Count On Me(61)

This means us. The first time he came over after practice, he’d been afraid to come in, but the minute she held the door open and flashed her smile, he was taken in just like everyone else. Kayden isn’t used to being openly accepted, especially considering the way things used to be. I know he expected it to be much worse. He just doesn’t know my mom the way I do. He doesn’t realize that like me, she can see what’s underneath and not just what’s sprinkled on the top for the rest of the world.

I nod and my nose tickles from the fabric of his shirt. I laugh and I feel his lips brush the top of my head and it’s in that moment that it hits me. I’m not really so different from everyone after all. I understand now why girls go so crazy over boys, especially when they do things like this. It’s something that has the risk of becoming addictive.

Or I’m just biased because it’s Kayden.

“Wanna hear something strange?”

I lean back from him a little as I look up, nodding.

“I kind of wanna tape you laughing so I can have it with me whenever I need it.”

This is one of the times I wish I could tell him that he has no idea what strange really is. All I hear is something nice. It’s a first for me, hearing him say things like this. I know that he knows it, but the way he doesn’t call attention to it, is what makes me like him even more.

Feeling brave, I wrap my hand around his back, sliding his phone out of his back pocket. Once it’s safe in my hands I look up and see his eyes have gone wide, but he’s still wearing the grin.

“I didn’t know you had it in you. That’s a very naughty move, Belle.”

I laugh, but this time I hit record at the exact moment it happens. It’s not a fake laugh or even one that was planned and that’s exactly what makes it so perfect. He never asks for anything or even gives me a clue what he really wants when we’re together. This time he did and I really want to give it to him.

It’s only when I hand the phone back and point to the screen, that his cheeks flush and his eyes go soft. He opens his mouth to say something and pauses, which only confuses me. It’s happened a few times before and each time I wonder what it is that he’s holding himself back from saying.

“I’m the luckiest SOB alive.”

I shrug and he laughs again which just makes me smile. When you spend as much time alone as I have, you observe a lot of what happens around you when you’re in public situations. In the last three years I’ve only seen him laugh three times total and it was never like this. It’s the same way when he smiles. In the last week, it seems like he’s making up for lost time.

He should always be this way. It suits him.

“I gotta go, baby. Coach wants to talk before practice.” He says and his lips instantly begin to drop, as if he’s realizing what him leaving means. “You want me to walk you to the bus?”

I shake my head, more than capable of getting to the bus the same way I’ve been doing for years. I know he walks me because he’s protective, but to tell you the truth, I’m actually looking forward to the time alone. I’ve still got a lot to think about and having him near me means I won’t do much thinking at all.

“Text me the minute you’re on the bus. I wanna make sure you’re okay.”

Some things never change. Accepting that this is something I don’t want him to change, I nod and smile.

“I’ll see you in three hours, princess.” He says as he places a small kiss on my lips. As he turns and heads down the hall, he calls back to me. “I can’t wait.”



Kayden



I don’t know if you can screw up a voice file, but with the amount of times I’ve played it since she recorded it almost an hour ago, I’m definitely testing it.

I have never been this happy in my entire life.

Well I guess that’s not exactly true. I was happy before, but it was because of stupid little things that now don’t mean a whole lot. When I would get a new Hot Wheels car, I’d wear the world’s biggest grin, until I played with it so much the tires ended up falling off. When Mom would take us out for tacos or pizza, I’d eat until I couldn’t move and spend the entire night blissfully happy.

It’s never felt like this before though. This experience is new. Even with all the girls I’ve dated in the last five years or so, nothing compares to the way it is with Isabelle. I don’t want it too. I still have a hard time believing that she’s my Belle now. Somehow, I was lucky enough to have this amazing girl fall for me, the way I did for her.

Sometimes it feels like we’re kids again, but this time, I’m not a total jerk and well she’s just exactly the same. We have moments when we’re walking down the hall and she’ll squeeze my hand and I’ll answer back with squeeze of my own. It’s like we have our own secret language that no one but us knows.