breathe. Like I have never felt like that before. And this time, he didn’t say anything stupid or cheesy. He was sweet, and I think I’m like falling in love with him. No. I am in love with him. But I know that I can’t be. So I won’t be seeing him anymore. I mean, I will probably see him around, but I’m not gonna fall for him and then have him decide I’m not it. Then dump me like he does all the other girls he goes out with. So basically that’s it. I need to stop kissing boys.”
Dallas laughs at me. “You’re funny. I hear you are supposed to go to a senior party with Riley tonight.”
“Well, if he saw the kiss, he probably won’t want to take me anymore.”
“Oh, no. I think he will. Dawson told him that he heard you two hadn’t really done anything and that if Riley didn’t make a move, he was, tonight. So just know, Dawson is interested. And be careful.”
“I’m not interested in Dawson, he’s got it bad for Peyton. And I like Peyton.”
“Yeah, they used to date. Like all sophomore year and most of last year, I guess. But Dawson cheated on her, well got drunk, and this girl that always liked him pretty much attacked him, and he didn’t say no. And she found out, and I guess they are friends, but she won’t give him another chance.”
“Damn, Dallas. You’re good for all the gossip.”
“He’s not the only one that’s got this place wired,” Dallas says with an easy grin.
“Do you think I can take off this stupid feather crown now?”
“No, you better not. Oh, here comes Tyrese.”
Tyrese sits down with us, resting his muscular arms on the table, “So congrats, dance team is cool. You getta come out and shake that ass for the football team.”
I scrunch my nose up cuz shaking my ass for the football team wasn’t exactly why I tried out. Actually, I’m still not sure why I tried out.
He lowers his voice. “So the party tonight, moved to plan B. You understand?”
“Yeah.”
“You know how to get in and out of the dorm without getting into trouble?”
“Uh, no.”
Shit, the party must be like after curfew.
“What floor you on?”
“Uh, first. 16A.” (If you notice teeny details, do you know what her room number was in the books? It was 6B. I changed the location of it because Garrett actually chose her room with escape to the boy’s dorm in mind. I think I would have personally pretended to be in distress occasionally.)
“Well aren't you just the lucky girl?” Okay, so all the outside doors have alarms on them, and I’m sure they told you the whole place is wired, right?”
“Yeah, they did tell us that. They also told us about all the trouble we’d get into if we got caught outside the dorm after curfew.”
“You won’t get caught if you do it right, okay?”
“Okay.”
“The biggest problem will probably be your roommate. I heard you have some girl that goes to bed at 9:30. Would she tell on you?”
“She would have, yes, but I have a new roommate. We switched. Now I’m roommates with a girl who also just made the dance team. She’s the really cute petite one.”
“With the huge boobs?”
“Um, yes.”
“Dayummm, you can just bring her along with you then. Introduce her to Tyrese.”
“Okay, she seems fun, so I’m sure I can talk her into it.”
“Solid. Okay, so what they didn’t tell you is that the doors are wired, but the window are not. All you have to do is report for curfew, then about an hour after that, sneak out your window. Check your window, make sure you can get in and out of it. Wait, did you say 16A? Damn girl, that window has got WD40 all up and down the sides of it. It glides like a dream. Effortlessly and quietly. Little honey of mine, graduated last year, that was her room.”
Dallas and I laugh.
“So curfew is at 12 tonight. Be there at one.”
“Wait. How do we get in?”
“Oh shit. I almost forgot. Go to the side of the dorms facing the woods. Walk that way, so no one sees you. Then the second window from your dorm will be open, just climb in and head up to the party. If you have any trouble, text me. Here, give me your phone.”
He grabs my phone, puts in Tyresebaby and his number, winks at me and leaves.
“You gotta take me to one of these parties,” Dallas tells me.
“Let’s wait until I’m actually invited myself, and then you’re in. And before the others get back,” I say, as I see them walking toward me. “Anytime you wanna go back to the cave, you text me.”
“We gonna smoke and kiss some more?”
“Definitely.”
Shit, I can’t believe I just said that.
But I want to, so, oh well.
He’s Kissing My Soul
1:15 am.
Katelyn, you can call me Katie, is excited to go to the party with me. She’s been chattering nervously about it for the last hour, while we unpacked all of our clothes and put them away. We checked our window, and as expected, it did glide very easily. She wanted to leave at 12:55, so we would be there right at one, when the party supposedly starts. But no way was I going to look like an overeager B list actor trying to get into an A list party. I told her we weren’t leaving til 1:15.
At least.
At 1:15, she can’t wait any longer. She’s had 2 redbulls and is bursting at the seams. I’m still feeling pacific time and so it feels like 10:15 to me. No big deal. So far. (Love Katie’s bubbly personality. She is so going to be such a fun match for Knox in the Hollywood Love series.)
Katelyn climbs out the window, quite gracefully. I pretty much fell out of the window and into the bushes.
“How did you do that?” I ask her, as I’m picking leaves off my shorts. We had a big dilemma about what to wear tonight. She wanted to be all decked out. I thought maybe we should look more casual. Pajama party casual. We discussed it for about an hour. Killed some time at least.
&nbs
p; “Get out the window without falling?” she whispers. “I snuck out my window at home all summer to see my boyfriend.”
“And what exactly were you doing with your boyfriend in the middle of the night?”
She smiles and blushes, “Well, you know. Mostly we just made out a lot, but towards the end of the summer, we started having sex. Well, we did it a few times anyways. I really didn’t care for it. But we were both virgins, so I wasn’t really expecting much.”
“Well when you do it again, hopefully it will be with someone more experienced. I liked it. A lot.”
“Like tonight? Do you think that stuff goes on at this party? I really have no idea what to expect.”
“I would guess like any party. Some weed, probably. Some alcohol, for sure.”
“I can’t get drunk. I’m not much of a drinker, and I’ve never smoked before.”
“Only have two drinks then. I heard them talking about if a young girl gets all drunk and stupid and loud, they like don’t get invited back.”
“We want invited back. They’re seniors!”
“Shhh! Exactly. Okay, now we need to be quiet.” I say, as we get closer to one of the dorms. I don’t want to wake anyone up.
We sneak quietly over to the next dorm and find window number two open as planned. We slide in and go up to the plan B room.
Isn’t Plan B like the morning after pill?
Yikes. Hope that isn’t indicative of how the night will go.
We get to the door. It’s wide open and there’s about twenty people crammed into the room. Well, make that twenty-two now.
Tyrese is standing by the door. He says, “Keatyn baby, who’s your friend?” I introduce him to Katelyn, I mean, Katie, and leave them to talk. If I have learned one thing from my mom, it’s how to work a party. Never stay up front. The good stuff is always in the back. And always make a full sweep of the room before you stop to chat.
I’m specifically looking for something to drink and for Riley. Instead, I get to the back of the room, find an entire keg of beer, with Dawson expertly pumping it.
He sees me, says, “Damn. I didn’t know this was a pajama party. I like seeing what you wear to bed. Want me to take off my clothes, show you what I wear?”