Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
“Kylen?” I stumble back and stare at him. Where did he come from? It’s like he popped out of thin air.
“Heh, sorry,” he says with a sheepish laugh as he runs his hand through his hair. “I was standing behind you trying to think of a witty thing to say. But my brain went flat. You turned around before I could step away. Did I hurt you?”
It feels like my heart has just soared to the sky. Why does it make me feel so good that he came?
“I’m not hurt,” I assure him. “I mean, no one told you to have like the hardest chest in the world, but…” My voice trails off as my eyes widen. Did I really say that out loud?
He chuckles. “Beck and I have been trying this new workout before bed. I guess it’s working?”
“I guess.” My cheeks flame. Why are we talking about his muscular chest? “Are he and the others here?”
“Yep. Clearing out the food table.” He points his thumb to the refreshment table, where the three boys are stuffing their faces with all the goodies. “Don’t mind them. It’s their first time at a rich high school party.”
“It’s okay. No one’s paying attention to them anyway.”
He grins as he watches them. “True.”
We’re both quiet.
“So…” He stashes his hands into his pockets as he bounces on the balls of his feet. “I see your friends are dancing. Why aren’t you there, too?”
“I was. I just got tired and needed a drink.”
“Ah, I see.”
We’re both quiet again.
Before I can stop myself, I blurt, “I didn’t ask you to the party as a date or anything. I just thought we could hang out.”
His face fills with surprise, as though that’s the last thing he thought would come out of my mouth. My face and neck heat up. Oh, gosh. Why did I say that? It’s obvious he didn’t consider the possibility that this was a date. Can the floor please devour me?
He gives me a sweet smile. “No worries. I came here with the sole intention of hanging out with you. As a friend.”
“Oh…okay. Yeah. Duh.”
He looks at where my friends are dancing. “Are you up for more dancing? They look like they’re having a lot of fun.”
“Carly and Ryder always choreograph the best moves. Come.” I slide my hand into his and lead him to the dance floor.
It’s not until we take a few steps that I realize that I’m holding his hand.
We have held hands before, but this is the first time since camp that I’ve initiated it.
I’m tempted to let go, but maybe that will make it worse.
Oh gosh, it feels so good to hold it.
“Kylen!” Carly says when we join them. “So happy you’re here. Can you dance? The moves aren’t so hard.”
“That’s what you think,” Sophie mutters.
Kylen catches on pretty quickly. He’s actually a really good dancer. I kind of already know that because of camp, but even I’m blown away by his moves. He’s definitely gotten better after a year and a half.
“Nice!” Addie says.
Jasper, Leo, and Beck eventually join us, too, though Leo is preoccupied with staring at Lilah. The poor guy still has it bad for her. But he manages to have fun with us, too.
“Look at you,” I say to Kylen with a grin as I watch him killing it on the dance floor. “Maybe there’s a spot for you on the dance team.”
“Heck no,” he says. “I already have my plate full with the band and school. And also Shakespeare.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. We have so much to do. I still can’t believe I thought we would finish it in a week. Maybe we’re working too hard on it?”
He chuckles. “Nah. I’m sure we could finish it if we dedicate an entire week to it. But it seems we’d rather partake in other activities when we’re together. Like own a jerk’s butt in video games.”
“Oh my gosh, did you hear what he’s telling all the popular kids he worships? That his controller was faulty.”
Kylen frowns as he shakes his head. “Some people…”
“Who cares? All that matters is that we had fun, right?”
He beams. “I always have fun when I’m with you.”
My cheeks once again heat up as butterflies flap around in my stomach. “I always have fun with you, too.”
“Duh,” he jokes.
That has us both laughing.
“Dudes, there are some games here,” Beck tells the guys. “Anyone in?”
“Anything to take me away from that sight.” Leo nods to where Lilah’s boyfriend dances very close to her. Almost as though he’s trying to show the world that she’s his possession.
“I’m in,” Jasper says. “Later, peeps and Rave.” He winks at me before running off.
I roll my eyes. “He’s still under the impression that he has permission to use that nickname.”
Kylen chuckles. “Like we told you a million times, it’s a lost cause.”
Kylen, my friends, and I spend another fifteen minutes having an amazing time on the dance floor. Carly and Ryder choreograph a harder routine, which has Sophie looking like she wants to wring their necks. But then the music shifts to a slow song.
Addie releases a thrilled squeak as she throws her arms around Caleb. “I’ve been waiting for this moment!”
Carly and Sophie waste no time snuggling up in their boyfriends’ arms.
I slowly move my eyes to Kylen. His gaze is on his shoes, but then he raises it to me. We just stare at each other for a moment.
Does he remember how we slow danced at the camp dance? Well, duh. Of course he does. Unless someone sucked out his memories.
“Want to talk outside?” he offers.
“Yes!” I say, maybe too enthusiastically.
We find the door that leads to the backyard and walk outside. There are many kids out here, and there’s a pool, too, although it’s not currently filled with water. It seems most of the games are taking place here. Jasper waves when he sees Kylen and me.
When I notice the porch swing outside the house, I rush over and drop down on it. Kylen lowers himself next to me. “I’ve never been on one of these things before,” he says.
“I love them. If I get married and buy a house, I’m going to have one of these. It’s the perfect spot to have late-night talks with someone special.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” He leans back and sighs. “Oh, this is really comfortable.”
“Right?”
“So what else do you want to have in your lovely home once you’re married?”
My face starts to bake. “What? Oh…I don’t know. Maybe a big kitchen so I can experiment with recipes?”
“Hmm. I didn’t know you liked to cook.”
“I don’t. I mean, I help my mom here and there, but I feel like if I was married…”
“Yeah?”
I look away, totally embarrassed. “I don’t know. Maybe I’d want to do something special for my husband and whip up a delicious meal. Just to show how much I love and appreciate him.”
He closes his eyes. “Mmm. That’s a good image.”
“What about you?” I quickly ask before I can embarrass myself further. “Anything special you want in your perfect house?”
“Just happiness,” he says. “Maybe four kids.”
“Four?”
“Sure. Twin boys and twin girls.”
“Oh my gosh. That sounds terrifying.”
He shrugs. “I’ve always wanted to have a sibling. Growing up with no parents felt so lonely, but it was extra lonely because I felt like no one understood how I felt. I mean, my grandparents are the most phenomenal people, but they grieved a son and a daughter, not a parent. It’s just different.”
I nod, wishing I could say more to comfort him. But I can’t possibly know what he’s been through. I take his hand and squeeze it gently.
He offers me a thankful smile. “I know I didn’t talk much about my parents at camp.
I’ve always tried to carry a positive attitude, but I still held in all the pain, you know?
I feel like I’m more open about them now.
I’m open about the heartache. I used to ignore the ache in my chest when I thought about them in the past, but I try to embrace it now.
Like, I’m not embarrassed if I’m sitting in class and randomly think about what it would have been like if they hadn’t died and then start to feel a little teary-eyed.
I won’t start bawling in public, but I wouldn’t try to fight it, either. ”
“I know I’ve said this to you in the past, but I think you’re one of the strongest people in the world. I can’t imagine…” I shake my head.
“Thanks. It always meant a lot that I had your support.”
I lean back on the swing and turn to watch him. He’s swallowing a few times as though he’s trying really hard not to cry. I move closer and rest my head on his shoulder. “You can cry now,” I whisper. “No one’s paying attention to us.”
He rests his chin on my head. “I don’t feel like I want to cry now. I feel oddly at peace.”
“Yeah?”
“Like…I know I’ll always feel broken by their deaths, and I’m sure I’ll find myself crying at random times, but being here with the guys, and having you here…
I just feel good.” He wraps an arm around me.
“Your friendship means a lot to me, more than you can ever know. I’m so glad we were able to forgive each other and be friends again. ”
“I’m so glad, too.”
“Dudes!” Leo shouts as he, Jasper, and Beck run over to us. “You’ll never believe it. We have a gig!”
Kylen sits up sharply. “What?”
“I just got an email from a guy who manages a teen club in town. They have a last-minute cancellation tomorrow night and they asked if we’d like to fill in. He saw our video online and likes our sound!”
“Is this for real?” Beck says as he takes out his phone and researches the club. “Seems legit. Yeah, the place looks really cool.”
“What do you say?” Jasper looks from one to the other. “He wants to video chat with us to go over some details. Are we in?”
“I’m in!” Beck does a small victory dance.
“Same,” Leo says. “This will be so much fun.”
Kylen smiles. “I can’t believe this is happening. Our first gig. We’re like professionals.”
“Heck, yeah!” Jasper says.
I hug all of them. “It’s such great news. You guys deserve it.”
“We couldn’t have done it without the amazing Rave.” Jasper lifts me in his arms and spins me around.
“We need to answer them before they choose someone else,” Beck says, looking like he might shoot to the sky with all that adrenaline. “Let’s get back to the dorm.”
We wish each other goodbye and they leave, talking animatedly about the gig.
I smile as I return to my friends. I’m so happy for the guys, but I can’t believe that my song will reach more people, too.
I’ve always wanted to touch people’s hearts with my songs, and it seems my wish is actually coming true.