A Hidden Secret

Meeting A Stranger

Leaving her thoughts and looking around her room she noticed something out of place. A shirt was lying out that she hadn't seen before. Did her mother buy that for her? 

It was a gorgeous flowing beaded long sleeve shirt. It was the color of plums and the material hung loosly, flattering her thin body. It was breathable and perfect for that hot august night and Kallie gladly put it on. Finding some of her black skinny jeans and applying some light makeup to her face, she felt ready. 

Grabbing her phone and sliding it into her back pocket she glanced back at her room. It was an ordinary room but little did she know, none of her secrets would be safe there. No matter how hard she tried. 

Bouncing down the stairs, Kallie saw her mother first with sad eyes. 

“She must be thinking of dad again”, Kallie thought to herself as she gingerly hugged her mother. 

“You look gorgeous, my darling. And I love that shirt! It matches your hair perfectly!”, Sara stated as she looked over her daughter's outfit. 

“You should've known how well it would look on me, you're the one who bought it.”, Kallie noted to her mother. 

Confusion spread across her mother's face. 

“No honey, I didn't buy that for you. I haven't gotten around to shopping lately… maybe your grandparents?” 

Yes, that certainly could be a possibility, and with that thought Kallie forgot all about her shirt as her stomach twisted. Shaking off the soreness, just assuming mother nature was trying to make an appearance, she headed to the backyard. 

Her mother paid for professionals to decorate the area for the party. It was like a wonderland. 

Sparkling lights were hanging from nearby trees and their soft glow made a magical feeling. 

There were dozens of people. Some she noticed as family members and a dozen close friends, and a few others were friends of her parents that came in support. 

Her gift’s table was overflowing and she was excited about all the possible presents for her. 

Another sharp pain, this one in her side, hit her and she nearly doubled over. 

What was going on? And why did it have to be now? 

Kallie smiled as much as her body was allowing her to and started greeting her guests and thanking everyone for joining in the festivities. 

She spied a man hanging out in the shadows and realized he hadn't introduced himself. 

Must be a distant cousin or something of the sorts, Kallie thought before returning to her friends blabbing about some boy in her ear. 

Another piercing pang of hot pain shot through her body. This is insane, why of all days did this have to be the day that she came down with an illness? 

She steadied herself, hoping that her mother and guests hadn’t noticed her strange behavior. Her body felt warmed. A little too warmed and she had an animalistic urge to rip the clothes off of her body and run as far as she could. 

Her breath started increasing and she thought she may be sick. 

The man moved slightly, looking as if his head was tilted in her direction. He portrayed himself like a dog that spied his prey and was sniffing the air for his conquest. 

Kallie’s eyes blurred with tears as she felt stabbing through the muscles of her legs. It felt like a white hot poker was being thrust into her thigh and then yanked back out. Kallie walked to a quiet spot to hopefully calm her nerves. She was more scared in her life now than she had ever been. 

Something rustled behind her and the new stranger was standing a few paces away. He was smelling the air again in the strangest fashion. 

“Do I smell repulsive or something?!”, Kallie forced through gritted teeth. 

“No, in fact, you smell delicious… Like fresh strawberries and honey.”, the stranger confessed with glossy eyes. If she knew more about boys, let alone men, she would have known that it was lust clouding this man’s eyes. 

“Kallie! It’s time to rejoin the party! Please come here so we can start.”, Sara echoed through the dark part of the yard. 

Kallie brushed past the stranger. She hadn’t yet offered her hand to him and with his interesting and concerning behavior she figured a handshake could be for another time. 

As she was strolling past him, he side stepped into her. The touch shocked Kallie and she gasped with effort. More stabbing pains but it was directed in a different region of her body that she hadn’t yet figured could feel that way. 

Kallie couldn’t understand what had just happened and looked at this man with incredulous eyes. 

She studied him for far longer than she should have. 

He was at least 2 years older than her. He had toned biceps that bulged from the cotton black shirt he was wearing. His chest was taught like the shirt stretched over it. Kallie’s breath caught as her eyes strolled down his forearms and his prominent veins that sent her heart racing. What was wrong with her…?

Kallie looked back up to his eyes, not daring to listen to the part of her that wanted to continue to search his body. 

His eyes were bright. An ice blue that showed danger and strength. 

Her stomach did a flip flop and this time the pain was too much. She lost consciousness for a few seconds but that was all it took for her body to hit the ground. Kallie’s body ached like it never had before. She started shivering on the ground as all the muscles in her body started to quiver. 

The stranger glanced around quickly and scooped Kallie up into his arms. 

“I’ll get you to your room quickly, this is not something you’ll want others to see.”, he said. 

Kallie felt fear trickle through her. What did that mean? She began to struggle against his hold, afraid of what he might do if they got beyond the hearing of her family and friends. 

“Shhh… I’m taking you to your room. You have nothing to fear”

She felt compelled to believe him.