He decided that if the only way he could get her to the creek was to finish the essay, then that was what he would do. Feeling challenged he forced himself to work, but he kept his leg firmly pressed against hers.
Inevitably, she tried to move away from him, and he kept following her every movement. At one point, she glared at him, but he simply returned an innocent smile. She let out a cute grumbling noise that made him want to dive across the desk and kiss her, but he reluctantly stayed where he was. He had never had so much fun doing homework, as he had today.
With his brain strained, but feeling triumphant, he finally wrote the last sentence. He gazed at her, only to find Kayla staring at him. She was chewing on the lid of her pen seeming somewhere between disconcerted and hopeful, happy even. He took that as a positive sign.
“Done!” He smirked at her. “Now let’s go to the creek,” he tapped his pen on the paper, while she frowned.
“I need to read it first to make sure that it’s enough,” she lifted her hand to reach for his paper, but Isaac shook his head.
“That wasn’t part of the deal.” He quickly shuffled his work together, and threw them into his bag.
“Fine.” She grouched, as she gathered up her paperwork, and all the books she had collected.
“Let’s get to the creek.” He repeated his earlier words excitedly, as he stood up to escort her out the door.
Kayla was at a complete loss for words, as he followed her home in his car. She had achieved no productive work whatsoever. She had spent most of her library time staring at him, wondering when she was going to wake up from this dream.
The hope inside of her had bloomed to tremendous heights since last night, making her terrified of the pain she would have to endure when he got bored with her. It seemed the more time she spent with him, only increased her yearning to be with him even more.
Now, as she organised her swim gear quietly, and left her sleeping mother a note, she felt filled with anticipation. She wasn’t sure what the rest of the day would bring, but she was excited to face it, as long as she could spend time with Isaac.
She pulled the door closed on her home, and turned to find him leaning against his car. He looked too good to be true, with a smile that made her whole body tingle, as he looked her up and down. This was what it was like to have Isaacs’s complete focus.
No wonder he had so many girls fighting and crying over him. He made her feel like the most special person in the world, simply with one look from those stormy blue eyes. It was a heady experience knowing that he was choosing her above all the other girls.
“You don’t really have swimmers on, do you?” He accused, as she got closer, sounding immensely disappointed.
“Of course I do.” She replied with a small frown.
Sure, she had stuck to her staple clothes of jeans and a shirt, but she had her one piece on underneath. She had thrown on her cardigan in case she got cold later too. She had tossed her beach towel and sunscreen in her bag, and brought along her biggest sun hat. She was as prepared for the creek as she could be.
“Okay,” he replied dubiously. “Hop in then.”
He gestured to the car and that was when her nerves struck. She had felt so keen and confident before, but now at the prospect of being alone with him, she felt apprehensive. This was so out of her normal range of everything that she knew that she wasn’t sure what to do.
Every other time she had been with Isaac, she had always felt that they had company. Even last night, she knew that Hayley had been upstairs if anything happened. Now, she was getting in a car with him on her own, and she felt anxious. She gulped and stayed perfectly still.
“This isn’t a date! The fortnight isn’t up yet, and I haven’t agreed to go on a date with you,” she blurted out, making her face flush at her mortification of saying such a dumb thing.
“I know that,” he said, as he pushed off the car, and reached for her bag. “We are just going down to the creek. Wait until next week when we really go on a date,” he whispered the words softly in her ear, before turning to toss her bag into the car.
“I didn’t say yes.” She protested quickly, as she tried not to wobble on her feet at how much she had enjoyed the tickle against her skin of his whispered words.
Her nerves thrummed with a mixture of excitement and apprehension once again. She didn’t know whether to jump around in a happy dance, or curl into a ball and pretend that he didn’t just say that. Was he truly going to wait another week to go on a date? That seemed completely opposite to the way he normally acted.
“Kayla, just get in the car.” Isaacs hand on her arm startled her.
Warmth from that simple touch spread through her and turned hot. She glanced up at those dark, stormy eyes of his, and felt the world around her stop. His other hand dropped to her waist to pull her closer, making her thundering heart flip over. How could he always make her so weak at the knees?
“This is now going.” His wonderful voice surrounded her, trapping her in its depths. She didn’t comprehend his words, until she felt the hat lift from her head.
“What? No! Give that back, or I’m not going anywhere with you!” Kayla huffed, as she reached for her hat.
“That is about a zillion times better,” Isaac said with a satisfied tone. “Now I can see those rather mysterious eyes of yours.”
His words stopped her protest. Did he not notice the lack of hair on her hideously huge forehead? She felt stunned, and she didn’t even feel him pull her hair from the ponytail. The mischievous smile he sent her had her toes fully curling into her sandals, as her stomach quivered pleasantly. Did he have any idea how much he affected her?
“I consider you now ready for the creek,” he teased, as he placed her hair band into the pocket of his shorts and tossed her hat on the back seat.
“I, um, really need my hat,” she stammered out the words, and he nodded vaguely, as he opened the car door for her.
“Maybe when we get to the creek.” He shrugged, as he gestured for her to get in.
“I need it. Promise that you’ll give it to me, or I’m not going anywhere.” She insisted stubbornly.
“So damn bossy,” he said with a grin that lit up his face charmingly. “I promise you can have it when we get to the creek.”
At that, she gave up her hesitation, and stepped into the car. She sat down feeling decidedly surreal. She had been in this car so often since Isaac first got his license, and his parents bought him this car. It seemed odd to be sitting in the front, which was normally Hayley’s chair.
“What do you want to listen to?” Isaac gestured to the radio, as he got in the driver’s side and started the car.
“I don’t mind.” She told him, as she pulled her seat belt on.
“Okay.” He replied, as he left it on his normal radio station.
Silence filled the car, dreaded silence that she knew she couldn’t possibly fill. She chose to stare out the window, and watch the scenery fly by instead. The moment he started to sing off key to the radio was when she finally swung her head back around to look at him.
“That sounds terrible,” she said, as he hit a high note that the song didn’t even require.
“Thanks for smashing my Idol dreams,” he huffed, but she could see a grin wanting to tilt his lips. “Are you always this blunt?” He asked sending her a quick look.
“Ah, no, not normally. What can I say? You bring out the worst in me.” A small laugh escaped her.
“So, I guess you’re telling me that you’re not normally so bossy?” He enquired with a raised brow.
“No, not really.”
“Hah, yes, you are! I’ve seen you bossing all the kids to get in the van for dance class.” He pointed out, and she shifted uncomfortably.
“That’s different.” She tried to protest, but he simply talked over her.
“I happen to find your bossiness pretty darn sexy, so you don’t need to defend that one.” He stated breezily, and she felt her mouth flop open.<
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“Sexy?” She stammered out the word, before looking back out the window with a gulp.
“Yep.” He answered, as he drove the back roads to the creek.
Her heart was racing from his words, but it began to thud with dread when she noticed all the cars parked at the creek. It seemed that half of the school were taking advantage of the warm weather, and the cool rushing creek.
“I can’t be here. I thought it was just going to be Hayley,” Kayla’s voice rose in a panic that startled Isaac, as he parked the car.
“Yes, you can, and we don’t have to be at the normal swimming hole where everyone else will be,” he assured her, as he got out of the car.
“No!” She stated flatly, as he came around to open her door.
“Kayla, it will be alright.” He said, as she crossed her arms and refused to move. He couldn’t understand the reluctance she had in even getting out of the car.
“I’m really not comfortable right now. I knew I should have drove.” She muttered to herself.
“Finally you two! I thought you’d be in that damn library forever,” Hayley’s voice echoed around, attracting too many eyes.
“Shush, Hayley.” Kayla ordered, as her friend ran up to the car in only a bikini.
“Bossy.” Isaac used a singsong voice, as he leaned in to unbuckle her seatbelt.
He attempted to pull her from the car, but a vehement protest was the only response. He stood back with a frown, as she clutched onto her seat determinedly. With a naughty little grin that Kayla sucked in a breath at, he simply manhandled her from the car, making sure to touch as much of her as he could.
Kayla moved away from him quickly, once he set her upright. He had her grudging agreement to be here now; it wasn’t as if she could walk home. Still the apprehension inside of her grew. She had only ever been out here with Hayley and their dance friends before, and she hated being the focus of a crowd.
“I brought the rafts. I know you love cruising down the creek on one of those.” Hayley bargained, as Kayla quickly snatched for her hat and pulled it on.
“Okay.” Kayla grumpily agreed, making her friend jump around ecstatically.
With an uncomfortable urge in her chest, demanding that she run away, it was hard to stay composed. She saw all eyes focused on the three of them, as they got closer to the creek. Some were curious; some were amazed, while others were downright perturbed and even angry.
When Isaac clasped her hand, and smiled at her encouragingly, she was surprised to find that she could breathe a little easier. He walked past everyone else, and led her to a more secluded spot that Hayley must have known about in advance, for all of her stuff was there.
She managed a wobbly smile at the siblings, as she finally accepted her fate. She was swimming at the creek with Isaac Thornton, so she might as well enjoy it while she can.
Chapter 9 - A river of a tale to tell
"Hello, imagine you sitting here having a good time," Isaac teased, while tugging on the raft that Kayla was sitting on.
"Don’t you dare tip me off," Kayla exclaimed, as he pulled himself closer to her.
"Now, why would I do that?" He asked devilishly.
He had to admit that he was enjoying this day immensely. Kayla had hooked his attention when she had finally ditched the old cardigan, and transformed into a girl from sports illustrated. He couldn’t believe the body that she was hiding beneath her frumpy clothes.
He secretly enjoyed the fact that they were more secluded than the normal swimming hole. The last thing he needed was all the other guys finding out about Kayla. He knew he was being selfish, but he wasn't giving up Kayla for anybody.
He teasingly leaned against the rubber side of the raft, and Kayla let out a squeak of protest. She sent him a glare with those stunning green eyes of hers, which only encouraged his mischievous actions.
"Isaac!" She gave him a stern warning, as he continued tipping the raft closer towards him.
"What? I'm not doing anything." He replied innocently.
He deliberately ducked under the water only to appear on the opposite side to where she was looking for him. That small waist beckoned to him, as did the smooth freckled skin of her back. He reached out a finger, and slid it down her spine.
She leapt away with a squeal that overturned the raft, and left her floundering in the water. With a splutter, she appeared back above the water. Her gaze set on one beaming male who was chortling to himself heartily.
The first splash of water into his face shocked him, forcing him to swallow a mouthful before choking. There was no pause as a torrent of water came his way. As he tried to defend himself, Kayla threw herself at him to knock him back into the water. She dunked his head under, before he even knew what was going on.
Then, as calmly as she could, she went back over to her raft, and pulled herself back onto it. She sent him a smirk, as he resurfaced. He threw back his head and full on laughed.
He astounded her, with his carefree attitude and stunning looks. He was devilishly handsome, as he stood in the shallow water. She forced her eyes away from his tanned and toned chest, for the umpteenth time today. With every move, no matter how small, he constantly shocked her with his perfection.
"Rule number one; don't take you on in a water fight?" He asked with a chortle, as he swam back over to her raft.
“I have an older brother, remember, I’m a pro at dunking him too,” she blew at her fingers, and watched him from beneath her lashes.
“You are truly something, Kayla McCrae,” he pulled himself up onto the raft, being careful not to over balance it. Kayla frowned briefly, and pondered how he had learned her full name.
“I know.” She answered him with a grin. She was surprised that she could be so casual and flirty with him.
“Do you want to go out on a date?” He asked, as he reached for her hand, but she abruptly pulled away.
“You’ve got another week until the end of my ultimatum. I’m pretty sure that I mentioned it earlier.” She stated, as he sent her that cute little hangdog expression that made her want to give up the fight.
“So damn bossy. Why can’t we make it tonight?” He asked, and she sighed at his stubbornness.
“Isaac, I’m not telling you this again, but I’m not one of those girls. If you want a date tonight then go and annoy some other girl.” She said the words but wished she could take them back.
The last thing she wanted was for him to find a different girl to flirt with, and treat so special. He was spending time with her, but she kept pushing him away without even realising. What was she thinking?
This was what she had dreamed about for years, and she was letting the opportunity slip through her fingers. She knew it was the fear of a broken heart that kept her protesting his attention. She knew that the longer she put off that broken heart, then the better off she would be.
“Except for one small fact.” He goaded.
“And what’s that?” She crossed her arms and faced him, careful to look only at his eyes, and not let any other part of him distract her.
“You’re the only girl that I enjoy annoying.” He teased, as he touched her cheek, before throwing himself into the water with a laugh. He quite deliberately tipped the raft over, so she fell in with him
“Isaac!” She protested, even though a carefree laugh flew from her mouth.
“Hey, you water babies! Did you want a sandwich?” Hayley called out from the shore and they both turned to her, rather surprised by her presence.
“Yum, I’m getting pretty hungry, you?” Isaac asked.
He twisted back to look at her, as if awaiting her answer, before he made a decision. She felt moved by his regard for her. She didn’t know if this was how he treated the other girls he dated, but his attentiveness flattered her.
“Something to eat would be good.” Kayla agreed, as they moved towards the shore. Isaac was gentlemanly enough to drag the raft in by himself, which surprised Kayla once again.
The three of
them sat together under the gently whispering willows, and ate the simple fare with relish. Kayla kept sending Isaac inscrutable looks every now and again, as though unsure of what to think of him. Isaac simply listened closely to the girls talking in the hopes of gleaning any information he could on Kayla.
“Are you coming back in, Hayley?” Isaac asked, after he finished off one of the sandwiches.
“No, mum was going to come and pick me up soon,” Hayley sent her brother an encouraging smile, as she tugged her clothing over her wet swimmers.
“Okay, well we can bring this stuff home later,” he said with a hopeful look to Kayla who hadn’t seemed to be listening.
“Huh, what’s happening?” Kayla asked as she looked between the siblings
‘I’ll see you later, bye.” Hayley told her friend with a mischievous grin.
“Where are you going?” Kayla asked in a panic, almost choking on her sandwich.
“Mum’s picking me up. I promised Nadia that we would go to the shops this afternoon.” Hayley said with a vague wave of her hand.
“Right, well, I guess I had better come with you. I’m sure your mum won’t mind dropping me off,” Kayla said quickly, as she began to pack up her things.
"You don't have to rush home," Hayley replied, seeming a little perplexed by her friend’s great rush. "I'm sure Isaac will take you home."
"Look, this isn't a date, and I'm not making it into one with you scurrying off and leaving me here." Kayla protested, making her friend sigh.
"Just because I'm leaving does not make this a date." Hayley grasped Kayla's shoulders and told her firmly.
"Hayley, please."
"Listen, if he tries anything, and he won't," she sent a meaningful look to her brother. "Then smack him upside the head, and I'll make sure he avoids you from now on." Hayley promised, as they heard an unmistakable honk of a horn echoed from a distance. "That'll be mum, I have to go."
Kayla stood there feeling ridiculously awkward. She watched her friend walk off, as she inwardly cowered and wanted to hide. She didn't want to face Isaac now. It seemed that they were alone, whether she liked it or not.
How We Began Page 9