Reviving Kendall

by Brandy Slaven

  Hot Poker To The Heart

  The guys have been coming up MIA for short periods of time for the past few weeks. I’ve been doing better about not needing them around so much, but it doesn’t make me miss them any less. On days like today, when I get a little lonely, I’ll be with Ryleigh or at Lucas’ house with Lincoln.

  Lincoln is almost always home. I learned during the first visit that he got so depressed that he dropped out of college his sophomore year, and has practically become a hermit. Lucas says that he’s been going out more since I started coming around, and even said something about trying to get back into classes in the fall, so that in itself makes the trip over worthwhile.

  Today, we’re laid out on a quilt in the backyard. With our heads next to each other and feet opposite, it makes it easier to hear lying on our backs.

  “Did I tell you that I’m going to try to get my shit together to get into classes in the fall?” he asks.

  “Lucas did,” I admit.

  He lets out a small laugh, “It was more than just Dallas you know? Yeah, I love him and everything that happened didn’t help, but I was so stressed out from classes and everything else that I felt like I was having a nervous breakdown. Figured I could take a year off. It’ll still be there for when I’m ready to go back.”

  I tilt my head to the side to look at him, “You know that I don’t judge you anyways, but I’m glad that you feel ready enough to get back to it.”

  Nodding he adds, “I talked to Dallas the other day too.”

  Now this does come as a surprise, “What happened?”

  He shrugs, “We just asked how the other was doing. Polite chitchat and whatnot.”

  “Have you decided to give it a shot?” I ask gently as I roll on my side and prop up on my elbow to look down to him.

  “I don’t know,” he answers honestly. “You’ve given me hope that it could work. I’m just not sure that I want to let her in. I don’t know. I’m just a confused mess, and I want to get myself straight before trying anything.”

  “You speak such wisdom for such a mighty youth, young grasshopper,” I kid.

  My words work in turning his frown into a smile, “I think Goose is rubbing off on you. Is that a movie quote?”

  I grin, “I don’t know, but it should be.”

  “Ohhhh Kendaaallll,” Goose calls sticking his head off the back porch.

  “Speak of the devil,” Lincoln says with a wink.

  Goose and Teagan walk out to where we are laying in the yard, and T says, “Yeah and the devil’s going to come calling if you’re out here trying to steal Kendall’s heart.”

  He laughs and jumps up to pull me to my feet, “Don’t tempt me. I’m no stranger to dancing with the devil, but I think little K has enough testosterone in her life right now.”

  Wrapping me up in his arms, Goose pulls me to his lap as he sits down, “We’re not going anywhere just yet.”

  “I thought we were going back to your house for movie night?” I ask.

  “We are,” Teagan answers for him as he sits down and then looks to Lincoln, “You’re more than welcome to stay out here with us.”

  Lincoln shakes his head, “I’m good. I’ve got some stuff to take care of inside anyways. See you later, little K.”

  “Bye,” I tell him.

  Passing Mav and Lucas coming down the stairs, they nod to each other. What are they up to?

  The pair walk down to the blanket and sit across from the three of us. It’s a good thirty seconds of no one saying anything and it’s driving me crazy. “Ok, what’s the deal?” I ask.

  The words out of Maverick’s mouth sends my heart into my ass, “There’s two things on the table that we need to discuss. First up, we need to talk about us leaving in the fall.”

  “Ok,” I manage to squeeze out through the lump in my throat.

  “Well,” he starts, “I think it’s a safe bet to say that a long-distance relationship is never going to work, especially since there’s four of us and not just one.”

  Tears fill my eyes, but I try to swallow the sick feeling in my chest as I look towards the ground. I knew it was coming and I knew that it would hurt, but this feels like taking a hot poker to the heart. They apparently didn’t want to be burdened with me through their last high school summer. That’s understandable. I feel the warm tears as they start their trek down my face and I don’t want them to pity me. The last thing I want is for them to feel bad and try to stick around when they see me cry. I’m not that girl.

  Pushing Goose’s arms away from me, I stand up in one quick motion. Maverick tries to grab my hand, but a quick side step maneuver puts me out of reach. Teagan is smarter. He hit his feet when I did and captures me around the waist.

  He twists me to face him, “Kendall, what’s wrong?”

  Really? That stings some, like I’m not supposed to give a shit that they are dropping me and moving on. I find a spot in the trees to stare at to his right and don’t answer.

  Mav steps into my line of sight and I have no choice but to look up to his face, “Where are you going? You didn’t even let me finish what I was saying and why the hell are you crying?”

  “I’m confused,” I choke out, “You’re breaking up with me, right? That’s what this distance speech was for. It’s ok you know. There’s going to be plenty of girls where you’re going and with you being hot football stars, you’ll have your pick I’m sure. You deserve a chance to live a little, so I understand.”

  Mav’s and T’s facial expressions are almost identical as they go from confused to pissed to comprehension by the end of my words.

  Maverick steps up like he’s going to take me from Teagan, but the latter tightens his arms around me and smooshes my face against his chest, “Oh sweet, K. We aren’t leaving you, lovely. Quite the contrary, actually.”

  “I don’t understand,” I say, my voice muffled by his shirt.

  “If you would have stopped long enough to let me finish, this wouldn’t even be an issue right now,” Mav tells me as he reaches around T and lifts my chin.

  “Will you come sit back down and let us explain?” he asks in a very unlike Mav manner.

  When I nod, I’m pulled back to the quilt on the ground. I didn’t realize Lucas and Goose both stood and were right behind Mav the whole time. We do a little rearranging and I end up sitting in between Teagan’s legs with Lucas on my right, and Goose’s head in my lap. Using the hand that Lucas doesn’t have hostage, I run it through what little hair Goose has on top. There’s a lapse in conversation for a few, and I feel completely immature for my reaction.

  Goose makes a humming sound of approval before he says, “I can’t believe you thought that we would drop you just like that.”

  Even though he can’t see me, I shrug anyways, “Mav didn’t start that conversation out too well.”

  “Yeah dude,” T says from behind me, “I think you should have thought that through a little better.”

  Mav just rolls his eyes, “That may be so, but my bigger concern is the fact that she has no faith in us. Looks like we need to rectify that situation, but first we need to get back to the other things.”

  I know they said they weren’t ditching me, but my heart thumps harder in my chest anyways.

  Lucas pulls a packet of papers from inside his jacket and hands them to me. There’s a stamp of a college I’ve never heard of on the front, “What’s this?”

  After a minute or so, Mav drops the bomb, “It’s an acceptance letter to a smaller sister college to ours.”

  I shake my head, “Then they sent it to the wrong person. I still haven’t applied anywhere.”

  Goose points to the small print on the front of the envelope, “You’re Kendall Davis, right?”

  “Yeah,” I answer looking closer, “but that’s not my address so they’ve got the wrong one.”

  When I try to hand it back to Lucas, he laughs, “That’s my address.”

  “I sent over all of your credentials and application,” Ma
vs informs me looking not the least bit sheepish. “And you won’t have to worry about tuition for the first two years either,” he adds.

  Applying to college for me is one thing. I will not allow them to pay my tuition too. Just as I open my mouth to say so, he cuts me off, “Don’t even start. We didn’t pay for it.”

  “Dad has been looking for some PR for the firm, so I suggested a scholarship,” Teagan tells me in my ear. Between the feel of his breath and Goose lying in my lap, it sends chills down my arms.

  “They didn’t even tell you the best part yet,” Goose says looking upside down at me. “This one is only thirty minutes away from ours.”

  “And,” Lucas cuts in, “We’ve already found a house to rent. It’s paid out for the next two years, so we don’t risk losing it.”

  “Also,” Mav says, “I didn’t put you in for a major. You can do that when we get there in July. We can go online, so you can see all the programs that they offer. There’s even a photography major, if that’s what you’re feeling so inclined to do.”

  Dropping the papers between Lucas and I, the heels of my hands dig into my eyes and they flood with tears again. Only it’s a different kind this time.

  “Don’t cry again, baby,” Lucas says sounding close. “Are you not happy?”

  I nod around my hands, “So much that you guys made me cry again.”

  They laugh, and it isn’t long before I’m joining them. When I feel like I can breathe again, I tell them, “Thank you so much for this. It means the world to me.”

  Lucas winks as Goose and T reply. Once they’re done Mav throws me an arched brow and half smirk, “We did it for purely selfish reasons.”

  He can say that a million times and I’ll still never believe him. Some of the motivations may have been, but they really are just that kind of heart. Making Goose raise up, I knee walk around the four of them handing out hugs and a kiss to the cheek.

  Lucas is last, and he lies back until I’m draped across his chest, “You may want to hold up on celebrating just yet. We still have number two. You may hate us after this one.”

  In all of the excitement, I totally forgot that there was a number two. Propping up on my elbow so I can see all of their faces, I ask, “What is it?”

  Mav looks to the same tree that I used before as Teagan laughs and thumb points to him, “Well, someone had to go and get himself nominated for Prom King and we’re being jerks and making him go.”

  I smile, “Why would you not want to go, Mav?”

  He rolls his eyes again, “Just didn’t want to, but I guess we are.”

  “We? As in I get to go too?” I ask excitedly as I sit up.

  “Woah,” Goose says, “You sound happy about this.”

  I grin at him, “I am actually. I’ve never been to prom. Plus, we get to torture Mav for the night.”

  Mav’s eyebrow shoots up as he gives me one of those looks that turns my insides to mush and puts a blush on my cheeks. I’m the first one to break eye contact, as I resort to playing with a string on Lucas’ pants. I see the other three watching us, but no one says anything.

  Goose breaks the silence, “We still on for movie night or are we going out to celebrate Kendall’s acceptance?”

  Lucas looks to me, “Up to you baby.”

  A night with nothing but my boys is exactly what I need, and I tell them so. With it decided, Lucas and Teagan fold up the blanket to take back inside after shaking it out.

  As Goose turns toward the house, I say, “Catch,” and jump on his back.

  Never missing a beat his arms wrap around my legs to hold me in place. I kiss his neck right under his ear, “I don’t think I’ve told you today, Grant Michaels. I love you.”

  A Good Dose of Payback

  The black dress I’m wearing is one of those lace over dress kind of things. Thin spaghetti straps cover my shoulders and lead down into a u-shaped neckline. Its soft material goes all the way down to almost mid-thigh. A piece of lace is layered over each strap and goes down to almost my knees in the front and mid-calf in the back. Pulling my long hair up into a clip behind my head, I put on a little makeup. The only color on my entire body is a pair of bright red wedges. They called my name when Ryleigh and I went dress shopping. With a peep toe front and three sandal straps across the front, they zip up the back and I fell in love instantly. I give myself a once over in her stand-up mirror before stepping out of the closet.

  She’s standing in front of a vanity mirror doing a quick touch up on her makeup. When she catches sight of me in the mirror she lets out a catcall whistle. She turns, and I do a quick pirouette to show her the back too.

  Grinning ear to ear she says, “Oh my god. You look amazing and sexy as hell. I wish I could pull something like that off.”

  “Oh, whatever. You totally could, and you know it,” I say and motion for her to spin.

  Her dress looks like something out of a fairy tale. Straight Cinderella. It’s pale peach and hangs to the floor with cream colored tulle material underneath.

  “Wow,” I say literally stunned. “You look like a fucking princess.”

  She laughs, “Good that’s what I was going for.”

  I laugh with her right before my phone rings on the bed. Not even bothering to look to see which one of the guys it is, I answer, “Hello.”

  “Ready to go gorgeous?” Mav asks, that deep voice giving me tingles.

  “I think so,” I say honestly as I watch Ryleigh playing with a shawl.

  Letting out a girly giggle at her struggles, Mav laughs on the other end, “Well, we’re down here when you ladies are ready.”

  “We’ll be down in just a sec,” I promise.

  Stuffing the phone in my little change purse thing, I rush Ryleigh, “Come on, they’re waiting on us.”

  She winks, “Patience is a virtue.”

  “Not right now it isn’t,” I tell her.

  When she cocks her head at me I laugh again, “Sorry. Movie quote.”

  She rolls her eyes, “Fine, fine. Let’s go.”

  I follow her down the stairs, so she’s the first one to see the guys. “You’ve ruined my best friend, Goose,” she tells them.

  He comes into my sight just as her words sink in and the confusion shows on his face.

  “She talks in movie quotes now,” she tells him as she walks over to a waiting Eddie.

  The pride on his face could only be bested by the look that crosses when he sees me. It’s hard to watch all of them at the same time, but I can tell that each of them do their own version of a once over starting with the bright red nail polish on the ends of my toes. In those few moments, they make me feel sexier than I ever have in my life.

  Lucas is the first to move, coming to stand in front of me. What little shag there is to his brown hair is tamed into a style against his head. He gives me a soft kiss on the lips before slipping a tiny corsage around my wrist with a red rose on it, “You look absolutely stunning.”

  “Thank you, baby,” I tell him as I pretend to straighten the red vest underneath his jacket. “You look pretty amazing yourself.”

  He smiles down at me and gives me another quick kiss before stepping to the side.

  Teagan steps up next. The only color on his tux being the red cummerbund thing and the tiny red daisy that looks similar to a sunflower in his hand. He slips it on my wrist before picking me up to spin me around in a circle and place a kiss against my lips, “Breathtaking as always.” His long locks hang down around his face and I love the way that they feather across my skin when he gets close.

  “Yes, you are,” I reply pulling his smile into a thousand-watt grin.

  T stands off to the other side of Lucas to make way for Goose, who puts a small red carnation on my wrist. He buries his face into the side of my neck as he lifts me a little off the ground, “You’re beautiful, babe.”

  I wait until he puts me down and pulls away before I say, “I love you, Grant.” The red handkerchief in his front pocket is crooked so I fix it b
efore he moves next to Teagan.

  Finally, Maverick. There aren’t many guys who could pull off a red bowtie, but he does, and makes that shit look good. His hair is laid back against his head and I find myself wanting to mess it up just to see if he’ll let me. Before I can, he pushes a red lily down my wrist to sit against the other flowers already there. Lined up together they make the cutest fucking corsage I’ve ever seen. Might not be saying much considering I’ve never had one before, but it means more than words to me.

  Mav grabs the sides of my face and pulls my lips to his before saying, “I had it right the first time. Fucking gorgeous.”

  All I can do is smile at him like a fool. They’ve made me feel more special in the past almost eight months than I ever have in my life.

  Ryleigh of course kills the moment, “This is so exciting. It’s like a real-life version of The Bachelorette, only you don’t have to choose at the end.”

  All of us, including Eddie, laugh with her. She makes us all do pictures in front of the house, several group pictures and then one with each of my guys. Then I do the ones of her and Eddie. It’s at least a half hour before we’re on the road.

  They rented one of those stretch Hummers, and I must say, it’s pretty awesome to even look at. I wonder if there’s going to be enough room on the inside for all of us, even being as big as it is. No need to worry though, we all fit without a cinch. Ryleigh and Eddie sit directly behind the driver which is straight across from Me, Mav and Lucas. Teagan and Goose have their own seat to the left.

  It only takes us thirty minutes or so to get to the hotel where their prom is being held. All heads turn to us as we step out. It’s like being a celebrity or something, and I must say, I’m not a fan of the feeling.

  Ryleigh and Eddie make their way up the little staircase and I go to follow. Mav’s arm wraps around my waist and pulls me to him. Putting my arm in the crook of his elbow he says, “You’re walking in with me. A good dose of payback.”

  I laugh quietly so as not to bring more attention to us, “You call being escorted by one of the four sexiest guys at this shindig payback? I’d love to see what you’d have in mind for my reward.”