One~✼

Kayla was used to being home alone. Her roommates, Cheyenne and Robin, were always working at their studio. Their tattoo studio has been overbooked with customers lately and they thought it'd be more convenient to add another location. Everyday this week they've been scouting available locations in Birch Falls.
The girls lived in the same house, but Kayla hardly saw her friends. She'd gotten used to entertaining herself when they were working or on dates with their boyfriends. Cheyenne and Eric were practically a couple. It hasn't been make official quite yet, but Kayla felt like it would be soon.
Kayla had never been the type of person to need social interaction in order to have fun. She was often quite happy being alone in the house. When she was alone, she could do whatever she wanted, when she wanted.
If she wanted to watch Pretty in Pink for the fifteenth time while eating popcorn, then she could. But now she could hardly wait for some company as she set out lit candles and a stack of Fred's favorite movies. While she was doing this, her mind filtered through several excuses to bring up Tom in a conversation.
Fred was Kayla's only friend that understood how she felt about Tom. It's not that she didn't trust the girls, It's just that she felt like her relationship problems were minor and childish compared to theirs.
The doorbell rang and Kayla grinned. She opened the front door and the night air slipped in, chilling her skin. Goosebumps popped on her forearms.
"Hey, Freddie!" She said, seeing Fred on the porch. Fred was in a black hooded jacket and a loose-fitting pair of faded jeans. His hands were tucked inside the front pockets of his jacket, two plastic bags hanging from his wrists.
"Hiya, girly." Fred walked in, and Kayla shut the door. They headed to the kitchen. Fred set his bags down on the kitchen island, shoving aside a bowl of apples. "What are the plans for tonight?"
"I set out some movies you like. I figured we could watch one or two. You like The Goonies, right?"
Fred smiled as he pulled a two-litter bottle of Pepsi from one of the plastic bags. "Of course."
"Good, so do I." Kayla nodded her head as she reached her hand into the other bag to pull out a box of Skittles.
"Promise me you won't be mad..." Fred began.
Kayla raised a brow, "Mad about what?" she asked.
"You see, the guys were supposed to come over to my place tonight. But I told you that I'd watch a movie with you. So, I made a compromise and invited a few of the guys over. Is that cool? You get along with them, don't you?"
Kayla swallowed. Hard.
"What? Fred! What the hell?"
Kayla looked down at her appearance. She was still in her blue shorts and a wrinkled black tank top with the Aerosmith logo printed across her chest. Her hair was in it's natural waves and curled around her shoulders.
She couldn't let Fred's friends see her like this!
But before Kayla could hurry to her bedroom to change clothes, the doorbell rang.
"Are you going to get that?" Fred said as he reached above himself to grab three glasses from the cabinet to his left.
Kayla could have buried Fred's face in mud for doing this to her! That's what he deserved.
The jingle echoed through the house again.
Kayla let out a sigh before she opened the door. Tom stood on the porch, a box of pizza in his hands.
"Anyone order a pizza?" He said with a smile.
Kayla couldn't help but smile back as he entered the foyer.
"Where's Eric?" Fred asked, entering the living room and setting the bottle of Pepsi on the glass coffee table along with the box of skittles and cups.
"He couldn't come. He said something about a sprained ankle or whatever." Tom layed the box of pizza on the coffee table also.
Fred rolled his eyes, "Oh sure."
Tom shrugged his shoulders. "I bet he's having another fight with Cheyenne."
"But Cheyenne is with Robin. You know, looking for a new studio." Kayla supplemented.
Tom shrugged once more as he took a slice of pizza from the box; the heavenly aroma of melted cheese and herbs surrounding the room.
Kayla took the seat farthest from Tom. The last movie they watched together was spent with his arm around her waist and head on her shoulder. Kayla enjoyed cuddling with Tom, but she wasn't in the mood for that tonight.
"So what are we watching?" Tom asked before taking a bite of the slice of pizza in his hand. Kayla watched his big lips smack against each other as he chewed and wiped the oil from his fingers on his cotton shirt.
"The Goonies, it's Fred's favorite movie." Kayla avoided eye contact with Tom as she answered.
Kayla was cautious about the amount of eye contact she gave Tom. Kayla thought too much would make it obvious that she was interested in him. Sure, they've been on two dates now and they've kissed upon greeting each other and even going so far as to making-out on their last date. But, as Cheap Trick says, "I want you to want me." and that's what Kayla wanted. For Tom to want her.
"The Goonies? Fred, grow up! Let's watch something else. What do you say, Kay?"
She met Tom's icy blue eyes and felt her cheeks flush. "It doesn't matter to me. Whatever."
Tom switched off the lights and the flickering glow of the candles cast shadows around the room. "We'll just watch this. No big deal." He said, pushing the tape into the VCR.
The movie began and Tom sat beside Kayla. She turned her gaze to her knees; swaying them side-to-side. She could feel Tom's eyes on her. He slid his hand onto her knee and squeezed the bones together. Kayla smiled, controlling laughter as he squeezed again, tickling her knee.
"Tom," she whispered, pushing his hand off her knee.
"Hmm?"
A tingling sensation shot up Kayla's back when she felt Tom's warm, delicate hand slide up her thigh.
She lost the ability to speak.
Tom lowered his chin, bringing his face closer to hers. His lips barley grazed hers before he leaned in and gently ran his tongue over her lips.
She felt herself bring her hand up to his neck and pull him closer, keeping him close as their lips pressed against each other.
As his hand slid from her thigh to her waist, their kisses became urgent and intense. Enjoying the feeling of his tongue moving against hers- "Do me a favor, please?" Fred said.
Kayla pulled away from Tom slowly, sucking on his bottom lip and pulling away slightly to shoot a glare over to Fred. "I'm busy."
"I just want a Poptart..." Fred lowered his eyes and pouted his lips.
She rolled her eyes and stood. "Strawberry or Smorz?" She asked on her way into the kitchen.
"Strawberry, please!" Fred called, a smile on his face as Tom shot a menacing glare in his direction.
"Tom, i don't know why you brought a pizza. It's only the three of us here and your the only one that had a slice." Fred closed the box and shoved it aside. He poured a glass of soda for himself.
"No more favors, got it?" Kayla said as she handed Fred a Poptart.
"I'm sorry... you're the only one who knows where they are. You girls hide them from me." He peeled back the plastic wrapper and took a bite. "Now, if you don't mind- I'd like to watch the movie without unnecessary smacking noises. Thank you." He flipped his bangs away from his eyes.
Kayla looked down on him, her face twisted in an expression of intolerance. "Fred, I think it would be better if you-"
Fred rudely interrupted her, "Kayla, I'm trying to watch the movie." he mumbled.
She shot a glance over to Tom. He was giving Fred the exact same look.
Kayla let out an irritated sigh and took her seat beside Tom. He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

Two~✼

Parking was always brutal at city functions, especially during Forth of July. Instead of driving the four blocks to the park and scrambling to find a parking spot, the girls walked from their house.

  The sun was beginning to set and the day's temps were disappearing with it. Clouds dotted the sky like wispy paint strokes and the moon was barely a silver.

  Cheyenne kept up with Kayla, who was practically jogging to the park while Robin hung farther back.
  "Who are you meeting here?" Cheyenne asked more out of curiosity than anything.
  "Just someone. He said he'd be here tonight."
  Cheyenne quirked an eyebrow. "He?"
  Kayla pursed her lips and gave Cheyenne an exasperated look. "He's cool. Just a friend."
  Two blocks from the park, cars parked the curb along every side street. People walked in groups toward the city center, their hands and arms overloaded with coolers and picnic baskets and folded lawn chairs.
  When the girls reached the park, they wound through the lawn chairs and blankets spread out on the grass. Children ran around the playground, screaming and laughing, their parents following closely behind.
  The air smelled like barbecue and hot dogs and spent fireworks.
  "So where are we going exactly?" Robin asked, catching up to Cheyenne and Kayla.
  "I told Fred that I would meet him near the fountain." Kayla said.
  Cheyenne gave Kayla a glare.
  "Look! There's Fred!" Kayla said, pointing to a tall dark haired man standing beside a taller blond fellow.
  "Why are you meeting Fred here? It would have been just as easy to ask Tom."
  Kayla shrugged her shoulders. "Tom's gonna be here, too. Just, I didn't want to ask him and make it seem like i was asking him on a date or something.."
  Cheyenne rolled her eyes. "But you would be asking tom on a date. Isn't that what you want? I don't see why you have to meet Fred here."
  "Kay?" Tom came up behind Kayla, running his fingers over the small of her back.
  She turned and gave him a friendly smile. "Hey."
  Cheyenne looked at Tom, admiring his beauty.
  Tom looked about their age, maybe a year or two older. Along with the shimmery black scarf around his neck, he had on a pair of black cowboy boots pulled over the bottom of his skin-tight leather pants. Silver wing earrings dangled from his ears and a ring was worn around every finger. "You look nice tonight." Tom said, glancing down at her.
  Kayla's lip parted as she was about to respond to Tom's compliment when she felt a hand grab her shoulder.
  "Kayla, I have something to show you." Fred said to Kayla, then turned to the girls. "Can i steal her? If you girls don't mind?" Fred nodded his head towards Tom.
  "Go ahead," Cheyenne said.
  The two of sauntered off, Cheyenne and Robin and Tom watching them leave.

♥ ♥ ♥

Excitement floated on the air like the fire sparks, but Cheyenne just couldn't catch it. Cheyenne didn't feel like being here, let alone smiling and flirting and pretending everything was okay. She just wanted to be home right now, curled in bed, reading a book with a bowl of popcorn by her side. 
  And more importantly, she wanted to be alone. it wasn't anything against Eric or her friends. She just needed some Cheyenne time while she tired to sort some things out. Maybe she'd get that time tomorrow, go out somewhere with her sketch book and pencil.
  "Need anything?" Eric said, holding her hand tightly as if he were afraid that he'd lose her if he let go.
  "Actually"- she plopped down on one of the swings, abandoned by the little kids now that darkness had settled in- "could you see if you can find an elephant ear? i smell them, but i don't see them."
 Eric nodded, raked his fingers over her back. "I thought I saw someone selling them by the back entrance. I'll head over there."
  "Thanks."
  He disappeared into the crowd and Cheyenne clutched the swing, resting her head against one of the chains and closing her eyes. The noise of the park was nearly deafening. Conversation mixed with the sound of fireworks screeching and popping. Kids screaming, parents hollered. A headache blossomed at the base of her skull. She groaned.
  Cheyenne felt a presence take a seat on the swing beside her and begin to swing. Not opening her eyes, and figuring Eric had returned with an elephant ear, she said, "You're back already?"
  "Back from where?" Tom said, curling his legs beneath the seat of the swing as the wind pushed him back.
  "Oh, I thought you were someone else." Cheyenne let out a heavy sigh.
  "You okay, Cheyenne?" Tom dragged his boots against the sand, slowing down the swing to a complete stop.
  "I just have a headache, is all."

♥ ♥ ♥

Kayla leaned back on her elbows on the blanket Fred had spread out for them. It was fleece, blue at least queen-sized. He'd also packed a cooler of Pepsi and water with some brownies on the side. He was so damn perfect that Kayla could have married him that very second, if she wasn't in love with someone else or if it hadn't been for the whole lack-of-chemistry thing.
  "You good?" Fred asked, leaning back on his side.
  Kayla nodded. "You did great."
  "Really? Because you seem... I don't know... somewhere else."
  Kayla finally looked at him. The cotton material of his T-shirt strained against his arm, hugged his toned chest. His shirt crept up just a little bit so that Kayla could see a sliver of his stomach and the waistband of his boxers.
  She really was somewhere else mentally, but could have kicked herself for it.
  She wanted to be there, focused on nothing but Fred. But all she could think about was Tom.
  Why did Tom say she looked good tonight? She obviously hadn't put much effort in getting dressed for this occasion. Her Aerosmith T-shirt had wide holes in the bottom hem, strings hanging lose from the tears in her jeans.
  Someone tall and dark-haired swung slowly on a swing just twenty feet from where Kayla sat. A red burst of fireworks lit his face, and Kayla's stomach tingled.
  Tom.
  Next to Kayla, Fred sighed. She tore her eyes away form Tom.
  "What?" she said.
  Fred sat up. "You are somewhere else, aren't you?" He nodded in Tom's direction.
  "Oh.." It was a good thing darkness had begun to set in. Kayla's face felt hot as embers. "Tom... he's just a friend."
  "Kayla." Fred turned to her, shaking his head in disapproval. "I know that look. The way you look at him."
  She started to shake her head but instead looked at the blanket, ran her fingers over the soft material. It would be so easy to stay here, to stay with Fred and force herself to like him because she knew that Tom would never like her back.
  That would be the easy route, she thought.
  But she didn't want to.
  What she wanted to do was get up and run over to Tom and then... Well, she wasn't quite sure what she wanted to do. What could she do?
  "I came here with you," she said to Fred. "and i like hanging out with you."
  As a friend, she thought.
  More fireworks boomed in the sky, lighting Fred's face now that the darkness was thicker. He grabbed her, pulling her closer. Her heart panicked in her chest. Was he trying to kiss her now? After she just implied that she wanted to just be friends?
  "There's this poem.." he said, "love is the wild that runs through the forest." His eyes focused on Kayla's face. "You see the wild, Kayla, you run after it. Don't let it get away." He pulled back, looking Kayla straight on.
  A purple firework blossomed in the darkness. Kayla looked up, seeing Tom off in the distance. He leaned against the swing chain, watching the fireworks half heartedly.
  Fred caught her staring then. He straightened, lifted a few fingers in an almost imperceptible wave.
  "He's my friend..." Kayla heard herself say. "I couldn't tell him how I feel. If he doesn't feel the same way, then I'm screwed!" Tom looked over to them, laying close beside each other on a blanket.