Orphaned

Chapter 4

KAYLA'S POV

I’m shocked Nick agreed to practice with me most of the time I can’t get the guys to agree to practice with me. I have learned over the years that it hurts their ego when they get whooped by a girl.

“I wonder what time it is.” I think out loud. Nick and I have been out her for hours and the parking lot is practically empty. “I still can’t believe you managed to keep up with me considering you don’t play any sports.”

"I played sports when I was younger, but don’t let me fool you, you completely whooped me out there," he says laying on his back, his forehead is beaded with sweat and his blonde hair is soaked. Nick rolls his head to the side looking me directly in the eyes. “You are incredible on the field Kayla, like truly incredible.” The sunshine’s directly on his face making his green eyes sparkle. Speak Kayla you are just staring at him.

“I wanted to thank you, for today, if you hadn't shown up when you did I would have had a shitty day." I smile at him still not breaking eye contact.

“I am glad I walked in the library when I did.” I catch myself looking down at Nicks lips involuntarily as he smiles at me. “I guess I should be thanking you also.” He says.

“Why?” I ask looking back up at his eyes.

“I really didn’t want to put up with Miss Jones” He replies a huge smile spreading across his face making me laugh. “Do you think I could give you a ride home?” I think it over for minute, he already knows I’m an orphan plus it is starting to get dark out.

“Okay you can take me home on one condition, you can’t tell anyone about my parents.”

“No problem.” He says getting up from the ground offering me his hand, I take his hand trying to ignore the warm tingles making their way up my arms. I wounder if he feels them too or if its just me. I push the thoughts out of my head as I look around the parking lot, it’s practically empty besides a few cars. I recognize one of the cars from this morning that Nick was leaning against and then I see Hectors truck. s**t, I had forgotten about Hector. Nick walks up beside me grazing my arm with his causing the hair on my arms to stand, I walk beside Nick towards the parking lot are arms brushing against each other as we walk.

“Let me take your bag I can put it in the back.” Nick says opening the passenger door to a Black SUV, I pass him my bag as I climb in. Nick places our bags behind the passenger seat before making his way around to the driver seat. He climbs in starting up the car, music pouring through the speakers, Nick quickly turns the dial decreasing the volume of the music.

“I’m sorry about that. My sisters and brothers like to do a music jam session in the mornings before class.“

Oh, I didn’t realize he may have siblings to take home, so where are they? I think to myself looking around the parking lot.

“I already arranged for my mother to pick my siblings up earlier.” Nick says as if reading my thoughts, “I was hoping you would let me take you home.” He smiles at me his cheeks turning red as a light blush creeps onto his cheeks. My stomach growls reminding me that we had skipped lunch Nick let’s out a laugh, “My mom always did say it was rude to take a woman home hungry. What do you say we grab something to eat before I drop you off and don’t worry dinner is on me?” I agree and we end up deciding to get street tacos from a taco truck on the other side of town.

I follow Nicks lead squeezing the limes all over the tacos, I pick up one of the carne asada tacos juice dripping from the back of the corn tortilla, they smell delicious I dip my head down to the taco taking a bite the tortilla is perfectly grilled giving it a light crunch and the meat is juicy and tender pairing perfectly with the crunch of the tortilla.

“Mmmmmm” I moan my eyes slightly rolling into the back of my head, “Oh my god these are delicious.”

“No way, are you telling me you have never had street tacos before?” Nick asks his eyes practically bulging from his head. I can feel cheeks becoming hot with embarrassment.

“I have most definitely never tasted something this good.” I say shoving the rest of the taco into my mouth. The grease from the meat dripping from my chin, Nick leans over with a napkin wiping my chin.

“Do you feel it too?” He whispers the words; he is still holding the rough napkin to my skin the material doing nothing to stop the electricity that is being exchanged between our skin. He feels it too. Or did I miss hear him? “Kayla? Did you hear me?”

“Co- could you repeat what you said?” My vision becomes hazy as I stare into his eyes trying to focus on the words he is saying and not the sound of my heart pounding in my chest. He drops the napkin from my chin running his thumb over my bottom lip.

“I asked if you feel it too. The small jolts of electricity every time we touch. At first I had thought it was just me but then I started noticing little things, like how the hair on your arms would stand up or how you would get goose bumps anytime we touched. You feel it too, don’t you?” Nicks cocky demeaner disappearing as he asked me again, the radio screen illuminated his face as his eyes frantically searched mine for an answer.

“I do.”

Nick

“I do.” Kayla says in a breathless whisper. I can feel my body tense up at the words. She feels it too. I gently rub my finger over her bottom lip. “Kiss me.” She says her eyes never leaving mine.

“What?” I ask taken back. She goes to say something as the words she had just said finally register, I lean over the center console pressing my lips to hers. I tangle my fingers in her hair pulling her closer into me, I run my tongue over her bottom lip requesting to deepen the kiss. She presses her lips hard against mine before pulling back away from me. I moan out not wanting the kiss to end.

“Sorry, I just- “Her cheeks turn a deep red as she looks away from me.

“No, I am sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t make me uncomfortable I wanted you to kiss me, it’s just that- it’s just that I haven’t ever like kissed anyone.” Kayla says still looking out the window. I was Kayla’s first kiss; the thought makes my heart pound. I reach over grabbing Kayla’s hand; she turns her head towards me her eyes looking down at our intertwined hands. I unwrap my fingers from hers placing my hand on her chin gently tilting her head up to look at me.

“Well, I am giving you a solid 9 out of 10 because you did taste like lime juice” I say attempting to lighten the mood. She laughs as she closes her taco box, “You only had one taco are you full already?” I look at her confused she hasn’t eaten all day there is no way she is full. She bites her lip as if she is trying to think of an answer. Oh, no did I make her uncomfortable.

“There’s actually this other girl at the transition house, I practically take care of all her needs, and well I wanted her to be able to try the tacos.” Kayla says glancing over at me.

“You eat those, and I will be right back.” I say opening my door walking up to the taco truck. I order 3 more boxes of tacos and mixture of chicken and steak when I climb back into the car Kayla looks like she is on the verge of tears. “What’s wrong?” I ask tears spilling down Kayla’s cheeks.

“Did you just get those for Anna?” She asks me her bottom lip trembling.

“Everyone deserves to enjoy street tacos at least once in their life.” I say smiling at Kayla her tear filled eyes looking up at me, she bites her bottom lip before leaning over the center console pressing her lips against mine.

“Thank you.” Kayla says.

I pull up to the address Kayla gave me and immediately do not want to leave her here, the place gives me the creeps. Should I offer to give pay for a hotel room? I decide that that is probably not a good idea, and I don’t even know if kids in the system are allowed to stay over night anywhere.

“Thank you for dinner and for keeping me company today.” Kayla says pulling me from my thoughts.

“If you ever need anything text me or call me. I will answer at anytime Kayla, please do not ever hesitate to call me for any reason.” I say scribbling my number down on a napkin and handing it to her.

“Thank you, Nick. Good night.” Kayla says getting out and walking up the step of the house. I wait for her to close go inside before I pull away from the curb, my house is only a few streets away and it makes me wounder how I never knew this place was just a few streets from me. I feel more comfortable leaving her here knowing she has my number if she needs anything and that I am only a few minutes away. I texted mom letting her know I was out with a friend getting food so she wouldn’t need to wait up tonight. Thankfully she is asleep when I get home I hated when she stayed up worrying. I barely make it through my shower before I am overcome with exhaustion collapsing in my bed as black wave of sleep crashes over my body.

Kayla

Anna and I are laying in her room devouring tacos and I can’t help but laugh at the look on her face when she tastes her first tacos, moments later and she is practically inhaling tacos not a care in the world. I mentally thank Nick for putting such a big smile on Annas face. Once we are both stuffed I tell Anna goodnight before hoping in the shower, I am midway through washing my hair when I get a creepy feeling someone is watching me. I open my eyes mid rinse only to find no one there, maybe I am just being paranoid. I finish my shower and go to my room the feeling of being watched never fully leaving, I try to ignore the feeling as I lay down willing sleep to take over my aching body.

I wake up to the sound of something falling over in the corner of my room, my eyelids fly open my body unmoving in hope whatever caused the racket doesn’t realize I am awake. It is still dark out as the moonlight pools in through my balcony doors, I keep my eyes in thin slits as I peek over in the direction in which the noise came from. My heart is pounding in my chest as I see a tall figure standing in the corner, my dresser is knocked over in front of my bedroom door. I snap my eyes shut, focusing on my breathing as I attempt to keep up the rouse that I am still asleep and that the commotion has not awaken me, in 1, 2, 3, out 1, 2, 3, I count my breathing in my head slowly calming my heart rate. I open my eyes peeking in the same direction I had just seen the figure, it is no longer in the corner I slowly look around spotting it at the foot of my bed, my entire body floods with chills as the figure peers down at me. All I can make out are the whites of its eyes behind its hood as a long robbed arm reaches out, its scaley fingers sweeping over my lips.

I slam my eyelids open sunlight pooling in through my windows, a sense of dread I know all too well washing over my body. I reach my fingers up to my mouth, touching my lips, as unshed tears swell in my eyes. Tears roll down my cheeks as I realize what the cloaked figure is telling me this time.

I can no longer see Nick.