Obsessed

Chapter 41

And then it's Sunday. The day Kyle and I are having our second first date. I'm not sure if that means we are dating. Are we dating?

Kyle picks me up in his motorcycle. He hasn't told me where we are going again. He told me to dress casually, so I'm wearing a summery dress with boots and a belt. I feel pretty in dresses, and elegant and like a dancer. Except I can't dance at all. Never have been able to and never will be able to.

It doesn't take long for me to recognize the familiar path. We're going to Kyle's hideout. Must be for a picnic, since there's a basket attached to his bike at the back.

We finally reach the spot and start heading into the forest. I still can't believe we have such a private place at our disposal. So peaceful and so beautiful.

Kyle holds my hand as we navigate through the trees and bushes. I can hear the waterfall now. The sound of moving water gradually gets more audible. We eventually find our way to the swing and Kyle places the picnic basket on the ground and takes out a blanket and spreads it out across the dirt covered floor.

We both sit down and Kyle starts taking out food. Crackers, dips, olives and sandwiches. "Who made all this?"

"Sherri."

It takes me a moment to recognize her name. "The waitress from the diner?"

"Yeah. She said you'd like it."

"I love it. I especially love olives." So close.

"I thought so."

"Thank her for me."

"I will. Maybe later we can go there for an ice-cream."

"I love ice-cream." Again. That word.

Kyle grins then lies down on the blanket. I follow and lie beside him.

"You know, there's only a week left of school," he smiles down at me.

"I know."

"And we're going to have to get jobs soon."

"Yeah. I want to work at an ice-cream parlour." I joke.

"Me too. What do you think of mechanics?"

"I don't know I've never met one. Why?"

"Because I think that's what I'm going to do. I know there are some community colleges that might take me."

"That's great."

"What about you?"

"I don't know."

"Are you still torn between what your mum wants and dad wanted?"

"I think I prefer the maths. There are more job availabilities."

"But is it what you want?"

"I can always do music on the side."

"Yeah. So that's it? What are you going to be, an accountant?"

I sigh. "I guess." I shrug.

"Maybe you'll be a famous accountant and have your own little business. And then I'll be your trusty side chick." Kyle jokes.

I laugh briefly. "That's ages away."

I wonder if Kyle and I will always be together. Or if we will separate and end up with different people like so many kids that fall in love.

"Time flies when I'm with you," he says, cheekily.

I laugh. I churn onto my side and hug him. It's been a while since I've gotten to hug him like this.

I'm so distracted by him, his scent and his chest underneath my fingertips, that I don't notice footsteps and the crackling of leaves.

Then Randy's face appears over ours. "Man seriously? Are you ever not here?"

"What are you doing here?" Kyle exclaims.

"Same as you. I brought a date."

Kyle sits up and I do the same.

Ok. There are no words to describe how shocked I am... Is that...? It can't be. It's not possible. Is it?

"Shit. I know you," Kyle says to the she-devil.

"You know Belinda?" Randy exclaims.

I still don't know what to say. Because Belinda is standing right across from me, with the same tight pony-tail and the same malicious expression.

"Yeah. Wow. That's a plot twist." Kyle laughs.

Obviously he can't remember how much Belinda hates me. Because it sounds like he only remembers a disliking. And it's much worse than that.

"Kristen," she finally acknowledges me.

"How do you guys all know each other?" Randy asks. Then Belinda enlightens him by saying that she was an instructor. But she doesn't tell him how much she hates my guts. And how she gave me a panic attack. Then the realisation hits me.

"You two are... dating?" I put together.

"For almost a year." Belinda grins.

"How did you guys meet?" I ask.

"In the interview room at Lingard."

"What?"

"We're both going to be vets." Randy smiles.

"That is if we pass the test." Belinda teases. For a moment, she doesn't seem that mean. But then her hard face returns.

Lingard?! We're all going to the same University...

"That's good for you," Kyle says evenly.

I suddenly get the vibe that Kyle is annoyed.

"Do we have to stay here?" Belinda says naggingly to Randy.

"No sweetie. Let's go."

"Bye." Kyle says condescendingly.

They both leave but not the same way Kyle and I came, the opposite way. Kyle sighs and then flops backwards to the ground.

"You seem annoyed," I probe him.

"Isn't that the chick that forced you up that climbing wall?"

"Yeah. That's not it though."

"His mum is bearing my half-sibling. And his mum hates me. Therefore, chances are, I'm not going to get to meet my new sister or brother."

"That's not necessarily true."

"It is."

"Why does she hate you so much?"

"Because she thinks I'm a vandal."

"But Randy is the one who-"

"He's never admitted it though! I only took the fall because I knew he wouldn't survive juvy and-"

"You went to juvy?!"

"No. But there was a chance he would. I just went on sort of probation. Had to visit a counsellor once a week, still go to school."

"How long was this for?"

"Just a few months. Pretty much his family hates me because he's a coward and now he's dating a bitch and I'm not going to be close with my half-sibling."

"I'm sorry baby." I brush his hair out of his face and look into his beautiful green eyes. "Don't worry about anything."

I don't know how. But I'm going to fix this.