Chapter Six
Maddy
“Happy Spring Fling!”
“Mom, no more pictures!” I groaned, shielding my eyes from the camera flash. When it stopped, I peeked through my fingers. Mom stood with a wide, cheesy grin on her face, Daddy’s arm wrapped around her shoulders.
“My daughter is dressed up and looking beautiful, forgive me for wanting to capture this moment forever,” she pouted, then jerked her arm back up, snapping another picture.
“Mads, this’ll go quicker if you just let her do what she needs to do,” Daddy sighed, shaking his head.
“Ooh, get one of the two of us!” Mom shoved the camera into my dad’s chest and skipped over to the brick fireplace I was posing in front of. She tugged me into her arms and squeezed me tight.
“You’re unbearable,” I mumbled as she smushed our cheeks together.
“I know, and I’m not sorry,” she replied gleefully. “Say cheese!”
I said cheese, purely to pacify her, and because I loved her and secretly enjoyed all the fussing from her. She had taken me shopping to pick out my deep blue satin floor-length gown and she’d done my hair and make-up.
My phone buzzed in my clutch. I pulled it out, seeing that I had a message from Leo. I opened our chat to a picture he’d sent. It was him in his tux, a grumpy look on his face like he was being forced into posing just like I was. I snorted and sent him a laughing emoji.
“Looks like Kyle is here,” Daddy grunted, his lips pursed and arms folded over his chest as he stood in the hallway glaring towards the front door. He didn’t like Kyle. I had no idea why, but he just didn’t.
“Well, let the boy in then, Charlie,” Mom shooed.
“Okay yeah, I think I’ll have a little chat with him.” The ominous words faded as Daddy got closer to the front door.
“Oh God, he’s going to give Kyle a speech, isn’t he?”
Mom shot me a rueful smile. “He is, yes.”
I groaned, burying my head in my hands.
“Don’t smudge your make-up!” Mom grabbed my hands in hers, pulling them away from my face.
She kept hold of them as she spoke, her voice low.
“Now, I want you to have fun tonight. Don’t worry about how you look compared to other girls, because I know you do.
You’re my gorgeous strong girl, and Kyle is very lucky to have a treasure like you on his arm tonight. ”
“Mooooom,” I whined, cringing.
“Hush it. Speaking of Kyle, whatever happens tonight…” she trailed off, raising her brow knowingly. “Just be careful.”
I died inside.
I hadn’t had sex yet and there was a lot of expectation that tonight would be the night but I just wasn’t there. I didn’t know what was wrong with me; everyone else was having it but I wasn’t interested and I didn’t know why.
Yeah, Kyle was hot and I liked him, even maybe loved him, but I didn’t want to have sex with him.
I found loads of guys attractive at school, even Leo was undeniably gorgeous, and I didn’t have a problem thinking about having sex with them, I just didn’t want to with Kyle.
I felt like a freak. Like there was something wrong with me that I didn’t want it.
I knew Kyle wanted to go all the way tonight.
He’d kept reminding me he’d been patient and would wait until I was ready, which was really sweet, I think.
“Anyway,” Mom said, distracting me. “Have a wonderful time whatever you do. Think of your poor old parents at home, being boring and watching TV. Or I’ll probably go for a run, I’ll see how I feel.”
“What a crazy life you lead,” I joked.
“If you need anything then just call us or get Leo. Is he going with someone?”
I nodded, trying not to roll my eyes. “Melissa.”
“Do we like Melissa?” She re-pinned one of my curls that had dropped out.
I shrugged. “I guess. She makes him happy.”
I bet Melissa was normal about sex. I bet she and Leo were having sex non-stop.
My stomach turned at the thought. I assumed they were, Melissa was always at his house.
He was usually here when she turned up and then had to leave to go see her because she would get mad he was with me.
But although we talked about everything under the sun, Leo and I didn’t talk about sex stuff like that.
“Good for him then, I’m glad he’s got someone. He’s lucky to have both her and you.”
Just then, Kyle came into the living room, his complexion slightly pale. My dad followed right behind him, looking extremely satisfied with himself.
“Charlie,” Mom sighed, looking between them both.
Daddy shot her a what did I do expression.
Kyle looked me over, his eyes wide. “You look so beautiful, Madison.”
I blushed under his praise before checking out his tux. “You look handsome too.”
“Oh Charlie, take their picture!” Mom squealed.
“Dammit woman,” he growled affectionately before urging us back in front of the fireplace for another round of picture time.
Kyle put his arms around me and we posed. We even did a kissing one at my mom’s insistence. Daddy was not impressed but he took the photo anyway. He’d do anything Mom asked, it seemed.
“You smell great,” Kyle whispered, dropping his head and kissing my cheek.
I flushed again. “Thanks.”
Then we were finally free and Kyle drove us to the school.
“Tonight’s going to be really special,” he said, glancing over at me and squeezing my thigh where his hand was resting. I smiled but my stomach pitched at his words, at his intent.
We arrived at the dance. The gym was decorated with fake flowers and petals, full of bright colors and streamers.
There were already kids on the dancefloor, moving to the beat from the DJ.
A few teachers and parents lined the outside of the dancefloor, chaperoning, and rows of tables were filled with sodas and snacks.
I glanced around the throngs of people, looking for a familiar tall, fair-haired cowboy but I couldn’t see him.
Kyle wrapped his arms around me from behind and immediately began kissing my neck.
“Shall we go somewhere a little quieter?” he whispered.
I pulled away. “No, we’ve only just got here. Come on, let’s dance!” I tugged him onto the dancefloor, hoping he would forget about going anywhere, trying to buy myself a little more time to settle in.
We danced to Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry before Kyle wanted to get a drink. I kept searching through the crowd for Leo, but I couldn’t see him yet. Where was he?
“Who do you keep looking for?” Kyle complained.
I flicked my stare back to him. “No one.”
“It’s Leo, isn’t it? What’s your deal with him?”
I flinched. “Kyle, we’ve been over this. He’s my best friend.”
“Is that all?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” Kyle said under his breath, his eyes scanning the dancefloor, avoiding mine.
Regret curdled my gut. “Hey,” I tugged the lapel of his jacket. “I love you.” The words just came out. I did love him, I think. He was a nice guy and he’d been so sweet with me.
Kyle’s stare met mine and a slow smirk lifted his lips. “Yeah?”
I bit my lip and nodded.
He cupped my cheeks and kissed me. It was a sweet kiss and I waited, like I always did, for that spark to ignite. That spark that I’d only felt one time, and it wasn’t with Kyle.
When he drew away, I fought back the vicious disappointment when all I felt was nothing. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice kissing Kyle, and he was a great kisser but it just didn’t satisfy. I was always waiting for the fireworks, the sizzle, the tangible something.
And it never came.
“I’m not interrupting, am I?”
“Leo!” I cried, pulling away from Kyle to greet my best friend. His dirty blond hair was combed to the side, giving him a debonair look and his warm eyes glowed with amusement. He wrapped me in a hug, the familiar scent from his cologne engulfing me and I relaxed for the first time that evening.
“Where’s Melissa?” I asked, trying to keep the hope out of my voice that she wasn’t here.
Leo glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, she’s just saying hi to some friends.” He ran his eyes over me, whistling low and I giggled awkwardly as warmth infused me.
“You look amazing, Maddy.”
“Hey bro,” Kyle interjected before I could reply. He held out his hand.
“Hey,” Leo said and shook his hand. Tension flared between them as they shook once, twice and then didn’t let go.
I couldn’t tell what was happening because they were both smiling but their hands had gone white from where they gripped each other.
There was a grunt from Kyle and I stepped between them, wanting to end whatever the hell was going on.
“Save me a dance, yeah?” I said to Leo, taking Kyle’s other hand.
Leo’s eyes dropped to where I was grasping Kyle. He released Kyle’s grip and replied with a clipped, “Sure.”
“That guy’s such a dick,” Kyle grumbled, shaking out his hand as Leo walked off in search of Melissa.
“Hey, that’s my best friend!”
Kyle mumbled an apology but it wasn’t exactly heartfelt. Honestly, men and their egos.
“Let’s go dance again,” I said and dragged him off. The next hour passed in blur of upbeat pop songs. I waved to a couple of girls I knew but I couldn’t keep my stare from flicking over to Melissa and Leo where his arms were wrapped around her as they swayed to a slow song.
Melissa was wearing a low-cut black strapless dress that pushed her tits up to just under her throat and was so high cut on the thigh I thought I might get a glimpse of her ass.
She looked amazingly sexy and I couldn’t help the fizzle of jealousy that wormed its way through me at just how many looks she was getting tonight, even from my own boyfriend.
She and Leo looked great together and for some reason, I felt ickier the longer I stared at them.
“Let’s go somewhere,” I said to Kyle, desperate to get away from all the noise, crowds and weird feelings I was having. Growing up sucked. “I need some air.”
“Yeah?” Kyle’s eyes lit up. “Okay, let’s go for a walk.”
We left the gym and walked around the grounds of the school. We walked down the little wooded path that led to the field where we played sports.
As soon as we were out of sight of the school, Kyle immediately pushed me up against a tree and started kissing my neck, his hands roaming over me.