The Perfect Emotion (Book Two of The Perfect Series)

by Rolka, Melissa

  “Let’s go Kate!” Quinn shouts across over at me from up ahead. She’s already said goodbye to Matt. Matt is out of sight and probably already back at the house.

  “He sounds familiar… lucky bastard,” he jokes. “I don’t like having to say goodbye to you twice in one day,” he says in between kissing me on my forehead, nose, lips, cheeks, neck and settling at my ear. Shivers run up my spine with the breath of him tingling my ear and the words leaving his lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow, beautiful girl.”

  Once back at the dorm we all go to settle into our rooms except Derek heads to Kelly and Jenna’s because Maggie and Brandon are still talking. I catch up on some reading and then settle in my pajamas. I want to be awake for when Maggie comes back. The need to go down and check on her is strong, but I know that they have to work through this on their own. I turn the lights down and get into my bed with a couple of my books. The time continues to tick by and my eyes are starting to get heavy. My head starts nod off, but then I hear a text come through.

  Miss your lips. Reed

  Missing more than your lips. Katherine

  Sleep good beautiful. Reed

  You too handsome. Katherine

  I press my phone against my beating heart and blink in disbelief at how far things have come with Reed. I love how my heart races, my pulse rushes with blood causing me to feel lightheaded and excitement fills my chest when I’m with Reed. Actually, I don’t even have to be with him to feel this way. His texts have the same affect on me. Dozing off again my mind envisions the deepest bluest eyes.

  “K-Kate, Kate.” I hear Maggie whispering. I spring myself up rubbing at my eyes to look at the clock to see that it’s after one in the morning now.

  “Hey, are you okay?”

  “No, no,” she sniffles in between her ragged breaths. She makes her way over to my bed and I scoot over opening up the blankets. She crawls in next to me laying on her back with tears streaming down her cheeks. “It’s o-over.” I hug her close to me and we lay like that until we both fall asleep.

  In the morning we both wake later than we should for our first classes, but manage to make it out the door on time. Scrambling around through my backpack to make sure I grabbed all the right books and notebooks I come across a familiar piece of stationary. Reed’s initials at the top flash at me through the mess in my backpack. I pull it out and put in pocket though because I don’t have time to stop to read it right now.

  “You going to be okay?” I ask Maggie as we walk briskly in the cool morning air across campus. It’s misty and gray out with a bit of wind.

  “I hope so. I just hope we don’t bump into each other today.” Her hair is pulled back and she looks a little more pale than she had when I first saw her yesterday. The circles under her eyes drown her face out emphasizing her exhaustion. “Everything feels raw right now.”

  “I know that feeling, but it will get easier. I promise. Meet me for lunch?

  “Yea, then I’ll tell you about it.”

  “Only if you are ready,” I say as I hug her to me wishing I could transfer the sadness coming from her. I’ve seen happy, sassy, mad, confident, and passionate Maggie, but I’m not used to seeing sad Maggie.

  We part our ways on campus to head to our classes and I can’t help feel a little sad myself. I’ve become used to Maggie and Brandon’s relationship. They’ve always had their ups and downs though. Brandon has always been more reserved and quiet and well, that is not Maggie at all. Their differences are obvious and I wonder if that is what it has really come down to. Two good people, but on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of personality. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Marco, but he was always the life of the party and that is definitely Maggie.

  Just as I am about to head into the Business Center I pull Reed’s note from my pocket.

  It’s a short and sweet note, but the effects on my heart are all the same. Scurrying up the steps to my Accounting class I look down at my wrist to check the time and love how my tennis bracelet contrasts against my watch. Two things that I have missed this morning… Reed and coffee. There are definite differences between Reed and me, but we compliment each other. As everyday passes I get to discover something new about him and our developing relationship. While I’ve come so far I still need to push myself even further for him. I’m actually looking forward to my therapy session this week. Even though I had last week off from it I know I’ve done well. Looking at my watch I only have a few minutes before class starts and this Professor is a stickler on time.

  I pass the elevators and head straight to the stair well practically jogging them two at a time. Out of breath I stop for a moment to catch my breath and then continue to my class. Once the door is in vision I straighten my stance because I see a familiar red head who seems to be waiting on me. His smile is tight when he takes in my approaching presence and I confidently stretch my lips to show a brighter smile. Andy has to know that we are just friends and that I am with Reed. It was never a possibility for us and I need to own that. I’d like to be friends with him because aside from him trying to pursue me I like him. I’m not going to let him intimidate me or make me feel uncomfortable though.

  “Hi Kate, how was your break?”

  “Hey Andy, it was great. How about yours?” I keep my head up and even move in to give him a friendly hug. I can see this takes him back a little, but I’m hoping that he will see that I’m not wavering in the slightest on the type of relationship we will have.

  With no time to spare we head in and take our seats. The class flows easily and I’m able to suppress my yawns, but I’d love nothing more than to grab a coffee. Class ends with a small assignment for our next class. I’m taking notes even after dismissal, but see Andy has made his way over to my row to wait for me.

  “That assignment shouldn’t be too hard. What do you think?” I ask him.

  “Yea, I think it should be easy compared to what we had before break. You want to meet up and work on it though? Just to make sure.” The sense of nervousness and stutter in his tone normally would make me feel uncomfortable, shy and unsure. I latch my backpack over my shoulder and head towards him to make my way out and look him in the eyes.

  “Actually, I think I’ve got this one for a change. I jumped ahead over break going through some of it with my dad. It was a huge help.”

  “Oh, okay. You’ll be at our group meeting still, right?”

  “Yes, of course. So, what did you do on break?” Andy starts to talk about his break and before I know it I’ve tuned him out because a certain dark brown hair, tall, athletic, blue eyed and handsome guy has my full attention.

  Reed is just outside the door of my classroom on the opposite wall with one leg crossed over the other and one of his shoulders against the wall. In one of his hands I see a coffee. My eyes flick over him in delight as he eyes Andy with scrutiny. I bite down on my bottom corner of my lip more to tease him. He shakes his head slightly and mouths to me, “sexy”. All the while Andy is talking away in my ear never noticing who really has my attention. As we cross through the door I head straight across and Andy finally takes note of Reed.

  “Hey, Andy,” Reed says smugly. “Keeping my girlfriend company?” I crinkle my eyes up and mouth back to him, “stop it”. I know Reed just enjoys ruffling Andy up and probably does not see him as any real threat, but I love seeing him protective over me. It’s endearing and sweet, unlike how Kyle ever treated me. “Here I thought you could use this,” Reed continues and hands me the coffee.

  “Ah, sure,” Andy replies before he starts to step towards the elevators. “I’ll see ya, Kate. Let me know if you want to study at all.”

  “Okay bye,” I call out to Andy and then turn to face Reed’s bright blue eyes.

  “He’s just a friend, you know?” I say as I move both my hands to cup the warm coffee. I’d like to chastise Reed more, but when he’s standing here looking gorgeous and inviting like he is I find myself melting under his stare. He smirks at me first and then I d
o the same. I crave his touch and in a blink Reed’s hands pull me into him. I giggle lightly while I hold tightly onto my coffee.

  “Yes, I know, but that doesn’t change the fact that he wants you more than a friend.” His lips move from my forehead to my ear. “Plus I just like to give him a hard time.”

  “Well, I don’t really care because I got both things I was missing most this morning… you and coffee. Thank you.” I rise up on my toes and kiss him on the cheek. He quickly moves my face with his thumb and catches my lips with his. Our tongues slide against each other and I moan softly against him. He shifts us so that we are pressed against the wall. Fellow students pass by, but I find I just don’t care. My body starts to hum as I twist and grind against Reed. He’s barely touching me and I can feel my body buzzing with the need to feel more. My hands roam and find their way under his shirt tingling against his bare skin.

  “Katherine.” His voice is deep and raspy. I love when it sounds like this and the sound of my full name coming off his lips. The firmness of his fingers grip my wrists and pull them away from his ridged abdomen to my sides. This only causes me to lean into him more feeling a familiar desire growing in my belly. “Keep that up and I’ll have to take you into one of these empty classes. Then I’ll have my way with you.”

  “Mmmm, yes, please,” I murmur out in between our exploring lips and tongues. My wrists try to resist the restraint they are in and my hips thrust towards his.

  “Shit, when is your next class?” He growls at the base of my throat as I thrash my head back in hopes of giving him more access.

  “Now, but I don’t care.” He trails kiss along my jaw and then pecks me in finality on my temple as he pulls back from me. I frown and stick my bottom lip out for emphasis. “You’re always being good.”

  “Come on, I’ll walk you to your next class and then you can think about how good I am going to be later tonight.” Our hands latch on to each other and we head out of the building to my next class. I laugh out loud and then my mind begins to drift to the other night and then… to the shower we took together. Mmmm, that was good.

  I head into to the sandwich shop on campus and pick up a couple sandwiches and drinks for Maggie and I to have lunch in our dorm. Originally, we were going to meet here, but then I thought how she might not want to talk as opening about everything. I stand against the counter waiting for our order and I drift in and out thinking of Reed. It amazes me that his words can turn me on so easily. I replay them in my head to recreate the sense of want, lust and pleasure that fogs my mind and body. The feeling to be near him throughout the day consumes me and I try to think back to how it was with Kyle, but I can’t ever remember this strong of a current running through me. I don’t remember ever craving Kyle like I crave Reed.

  “Kate.” I snap out of my deep analysis to move towards the register and pick up my order. I’m crossing through the Union and see Derek and Jenna making their way towards the doors that lead to the cafeteria. It reconfirms my decision to meet Maggie in our dorm. She won’t be ready to hash it out in front of everyone. Plus, if Brandon is there too it would be even worse. I wonder how this will affect us as a group now. I don’t want our tight knit bond to break. Maybe somehow they could remain friends. Then I think to how I know I could never be friends with Kyle. I had tried and that just ended up in me caving to him. Although, Brandon is nothing remotely like Kyle and Maggie is nothing like me. Hope crosses my mind. I don’t bother to catch up to Derek and Jenna because I know Maggie is probably already waiting for me.

  In the elevator the smell of the sandwiches makes my stomach growl. As soon as the door opens I sprint out to head to my room. My mouth salivates at the thought of taking my first bite. I don’t get too far when I hear my phone ping the sound of a text. I reach into my pocket and pull it out to see a text from my favorite blue-eyed guy.

  What time can I see u tonight? Reed

  I manage to thumb a quick text back while moving towards my room and carrying everything.

  Let me see how Mags is first. Katherine

  I’m getting my hands on u either way, with or without Mags. Reed

  Laughing at Reed’s text as I open the door I quickly drop my bag when I see Maggie curled in a ball on her bed.

  “Mags?”

  “Yes,” she mumbles into her pillow. Her voice is muffled, but I don’t think she’s crying.

  “You okay? I have our lunch.” I start to pull out our sandwiches and get us set up at our desks. Maggie flops over and sits upright.

  “Yea, I’m fine, just really drained. Fucking exhausted.”

  “Well, good because… spill it girlfriend. How did he take it?” I spit out as I plop myself down at my desk to take a bite. She giggles at my mocking her.

  “There really isn’t that much to tell. It basically turned into what is always does between us… I want more of a reaction and more feelings from Brandon and he is, well he is just Brandon. He doesn’t show a lot of emotion or passion. It’s just him and I’m the opposite. I was completely honest and told him everything about Marco. He barely reacted and thought I was overreacting. He just thinks that I’m making my schoolgirl crush into something it’s not. He didn’t seem to care or mind that I cheated. Honestly, I think he wanted to just keep our relationship like it was and count this as a time we were off instead of on.” She stops to take a bite of her sandwich, but I’m shocked by Brandon’s reaction.

  “Wow, I just, I just can’t even believe this. I thought for sure he’d fight for you more or… or something.” I take in Maggie’s face to make sure she is doing okay with everything. She almost looks robotic, but she continues and I see a tears begin to prick her eyes.

  “I, I guess I’m shocked too. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I wanted him to fight for me or to get mad. Anything, but he just dismissed it. That only upset me more, but in the end I think we both came around and agreed that our relationship would never be anything more than it was. I cared so much for him, but not in a long term way. I was always wanting more than he could give me. Whether Marco came into the picture or not I know that things would have come to this. He does too. Even though I wish Brandon would have showed more it wouldn’t change the feelings I have about Marco.” Tears pool in her eyes and when she blinks they stream down her full cheeks. I wipe up my hands and reach over to hug her. She cries into my shoulder and it feels good to finally be the one needed. Her words sit on my mind about how she was always looking for more. More. God, how could I have missed how much more Reed always gave to me. Last semester I took, but now I’m ready to give him more too. It’s hard for me to tell him these things, but I need to make sure he knows how much more he means to me. Before I know it I’m silently crying into Maggie’s shoulder.

  The day seems to drag more than usual, but my mind races with thoughts of Kate. Not all of them are clean either… her legs tightly around me as I bury myself into her is at the forefront. They aren’t all dirty either though… her arms wrapping around me with her face burying into my chest, the way she presses in to get closer to me, her fingers gripping at the back of my shirt, when her head tilts back and her eyes gaze upward to take in my expression I want to tell her I’ve got her and I’m never letting her go. I know I can’t say that quite yet though, it’s too soon. I have to keep waiting for her to come to me. The risk of her running is too great, but I see her pushing herself all the time and then every so often she doesn’t have to push herself. She let’s her wall down and opens herself up without even realizing it. I savor those moments and pray more of them will come. She feels everything I’m feeling… I can tell, but she has to embrace it fully. Hell, sometimes it throws me off. I’m not even always exactly sure how to deal with these emotions and what they mean. They’re strong, like a gust of wind forcing its way inside of me. Just when I think I can slow it down the speed of the wind picks up and makes it impossible. I know this is more, more than what… I’m not quite sure. Many times I’m on the brink of saying something about love, but i
t’s so foreign to me in this capacity I still have to be sure. I tell my mom I love her all the time, but this feels different. I can’t recall the last time I told my dad those three words… sometime before the age of eleven probably.

  Glancing towards the clock I see it’s after seven and I haven’t heard back from Kate yet. Marco called me last night and told me pretty much everything about him and Maggie. I like Brandon enough, especially since he helped out during the fight with Kyle last semester… but the fact that Marco is into Maggie more than any of us ever knew is only a relief to me. Since he’s going to be back here I wouldn’t want there to be any chance of him getting in my way with Kate. That bastard is a nice guy and not bad looking, even I can see that.

  Running my fingers across one of my law books it reminds me that my dad texted me about coming out for dinner this weekend. My sisters will be there, which always makes it easier. I’d love to bring Kate with me, but I don’t want to subject her to the harshness of my father yet. I type him a quick text to tell him that I will be there, it’s not like I have a choice in the matter in all reality. Part of the hold he has on me is being at his beck and call on his terms.

  Shifting my feet across my bed restlessly I decide I can’t wait any longer to see her. Just as I’m about to head out of my room to walk on over there my phone rings. Instinctively, I grunt upon seeing her name flash up on my phone. This is the fourth time she’s called today. Reluctantly, I answer with no enthusiasm in my tone.

  “Yeah?”

  “R-Reed, hi, it’s me Jess. Did you get my other messages?” She nervously replies. Sweetness laces in between each syllable, but I push out any sympathy I may have for her.

  “What do you want, Jessica?” I don’t have time for her bullshit anymore. I moved past it a long time ago. All I hear is her grasping at straws.