Taken

Chapter 21

RIKKI

September 30, 2013 9:00 p.m.

I have now been a hostage for 24 days. For 24 long days, I've sat in this dusty old bunkhouse wondering if I'll ever be able to escape. The only thing that kept me sane all this time was Kade.

Kade and I have grown really close over the past 21 days that he and his sister have been here. Every night, after Adam and Kelsi go to bed, we sit against that same wall and talk. We've gotten to know each other a lot better. I now know that Kade's favorite color is red, his favorite food is spaghetti, and that he loves the Huskies as much as I do.

During the day, Kade and I talk, but it's not the same as when we talk at night. During the day, we have to be careful of what we say because there are little ears in the bunkhouse.

Ah, the bunkhouse. Despite being here for 24 days, the bunkhouse doesn't feel like home yet, and I don't think it ever will. In the 24 days that I have been here, I have been outside of the bunkhouse five times. The first time was when I got whipped, and the other four times were to do work for Jeff and Carlos. Jeff and Carlos have made Kade and me chop wood with axes for no apparent reason while Kelsi and Adam stack the wood into a pile along the side of the dining building. The men have also made Kade and me wash Jeff's Kia Soul and Carlos' bright yellow Corvette Sting Ray.

These jobs seem pointless, but I think Jeff and Carlos are trying to wear us all down. If we refuse to do a certain job, Jeff and Carlos threaten to whip us. After a threat like that, we always end up doing the job because we all know that getting whipped hurts. I should know.

Throughout this time, I haven't seen Troy since the day I got whipped. I'm guessing that he is still in the dining building, but I'm not sure.

Finally, Kade and I heard the slow breathing of Kelsi and Adam, and we knew that they were asleep. We both silently headed to the wall across from the bunk for our nightly chat.

After these 21 days, Kade's short blond hair, light skin, and chocolate brown eyes have become familiar to me. Unlike the first day he was here, Kade now has a little scruffiness on his cheeks and chin. Kade's every detail was now burned in my head.

"So, how did you like the wood chopping today?" Kade asked me.

"Oh, it was fine. I had a pretty nice view," I replied mysteriously.

"Of what?" asked Kade.

"A cute guy that doesn't know how to chop wood properly," I replied deviously, trying to pick a fight.

"Oh really, you don't think I know how to chop wood?" Kade challenged.

"I can tell that you haven't ever been camping," I said.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yeah, it is," I said.

"Well, it's pretty obvious that you don't know what you're doing when you chop wood, either. You look like a maniac the way you swing that ax," said Kade jokingly.

"Hey now," I said as I playfully punched him in the arm.

Kade smiled and for a couple seconds, he just gazed directly into my eyes.

"You have the most gorgeous eyes, you know," he said seriously.

"That was random," I replied, looking away from him awkwardly.

"You know, you're allowed to say thank you," he said with a smile. "You don't always have to be so modest."

"I know. I guess it just happens naturally."

"You are gorgeous, you know," said Kade, still serious.

"Kade, are you okay?" I asked unsurely.

"No, I'm not okay," Kade said as he started to inch closer to me.

"Kade, what are you doing?" I said, trying to stop him even though my heart wanted him to keep coming closer.

"Something I should've done a long time ago," Kade replied as he inched even closer.

"Kade," I whispered, finally giving in.

"Rikki," he whispered as his lips finally met mine.

He kissed me fully and passionately, full of every emotion both he and I were feeling: anger, fear, uncertainty, joy, nervousness, and most of all, love.

Finally, when we pulled away from each other Kade said, "I really like you, Rikki. I always have. From the day I first laid my eyes on you as a sophomore, I knew you were special. I'm glad that I got stuck in here with you, Rikki, if I'm allowed to say that."

I had no idea what I could say to that. I mean, the boy just poured his heart out to me. I didn't say anything, I did the only thing I could. I softly kissed him on the lips. This kiss was sweeter than our first one, but it spoke louder than words ever could.

For a while, Kade and I just sat there against the wall, Kade with his arm around me. After a few minutes, he turned to me, kissed me gently one last time, and went to bed without a word. After a few seconds, I got up and went to bed, too, my head still spinning.