Unraveling

by Micalea Smeltzer

  “What did he do?” Jared growled.

  “Calm yourself,” Karlie glared. “He didn’t do anything,” she sighed. “He’s just made his… feelings known.”

  “Did he touch you?” Jared was about to turn into the Hulk in five seconds if she didn’t calm him down. The veins in his neck had popped out and his hands were clenched into fists.

  Karlie snorted. “We’re dance partners, Jared, he kind of has to touch me,” she rolled her eyes.

  “I swear, if he did anything inappropriate-”

  “Jared, it’s fine. He just wants something that I can’t give him,” she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her brother.

  Jared paled and his eyes threatened to pop out of his head. “Damn straight, you’re not giving that to him.”

  Karlie laughed. “Not that, Jared. He just wants to date and I’m not ready for that.”

  “Thank you, Jesus!” Jared visibly relaxed. “I think, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” he put a hand to his chest, over his heart.

  “Sorry, you asked,” she picked her sub back up. “I was just being honest.”

  “You’re giving me gray hairs,” Jared pointed to his head. “I’m too young for this.”

  “It’s not my fault that you’re a worrywart and misconstrue everything I say,” she gave him a look that clearly said he was crazy.

  Jared took a sip of his Gatorade. “No more talking about, Rodney. My poor heart can’t take the stress.”

  Karlie giggled. “Jared, you do realize that one day I’m going to have a boyfriend and I might have… sex,” she gasped for dramatic affect.

  Jared slapped his hands over his ears. “No, no, no, no, no! That word will never be uttered from your lips, again! At least not in my presence! Nope!” he shook his head. “Never. Oh God,” he hung his head, “I’m going to have to lock you away. No one is ever touching you.”

  “It’s going to happen someday, Jared,” Karlie wiped at the condensation that had formed on her glass of water. “I am going to get married and have kids.”

  Jared looked up at the ceiling. “And I pray I’m dead when it happens because I will kill the bastard.”

  “You’re worse than most dads,” Karlie huffed.

  “Maybe,” Jared glared at her, “that’s because not only am I your brother, but I’ve practically raised you. Double whammy.”

  “Woohoo, lucky me,” Karlie dead panned.

  I just sat there, watching the siblings banter back and forth. My head swiveling from side to side like someone watching a tennis match.

  Suddenly, Karlie broke protocol and looked at me. “Katy, you’re gonna have to help me with this one. I do plan on dating sometime before I’m thirty.”

  “Not going to happen, Karls,” Jared growled. “You’re too young to date.”

  Karlie rolled her pretty brown eyes. “You’re not the boss of me, Jare.”

  “Actually, since Dan and Patsy signed rights over to me, I am your ‘boss’. You’re my responsibility, Karlie. I won’t let you ruin your future by getting involved with some douche and ending up pregnant. What happened to you wanting to go to Joffrey?”

  “Joffrey is my plan, Jared, you know that. I was just joking around. I certainly don’t plan on throwing my future away for a one-night stand. Stop getting your panties in a bunch,” she said, softly.

  Finally, I interrupted. “What’s Joffrey?”

  Karlie and Jared both turned to look at me.

  “It’s a ballet school in New York City. They’ve already been scouting me, which is highly unusual. Julliard has taken a look too, but I doubt I’ll get in there. They’re highly exclusive,” Karlie explained.

  “Wow, that’s incredible,” I truly was in awe. “I didn’t realize that you were so serious about ballet. I guess I thought it was just a hobby.”

  Karlie tucked a piece of bright red-orange hair behind her ear. “I guess ballet has always been an escape for me, just like MMA is for Jared. I love it and I’m really good at it. I’m very fortunate that some of the best dance schools are interested in me. It makes it more real, that maybe I really can live my dream.”

  “That’s awesome,” I said, lacking for anything better to say. But it really was incredible. Seeing Karlie perform, I knew she was amazing, but hearing this made it all more real.

  Karlie smiled. “Thanks, hopefully nothing changes in the next two years. I want it so bad.”

  “As long as you don’t give up, it’ll happen,” I told her, smiling reassuringly.

  “Thanks, Katy,” she smiled.

  We finished our dinner and I helped Jared wash the plates and glasses before heading upstairs for a shower.

  Dressed in sweatpants and a tank, I made my way to Jared’s room. Butterflies descended on my stomach. I thought about asking him to sleep on the couch tonight, but if I was honest with myself, I really didn’t want him to.

  I opened his bedroom door and found him stretched out on the bed in plaid pajama pants and shirtless. His arms were crossed behind his head, leaving his chest completely open to my view.

  My eyes roamed over every dip and curve, marveling at how smooth his skin was. My eyes stopped when the reached the light dusting of brown hair below his belly button.

  Bring your eyes up, Katy. Up!

  Jared chuckled and my eyes immediately darted up to meet his.

  “Like what you see?” He grinned crookedly.

  “What’s not to like?”

  Did I seriously just say that? Who am I?

  He chuckled and patted the empty space next to him that had become mine. “Bedtime, kittycat.”

  With my heart racing, I got in the bed.

  Jared stood, rummaging through his dresser door.

  “What are you looking for?” I asked, sitting up.

  “Aha! Found it!” he declared, turning back around with a bag from one of the stores we’d gone in.

  He rummaged around in the bag and pulled out the dream catcher. He deposited it on the dresser and then climbed in bed, with the bag still in his hand.

  “I got you something,” he grinned like a little boy, holding out the plastic white bag that said ‘Thank you’, in teal and pink letters.

  “What’s the special occasion?” I asked, taking it from him.

  He smiled at me, the smile that reached his eyes and made them crinkle at the corners. “Katy, I don’t need a special occasion to give you a gift, because every day with you is special.”

  I gasped a little at his words. No one had ever said something so sweet to me.

  “I- Jared-”

  “Katy, please don’t sit here and stutter for five minutes,” he grinned. “Just open the present.”

  I nodded, and turned the bag upside down. A small white box fell out, onto my lap.

  I picked it up, turning it around, and gave it a small shake. It was small, and fit in the palm of my hand.

  “For the love all that’s holy, open it!” Jared was about ready to jump out of his skin. Somebody liked to give gifts.

  With a small smile, I lifted the lid off the box.

  Inside, nestled between tissue paper, was a bracelet.

  It was wine colored, made of some kind of cord, with a gold clasp. A single charm dangled from the clasp and said, ‘Made with Love.’ There was a twisted knot on top, which I ran my thumb over.

  “I love it. It’s beautiful,” I looked up at Jared, with awe in my eyes. Would this man ever cease to amaze me?

  “It’s called a Forget Me Knot, bracelet, at least that’s what the lady at the store, said,” he shrugged. “But I want you to look at it every day, and when you do, I want you to think about how much I love you and never forget it.”

  I swallowed thickly and glanced over at Jared, my lashes sticking together with moisture.

  “I will,” I rubbed the material of the bracelet, “this is the best gift I’ve ever been given.”

  “It’s just a bracelet,” He whispered, like if he spoke any louder I might crack.
/>   “I know,” I said, “but the meaning behind it? That’s priceless. You are priceless,” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  I undid the clasp and began to struggle to get it on.

  “Here, let me help you,” Jared breathed. His long fingers flicked out and in no time he had the bracelet secured to my wrist. He stared at my wrist for a long moment, a determined gleam in his eye. He bent his head down, his warm breath caressing the sensitive skin of my arm. “You are mine,” he declared, before pressing his lips to my wrist, right next to the bracelet. A shiver ran up my spine as he brushed his nose along my arm. “I really want to kiss you,” his voice was husky.

  “Then kiss me,” I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper.

  He cupped the back of my head.

  “Are you sure?” he questioned, looking my face over for any indication that I was about to flee.

  “Yes,” I said, breathlessly. If he didn’t put his lips on mine in ten seconds, I was going to attack him and cling to him like a spider monkey. “Kiss me, Jared.”

  With a growl, his lips met mine.

  Heat exploded across my body.

  He pushed me back, so that I was lying flat on the bed and he was hovering over me.

  My fingernails raked his back as his mouth devoured mine. It was like I was his oxygen and he needed more.

  I felt his tongue flick out and my mouth opened in response.

  When his tongue flicked mine, my heart stopped.

  Not because I was scared, but because an emotion consumed me that I’d never felt before.

  Passion.

  Jared made me feel things that no one else could.

  My fingers dug into his skin and he moaned in response.

  I realized in that moment, that Jared owned me, body and soul.

  Forever.

  27

  It was weird, being back home, alone. I had grown so used to Jared and Karlie; their stuff and the comforting sounds of a home.

  This place, I looked around the sparsely decorated condo, was not home.

  The old saying was right, it’s not the place that makes a home, but the people.

  I missed seeing them every day.

  A knock on the door sounded and I opened it up to greet Piper.

  “Hey, girlie, how you feeling?” she asked, stepping inside.

  “Fine,” I shrugged. “The pain in my ribs is almost gone and my cast should be coming off sometime in the next two weeks.” I rubbed at it. “I really can’t wait for it to be gone. It’s itchy.”

  Piper chuckled. “Just don’t break any pencils off, trying to scratch down in there.”

  “Eww,” I made a face of disgust.

  Piper sat down on the couch, quickly making herself at home. I took the spot beside her, drawing my legs up and facing her.

  “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever,” she said sadly. “I didn’t mean to just bail on you. When I heard about the accident it just… freaked me out. I’m sorry about that. I just don’t like being reminded that life can be cut short, so quickly. There is no guarantee that we get to grow old. It made me think about my own life and how I’m not doing what I love. I’m dropping out and I’m going to pursue fashion design.”

  I was not expecting that and I’m sure my dropped jaw was proof of that.

  Piper giggled. “I can only hope my parents react that way… speechless, that’d be nice. But I know there’s going to be a lot of yelling involved and they’ll probably disown me.”

  “I- I- uh- are you going to leave?” I finally asked.

  “I think I’ll take the rest of this year off, start building a portfolio and hope to start at a design school in the fall,” she shrugged. “I just… I need to try, you know?”

  I nodded. “I understand,” I told her.

  “I know my parents won’t pay for it, so I’m going to have to find a job and put back all the money I can. College isn’t cheap,” she ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

  “I think everyone has a little bit of crazy in them,” I said, honestly, “but I don’t think you’re making the wrong decision by pursuing your dream. If you don’t, you’ll always regret it.”

  “Thanks,” she said, reaching for my hand. She pulled away before we made contact. “I –uh- really needed to hear that.”

  “Anytime, we’re friends, Piper. At least, now, I know why you weren’t in class this week. I was starting to worry since I hadn’t heard from you,” I said, resting my chin on my knees.

  “I’m really sorry I didn’t check on you,” she smiled sadly. “It’s been two weeks and I haven’t said a word to you.”

  “Piper, it’s okay, seriously. I understand. Sometimes, when bad things happen, people can’t handle it. I’m the same way. I always run from my problems and the things that scare me. You finally have to get to the point that your legs are tired and you stop. Once you stop, you begin to wonder what you were running from in the first place.”

  “Jared’s changed you,” Piper smiled.

  I shook my head. “No, I changed myself.”

  ~***~

  Watching Jared punch someone was hard, watching him get hit, was three times as hard.

  Every time he got hit, I winced. I didn’t like seeing him get hurt.

  “Get him Jare-Bear!” Rollo yelled. “Knock his teeth down his throat!”

  I shook my head, only Rollo, would say something like that.

  Jared punched his opponent hard enough to send him to his knees.

  “This is… extremely violent, but I feel incredibly turned on at the same time. Is that weird?” Piper leaned over to ask me.

  This was the third time I’d been to one of Jared’s fights and I’d asked Piper and Rollo to come along.

  “I’m probably not the best person to ask,” I said, covering my eyes with my hands as Jared took a hit to the ribs.

  “Karlie?” Piper leaned across the bleachers to look at Karlie, who was sitting to my left.

  “It’s not weird at all,” she grinned. “I think we can’t help but be turned on by sweaty, half-naked men, growling and being all manly. It’s super hot,” she fanned herself. Paling she looked at Piper and me. “Just don’t tell Jare I said that, he’ll never let me come to a match again.”

  “We won’t,” I assured her.

  The bell dinged for the one-minute break.

  I had sixty seconds to calm my heart. Yeah, that probably wasn’t going to happen.

  Dan tossed Jared a bottle of water and started inspecting his ribs. I could see how red they were from here. That couldn’t be good.

  I wanted run down the bleachers and examine him for myself.

  The bell dinged again.

  I covered my eyes. I couldn’t watch.

  “Stop covering your eyes,” Karlie scolded.

  “I can’t. I hate seeing him get hurt!” I winced when I heard a particularly brutal sounding punch.

  “Jared knows what he’s doing. This is his job, Katy,” Karlie assured me.

  “I know,” I said.

  You’d think I’d be used to this by now, having gone to his fights three times, but my anxiety got worse each time.

  Sometimes, I wished Jared had a normal job, but I knew he loved this and what kind of person would I be to not want him to do what he loves.

  The break passed and the bell dinged again. I’d kept my eyes covered the whole time.

  “Katy, you’ve got to stop freaking out or Jared won’t let you come any more,” Karlie said, soothingly. “He doesn’t want you to worry about him.”

  I immediately dropped my hands from my face. I looked down to the ring and saw Jared looking up in the stands at me. When he caught my eye, he grinned, kissing his fingers, he lifted them into the air and pointed at me. “My girl,” he mouthed.

  “Jare-bear’s got it bad,” Rollo chuckled.

  “Yes, he does,” Karlie, agreed.

  I blushed as some of the girls in the stands tur
ned to glare at me. Since they weren’t sure who he’d been pointing at, they ended up glaring at each other.

  “If Jared wins this fight, he’ll have to travel for the next one,” Karlie said, twitching in her seat with excitement.

  The bell sounded and I sat on my hands to keep them from covering my eyes.

  Even from this far away, I could see the determined gleam in Jared’s eyes. He wasn’t going to lose this fight. Whenever Jared got that look, the other guy didn’t stand a chance.

  I almost felt bad for the other guy as he tried to block Jared’s blows, but it was much easier to watch him get hurt, than to see Jared injured.

  The guy fell to the ground and didn’t get up.

  Jared cleared out of the ring and grabbed a towel to wipe his sweaty body.

  “Katy!” I heard called behind me.

  I hadn’t realized I was moving.

  Actually, I was running,

  Running down the bleachers and straight into Jared’s arms.

  “Hey there, kitten,” he growled in my ear, catching me. “Careful,” he winced when I brushed his side.

  “Sorry!” I let go.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he growled huskily, pulling me against his other side. Brushing his nose against my ear, he said, “I told you to be careful, not to let go. I never want you to let go of me, kittycat.”

  I blushed at his words, trying to ignore the glares of the girls behind me and the hoots of the guys.

  Jared said something to Dan and then whispered in my ear, “Come with me.”

  He waved at Rollo, Piper, and Karlie, before leading me out of the gym and down the hallway. He pulled me into the locker room and locked the door behind him.

  “Uh- people need to get in, right?” I asked.

  “Probably,” Jared grinned. “They’ll just have to wait,” he pressed a kiss to my chin.

  My neck arched in response, craving his touch.

  I had gone so long, hardly letting anyone touch me, but now, I wanted Jared to touch me all the time. I needed to make sure this was real and his touch assured me of that.

  He placed a light kiss on my lips.