Moments later Torrie groans coming too which distracted him from his thoughts. Happy to have her back again.
“H—hey Angel welcome back,” he whispered. Moving her hair out of her eyes tucking it behind her ear.
She swallowed hard. Everything hurt. “W-what happened?” Torrie asked hoarsely as she coughed. This was far worse than a hangover. Everything around her was still blurry. Trying not to show weakness in front of Kasper but, she was scared. He was too as she hasn't moved since the impact. She knew he was there in case she needed to lean on him. Fighting away the aching pain she forces herself to sit up. To make sure nothing was broken. Nothing was to her knowledge, but she felt out of breath.
Kasper guides her back to help but watches her closely. “Take it easy angel, okay, both of us had a nasty tumble, you remember where you are?” Kasper wanted to make sure she didn't have a concussion.
Torrie closes her eyes and holds her stomach, still reeling from the effect of the fall. No amount of booze would make her forget where she was. “Yeah, bitchy Kelli's party, remind me to thank her for this lovely party gift.”
He laughs at her snarky response. Still, the same old Torrie.
Her memory comes back a bit short on how she ended well ... down here at the beach. “Now I only had a little to drink, I know I'm not that clumsy.”
Kasper rubbed the back of his neck, showing a remorseful expression on his face. “That might have been my doing. Guess Avery must have done something. Because the next thing I knew, I collided into you and here we are. C-can you stand?”
She nods offering a hand as Torrie wasn't quite ready to stand by herself. Her knees were wobbling. “Ummm, maybe not.”
Kasper placed an arm on her back wrapping the other one on her waist, holding her in place before she collapsed. “I got you.”
She felt his body move behind hers. Keeping her still. His breath down her neck made her tingle all over. She felt safe in his strong arms as most of her pain went away. “Sorry,” she whispered leaning her head on his shoulder.
At this point, her safety was all he was concerned about. Shaking his head as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He holds her steady as he kissed her forehead. “Don't be ...” He knew they needed to talk about the Marlowe situation.
“Torrie! You down here?!” A wary Marlowe's voice trails in a different direction.
He knew she would be in good hands if he left. “Sounds like someone is worried about you.”
She nods her head. But she didn't want to leave him yet, and part of him didn't either.
“I know we didn't talk about what happened earlier.”
Torrie knew that tone in Kasper’s voice. Now might not be the right time, but they may not get another chance to be alone. She turned her body around and looked up at him. “Nothing is going on between us if that's what you're worried about. Marlowe is only a friend.” Torrie was unsure why she needed to explain their relationship status.
Kasper recalled something she told him. “As in that friend you were telling me about? You lost contact with a few months ago?”
Torrie shook her head. “She came out to her mother. I was only there for support, despite my family's reputation after all, her mother blamed me for it. I didn't want to lose our friendship either, or whatever we are.”
The truth was he didn't know himself to be honest. He did enjoy her company. Not to mention that kiss they shared, he nor she hasn’t stopped thinking about it since. Was everyone right? Is Kasper going soft? Can he start to have feelings for a girl he just met? “I wish I could help you out with that one, Angel,”
Torrie interrupted him for a second as she smirks at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thought I told you to stop calling me that.”
He laughs with a grin on his face. “Not a chance.”
She smiles gratefully as he won't stop as it was starting to grow on her.
“All I know is I can't stop thinking about you when I'm alone. I don't know what it is about you. But, you're the first thing I do when I wake up thinking about the last thought before I close my eyes.” He rested his forehead on hers.
Her eyes closed as she felt his heartbeat rise with every beat. She could tell he was nervous about where this was going. She was twice as scared, of listening to the same thoughts he had. Could they make this work though?
《***》
Footsteps approached as Torrie broke her grip on Kasper.
“Torrie, there you are!” Marlowe's voice snapped her out of her train of thoughts. Marlowe ran over to hug her.
Kasper walked away letting them have this moment.
Torrie winces in pain. “Easy … still banged up,” Torrie added before Marlowe released the hold.
She was thrilled that nothing serious happened to her. “Sorry, I've been looking all over for you. When I saw the balcony break, the only thing I could think of was ...” Her voice trailed off not worried about it now.
Kasper had the same thought. He was very lucky it didn't have a different outcome of that fall.
“Please nothing can break me, you should know that by now ...”
Only she could joke at a time like this. “Typical Torrie,” Marlowe said making Kasper laugh. Their reunion was cut short due to the sirens beginning to get louder from a distance.
Kasper needed Torrie to go somewhere safe. “Can you get her out of here?” Kasper asked Marlowe who nodded.
“Of course, I can. Torrie come on,” Marlowe grabbed her by the hand. But, she kept looking back at him almost as if she was caught in the middle. The sirens grew nearby now … as she stopped her tug and released the grip. “Torrie!” Marlowe screamed out of concern wondering what she was doing.
She ran back to Kasper fast as she could.
《***》
He was surprised to see her again. “Angel w—”
Torrie couldn't fight it out anymore and kissed him on the lips. She pulled him closer as she felt his arms being slowly wrapped around her waist.
“Torrie, we have to go now!” Marlowe's voice said breaking their concentration.
He didn't want to stop but he knew she wasn't safe here. “She's right, Angel you need to go.” Much as he didn't want her too.
“Promise me?” Torrie whispered for him to hear.
He smiles kissing her forehead nodding. “I promise, now go.” Kasper watched her run back to Marlowe.
Kasper saw the flashing lights stop at the Bentley beach house. Better him than me. He thought to himself and ran home. It wasn't like he'll find out from Kelli what went down.
《***》
Wyatt, who was the least sober head out of the two, heard the knocking first. He tried his best to convince Travis who was sleeping off his hangover.
“Yo, you ready for this?” Wyatt asked Travis who yawned.
Travis composed himself the best he could, he cleared his throat telling him to open the door.
“Good evening officers,” Wyatt started to say.
The two officers looked around the condo and already saw how bad the place was.
“We had some complaints about loud music and yelling. See you boys had a party tonight ...” One of them added as they both stepped inside.
The two cops from the view Wyatt had he could see was one of them was a veteran. The other one was a rookie.
“Underage drinking, obviously a fight broke, you boys could be facing a lot of trouble here. Who owns this place?”
Wyatt was going to step up but, Travis held him back. “That would be me.”
They smelled the reek of alcohol on his breath.
“Come on son, you're coming with us.” They take Travis away. He looks at Wyatt who knows what to do. As he looks for his phone.
《***》
“What's going on?” A zonked hungover Kelli asked stumbling out of the bedroom she locked herself in earlier.
“The cops came to arrest Travis.”
She gasped in
horror. “W-what?!” She shrieked. “This is all my fault!” She plopped her butt down on the couch.
Wyatt sighs joining her on the couch after moving some cans and bottles to the floor. “This is not your fault Kel, you know he'd do anything to make you happy.”
Kelli was guilt-ridden about Travis taking the blame for her party. “If I didn't invite Avery, or Kas none of this would have happened. I'm always screwing everything up! Why do I keep doing that?! Oh, I know, it's because everyone is right about me. I'm a bitch, I deserve to get everything I have coming to me.” She finished rambling and stood up as she wanted to be alone.
“Kelli,” Wyatt grabbed her hand as she felt herself being pulled into his strong grip. Wyatt pushed a string of hair as he realized how close they were. He dries some tears away from her eyes.
“Wyatt ...” He always cared about Kelli and he wished she didn't beat herself up all the time.
She fluttered her eyes, feeling his hand brushed against hers. As they were unsure what was transpiring next. Whether it was a bad time or the booze in their systems, they leaned in to kiss for a few minutes.
Footsteps forced them to break the kiss.
Kelli wondered why he had that flabbergasted look. She craned her body making her feel even more sick to her stomach than before. “K-Kandace?” She croaked out as her chapfallen expression said it all.
“We can explain.” Wyatt tried to catch her.
“Leave me alone! Both of you!” Kandace stormed out of the condo, leaving the two of them stunned in silence about what to do next.
Chapter 33
A discomforting Torrie who groans would be coming too as she was still recovering from her nasty fall. Where was she? She pondered as she sat up to focus on where she was, which was a bad decision on her part. Oh, my back is killing me. Leaning upholding the part that hurts with her hand.
Marlowe heard footsteps, which made her snap out of her thoughts. “What are you doing out here? You could have gotten my attention, you should be—”
Torrie sees the dark circles under her eyes. She could tell she never went to sleep last night. Marlowe, who was on her…whatever number of coffees after losing count…guides her into the kitchen. “It's okay, Marlowe. Felt like I was out for a few days. What time is it?”
Marlowe knew she wasn't making small talk. She had one thing on her mind. “He didn't call if that's what you're wondering,” Marlowe told her as she looked in the cupboard for something and handed her aspirin and some water to take.
“Thanks,” Torrie mumbled, gulping it down.
“Welcome. Want to talk about it? Whatever is going on between the two of you?”
Torrie shrugs as she made her way back towards the couch.
Marlowe trails behind. “Easy, will you.” Marlowe helped her sit down as she lays her head on Marlowe's lap.
She smiles, covering her up. “Nothing is going on between Kasper and I,”
Marlowe doesn't buy it for a minute. “That’s not how I saw it when you two kissed.”
An annoyed Torrie rolled her eyes. “I don't know what else to tell you.” Yeah, she loves the flirting games they play, but she's a rebel herself. Has she finally met her match?
Marlowe decided to say her piece instead. “Okay, then I'll go. Torrie, ever since I met you, I knew how fierce you were since the moment we connected. You have a reckless attitude about you, I envy you at times for it. The only thing holding you back is me.”
A quizzical Torrie lifted her head back up, gazing at her. “What are you talking about? I don't blame you for—”
Marlowe knew that yes; she might not be beating herself over that. “There has to be a good enough reason to why you aren't giving him a chance.” Marlowe wanted to figure this out.
Torrie yawns again. “When you stop hurting that pretty head of yours, I'm going to take a nap.” The aspirin was kicking in again.
Marlowe sighs as she watches her sleep before she sneaks out.
《***》
At Ethan's who was an early bird this morning would be resting from his workout. Kasper whose head was throbbing in agony would groan coming too. A yawn distracted Ethan who watched his every move. “Well welcome back,” Ethan said.
Kasper muttered shut up under his breath loud enough for Ethan to smirk. “I ain't in the mood for you to be cheerful this early in the morning.”
Ethan dragged his feet in the kitchen, laying his head down on the counter. He might've put on a brave face last night. This morning everything was in excruciating pain.
“How are you holding up after the party?” Ethan handed him some coffee and aspirin.
“Other than I feel like crap, just freakin' peachy,” Kasper told him ever so nicely.
Ethan laughs grabbing water from the fridge.
“How are you so damn cheerful?” Kasper asked as he runs a hand through his hair moving it away from his eyes.
He shrugs sitting down on the opposite side. “I always perk myself up before a workout it's corny, but it helps.” Ethan watched Kasper swallow some of his coffee. “You and Avery must have gone all out last night huh?” Ethan saw the expression from the corner of his eye.
Kasper swallowed hard as his face went blanched thinking about someone.
“What? Did something happen to Avery?” Not like he gave a damn either way.
Kasper shook his head. “Not with Avery but with Torrie.”
Getting Ethan's attention. “Eileen's sister?” Ethan heard how much of a party girl she was but never had the chance to hang out.
Kasper nods his head as he kept replaying the fight at the party. Still having no idea of how he managed to shove Torrie into the way. “Avery must have distracted me somehow during the fight. Because the next thing I knew I tackled her down instead of him.”
Ethan whistled. “Is she okay?”
Kasper shrugs as he didn't want to leave her alone last night, but he had no choice. With his record, he couldn't take the chance. He knew Marlowe would be able to help. “She was a little shook up last time I left her during the chaos, a friend of hers fled her to safety,”
Ethan pondered something to lighten the mood a bit. “So ...? Might I ask?”
A nettled Kas rolled his eyes. “I wish you wouldn't,”
Ethan smirks. Getting back to a serious note. “What exactly is going on between you and the party girl?”
Kasper had no damn idea himself what was going on between them. “Is that what they call her?” It was actually nice talking to a guy about this sorta thing, and not dealing with his sisters. “I wish I knew. All I know is I can't stop thinking about her.” Kasper got interrupted by a knock at the door.
Ethan gawked in suspicion after he opened it. “Goth girl?”
《***》
She laughs. See that name hasn't changed. “Nice to see you too jock boy, is he here?” Marlowe referred to Kasper who grabbed a beer from the fridge.
Ethan let her into the house. “I'm going to go for a jog, try not to break anything while I'm gone okay?” Ethan gave them both a side-eye response as he grabbed his headphones and left.
“How is she?” Kasper groans sitting down on the couch.
She followed watching him. “Sleeping it off right now but I want to talk to you.” Marlowe sat in front of him on the coffee table.
“Go ahead,” Kasper rested his back a bit. Like he couldn’t feel the tension between the two of them without Ethan in the room.
She only had a few hours before heading to the airport. So, she decided to put matters into her own hands. “What's going on between you two?”
She's a take no prisoners kinda girl huh? He chortles holding his ribs with his arm.
Marlowe can tell he was nursing a few injuries himself after the fall last night. Of course, it was an act.
“Shouldn't I be asking you that?” His question snaps her out of her thoughts.
Marlowe scoffs and heard a sneer jealous tone in his voice.
Look who's he related to after all. Referring to Kelli. She tried to become a bigger person. “All she is to me is a good friend.”
Poppycock she was. He snorts in disbelief. “Yeah, you two looked very friendly at the party,” Kasper responded.
Marlowe snatched his beer from his hand.
True Love:Follow Your Heart Page 27