Kiss Me

Book 2: The Keatyn Chronicles®

by Jillian Dodd

Genres: Young Adult; Love Triangle

Synopsis

Keatyn has always written scripts for her perfect life, but there’s no way she could have ever scripted this. Her life is so far from perfect that it’s not even funny—all because of a stalker. 

Now, she’s at a boarding school, where she has to lie about who she is. 

She can’t see her family or Brooklyn. 

She’s tutoring a hottie god who tortures her with his smile. 

And the most popular girl already hates her. 

But there’s this boy. This sweet, adorable East Coast boy who likes Keatyn for who she is. 

So she decides to stop scripting her life and just live it. 

Because who knows how long she has left. 

Release date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: Swoonworthy Books

Print pages: 313

Sample

Friday, August 26th

Like freaking Prince Charming.

8:30pm

 

When I come off the stage, there is Dawson. Staring at me. 

Uh, make that glaring at me.

I owe him an apology, so I walk straight up to him and say sincerely, “Hey, I’m really sorry about what I said earlier. It was kinda mean of me.”

“You were sticking up for my brother because of what I said about him being the imitation, right?”

“Yeah. He looked sad when you said it, and I just reacted. I’m sorry. Really.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was kinda mean if you don’t know us, but he and I joke about stuff like that all the time. Plus he’s my little bro. I have to give him shit.”

I nod.

He lowers his voice and says, “And you’re right about Whitney. I do like her. Speaking of that, the guys told me Riley said you didn’t really do anything in your dorm room.

“Yeah, I was trying to stand up for him.” I laugh.

“You should be careful of him. He’s got a way with the ladies.”

“So I’ve heard. I told him I’d do my best not to sleep with him, so we could stay friends.”

“Riley with a girl for a friend? Hell, if you can manage that, I will be thoroughly impressed. Congrats on dance team. It’s a big honor. All the hottest girls are on dance team—  well, except for Whitney.” He leans in close to me and whispers, “She doesn’t like to sweat.”

I can’t help but laugh and think about Vanessa. And then home.  

And then I sort of feel like crying.

“Thanks,” I say, but what I’m thinking is that I just want an Ambien and my pillow. I’m so tired and so on stimulatory overload.

But then Aiden saunters up to me, gives me a big hug—which nearly stops my heart from beating—and says, “Congrats. You looked really surprised. I pretty much told you that you made it on the Ferris wheel.”

“The Ferris wheel is sorta a blur,” I say without thinking.

“A good blur, I hope. Hey, there’s all your friends, worshipers, whatever. I think they all want to congratulate you.” He stops and kisses my hand.

Yes.

You heard that right.

He kissed my hand. Like freaking Prince Charming.

Then he says, “Don’t forget, you owe me a dance or two tomorrow.”

“I won’t,” I say breathlessly.

And then, poof, he disappears into thin air. 

And I wonder for a minute if he was actually real.

Can anyone else see this demigod?

Dallas, Riley, and all the freshmen boys I made friends with at orientation give me hugs, congrats, high fives, and pats on the back. 

Dallas says, “You looked great up there. You hungry?”

I realize suddenly just how hungry I am. I was too stressed to eat dinner. “I’m starved! Let’s get something to eat.”

 

While I’m eating a freshly grilled Philly cheesesteak and homemade potato chips, Morgan comes trudging up to me, pushing a girl in front of her. The girl is also decked out in feathers.

“Meet your new roommate, Katie.”

Katie gets a big grin on her face and gives me a hug. “Oh, thank God! You made it. When they told me it was some girl who tried out, I was afraid she wouldn’t make it and would hate me. You cool with this? I sure as hell am.”

“Absolutely.” I turn to Morgan. “But I’m almost completely unpacked, so she moves into my room, right?”

“Yep. Molly and I will get everything moved tonight. Sorry. It just didn’t work for me.”

“That’s okay. No hard feelings,” I say.

Katie is adorable. Perky, bouncy brown hair with expensive highlights, button nose, and a sweet smile. 

I introduce her to the boys. 

“You guys want to go on the Ferris wheel?” she asks. She bounces when she says this, and her ample boobs shake just a bit. She is really quite peppy, and the boys are enthralled.

“You go. I’m gonna finish eating.”

Dallas says he’s going to stay with me, and then he sits down and says, “Plus, you already rode the Ferris wheel.” 

“I did. Have you?”

“Yeah, I rode it, but I don’t think I had as much fun as you.”

“I take it you saw Aiden kiss me?”

“Yeah. And I’m okay with it. Last night was just, you know, we got high, we kissed. It was chill, right?”

He reminds me of Brooklyn even more with that comment.

“Right.”

“Now my friend, Riley, on the other hand, he didn’t look too pleased. You kiss him too?”

I purse my lips and look up at the sky.

“Look at me,” Dallas says. “The answer to that question is not in the sky. And don’t lie to me. I hate when people lie to me. And I can tell we’re gonna be friends. Good friends. I’m talking TIIIIGHT,” he laughs. “So just tell me.”

I spill my guts. The boy parts anyway.

“So I dated this guy for most of high school, but I always crushed on my best friend. We broke up this spring, and finally this guy, that B that texted me, kissed me. And I thought it would be amazing. But then he invited me to go camping with him and his friends, but then they left me. Like completely ditched me, and he acted like it was no big deal. And I thought he was hooking up with other girls that night. And I went to a party with this other friend of mine from school. And that same night, he told me he’d had a crush on me and asked me to go out with him. And I ended up losing my virginity to him, instead of the B guy, who I always dreamed it’d happen with. But then that didn’t work out. That’s an even longer story. And so then I got back with B and we had an amazing summer together, but then he told me he was going away for, like, a year. And then the whole thing happened with the, uh, with my parents moving, and I ended up here. He said we are young, that if we’re meant to be together someday we will, that we should date other people, that he will be dating other people. And I was kinda crushed. But then last night at the Cave was fun. I mean, I’d go there with you anytime, and I’d kiss you again, for sure. You kiss good. Like sweet.”

He smiles.

“And really, I thought Riley was kind of a conceited jerk, but in a hot way, you know. And then I kicked the ball in the goal and saw the God of all Hotties.” 

“Who?”

“Oh, that’s what I called Aiden before I knew his name. He, like, does something to me. It was love at first sight. Seriously. But then you guys told me he’s a player, and he pretty much told me the same. But when he talks to me, he’s not all smooth like I would expect a player to be. He’s nothing like Riley. I mean, at least with Riley you know he’s a player. He doesn’t try to hide it. But then Aiden brought me lunch after soccer, and I thought it was sweet, but then he said this awful pick up line, and I was like whatever. But then right before I went to dance tryouts, he handed me a four-leaf clover, like, a real one, picked from the ground. And I wondered if he stood there looking for it or what. But I kept telling myself, no players. No players. Then Riley came to walk me to dinner, and I wasn’t quite ready and . . .”

Dallas says, “Riley already told me how you stood up to his brother. He really liked that you did.”

“Good. Riley is hot. And if anything happened with him, at least I’d know what I was getting into. Like, I would know it’s just a thing. Just a hookup. But then Aiden kissed me on the Ferris wheel and, I swear, I couldn’t even breathe. Like, I have never felt like that before. And this time he didn’t say anything stupid or cheesy. He was sweet, and I think I’m falling in love with him. No. I am in love with him. But I know that I can’t be. So I won’t be seeing him anymore. I mean, I’ll probably see him around, but I’m not gonna fall for him and then have him decide I’m not it. So basically that’s it. I’m done with boys.”

Dallas laughs at me. “You’re funny. I didn’t know I was gonna hear your life story. So, I hear you’re supposed to go to a party with Riley tonight.”

“Well, if he saw the kiss, he probably won’t want to take me anymore.”

“Oh, no. I think he will. Dawson told him that he heard you two hadn’t really done anything and that if Riley didn’t make a move then he was going to, tonight. So just know, Dawson is interested. And be careful.”

“I’m not interested in Dawson. He’s got it bad for Whitney. And messing with Dawson would probably not be a good thing, even if they are broken up.” 

“Yeah, they used to date. Like all sophomore year and most of last year. She broke up with him when Peyton started dating a college guy. She sounds like one of those girls that has to have the best of everything. I heard she dumped him because she had to one-up Peyton. Riley hates her. Says it devastated Dawson but, of course, Dawson wants her back. I did hear, though, that Dawson’s been playing pretty heavily. Riley says they had a wild summer.”

“Damn, Dallas. You’re good for all the gossip.”

“He’s not the only one who’s got this place wired,” Dallas says with an easy grin. 

“So, what do you know about Peyton? She seems nice when she’s not with Whitney but, then, when she’s with her she acts like she doesn’t even know me.”

“I’m not sure. I get the impression that people are kinda scared of Whitney.”

“There’s a girl like that at every school. So, do you think I can take off this stupid feather crown?”

“You better not. Here comes Tyrese.”

Tyrese sits down with us and rests his muscular arms on the table. “So, congrats. Dance team is cool. You getta come out and shake that ass for the football team.”

I scrunch my nose up, cuz shaking my ass for the football team wasn’t exactly why I tried out. Actually, I’m still not sure why I tried out. But I do know that I loved being up there dancing. It was really fun.

He lowers his voice. “So the party tonight, moved to plan B. You understand?”

“Yeah.”

“You know how to get in and out of the dorm without getting caught?”

“Uh, no.” Shit, the party must be after curfew.

“What floor you on?”

“First. 6B.”

“Well, aren’t you just the lucky girl? Okay, so all the outside doors have alarms on them, and I’m sure they told you the whole place is wired, right?”

“Yeah, they did tell us that. They also told us about all the trouble we’d get into if we got caught outside the dorm after curfew.”

“You won’t get caught if you do it right, okay?”

“Okay.”

“The biggest problem will probably be your roommate. I heard you have some girl that goes to bed at 9:30. Would she tell on you?”

“She would have, yes, but I have a new roommate. We switched. I’m roommates with Katie. She just made dance team. She’s the really cute petite one.”

“With the huge boobs?”

“Um, yes.”

“Dayuuum, you can just bring her along. Introduce her to Tyrese.”

“Okay. She seems fun, so I’m sure I can talk her into it.”

“Solid. Okay, so what they didn’t tell you is that the doors are wired, but the windows aren’t. All you have to do is report for curfew, then, about an hour after that, sneak out your window. Check your window, make sure you can get in and out of it. Wait, did you say 6B? Damn girl, that window has got WD40 all up and down the sides of it. It glides like a dream. Effortlessly and quietly. Little honey of mine, graduated last year, that was her room.”

Dallas and I laugh.

“So, curfew is at twelve tonight. Be there at one.”

“Wait. How do we get in?”

“Oh, shit. I almost forgot. Your dorm faces the woods. Walk that way, so no one sees you. The second window will be open. Just climb in and take the stairs up to the party. If you have any trouble, text me. Here, give me your phone.”

He grabs my phone, puts in Tyresebaby and his number, winks at me, and leaves.

“You gotta take me to one of these parties,” Dallas tells me.

“Let’s wait until I’m actually invited myself, and then you’re in. And before the others get back,” I say as I see them walking toward us. “Anytime you wanna go back to the Cave, you text me.”

 

He’s kissing my soul.

1:15 am

 

Katie is excited to go to the party. She’s been chattering nervously about it for the last hour while we unpacked all of our clothes and put them away. She’s also a junior, who has apparently been on the waiting list since freshman year. They told her they had a last minute opening a couple weeks ago, and she decided to come even though her friends and boyfriend thought she was nuts.

We checked our window and, as expected, it glided effortlessly open. She wanted to leave at 12:55, so we would be there right at one, when the party supposedly starts. But no way was I going to look like an overeager B-list actor trying to get into an A-list party. I told her we weren’t leaving until 1:15. 

At least.

At 1:15, she can’t wait any longer. She’s had two Red Bulls and is bursting at the seams.

Katie climbs out the window quite gracefully. I pretty much fall out of it and into the bushes. I’ve never had to sneak out before.

“How did you do that?” I ask her as I’m picking leaves off my shorts. We had a big dilemma about what to wear tonight. She wanted to be all decked out. I thought maybe we should look more casual. Pajama party casual. We discussed it for about an hour. Killed some time at least.

“Get out of the window without falling?” she whispers. “I snuck out my window at home all summer to see my boyfriend.”

“And what exactly were you doing with your boyfriend in the middle of the night?”

She smiles and blushes. “Well, you know. Mostly, we just made out, but toward the end of the summer we started having sex. Well, we did it a few times anyway. It was so awkward. But we were both virgins, so I wasn’t really expecting much.”

“Well, when you do it again, hopefully it will be with someone more experienced. I liked it. A lot.”

“Like tonight? Do you think that stuff goes on at this party? I really have no idea what to expect.”

“I would guess it’s like any party. Drugs. Alcohol. Hooking up.”

“I can’t get drunk. I’m not much of a drinker, and I’ve never smoked or done any drugs before.”

“Only have two drinks, then. If you get all drunk, stupid, and loud, you won’t get invited back.”

“We want invited back. They’re hot!”

“Shhh! Exactly. And we need to be quiet.” 

We sneak over to the Hawthorne dorm and find window number two open as planned. We slide in and go up to the plan B room.

Isn’t Plan B like the morning after pill?

Yikes. Hope that isn’t indicative of how the night will go. 

The door to 38B is wide open, and there are about twenty people crammed into the room. Well, twenty-two now. 

Tyrese is standing by the door. He says, “Keatyn, baby, who’s your friend?”

I introduce him to Katie, and leave them to talk. If I have learned one thing from my mom, it’s how to work a party. Never stay up front. The good stuff is always in the back. And always make a full sweep of the room before you stop to chat. 

I’m specifically looking for something to drink and for Riley. Instead, I get to the back of the room and find an entire keg of beer, with Dawson pumping it.

He sees me and says, “Damn. I didn’t know this was a pajama party. I like seeing what you wear to bed. Want me to take my clothes off and show you what I wear?”

I’m wearing a pair of fuchsia and black striped Juicy Couture sleep shorts, a little white tank top, and black Koolaburra boots. 

And I’m kinda bad, but I’m still wearing my leopard-print bra underneath. 

And I was wrong. Very wrong. No one else is in pajamas. They are still all decked out. Whitney especially. 

Nothing like being a fashion disaster at my first party. I should have called Kym for advice on what to wear. I look like a middle-schooler going to her first pajama party. I’m such an idiot. I should know better than this. LA is the capital of dressed-up casual.

But screw it. The way Dawson is staring at my tank top, I don’t think he cares what I have on. And for some reason, having this gorgeous guy stare at my chest when I look ridiculous makes me feel bold. 

I take a step closer to him, grab the beer out of his hand, and take a big drink. “I never said this is what I wear to bed.”

“You really shouldn’t flirt with me. I told my brother that if he didn’t get busy with you, I would.”

“I’m not flirting with you, and I don’t wanna get busy with you.” 

“Oh, yeah, you do. You just won’t admit it yet.”

“Where is your brother anyway?”

“Hasn’t shown up. Loser probably fell asleep and is having some little boy wet dream about you.” He grabs my waist, much like his brother did earlier, and pulls me toward him. “How about I show you?”

I take a long, slow drink of his beer. Trying to cool him down. But it doesn’t work, because he’s peeking down my tank top, eyeing my bra, then putting his hand up to touch it.

And, yeah, you know who chooses this exact moment to wander up to the keg. 

The hottie. 

In the flesh.

“Stop that!” I tell Dawson, smacking his hand away.

He releases me from his grip and says, “S’up, Aiden?”

Aiden scowls at him. “You’re never gonna get Whitney back doing shit like that. She’s giving you the death stare.”

We all turn and look at Whitney, but it’s clear she isn’t giving Dawson the death stare. She’s giving it to me.

Shit.

Dawson looks like a little boy who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I almost feel sorry for him.

Aiden turns to me and demands, “Come with me.”

He pulls me down on a futon next to him. On the other end of it is a couple furiously making out.

“What are you doing at this party?”

Just who does he think he is? “I was invited. Dawson invited Riley and me, and then Tyrese told me to bring my roommate.”

“I don’t think Riley is even here.”

“I know. I haven’t seen him yet.”

“So, you like beer?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I’d rather have a bottle, like a Corona or something, but it’s whatever.”

“I’ll see that I have it next time.”

“You’ll have it? You act like this is your party.”

“Well, that’s because it is. My room. My party.”

“Well big shot, if that’s the case, what do you have besides beer?” 

“You do drugs?”

“No! Do you?”

“No, I’m not into that shit, but plenty of people here are.” He nods his head toward Whitney, who snorts cocaine out of her fingernail and then starts making out with Jake. “I just smoke some.”

“Yeah, me too.” 

He flashes me a grin. “Tell you what. Come across the hall to Bryce’s room. That’s where we keep the good stuff. I’ll make you a drink.”

He leads me out of the party and across the hall, opens the door to an empty dorm room, turns on a lamp, then gently pushes me up against the door and kisses me. 

Again, it’s a slow, soft, amazing kiss. The kind of kiss that makes me feel like he’s kissing my soul. 

Oh my gosh. What the heck does that even mean? Kissing my soul? I’m seriously losing it here.

It’s official. Almost getting kidnapped has affected me. I definitely have some sort of post-traumatic stress thing, and the symptoms must include having irrational thoughts about hottie gods.

Aiden’s hands are very appropriately placed around my waist and are not moving. 

Damn it, man.

Move your hands. 

Kiss me with your tongue. 

Take my shirt off. 

Attack me already. Please! I can’t take it anymore.

But I don’t say any of that. I just savor each and every slow, amazing, and tongue-free kiss. 

Maybe he was born without a tongue, I think for a brief second, but then I realize that I am dumb because he wouldn’t be able to talk if he had been, now would he?

He stops kissing me and looks deep into my eyes. I seriously should have guzzled a few shots the second I got here. 

But I had no idea he would be here! 

The way he’s looking at me is sorta unnerving but, at the same time, like the kiss, it electrifies me. His face is close to mine, but not so much that he is, like, blurry to look at. I figure if he can stare at me, then I can stare back. 

And I take in every curve and angle of his face. 

The way his jawline is flexing slightly. How his eyelashes are a dark, dark brown and curl upward. How he has a sexy teeny freckle just to the side of his left cheek. How his textbook lips are the exact color of the pale pink roses Tommy gave Mom for their anniversary, and how the sides of his mouth are turning up, starting to smile at me. He blinks slowly. When his eyes open, I study the emerald green of his irises, how they have little flecks of blue in them and maybe even a little gold around the edges. I feel like time is standing still again. 

He slides his hands up into my hair and leans in to kiss me again. My body is trying to be good, but I can’t stop it from leaning into him. Melding to his body. I could stay this way forever.

He stops kissing me, looks deeply into my eyes again, and tells me he loves me. 

Oh, wait.

He didn’t say that.

I just thought that. 

Well, I thought his eyes told me that. 

Shut up! It’s what it felt like. 

And what the hell is with the going so slow? Does he not want to make out with me? Is he gay?

Finally he says, “You should probably go back and check on your friend. Those guys will get her drunk and take advantage of her.” 

“We didn’t drink before we came. She can’t be drunk yet, and you promised me a drink.”

“Also, I don’t want people to notice we’ve been gone very long. They’ll think we’re having sex. We don’t want to ruin your reputation on your second day.”

“I think maybe you just don’t want to be alone with me. I don’t understand. You act like you’re all into me, but then we barely kiss.”

I get irritated and frustrated by this, but no way am I going to be the one to move things along.

And I thought he was a player. 

So why isn’t he trying to play me? To use me? To take advantage of me? 

I shoulda pretended to be drunk, maybe?

He doesn’t really say anything to me, just shakes his head and says, “You just don’t get it, do you?”

And I’m thinking, no, I’m obviously not getting it tonight.

“Apparently not,” I say. Then I storm past him, across the hall, and back into the party.    

But I don’t really feel like partying anymore. I want to go home and cry. And what the hell don’t I get?! I mean, besides a good make-out session with the God of all Hotties. 

I look around for Katie, find her swigging whiskey straight from the bottle and sitting on Tyrese’s lap.

They start to make out. 

Oh, sure. 

Dawson gets up off his chair, practically knocking the girl that was sitting on his lap onto the floor, stalks over toward me, grabs me, and pulls me into a kiss. A big, sloppy, wet kiss. An all-sorts-of-tongue kiss. A kiss I was totally not prepared for and am not enjoying in the least. 

I pull away from him and run out the door. 

Then I sit out in the hall and start to cry a little.

What am I doing here? I just want to go home. But I can’t. Maybe not ever.

Aiden slides down next to me. “Why are you crying?”

“Because he ruined my lips.” Oh. Why did I say that? 

“How so?”

And I can’t lie to this boy. “They don’t taste like you anymore. They taste like whiskey and cigarettes. He’s a horrible kisser.”

“He’s drunk and sloppy.” 

“You’re not.”

“Let’s get your friend, and I’ll walk you both home.” He seems like such a gentleman.    

Or does he want to get me back to my room? Sneak in with me? No. We were already alone. And he didn’t try anything. I don’t think he likes me.

He just wants me gone.

I guess he figured it out quick, like he said.

“You don’t have to do that. I can get us home. Plus, I get it. You already figured it out, right?”

“Figured what out?”

“You know. What you were saying about the one.”

“You’re so cute, and you’re making no sense. Come here.”

And I do. Straight to his lips. And get another long, slow, delicious kiss.

“Better?” 

“Much better.”

 

Kissed so many boys.

4am

 

Katie is asleep and snoring lightly. I can’t sleep.

Every time I close my eyes, I keep reliving my kisses with Aiden. 

I’m usually not this kind of girl. The kind of girl to think she’s in love with someone the second she meets them. 

Yes, I know I say that I fell in love at first sight with Brooklyn but, the truth is, I was barely fifteen and didn’t know any better. What I had was a huge crush on him. The crush turned to love somewhere in the two years that we were friends. For someone that had traveled the world, my world got very small when I went to high school. Brooklyn always reminded me that there was more to life than the perfect outfit. He and Damian have always been very positive influences in my life. 

And I know I told Cush that I loved him at my party. But he bought me boots! The. Perfect. Boots. And I maybe got a little caught up in the moment. Cush is sexy and sweet and it’s easy to let yourself get caught up in moments with him. I should know. I lost my virginity to him in one of those moments. And I miss him. I do. 

But.

Aiden.

Aiden is nothing like Brooklyn. Nothing like Cush. 

I don’t even really know him. 

Yet I feel like I’ve known him forever. 

 

Part of me—probably the part of me that likes to cry at cheesy romance movies—hopes it’s true. Hopes it was love at first sight. That something so amazing could really happen to me.

Then there’s the other part of me. The cynic. She thinks that I must be having some sort of emotional crisis from almost getting kidnapped and that’s what is causing me to think irrationally about him.

I mean, I have to be a little bit scarred from all this, don’t I?

But then there’s the part of me that wants to bolt open my window and sing love songs with the birds chirping outside. 

But I also feel like I’m in mourning. Mourning that I ended things with B and that I confused the issue even more by sleeping with him before I left. There’s part of me that’s mourning what could have been with Cush. And there’s another part of me in mourning because I miss my family. Because I don’t know when I’ll get to see them again. About how I’m here all alone. 

But. 

Aiden.

No matter what my brain is telling me, my heart knows. 

 

I decide to text Mom, hoping she’s still awake.

 

Me:  How did you get Tom to fall in love with you? You said you knew instantly. Did he?

 

Mom:  He knew it too. I could feel it. 

 

Me:  How do I make the God of all Hotties fall in love with me?

 

Mom: Isn’t it a little fast? It’s been a day.

 

Me:  Yes, it’s too fast. But I cannot help it. I am in LOVE with this boy. And all he will do is kiss me! And I’m talking a NO TONGUE KISS!!! Other boys make out with me, why won’t he?

 

Mom:  Other boys?! Just how many boys have you kissed?

 

Me:  Uh, like three.

 

Mom:  !!!!!!!!! You don’t want to get a bad reputation your first week! Why have you kissed so many boys? Did you get drunk? What kind of place did we send you to?

 

Me:  Calm down. And no. I kissed this boy, Dallas, the first night. It was like fun, and he’s sweet, but it’s like a friend thing, a chill thing. Then the god kissed me on the cheek and gave me a four-leaf clover and it WORKED! I made varsity soccer AND the dance team!  Oh and this gorgeous guy kissed me too, but he was drunk and it was gross, so it really doesn’t count. So two, technically. 

 

Mom:  Dance team? Really? I’m so proud of you!

 

Me:  I got to dance on stage tonight, Mom. I loved it. Loved being up there. Back to the hottie.

 

Mom:  You belong on a stage. You always have. And the god sounds sweet.

 

Me:  But that’s just it. He IS sweet. And he’s supposed to be a player. He had 8 gfs last year. He gets kinda flustered when he’s around me. Players don’t get flustered, do they? And the things he does to me!

 

Mom:  Wait, I thought you said he wasn’t doing anything to you.

 

Me:  I mean like I can barely breathe when he’s around. When he touches me, I feel like I’m getting shocked. And tonight, I was at this party and he took me to this empty dorm room. And he DIDN’T attack me! He just gave me these slow, amazing, tender and TONGUELESS kisses. He looked deep into my eyes and, I swear to God, he looked into my soul.

 

Mom:  Wait. What time is it there? And what were you doing at a party? It’s your second night!

 

Me:  Can we PLEASE stick to what is important here? HOW DO I MAKE HIM FALL IN LOVE WITH ME?

 

Mom:  Maybe he already is.

 

Me:  No! He’s not. He was a total gentleman. He doesn’t want me. Should I like sneak over to his room and just attack him?

 

Mom:  Sex is not going to make him fall in love with you. It sounds like he likes you.

 

Me:  OMG!!!!??? You think??!!!

 

Mom:  Yeah. Go to bed! And make good decisions please. And call Garrett tomorrow when you’re free. He wants to talk to you.

 

Me:  Okay. I love you. Kiss the girls for me.

 

Mom:  I love you too. And I will.

 

Saturday, August 27th

You don’t have a bra on.

10:30am

 

Clearly missed breakfast. Can’t remember what is supposed to be going on today. Did we miss something already? 

I grab my phone and read a few texts.

 

The love of my life <3:  You up yet? Heard you had some fun at the party :)

 

Wait, that’s confusing. I have to change that. There, that’s better.

 

Dallas:  You up yet? Heard you had some fun at the party :)

B<3:  Miss you.

Peyton:  You need to be in the dance locker room at 2:30 to get your uniform and get dressed. We have to be on the field a little before three.

Sex God:  You kissed my brother?

 

Shit.

First things first.

 

Me:  Your brother kissed me. He was drunk. It was horrible.

 

Sex God:  You didn’t like kissing him?

 

Me:  OMG! NO! It was AWFUL!

 

Sex God:  Maybe I should come kiss you now. Can’t let him ruin the Johnson brothers’ reputation. BTW, what are you wearing?

 

Me:  I’m told your reputation precedes you, so no kissing is necessary. And PJ shorts and tank top. Still in bed.

 

Sex God:  Heard that’s what you wore to the party. White tank top with a leopard bra underneath. I was jealous at first, but I already saw that bra :)

 

Me:  Yes, you saw my bra strap when I was holding up my dress. Gee, I’m such a slut. 

 

Sex God:  So you ready for the big scrimmage today? Ready to watch me kick some ass?

 

Me:  I guess. I have to dance or something at it. 

 

Sex God:  Can I come over?

 

Me:  Why?

 

Sex God:  Maybe I need a cuddle. 

 

Me:  I just woke up. I’m sure I look like shit.

 

Sex God:  Doubtful. Go brush your teeth. I will be there in like 2 minutes.

 

Me:  No! 

 

Sex God:  I have coffee and muffins.

 

Me:  Awww, that’s really nice. 

 

Sex God:  Oh, I’m gonna be very nice...

 

Me:  <3 and no.

 

I’m not sure what to say to Brooklyn. And for some reason, I can’t seem to bring myself to delete the heart by his name. I wonder if he was right about fate. That if we were meant to be together, then fate would help us find a way. Of course, fate would also need to teach him to appreciate my love of shoes and discos before that would ever work. I sigh. Try not to list all the mistakes I’ve made lately in my head, and just reply with, Miss you too.

Now I want to find out what Dallas heard.

 

Me:  What’d you hear?

 

Dallas:  Dawson kissed you. Dumped a girl off his lap, walked across the room, and attacked you.

 

Me:  Yeah, it was awful. I stopped it as quickly as I could.

 

Dallas:  And what about Aiden?

 

Me:  How do you know all this shit?

 

Dallas:  I also know Riley is buying you coffee and muffins as we speak :)

 

Me:  You’re scaring me. What do you know about Aiden?

 

Dallas:  Heard you kissed. Heard you got mad at him. Heard you were crying in the hall.

 

Me:  He told you??

 

Dallas:  Can’t give up my sources

.

Me:  DID HE TELL YOU?? YES OR NO??!!!!

 

Dallas:  No.

 

Me:  He did kiss me, but he decided he doesn’t really like me.

 

Dallas:  You sure about that?

 

Me:  Yes. He kissed me. It was amazing. But that’s all he did. No hands, no tongues, just a kiss. Well a couple kisses.

 

Dallas:  Hmmm. Maybe he wants to take it slow.

 

Me:  Only people who don’t like you want to take it that slow. But I’m glad I know now. So I won’t get my heart broken.

 

I get up, run to the bathroom, pee, brush my teeth, run my hands through my hair, and remove the mascara smudges from underneath my eyes. I’m just finishing when there is a gentle knock on the door. Katie is still asleep, so I run over and open it. 

And there is Riley. Looking hot in a bright orange Polo rugby shirt and khaki cargo shorts. 

“I think I’m a little underdressed,” I say.

He hands me a tray of coffees and holds up a bag of muffins. I walk over and set them on my nightstand. 

I hear Katie’s sleepy voice groan, “Please say one of those coffees is for me.”

Riley nods, gets a blueberry muffin and a coffee, and hands them to her. 

“Hey, I’m gonna shower and get ready. I’ll be in the bathroom for probably at least a half hour,” she says with a smirk on her face. Like I’m gonna have sex with Riley the second she leaves. “Thanks for the muffin, Riley.”

The minute she walks out of our room, Riley grabs me and throws me on the bed. 

“Hey, I need sustenance.”

He rolls on top of me, pins my arms above my head, and says, “I need something to sustain me too. God. You don’t have a bra on.”

“Oh, shit. I forgot. I’m sorry.”

He breaks out into a wide grin. “Oh, no. No apologies necessary.”

“So you have a muffin for me too?”

“Yeah, you want me to butter your muffin?”

I know he’s just playing around. Teasing me. But his teasing and pinning me to the bed remind me so much of Cush that I start to get tears in my eyes. Then my mind flashes to Vincent holding my wrists. I start to shake and my breathing speeds up.

Riley’s face scrunches up. Then his eyes narrow. “What? Why?” He jumps off me. “Did you think I was going to hurt you? Like hold you down? I wouldn’t do that. Ever. I was just messing around.”

I nod. I can’t even say that I know. I just put my hands over my face and start crying. 

Riley gathers me up into his arms. “Did that happen to you before?” he asks quietly. “Is that why you’re so upset?”

I shake my head no and start sobbing on his shoulder. He’s holding me like Damian did the night I almost got kidnapped. Which makes me cry harder. 

I have a complete breakdown. 

I must have emotional jet lag. 

Like, it just all hit me. 

Right now. 

At the most inopportune time.

I’ve been so good at holding it in. Pretending to act like it didn’t affect me. That I’d be fine going away by myself. Being on my own. But I don’t want to be on my own. I miss my family. I miss the girls. I miss Cush. Sweet, sexy Cush. I thought I could come here and start over, but I can’t. This isn’t my life. 

He pats me on the back. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I suck in a big breath and shudder. Calm myself down. “I’m sorry. I just, like, when you did that. It reminded me of someone. Someone I miss. Someone I had to leave when I came here.”

“The surfer guy?”

I lean against the headboard while I wipe under my eyes. “No. It’s a long, complicated story. I don’t want to bore you with it. Let’s just say my coming here was not exactly by choice.”

“Tell me about the guy.” He laughs. “Or should I say guys?”

“Guys, I guess. You really want to hear about it?”

He hands me a coffee and says, “I’ve got all morning.”

Now I have to figure out what to say. What can I say that is close to the truth? What I end up with is a weird combination of truths.

“I sort of got sent here because of a guy.”

“Your parents not like him?”

“Um, there was some trouble. My parents decided to move to France. Told me I was either coming with them or coming here. They deleted my phone, social media accounts, everything. I told a guy I thought I loved him, that we would get back together, then I left. Didn’t even get to say goodbye.” Tears trickle down my cheeks. I brush them away quickly. 

“That sucks. But you get to talk to the B guy?”

“Yeah. My parents, um, liked him.”

“I can relate.”

“How?”

“I got kicked out of here my freshman year. Parents sent me to military school. Same deal. No friends. No phone. No social media. Very strict. We all have to go to school somewhere. Trust me, there are worse places you could be than here.”

“Did military school suck?”

“For the most part, yes. At least there are girls here.”

“What did you do to get kicked out?”

“Let’s just say I was being pretty reckless and deserved it.”

“Are you still reckless?”

He laughs. “Hell, yeah. Military school is supposed to strip the life out of you. I didn’t let it. You can’t let it. And don’t worry. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding a guy here.”

“I already found a guy here. I’ve never felt such an instant connection with anyone ever before.”

“You like Aiden a lot, huh?”

“Yeah. He, like, speaks to my soul. He makes me feel nervous and tongue-tied and I want to run away from him because it scares me. But he’s, like, magnetic. He has this pull on me.”

“Maybe you’re just horny,” he laughs. 

“It hasn’t been that long.”  

“Oh, do tell.”

“There’s nothing to tell. Even though we broke up, I slept with B my last night at home. It was breakup sex or goodbye sex. But now when he texts me he acts like it was makeup sex.”

“So you need to get over him and the other guy before you can be with Aiden? Is that what you’re thinking?”

“I’m thinking I can’t like Aiden at all.” 

I don’t tell him that I promised myself that I wouldn’t fall in love here. 

Or that I forget that promise every time Aiden is near me. 

“I should suggest we have some revenge sex, but I can’t even bring myself to hit on you. You look pathetic.”

“I don’t want to be hit on, Riley.”

“I know. But the good news for me is that you’re not wearing a bra.”

“Is there any good news for me?”

“Yeah. At least your parents didn’t send you to military school.”

“Maybe they should have. I could do nothing but study and get buff.”

He nods his head, agreeing with me. “That was the one good thing. Wanna see?”

“See what?”

“How buff I am.”

“Only because I know you’re dying to show me.”

“Maybe it will sway you. Make you change your mind about us just being friends. It’s important before we go too far down the friendship path that I know how much willpower you really have.” He pulls his shirt off over his head and shows me a lean, buff, and tan chest. He doesn’t quite have a six-pack yet; more like an adorable four pack. “So what do you think?”

“I’d say military school does a body good.”

He smiles. 

Then he raises his eyebrows and says, “Okay, so now it’s your turn.”

“My turn for what?”

“To take your shirt off.”

I laugh at him. “You’re incorrigible.”

“It’s a gift. And, more importantly, I made you laugh.”

 

The paths you choose.

1:30pm

 

Katie was really nervous about getting to dance on time. About fitting into her uniform. About dancing at the scrimmage when we only know one routine. I tell her to go ahead and I’ll meet her later, knowing I need to call Garrett. 

But as I scroll down my contact list, I see a D. And I hit it instead. 

I figure I’ll have to leave him a message, but at least I can hear his voice.

“Are you okay?” Damian answers right away.

“I’m fine. Where are you?”

“Stockholm, getting geared up for tonight’s concert.”

“I just called to thank you. I never thanked you for taking care of me that night. I’ve been a bad friend. I’m sorry.”

“You’ve never been a bad friend to me. And even if you were, I’d forgive you.”

“I broke down and started crying in front of a boy I barely know today.”

“You had a traumatic experience. Not to mention leaving your friends and family and going off on your own. Are you pretending it’s a new adventure?”

I think about my little sisters and want to start crying again. “I forgot it was your dad who started that when we were little. That’s what we told the girls. I’m worried about them. Do you think this is going to work? Have you heard anything? Are you taking precautions?”

“Yes, to all of the above. We have security built in with the tour. I’ll be fine. James sent me a photo of the guy that I shared with the team. Didn’t tell them why, but they will be on the lookout for him and we’ll get a heads up if he leaves the country. James also said that they had eyes on the guy when you left. That he was in his office all day. It worked. He doesn’t know where you went. You’re safe, Keats. Do you like it there? Is it nice?”

“It actually is. I feel safe. And so far people have been nice. And I met this guy.”

“That doesn’t really surprise me.”

I remember what else Brooklyn told me. “You know how I was maybe going to come here when I was a freshman, before I decided to stay in Malibu?”

“Yeah.”

“B suggested that maybe I fought fate. That fate was sending me here now because there was someone I needed to meet. Do you think that could actually be true? Or did he plant a thought in my brain and now I’m trying to fulfill it?”

Damian laughs. “All that fate stuff is just a little too deep for me. I think you make your own fate by the paths that you choose.”

“I’m not on a path that I chose, Damian.”

“That’s true. Just be safe, try to have some fun, and let fate take care of itself. Hey, I have to go. Break a leg.”

“You break a leg too.”

 

I scroll down and call Garrett. 

“Mom said you wanted me to call?”

“Just wanted to let you know that things are looking good. Vincent has been following some of your friends around looking for information—”

I interrupt him. “Garrett! Did you lie to me? You told me my friends would be fine if I didn’t tell them anything. Where did he follow them?”

“Your friends are fine, because they don’t know anything. Thursday night, your friend Cush got together with, I believe it was, his soccer team. Does that sound right?”

“Yes. He’s the team captain.”

“They were having some kind of party at a pizza place. Let me look at the report. Yeah, it says they were having some kind of going away party.”

“Going away party? For who?”

“Not sure. But the report says Vincent sat beside them and listened to their conversation.”

“Did they say anything about me?”

“There was some discussion about you. All rumors. Really, the more rumors Vincent hears the better, as far as I’m concerned. Then, last night he was at the same club as Vanessa and RiAnne. He even danced with Vanessa.”

“Oh my God! I forgot that Vanessa knows him. Well, she met him once anyway.”

“She did? When?”

“When I came back from Europe. We were at The Chateau pool. He was there. Asked me to go to his room to see the script. Vanessa got introduced to him.”

“That shouldn’t matter. As long as we keep your friends in the dark, they will be safe.” 

“You keep saying that. I’m sort of sick of hearing it.”

“And I’m trying to keep you from doing something dumb. Like contacting them.”

I feel like I’m going to cry again. Why me? Why did this have to happen to me?

“I feel like I should warn them or something. I feel guilty.”

Garrett says in a soft, fatherly voice, “Keatyn, move on. You’re at a great school. Try to enjoy it there. It may be your life from now on. I know we said that maybe after six months or so you could come back, but based on what we’ve seen so far, I honestly don’t think you’ll ever be coming back. I know you don’t want to hear that, but it’s the reality of the situation.”

I feel like an elephant just stepped on my chest and crushed the breath out of me. Smashed all my ribs. I grab my chest and try to breathe. 

I just need to keep breathing. 

 

Shake my ass.

3:30pm

 

I pull myself together and put on a happy face for the football scrimmage. I think the shock I feel when I see myself in my dance outfit helps me push it all to the back of my mind. 

The outfit I’m wearing is a teeny gold glittery spandex dress. The sides are slit high up on my thighs. The halter neckline shows off my cleavage and leaves my back fully exposed. The briefs we wear under the skirt are gold glitter thongs. Okay, they are bigger than thongs but, still, they do not cover much up. As in, when I dance, I’m pretty sure you can see my ass cheeks—well, part of them anyway. 

I know the dance team at my old school wore skimpy outfits and they looked adorable in them. I just never realized how small they are. And I practically lived in a bikini. But when you are in a bikini and everyone else is in pads and full uniforms, you feel kinda exposed.

No wonder all the boys are gaga over the dance team. 

I’m out here practically naked! 

Peyton comes and stands next to me. “So, I heard you kissed Dawson at the party last night. And my brother.”

“Dawson kissed me. I think he was pretty drunk.”

She sighs. “He was super drunk. Probably why he’s playing so badly today. I’m sure he’s very hung over.” She points out at the field, where Dawson is struggling at quarterback. “He’s a good guy. He took their breakup pretty hard.”

“She kinda glared at me at the party when she saw us talking.”

“Talking? More like he was pawing your chest.”

“I made him stop. So what’s the deal? They’re broken up, right?”

“Yeah, they are. She has a boyfriend in college. Well, we both do now.”

“And let me guess, she broke up with Dawson because you got a college boyfriend, so she had to have one too?”

“I don’t know, maybe.”

“I know how girls like her work. Dawson was a pawn. She traded him up for a rook.”

“It seemed like that, yes.”

“So you’re best friends, huh?”

Peyton kicks the ground. “Yeah.”

“How come you’re always so nice to me when she’s not around but completely ignore me when she is?”

She sighs. “She doesn’t like you.”

“Why? She doesn’t even know me. Never said one word to me.”

“She’s pissed about Dawson. She doesn’t want him, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have him. He kissed you. She’s automatically gonna see you as a threat.”

“I’m not a threat. I don’t have any desire to be like her. I was friends with girls like her at my old school. I don’t care how many friends I end up with here. I just want to know they’re not going to stab me in the back as soon as I turn around.”

“That’d be nice,” she says wistfully. “How do you know all this?”

“Stuff gets around here really fast. Like gossip, rumors. Plus, quiet, cute little Dallas hears everything.”

“You’re right. Stuff does get around. In fact, I’ve heard my brother kinda has a thing for you.”

“He doesn’t. He kinda did, maybe, like on the Ferris wheel and with the clover, but last night he decided that I’m not it.”

“What do you mean?”

“He told me that’s why he had so many girlfriends last year. When he knew they weren’t right, he’d break up with them. He doesn’t want me. Maybe we’ll be friends, though. He seems nice. And he’s, like, the most beautiful boy I’ve ever met, and that’s saying a lot since I grew up around Hollywood.”

“You like him,” she says in a singsong voice, teasing me.

“He doesn’t like me, so I can’t really like him,” I sing back.

Aiden runs down the field past me, leaps up and catches a pass thrown by Logan, the gold team quarterback. He was wide open and runs the ball a few yards for a touchdown. Then he runs right back by me and says, “Boots, how about I get a dance for every point I score?” 

“Uh, sure,” I say, and then nervously shake my red and gold metallic pompoms.

“We’re supposed to be cheering for the Red team, Keatyn,” Peyton laughs.

“But they’re all our guys. Shouldn’t we cheer for both sides? And you have to cheer for your brother!”

“You know, he’s gonna score a lot of points. I told you, he likes you. And now you owe him six dances. Oh, wait.” She watches him drill an extra point through the uprights and says, “Make that seven.”

I scream. Shake my pompoms. Shake my ass. It’s a really fun scrimmage. 

Because of Dawson’s major hangover, he plays poorly. At one point, he walks behind the bench and throws up on the turf. I feel sorta sorry for him. It’d suck to be in love with someone like Whitney. 

Tyrese plays well. He’s a running back and has this little stutter step before he cuts in a certain direction that no one can seem to guard. Plus, he’s pretty big and hard to knock down. Katie has been cheering her heart out. She’s a bit hung over herself. She didn’t take my advice on the only have two drinks thing. Dallas plays defense, linebacker for the gold team. He has some great tackles and sacks Dawson like four times. Coach finally takes Dawson out, and Riley comes in as the red team quarterback. 

And then there’s Aiden. I don’t know how it happens, but the Gold team, specifically Logan and Aiden, get on a roll. Aiden catches twelve passes and scores on three of them. He kicks five extra points and two field goals. 

Meaning I owe him twenty-nine freaking dances.

 

After the game, I’m standing with a group of dancers when he comes strolling up, helmet off, hair sexily messed. He even looks beautiful when he’s all sweaty and gross.

He grins at me. 

“So, you scored quite a few points out there. You don’t have to dance with me twenty-nine times. I know you said your dance card was already full.”

He stops walking and stands really close to me. “No, you said my dance card was full. And now it is. With you. Twenty-nine dances. That pretty much makes you my date.”

“I promised I’d dance with a couple other people.”

“Fine. Dance with them at the start of the dance. I want all twenty-nine in a row. And then I’m going to kiss you again.”

Pledge my undying love to you.

Ask you to marry me. 

Have my babies.

Oh, wait. Sorry. There my imagination goes again.

He glances down at my barely-there dance uniform, raises his eyebrows in amusement, and says, “I saw you cheering for me. You were excited I scored, weren’t you? Can’t wait to dance with me all night.”

“I was standing next to your sister. I had to cheer for you,” I tease.

“See you tonight, Boots.”