... not in love with Kale Eddison

by Joanne McClean

  Whatever the outcome, the question now, on everybody’s lips is, “How long before Kale Eddison is called to do a major movie that will change his career forever?” My guess … not very long!’

  ‘Great!’ thought Izzie, ‘Yet one more person who is making me even more confused about whether there is something between me and Kale.’ Izzie sighed to herself; this was bound to stir up some trouble for sure. Izzie stowed the paper away, shook herself to clear her head, grabbed her bag and got out of the car. She was making her way to the entrance when she heard a shout behind her.

  “Hey! Hold the door please.”

  Izzie turned and couldn’t help the smile that formed on her face when she looked at Kale making his way towards her.

  “You’re funny!” she told him as she rolled her eyes and smirked.

  “What?” he asked innocently.

  Izzie laughed, “Come on, re-enacting when we first met?”

  Kale looked puzzled, “Huh?”

  Izzie felt stupid now, she was very embarrassed by the confused look was giving her until he started to smirk. “You’re a jerk, you know that?” she hit him on the arm.

  “Ow!” Kale protested, “Look, I couldn’t resist.” He laughed and Izzie grinned at him against her own will.

  “So,” Kale began, changing the subject as they made their way down the corridor, “you see the review in the paper?”

  “Yeah, seems like Tess is still your number one fan.” Izzie smirked at him and Kale chuckled.

  “Well, she seems to think a bit more highly of you. I’m sure you’re glad.”

  Izzie half smiled, “Yeah, it is nice not being made out to be a complete bitch for once.”

  Kale turned serious, “I really think everyone already knows that you’re not what the papers made you out to be. You know I’d never think that about you; you really shouldn’t care what other people think anyway.”

  Izzie laughed humourlessly, “Yeah, easy for you to say; the whole world loves you.”

  Kale shook his head, “Not everyone … besides, what’s not to love about you? Who else would keep me grounded and not let me gain a big head about myself?”

  Izzie looked up at him, surprised, and grinned, “Yeah, someone’s got to keep you in check.”

  It was Kale’s turn to roll his eyes, “Yeah, because I so love myself. I mean, how do you put up with my constant self praise?” He smirked at Izzie, knowing she’d appreciate his sarcasm.

  Izzie chuckled, “Ok, you aren’t that bad.”

  “Good to know,” Kale retorted back with a look of amusement on his face.

  After the school day had ended, Kale had wanted to ask Izzie for some help on his English paper – really, it was a pathetic excuse to spend more time with her – but his plans were scuppered when he discovered Alicia had left him a voice mail asking him to meet her back at the house. Kale sighed to himself, bade goodbye to Izzie and headed for the house.

  When he arrived at the house, he noticed Alicia’s car already parked outside and he went straight inside. “So,” Kale began as he flopped down onto the sofa, “what’s the ‘big thing’ you have to tell me?”

  Alicia was definitely excited by whatever she was going to tell him; Kale could see her fidgeting with nervous energy.

  “Well,” Alicia rushed eagerly, “I got a phone call shortly after you left for school. I couldn’t get through to you all day so I hope it still stands.”

  Kale was curious, “What still stands?”

  Alicia beamed at him, “A lead in the new Sam Oliver movie.”

  Kale wasn’t impressed, “Sam Oliver? Let me guess, he’s directing another fluffy movie and he needs his leading man?”

  Alicia shook her head, “Do you really think I’d be this excited over a role like that – I know you’ve been looking for more challenging roles … and I believe this could be it!”

  Kale was interested now, “Do you have a script I could look at? What part is Oliver looking me for?”

  Alicia grinned, “I had him fax the script straight over … I’ve looked it over and I think you’ll like it … he’s rooting for you to play the villain. He says he heard about you expanding your range to Shakespeare and he wants to take a chance on you!”

  “Oh my God Alicia,” Kale hugged her, “this could be my big break. This could be the start of more serious roles for me! When does filming start? Oh this is great … just wait until I tell Izzie.” Kale felt his enthusiasm quickly evaporating now; Izzie.

  Izzie was sitting in the book shop, sorting through some new titles that had just arrived, when she received the text message from Kale; ‘Meet u at coffee shop in half hour?’

  Izzie was intrigued, she replied saying that she’d be there and told her father that she had to leave early; he didn’t dispute it since they weren’t very busy anyway. When the half hour was up, Izzie grabbed her bag and waved to her father that she’d meet him back home and made her way over to the little coffee shop across the road where she could see Kale waiting at a table inside.

  The door pinged as she opened it and made her way over to Kale who had already ordered her a cappuccino. She took a sip and looked at him, waiting for him to spill the beans on this little get-together. Kale was looking at her with animated eyes; he looked thrilled by what he was about to tell her but Izzie could also see his eyes were tinged with sadness and she wondered why.

  “So,” Kale cleared his throat nervously and continued on, “I’ve got a bit of news … pretty big news. But I could really use your advice on it.”

  Izzie nodded, “Ok, shoot … what’s the big news?”

  Kale sucked in a deep breath, “I’ve been offered a role … a really great role.”

  “Ok,” Izzie was intrigued, “go on … what type of role?”

  Kale beamed at her, “I’m being given the chance to play a villain in the new Sam Oliver movie!”

  Izzie’s face broke out into an ecstatic grin, “Oh my God, congratulations! But wait, isn’t Oliver the guy who directs all those romantic comedies?”

  Kale nodded, “Yeah but he’s taking a chance on a new script … this thriller and he’s hand-picked me to be the bad guy. Can you believe it?”

  Izzie smiled, “Yeah, I actually can. He must have faith in you … you should too. Now, what’s this about my advice? It sounds like you don’t need it. Take the part Kale.”

  Kale smiled sadly, “I really want to, I really do but I also want to finish out my school year. I mean there’s only four months left and I promised myself to do this; to give myself a chance to be a normal guy but now this opportunity comes along and they start filming in a week. I don’t know what to do Izzie.”

  Izzie smiled, “Come on Kale, we both know you badly want this part … and I know you’re going to take it. So stop putting it off and ring them up and say that you’re on board!” Izzie felt slightly crushed as she was saying that to him; finally she had made up her mind about him … and it was really crappy timing! Judging by the ache she was feeling in the pit of her stomach; she was – despite her many protests to her grandmother and even Kale himself – totally in love with Kale Eddison. Wow, it had just taken her a heck of a long time to admit it to herself but she couldn’t admit it to him – not now; he had to follow his dream. If he didn’t, Izzie knew he would regret it forever; this was the once-in-a-lifetime chance he had been waiting for and she just knew it would change his whole career for the better. She had to make him take it … it would be selfish of her to hold him back; she had to let him leave without him ever knowing how she truly felt about him.

  Kale grinned at her, apparently oblivious to the battle that was raging inside Izzie’s head, “You really think I should go for it?”

  Izzie nodded, “Yeah, you’d be stupid not to take it.”

  Kale smirked, “You seem very eager to get rid of me … I wonder why? It couldn’t be that you’ll finally be left in peace, could it?”

  Izzie smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes; she just hoped Kale didn
’t notice, “How’d you guess? I suppose I have never hid how much I detest you, have I?”

  Kale grinned, “No, you haven’t. But,” he suddenly turned serious, “if I do take this role … I want you to tell you something before I leave.”

  Izzie instantly felt uncomfortable; she didn’t like the sound of this. She sighed and started to protest but Kale cut her off.

  “No – Izzie please don’t say anything – I have to get this out. Ok, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t tell you this before I go … Izzie Frank, when I first met you I was instantly charmed by you … your honesty was so refreshing and I found myself pulled to you – I didn’t realise why but now I know. Despite your obvious loathing of me, I wanted to spend every minute of my time with you. I love your sarcasm and your ability to make me feel like a ‘normal’ guy … I can be myself with you and I love that. I know I haven’t exactly kept my feelings for you a secret since I kept practically attacking you but when we kissed for the first time … it was unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I don’t know if you felt it too and it doesn’t really matter if you didn’t but I just have to tell you that I love you … I’ve loved you ever since the first day we met when you looked at me with that look of disgust on your face and blatantly swatted away my attempts to charm you. I’m in love with you Izzie Frank and I ask you this; if you feel the same way … I wouldn’t hesitate to turn down this role and stay here. So, what do you say? What’s your answer?”

  Izzie had known what was coming; she’d have been pretty dense not to realise it when Kale had looked at her the way he did before he spoke. She really despised him right now; why did he have to declare his feelings now? Izzie knew, with all her heart, that she felt the exact same but she had realised it too late. She wasn’t going to be the reason why he turned down an amazing career opportunity and it was her own fault for not recognising her true feelings for Kale until the last minute. She sighed to herself; no, she was going to make him take this role. Even though it would kill her to do it; she was going to have to reject him. She was going to have to break his heart and turn his offer down and convince him that she didn’t feel the same; even if it meant going against her true feelings – no matter how strong they were.

  “Kale,” Izzie eventually began, “I don’t despise you … I know I don’t always act like I don’t but I actually find myself warming to you – I don’t know why but I do! Anyway, as much as I appreciate your offer and how hard it must have been for you to keep your feelings bottled up all this time; I have to tell you some bad news … as lovely as it was to hear how strongly you feel for me, I have to confess … I don’t feel the same. I’m really sorry Kale, especially if I have ever given you the vibe that might suggest anything to the contrary but I’m afraid I don’t love you as anything more than just as a friend. So, you should take the job and go; there’s nothing keeping you here.”

  Izzie didn’t know how she managed to lie so well but Kale seemed to be buying it, judging by his crushed expression. It killed her – really caused her physical pain – to see him look so dejected but she was doing this for his own good; it was better for him to hate her for rejecting him than hating her for ruining his career. Kale sat in a stunned silence for several minutes and then merely nodded.

  “I really am sorry Kale.” Izzie repeated.

  Kale shook his head, “You know, it really kills me to hear you say all that … especially when I know it is all complete bullshit.” He looked Izzie squarely in the face.

  Izzie found herself shell-shocked but she managed to protest, “Kale, just accept it … please don’t make it worse than it already is.”

  Kale looked angry now, “No Izzie, why won’t you admit you love me too? I know you feel something for me. For someone who is so smart, you’re incredibly stupid to not recognise what it is you’re feeling!”

  It was Izzie’s turn to be mad, “How dare you call me stupid! Just because you’re some hot-shot movie star – that is no reason to patronise me … you really are a jerk Kale Eddison!” Izzie was truly spitting mad and she was glad; it made it easier to squash her true feelings. And, if she made him angry in the process, then it would make everything go a whole lot smoother.

  Kale was furious, “God you frustrate me! Now I really don’t know why I’m attracted to you! If you don’t want to admit it – fine – but know this; if you change your mind after I leave, my offer no longer stands.”

  Izzie stood up, “Good, maybe then you’ll finally understand that everybody is not in love with you … you aren’t God’s gift Kale! Trust you to think that you can win me over but you just can’t accept the fact that there is one actual human being who is immune to your charms and does not love you and never will.”

  Kale was speechless at that and Izzie felt a stab of regret; there really had been no need to be so harsh but if it made Kale accept the role … then so be it. She decided to leave there and then without saying another word. She grabbed her bag and quickly rushed out of the coffee shop, leaving Kale sitting there looking extremely hurt.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The days that passed after the row, Kale failed to turn up to school and Izzie figured it was because he was getting reading to leave for filming. She wasn’t proud of what she had told him in their heated discussion; it was pure lies and she was torn up about it but it had been a necessary evil. Even though it had been required to persuade Kale to take the part, Izzie felt completely heart-broken; she had probably blown a chance at happiness but she kept telling herself that it had been for a reason more important than her and her feelings for Kale. This was bigger than some High School crush; this concerned someone’s career and she couldn’t – wouldn’t – be the reason for destroying it. Besides, she frequently reminded herself that this wasn’t one of Kale’s fluffy films that they were in; this was real life and the majority of the time … there was no happy ending.

  On the second day after their row, Izzie was feeling rather sorry for herself as she made her way home from school. She just wanted to lock herself in her room and not be disturbed for the rest of eternity. As she threw her bag into the kitchen, she found her grandmother sitting in the living room. She flopped down beside her and Izzie watched as her grandmother turned to look at her with a worried expression.

  “Izzie dear, is everything ok?”

  Izzie smiled at her grandmother; she knew her too well. “Not really but I can’t do anything about it; I’m doing the right thing – even though it hurts like hell.”

  Her grandmother looked sympathetic, “I think this calls for some coffee, I’ll put the kettle on and then you can tell me all about it, ok?”

  Izzie nodded gratefully as she watched her grandmother make her way into the kitchen while she grabbed the remote and started flicking through the TV channels with more force than necessary. She had just settled on a re-run of a sitcom when the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it Gran,” Izzie called into the kitchen as she jumped up and slowly made her way to the front door. She sighed heavily as she opened the door and then felt her mouth fall open …

  Kale looked relieved that she had actually answered the door but Izzie didn’t feel ready to face him again; especially when all the nasty things she had said to him came rushing back to her.

  “Kale,” she managed to get out, “What are you doing here?”

  Kale sighed, “Look, I don’t want to leave things like this. I just want one thing and then I’ll happily leave.”

  Izzie crossed her arms and looked at him warily, “What is it?”

  Kale sighed again, “I’m willing to leave … I really am prepared to take the role if you do one thing for me.”

  Izzie sighed deeply, “Ok, what?” She had a feeling she was going to regret agreeing to whatever it was that Kale had in store for her.

  Kale smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes; which Izzie noted were lacking their usual gleam of mischief, “Look, our argument; we both probably a lot if things we regret. I know I did – apart from
me telling you I love you – which I still do by the way – but I want to leave whatever it is between us on good terms. I will leave you alone forever on one condition … if you tell me directly to my face – here and now – that you do not love me.”

  ‘Oh boy,’ thought Izzie, ‘I’m so going to have to lie my butt off. I guess it’s time to get my actress head on again.’ She looked directly into his baby blue eyes and found herself feeling weak – no, she had to do this! She forced herself to keep her expression neutral, “Ok Kale, I can accept that … and I will admit it … I do love you … but as a friend.”

  Kale looked crushed; she really did look sincere and he was just going to have to man up and accept that. He made a half-hearted attempt to smile but Izzie could see he was struggling to keep his cool.

  “I really am genuinely sorry Kale; I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me … someday.” Izzie was trying her best to sell it and it looked like it was working; she had hoped he’d put up a bit of a fight this time but she must have made it very convincing this time since he just looked deflated.