by Bryna Butler
Chapter 17: Be Mine
It was Valentine’s Day and the school was bursting with love sick teenagers. Gestures of affection were in abundance, culminating with Jumper serenading Ann with his own rendition of “Love Me Tender” in the crowded commons during lunch. He had solicited help from the glee club which outfitted him with background music, a microphone, and even a sequined jumpsuit.
Amid the commotion, Keira did get a chance to sneak in a quick “Happy Birthday”, which meant a lot to Ann. She hated that her birthday was one of those holiday birthdays that everyone tends to forget. It was nice to know that her best friend remembered.
This made Keira feel good about herself too, at least for a little while. However, the feeling was fleeting. The stress of her current situation with Emperor Gammen combined with a day full of sugary sweet mush was, by far, more than she could take. Finally, the end of the school day came and she was eager to see Colby and head home. She could always depend on him, her best friend, her Colby. Unfortunately, she arrived at the fountain outside, just in time to find him locked in a tight embrace with Brooke.
“Ugghh! Not you too,” she muttered.
Colby didn’t hear her. He was so thoroughly wrapped up in his girlfriend’s eyes. However, Brooke did hear.
“I wish you could stay here with me a little longer, but you had better take little Keira home,” Brooke sneered.
Colby looked to see a disgruntled Keira standing ten feet away from them. “Oh, she can wait. You want me to stay.”
“If only we could, but my Dad’s waiting for me. I’ll text you later,” she said as she kissed his cheek and broke his embrace. His eyes followed her as she strutted to the street and slid into the back seat of the parked town car. He continued watching as it zoomed away from the curb.
“Wow,” he muttered. He stepped dreamily to Keira. “She’s….wow.”
“Oh, please.”
And with that Keira bounded down the path toward home. She took the lead, staying two paces or more ahead of Colby, cursing under her breath most of the way.
As they approached the last bend before Keira’s house, Colby’s mind finally cleared of Brooke. He then noticed Keira’s impatience with him and became annoyed. He yelled to her, “Are you too good to walk beside me now?”
“Fine,” she said stopping in her tracks. She turned to him and crossed her arms at her chest almost as if she were trying to hold herself back. “Here’s the deal.”
She shifted her weight to her left leg, then back again to her right. Colby could almost see the internal struggle that was raging inside Keira. He took her hands in his. Nervously, she squeezed them tightly. It was too tightly. She really didn’t know her own strength.
Yet, he didn’t pull away. She gritted her teeth and looked over his head. She could feel her emotions trying to burst out. She had held them back for far too long. “I just can’t ignore this anymore. I can’t stand to see you with her. You’re not supposed to be with her. I think I love you, Colby. That’s all.”
“What do you mean?”
Keira couldn’t help but think that even for a boy, he was being completely dense. She felt her eyes begin to tear as she looked into his. “You almost died for me. You’re supposed to be with me.”
“Is that what this is all about?”
“That’s what it’s been about. That’s all I can think about; not Gammen, not the Sect, just you and what you were willing to do.”
“Keira, listen to me. You’re not in love with me. Not really.”
“You’re the only one I trust completely. When I’m not with you, I feel almost broken and all I can think about is the next time that I’ll see you,” Keira said in one continuous breath.
Colby dropped her hands and shook his head.
“I just…I just want you to hold me, like you hold her. I want to feel safe.”
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“Say something. Please,” Keira begged.