How We Began

by Sandra Corton

  "I should be getting home," Isaac said, as he looked around Kayla's family.

  "One last thing before you head off," Kylie said, as she hopped up from the couch, before disappearing somewhere into the house. "I know that I said it before, but I am deadly serious about this: don't get my daughter pregnant." She said when she returned. She tossed an unopened box of condoms at Isaac, who blushed and tried to stammer out words.

  "Mum!" Kayla screamed out feeling intense mortification.

  "Kayla, honey, I know all about how easily teenagers fall pregnant. He's your first boyfriend, so I want things to be clear between all of us." Kylie looked at both of them firmly.

  "Oh my God! I can't believe you're doing this," Kayla slapped her hands to her face.

  "I haven't finished yet, Kayla." Her mother's sternness went up a notch, while Mitchell laughed himself stupid from where he sat.

  "Shut up, Mitch." Kayla growled.

  "This is nowhere near as bad as she was with me," Mitchell chortled, when he could contain his hysterics.

  "Quiet!" Kylie ordered and the room fell silent. "I know, as do you that this house is often empty, or I'm sleeping at irregular hours. This house is not going to become a little love nest for the two of you, is this understood?"

  "Yes, Mum." Kayla replied quickly.

  "Isaac?"

  "Yes, ma'am." Isaac ducked his head, but answered with a gulp.

  "Excellent." Kylie nodded in satisfaction, before leaving the room again.

  "Sorry, Isaac." Kayla looked his way to find him staring at the condom box.

  "That was hilarious." Mitchell piped up with a broad grin.

  "Seriously, Mitch, I'm going to disown you as my brother soon." Kayla sent him a glare.

  "Isaac, listen to me, she went easy on you." Mitchell looked at Isaac, and gave him a knowing nod.

  "We are so out of here," Kayla said, as she jumped up from the couch and headed to the front door. She waved Isaac her way, and he finally seemed to get the message to follow her. "Isaac, I'm so sorry," Kayla said once they were alone.

  "Well meeting the parents was definitely full of surprises," he replied rather vaguely.

  "I guess that's it." Kayla sounded stricken, and Isaac forced his eyes her way.

  "What?"

  "I knew I shouldn't have invited you. I didn't even really get my week. Thanks for destroying my life mum!" Kayla ranted, looking sad, but furious at the same time.

  "Kayla, what are you saying?" Isaac grasped her by the shoulders, making her face him.

  "You don't want to be with me now, do you?" Intense dejection flooded her voice. "Of course you don't. I mean I get why, no other girl has given you this much grief."

  "Kayla, stop," Isaac's firm words finally got through to her, and she glanced his way. "You see me, and that's worth any safe sex lecture from your mum."

  Her heart lifted, as she looked up at him. He lowered his head, and kissed her softly on the mouth. Her body responded, as she moved in closer to him. He pulled away a little, only to leave feather light kisses against her cheek.

  "Now you just have to endure dinner with my parents." He whispered and she smiled.

  He wasn't giving up on her it seemed. She felt elated and filled with a delicious warmth. Her week with him wasn't at an end just yet, and she was going to run with it for as long as she could.

  She looked at him, and knew without a doubt that her crush had moved into love. Those dark blue fathomless eyes gazed at her, and she could only hope that he might be starting to feel the same way.

  Chapter 17 - Constructive arguments

  Kayla had never once been as nervous to enter the Thornton household, as she was now. She wondered if this was how Isaac felt earlier in the week when he had come over to have dinner with her family. Her hands became a little sweaty, but she finally raised one hand to push the doorbell button.

  "Bugger off, Hayley! She's here to see me," Isaac said from the other side of the door.

  "She was my friend first you know," Hayley argued back.

  Their bickering had a smile appearing and her nerves calming somewhat. This was normal behaviour for them, which she understood. The arguing, not the need for her attention, which she found quite flattering. Their voices continued getting louder, until a laugh escaped her.

  "Just open the door you guys," Kayla shouted out, silencing the siblings.

  "You're an idiot for not opening the door." Hayley snarled out.

  "Well, I can't when you're standing against it." Isaac stated grudgingly, before the door finally opened.

  Two very sheepish faces appeared, and Kayla just looked at them. Hayley pulled her into the house, before Isaac could say a word. Her friend sent her a pointed look, but Kayla missed it, as she gazed over at Isaac.

  "Hayley, I think you'll find Kayla is here to see Isaac today,"

  "But mum." Hayley whined to the older woman who stood in a nearby doorway smiling. She had the same brown hair as her children, but her eyes were paler blue, "Hello, Kayla."

  "Hi, Dana." Kayla answered shyly.

  "Come here, my dear."

  Dana held her arms open, and Kayla rushed over for a hug. She glanced to Isaac, who mouthed the word 'Dana' to Kayla, and she shrugged. She had been calling his parents by their first names for a long time now. It was just normal for her.

  "I had a feeling that you two might end up together." Dana whispered to her, before letting her go.

  Kayla felt wonderfully soothed by knowing that nothing had changed with Dana. Kayla had wondered whether things would have been different with her now dating Isaac. She was glad Dana didn't have a problem with their developing relationship.

  "Do I finally get to say hello?" Isaac let out a long-winded sigh to his mum, who grinned.

  "Of course, as long as you follow my rules. No going to your room, the pair of you can stay in the lounge room together." Dana's voice went serious.

  "Yes, Mum," Isaac said in a grouchy tone. "I was actually thinking of going into the backyard." He sent Kayla a suggestive look that shivered along her nerve endings

  "Ewww, Isaac, have a bit of class." Hayley thumped her brother in the arm.

  "Dinner will be ready in about half an hour." Dana advised them, before heading back into the kitchen.

  "Do you need some help?" Kayla asked automatically, as Isaac's fingers wrapped around her upper arm.

  "No, honey, it's all good. You go and enjoy yourself." Dana poked her head back into the room, and swished them away.

  "Let's go, Kayla." Isaac sounded insistent.

  "No way, I need to talk to her first." Hayley grabbed her other arm and tugged.

  "Will you guys stop it?" Kayla said, as she stood between them. "We'll watch a show."

  Feeling strangely loved, but a little overwhelmed by the attention, she led the siblings into the lounge room. Kayla saw the couch she had sat on with Isaac that night so long ago and smiled. She headed straight to that couch, and flopped down. Isaac sat down next to her as close as he could, while Hayley say on the recliner across from them.

  "You're coming to my game tomorrow night, aren't you?" Isaac asked her seriously.

  "Sure, if you want me too." She replied with a smile, and was pleased when his fingers squeezed hers.

  “I want you too," His dark blue eyes glittered at her. "I've got something for you. Wait here."

  Isaac jumped up, as quickly as he had sat down. She watched as he headed for the stairs. A sigh escaped her at that perfect body of his. Hayley distracted her by taking the opportunity to steal Isaac's chair. She looked at Kayla with such seriousness that dread shivered along her spine

  "What is it, Hayley?" Kayla asked feeling concerned about her friend’s desperate need to talk to her.

  "I've been hearing some really bad stuff about Isaac this week. I didn't want to tell him because that would be weird. I'm really worried that you and him... I just don't want it to become a disaster," Hayley wrung her hands together.

  "What have you
heard?" Kayla asked, as the dread fully took hold.

  "That he's been seeing Melissa again, and he's just using you, so nobody knows about Melissa." Hayley replied her voice filled with suspicion.

  "Where did you hear that, Hayles?" Isaac asked truffle, as he leaned against the bottom of the stairs facing them. Hayley started and jumped back in a rush.

  "Everywhere, Isaac. It's all I've been hearing over and over again." Hayley told him sharply.

  "It's not true. Melissa is the least interesting person on this planet," he sent Kayla a warm, reassuring look that settled her anxiety about the rumour.

  "Isaac, she's giving out pretty intimate details." Hayley persisted, and he glared angrily at his sister.

  "It's all a bunch of lies. I have never cheated on a girl. I wouldn't be spending time with Melissa and stringing Kayla along like that." Isaac growled out the words.

  "Hey, don't get pissy at me. I'm just telling you what I've heard." Hayley threw her hands in the air.

  "You believe it, which is worse than just you hearing it and dismissing it." Isaac's voice rose in frustration.

  "Then stop being such a man whore!"

  "I'm not!"

  "Okay, that is enough," Kayla got between them, but faced her friend. "Isaac has spent an awful lot of time with me this week. I don't think he's had any opportunity to do anything with Melissa," Kayla tried to calm Hayley down.

  "He's making it out to be all roses when it's not, Kayla. I don't want you to be hurt." Hayley told her friend earnestly.

  "I haven't touched any other girl, but Kayla for weeks. The last time was when I kissed Marnie." Isaac admitted.

  Kayla tilted her head to look at him in deep consideration. She let out a breath, and realised for the first time that she had in fact had her week. She had been his only focus for far longer than a seven-day period.

  "It's true," she looked to Hayley, who was between worried and fury. "I don't expect everything to be perfect, Hayley, but I know Isaac hasn't lied to me. I believe him." Kayla assured her friend, who huffed out an angry breath.

  "Have some faith in me, Hayles, please." Isaac looked to his sister, who put her fingers to her brow and rubbed.

  "It's hard, Isaac. Do you think I haven't noticed all the broken-hearted girls over the years? I've had them crying at our front door for goodness sake. I don't want to see that happen to Kayla." Hayley said firmly.

  "I don't want to hurt her, Hayles," Isaac promised her softly. "I know I haven't acted the best in the past, but I don't intend to hurt Kayla. Please believe me." He reached out a hand to his sister.

  "Damn! I'd better not regret this," she sent a glare to her brother, before breathing out a harsh breath. "Fine, but you had better keep me informed if you do screw up." She put out her hand to slap her brother’s palm, and he smiled in relief.

  "Thanks, Hayles."

  "Are you two finally done?" Kayla asked, from where she had sat back down on the couch.

  She had decided to let them fight it out, especially when the focus turned on her. She felt somewhere between embarrassed and pleased at how their argument had progressed. Knowing Hayley was simply being protective warmed her heart. Isaac promising not to hurt her was the best news that she had ever heard.

  "Looks like it," Hayley said with a sigh, as she sat back down on the recliner.

  "Yeah, we're done." Isaac replied, as he dropped down next to Kayla.

  "It's nice to see that sometimes you don't continue arguing for hours," Kayla told them both dryly, and Isaac let out a laugh.

  "At least you didn't see us getting into a wrestling match." He shook his head, knowing how embarrassing that would have been for his girlfriend to see such uncouth behaviour.

  "I've broken up your so called wrestling matches before. I actually thought this fight was heading that way too." Kayla replied, with a roll of her eyes.

  "And I didn't notice you even then?" He asked, amazed and mortified at his own blindness.

  "Isaac, you only ever saw what you wanted to see." She answered him honestly, and he flinched.

  "Sorry." He muttered, feeling a low that was beyond degrading.

  His sister pursed her lips, but kept quiet. She flicked on the television, filling the sudden silence with welcome noise. His eyes drifted back to Kayla, and all he could do was stare. How had he ever missed seeing her?

  He knew that he wasn't the only one that had noticed her these last few days. Sure, she was leaving her glasses on, but now that her uniform fit her well, the ugly glasses were easy to ignore. With no hat shading her face anymore, all the guys could see how pretty she really was.

  She was no longer Hat Girl. In fact, he had heard talk in the locker room the other day that labelled her Hot Girl. That had made him want to pound some faces.

  Every night he found himself becoming more restless, as he tried to come up with ideas on how to keep her. He was so afraid of screwing up and losing her that he was barely sleeping. His track record with girls wasn't that great, and everyone knew that. It's why he had been so furious at Hayley for spreading such ridiculous rumours, and destroying his chances with her.

  "What's this for?" Kayla's sweet voice disturbed his thoughts, and he blinked so he could focus on her.

  "Huh?" He asked oh so intelligently, as she touched something on his shoulder. Thankfully, he remembered what he had went upstairs for now. "It's for you actually," he pulled his jersey from off his shoulder with a smile.

  "You’re giving her your jersey?" Hayley's voice rose until it reached an annoying high pitch.

  Yeah, Hayles, I am." Isaac replied calmly.

  "Why is this a big deal?" Kayla asked curiously, as she looked at the shirt, and then to the siblings.

  "I've never given any girl my jersey, but I want you to wear this tomorrow night." He handed her the shirt that he had thrown over his shoulder.

  "Basically he's claiming you," Hayley said, as she crossed her legs and speared her friend with an all-knowing look.

  "Claiming me?" Kayla felt surprisingly moved by Hayley's words.

  "It will tell everyone that you're my girlfriend." Isaac replied as he cleared his throat.

  "Oh, well, that's okay," she accepted the shirt with a smile.

  "You're okay with everyone knowing that you're my girlfriend now?" Isaac asked hopefully.

  "I think I am." She replied confidently.

  "What exactly changed your mind?" He managed to ask, as he leaned into her, and caressed her cheek gently. He was shocked, but immensely pleased at her encouraging words.

  "Your argument actually," Kayla said with a laugh. "You reminded me of a very important fact."

  "Which is?" He asked, as he reached for her hand.

  "You haven't been with any other girl but me. Melissa is obviously lying to try to get you back." Kayla told him decisively, and this time his mouth flopped open. She reached over with a grin, and lifted his chin until he closed it.

  "You are an awesome girl." He whispered, and she met his eyes, pleased at the compliment.

  "Dinners almost ready troops, and I need the table set." Dana called out from the kitchen. Kayla went to stand, but Isaac shook his head.

  "I hate you." Hayley snarled from the recliner, as she stood up. Isaac grinned at her, and waved her away.

  "What was that about?" Kayla asked in shock.

  "Don't you ever wonder why our arguments get as crazy as they do?" He asked with a fierce grin.

  "All the time." She replied, with a shake of her head at some of the insane fights that she had seen them have.

  "The loser has to do whatever chores are asked of them for the rest of the day. She is now our slave." He winked at her, and Kayla let out a laugh of disbelief.

  "You two are completely bonkers."

  "We are not! I just don't like doing the dishes," he told her before pulling her closer to him. "Plus, it gives us some alone time.”

  With that, his eyes darkened, heated and she could barely catch her breath. His lips were on h
ers, devouring and demanding, making her melt against him. His wonderfully skilful fingers that brushed against her skin tantalisingly swept her away. His soft lips had her responding, and he let out an encouraging groan.

  "Now, that was a sight that I didn't need to see," Hayley's voice made Kayla want to grumble.

  "Go away, Hayles," Isaac lifted his head to send her a glare, and Kayla tucked her flaming face against his shirt.

  "Make me." Hayley said, as she sat back on the recliner creating disruptive noise.

  Isaac glowered, while Kayla moved off his lap from where she had ended up. She was glad she did when they all heard the door open, and they turned in its direction. Isaac's father, James walked in, and smiled tiredly at the three of them.

  "I sure hope that dinner is on the way," he joked, as he headed for the stairs.

  "Is that you, love?" Dana called from the kitchen making him change direction, and head towards his wife.

  "Geez, now I'm like the lonesome one." Hayley grumbled, before jumping up and heading for her room.

  "Hah, you just don't want us to boss you around anymore," Isaac sent her a smug look that made her roll her eyes. "At least it gives us more time."

  Isaac turned to her with that twinkle in his eyes again. Kayla felt a thrill go through her, as she inched her way closer to him. She was becoming addicted to his kisses and caresses. They always left her in a heart thumping; dizzy, happy mess, but she loved it.

  "Right you two," James walked back into the room, and Kayla stopped moving. As usual, that horrid blush filled her features.

  "Hey, James," Kayla said, as she tried to smile through her sudden attack of nerves.

  "What's up, Dad?" Isaac cleared his throat, and she realised that he was a bit anxious too.

  "I hate to have to do the talk, but you two have become awfully serious in a small amount of time." James sat down in the seat vacated by Hayley. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, and Kayla wanted to run.

  "My mum already covered all of this the other night." She blurted out, and James appeared relieved.