by Sarah Carter
“Whatever floats your boat. They would probably enjoy that.”
Kayla’s phone beeps from her pocket. She looks at it and it says she has a text from Jackson. Curious, she opens it up.
It reads: Do you mind if I come with tonight?
She texts back: Of course not, why would I care? The more the merrier.
I didn’t want to impose on your…date.
It’s not a date, Jackson, Kayla writes back. I don’t even know Damien that well and Tracy is going to be there!
A minute goes by and then Jackson texts: All right, I’ll come with.
Sweet! Kayla replies. She looks up at Tracy. “Jackson is coming.”
“Cool,” Tracy mumbles. Pulling out a dress, she asks, “What about this.”
It’s a strapless red dress that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. “Wow,” Kayla whispers. “Going all out are we?”
“Did you see who will be accompanying us tonight? I sure need to look my best,” Tracy retorts, throwing the dress on the bed. She bends over to find shoes. “I think this is going to be a blast.”
“It has potential,” Kayla murmurs, looking at her friend’s dress.
Two hours later, they are at Kayla’s house. This time Kayla is the one going through her closet. “I don’t even know what to wear.”
“Something sexy,” Tracy says, flopping down on her bed. She fixes the strap on her shoe.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Kayla replies. “I did just meet these guys.”
Tracy rolls her eyes. “Relax already. We’re just going out to have fun. And it’s not wrong to want to look good for the guys.”
“What about my black leather skirt?”
“Ooh yeah, I like that,” Tracy draws out. “What will you wear on top?”
Kayla shrugs. “A nice sweater.”
“No, no, no, don’t be ridiculous. You have to wear something more daring.” She hops off the bed and walks to the closet. Pushing her friend to the side, Tracy says, “Let me pick.” She rifles through the shirts and then stops. “Oh, this is it.” Tracy pulls out a pretty, blue, corseted top. It’s lacey with capped sleeves, more elegant than sexy.
“I don’t know, are you sure?” Kayla asks.
“Definitely,” Tracy confirms. “Put it on. I’m going to find you shoes, which won’t be hard since you’re so damn organized.”
Nervously, Kayla puts on the outfit. When she looks in the mirror, she gasps. “Tracy, this is really sexy. I think I should wear something else.”
“Shut up, that’s nonsense. Here, put these on,” Tracy says, pulling out a pair of black stilettos.
“Okay, now this is really too much.”
Ignoring her, Tracy walks over to her jewelry and pulls out a necklace. “You should wear this.” Holding it up, Tracy asks, “What kind of stone is that? It’s such an unearthly blue.”
“I have no idea,” Kayla answers. “It was my great grandma’s.”
“Hmmm, very pretty, nonetheless.”
Tracy helps Kayla put soft curls in her hair. When they are finally finished getting ready, Kayla looks at the clock. “They should be here any minute.” She walks over to the window and looks down. Sure enough, Jackson’s car is sitting outside. “Okay, I lied, they’re here.”
“Let’s go,” Tracy chirps, heading to the door.
As they descend the stairs, the doorbell rings. “I got it,” Kayla yells, practically skidding to the front door. She stops and takes a breath to reassure herself. When Tracy comes up next to her, she opens the door and smiles.
Jackson and Damien are standing in the doorway. They both look at Kayla and raise their eyebrows. She blushes and silently curses Tracy. “You look exquisite,” Damien finally says with a huge smile. “Tracy, you do as well. I feel totally underdressed.”
Kayla looks at him. “Damien, you’re wearing a dress shirt and pants. What do you want to be wearing, a tux?”
“Hmm, I do look dead sexy in a tux, but that’s beside the point. You two look fabulous.”
“You don’t look half bad yourself.” Tracy giggles. She looks at Jackson and says, “And you’re hot, as always.”
Looking at him, Kayla smiles. Jackson is wearing designer jeans, a black dress shirt, tie, and suit vest. Unable to wipe the grin off her face, Kayla says, “Yeah, you guys are looking very handsome this evening. You need to dress up more often, Jackson.”
He smirks. “You really do look beautiful, Kayla.”
“Yeah,” she snips happily. “I know.” Jackson rolls his eyes and she giggles. “Hold on, let us get our coats.” She turns toward the coatrack and grabs hers. Tracy continues to giggle at the guys. Kayla grabs Tracy’s coat and shoves it at her. “Stop drooling and put this on.”
“Let me help with that,” Damien says to Tracy. He opens the jacket, and Tracy beams as she slides it on.
Giving a look to Jackson, Kayla smiles. Jackson smirks back at her. “What?” Kayla quips. “You aren’t going to offer?”
“Nope.”
“I’ll do it,” Damien interjects, stepping into her house. “Don’t mind him. He has no manners and doesn’t know how to treat beautiful women.”
Snorting, Kayla says, “No, he knows how to treat women. I just don’t get that privilege.”
“Awww, you sound bitter,” Jackson draws out.
With a death glare, Kayla snips, “You think I give a crap whether you help me or not? You aren’t my date tonight, remember?”
“No, you’re mine,” Damien says, sticking his arm out. “Ready?”
“Yes,” Kayla replies, grinning at him. Damien waves his hand and they start to walk toward the car. “So what have you boys been up to since we saw you last?”
Damien chuckles to himself. “I’ve been trying to milk Jackson for information on you. He won’t give up much.”
“That’s because he doesn’t truly care to really know me,” Kayla replies as they get to the car.
“That’s not even close to the truth Kayla,” Jackson groans, giving her a look. “We’re friends.”
As Damien opens the back door for her, Kayla returns Jackson’s look. “That’s what you say.”
“Seriously, all this because I don’t want you to get romantically attached to me?”
Cocking her hip to the side, Kayla replies, “For some odd reason, you have this delusion that I want you. I don’t. So move on.”
“I like you more and more,” Damien murmurs to her.
Jackson gives her a very heated stare and then turns to walk to the driver’s side. Kayla turns to Damien. “Are you sitting in back with me?”
He smiles. “For a price.”
“What’s that?”
Stepping forward, Damien brings his head down and kisses her. It is so powerful that Kayla almost loses her footing in her heels. She falters back and hits the car. Damien follows her, pressing against her. “Dear Lord!” Tracy yells. “Why can’t I have a guy kiss me like that?”
When Damien pulls away, Kayla’s breath is caught in her throat. His breath is still hot on her lips. Flushed, Kayla says, “Wow.”
“Can we please get in the car?” Jackson spits out. “But if you want to feel each other up, get a different ride.”
“That’s for later.” Damien laughs, holding Kayla’s hand as she gets in.
Her face warms from embarrassment. Damien chuckles and shuts the door. Jackson is already in the front seat. Tracy is talking to him, but his eyes are glued to Kayla in the backseat. Their eyes lock on each other in the rearview mirror. Kayla nervously wipes her lips, feeling as though Damien is still there. She sees Jackson sigh, and then hears him say, “So, Tracy, is there going to be a guy angry at me because you’re my date tonight?”
“I’m your date,” Tracy squeals. “Does that mean I can make out with you later?”
“Tracy!” Kayla yells in shock.
By this time, Damien has gotten into the car next to Kayla. “I say it’s a good end to everyone’s evening.”
Chapter 7
Kayla nervously twiddles her fingers as they drive. She’s thankful that Tracy is talking a mile a minute up front with Jackson. When Damien’s hand reaches over to touch hers, she jumps. Kayla shifts her eyes to look at him. He smiles and whispers, “You seem anxious.”
“Just, um, feeling a little shy, I guess,” Kayla murmurs back.
Damien doesn’t try to hold her hand, but he gently rubs his thumb across it and then pulls his hand away. “No need to be nervous. I won’t bite.” He pauses and then says, “Okay, that’s a lie. I will bite but only if encouraged.”
Kayla bursts out laughing. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“What will you keep in mind?” Tracy asks, turning around.
“That if asked, I do bite, gently of course,” Damien replies.
Tracy gets the biggest grin on her face, and she looks at Kayla. “How embarrassed are you right now?”
“A lot,” Kayla replies, covering her face.
“You have to excuse her.” Tracy sighs. “She’s never really been on a date before.”
Appalled, Kayla yells, “Tracy!”
Her friend giggles. “What? Wasn’t Jude your last date?”
“I am going to kill you,” Kayla spits out.
She feels Damien turn and look at her. “Wasn’t that the guy I punched in the face today?”
“No one was supposed to ever know that,” Kayla practically screams, trying not to laugh.
“You told me,” Jackson interjects.
“You weren’t supposed to say anything either,” Kayla snaps. “Geez, Jackson, you can’t keep anything to yourself!”
“She’s the one who said it,” Jackson retorts, pointing at Tracy.
“What else did he not keep to himself?” Damien asks. “I didn’t realize my cousin was so loose-lipped.”
Everyone in the car shuts up quickly. “Nothing,” Tracy finally says. “He hasn’t told me anything.”
“Now,” Damien starts, “I don’t know you, but I have a feeling you’re lying.”
“It’s nothing,” Jackson mutters. “Let’s change the subject.”
As Damien turns to Kayla, he says, “Sweetie, I don’t think it’s a good idea if we keep secrets from each other. Seems like a bad way to start off a relationship.”
“It’s really not a big deal,” Kayla mumbles. She looks at Damien, who encourages her to continue. Taking a deep breath, Kayla stutters out, “Well…we kissed…each other…in my kitchen. Well, it was more like…well…yeah, that’s beside the point. It didn’t mean anything. It was just extremely intense, but it totally didn’t mean anything.”
Damien bursts out laughing and leans over to look at Jackson. “Really? You’re telling me to stop it, but you can do it?”
“Do what?” Kayla asks.
“You don’t want to know,” Jackson moans. “Really, it needs to be left alone right now.”
Tracy smiles at the guys, “Whatever it is, I want to try it.”
“Tracy!” Kayla snaps again. “You make yourself sound skanky.”
“Pfffff.” Tracy waves away Kayla’s comment. “I don’t hide the fact that I like to kiss boys, because I do. A lot. But I’m not dropping my skirt for the whole town. I do have some principles.”
Jackson laughs. “Good girl.”
Leaning back, Damien moves his eyes back to Kayla. “You may have kissed my cousin, you very well may have enjoyed it, but I will promise you something…I can make you forget it.”
Raising her eyebrows, Kayla replies, “Oh really?”
“I can guarantee it,” Damien whispers, reaching over. He actually takes her hand this time.
“I’m sitting right here!” Jackson yells. “Damien, she doesn’t need to forget that we kissed.”
Squeaking, Kayla says, “I don’t think I could.” Jackson’s eyes meet hers in the rearview mirror. “I mean, it’s not like it was a bad experience. You are my friend. It’s not like Jude, who I wish I could forget.”
“Enough about kissing other boys,” Damien interjects. “Now, where is this restaurant?”
Pain shoots through Kayla’s stomach. She cries out and bends over in the backseat. “What in the world?” Tracy shouts, spinning around in her seat. “What’s wrong?”
Kayla digs her fingers into Damien’s hand and screams. “It hurts! It hurts!”
“Take us back!” Damien demands.
The car screeches to a stop on the side of the road. Kayla doesn’t even see Jackson open the center console. She just hears him say, “Open your mouth, Kayla.” She does and she feels him put some leaves in her mouth. “Chew, you need to chew and swallow those.”
Giant tears run down Kayla’s face. She shakes her head, after she swallows. “No, no, no, there’s something really wrong.” Even she can hear the rising panic in her voice. “It hurts. It’s not just my side, it’s everything!”
Tracy is completely turned around, facing the backseat. “Call an ambulance!”
“No!” Jackson and Damien snap at the same time. Jackson turns to Tracy. “We need to get her back to my house. This is only something her parents can fix. It’s a hereditary thing.”
“Then drive!” Tracy shouts at him.
Jackson turns to Damien. “You need to get out with Tracy and call for a ride.”
“NO!” Damien retorts sharply. “You wait with Tracy. I have more experience!”
“Shut up!” Tracy yells. “Where Kayla goes, I go!”
“Tracy, I’m sorry, sweetie, you need to get out of the car and quickly. She’s contagious,” Jackson urges calmly.
She shoves her door open and climbs out. “What in the hell does she have!”
“I-I’ll tell you later,” Jackson spits out. “Damien, wait with Tracy. We can’t leave her on the side of the road.”
“Jackson, you are not in a place to give me orders,” Damien yells.
Kayla buckles farther over. “Jackson, I want Jackson. Please, watch out for Tracy. Please don’t let anything happen to her, Damien.” She cries out again. “Oh God, I’m going to throw up.”
“I don’t care if you throw up on me,” Damien states. “Jackson, get out of the car.”
“Damien, I swear, I will rip you out by your hair. I am bigger and stronger, and you know I can do it. Anyway, she says she wants me. She needs to be able to trust me if I can’t get her back in time,” Jackson snaps sharply.
Throwing open his door, Damien growls, “Fine. I’ll get Tracy home and then meet you at your house. I’ll call Kayla’s parents.”
Jackson climbs out of the car and yanks open Kayla’s door. He carefully pulls her out, lifting her into his arms. “Tracy, open that door,” Jackson instructs. Tracy jumps forward and does it. Jackson gently places Kayla in the front seat.
Unable to prevent it, Kayla bends over and pukes. “Oh, I can’t watch that,” Tracy shouts, turning around. “I love you, Kayla. I just can’t see vomit.”
“It’s all right,” Jackson murmurs to Kayla. “Damien, give me your shirt.”
“On that already,” Damien says, handing his shirt to his cousin.
With a very tender touch, Jackson wipes Kayla’s mouth. “Here, hold this while I drive. If you need to hurl, do it wherever you want, okay?”
Jerkily, Kayla nods her head. When Jackson stands up, Damien bends down close to her. “You’re in good hands. Listen to him, Kayla. Listen to what he tells you to do, okay?” She nods again.
Damien shuts the door, and Jackson gets back in on the driver’s side. He slams the door, shifts the car into gear, and with a lurch, they spin around on the street and tear off towards Jackson’s house.
Fire erupts in Kayla. Her skin feels like it’s burning. “It burns! My skin, it’s burning!”
Jackson pulls out more leaves. “Eat these.”
Crying, Kayla vigorously shakes her head. “Something is wrong! Something is terribly wrong! Take me
to the hospital.”
“The hospital is the last place you should go,” Jackson mutters as the car screeches around a corner.
Kayla lifts her hands up. “I’m shaking. I can’t stop it. I can’t stop shaking. Oh God.” She bends over, grabbing her stomach.
“All right, no time like now,” Jackson growls, pulling off to the side of the road. “Come on, we need to get you out of here.” He jumps out and comes to get her.
Having already opened the door, Kayla falls out of the car. Jackson grabs her and lifts her up in his arms. She lets him carry her because the pain keeps getting worse. When she does finally open her eyes, Kayla gasps. “What are you doing?” She sees trees surrounding them and recognizes the woods.
“You need to listen to me carefully,” Jackson says, setting her down. “There is something really big you don’t know about yourself.” Suddenly, Kayla’s body starts convulsing, and she falls to her knees. Jackson falls down next to her and sternly instructs, “Think of an animal.”
“What!” Kayla screams, her skin feels like it is being torn apart.
“Think of an animal, Kayla, preferably a dog. Think of an animal, over and over and over again. Repeat it, over and over again.” She closes her eyes and thinks he’s nuts. “Kayla, you need to take me seriously,” Jackson yells. “Think of an animal!”
With her body now feeling like it is being pulled from every angle, Kayla thinks about Tracy’s old golden retriever. Over and over and over, just like Jackson told her. With a flash of relief, all the pain subsides and she can breathe again, but when Kayla opens her eyes, something is wrong.
She can’t even fathom what she is seeing or feeling. Her head is only two feet off the ground and when she looks at her feet…they aren’t feet anymore. All she sees are paws…dog paws. “Kayla,” she hears gently beside her. “Don’t freak out. I need you to stay calm. You just shifted.”
Her head turns to Jackson, and she sees him towering over her. Kayla starts to breathe really hard. His voice is so loud and everything is so vibrant. She looks down again, and it finally dawns on her. She wants to say, “I’m a dog,” but only barks come out. Terror rips through her. She tries to speak again, but only whimpers come out.