Unexpected Love

Kayla What had I just done? I think to myself as I question every life choice I have made that led me to this point. I lay in a foreign room suffocated by the smell of sweat and cologne as a soft light shone through the blinds, illuminating the mess I had just got myself in. I could blame it on the amount of alcohol I have consumed, but I am only lying to myself; I am here by choice. I turned my head and went face to face with the biggest mistake I have ever made: Alex, my best friend's brother. To tell you how I got here, I need to go back to a couple of months ago. 2 Months Ago Kayla On the first day of my sophomore year, I walked through these busy halls; invisible. I have always kept to myself, not wanting to draw attention in any way, shape or form. Now my best friend, on the other hand, Hayley, loves it. I guess it comes with the sense of being a person of status, money and good looks. I get to my locker, and she’s already there, mirror in hand, applying what looks like the 100th layer of lip-gloss to her plump lips. Hayley: “So, you are coming to my house after school today, right”? She asks, never pulling her gaze away from her reflection. Kayla: “Yeah, wait, your brother isn’t going to be there, is he”? I ask with actual fear in my voice. It’s not like I’m scared of him; it's more that whenever I’m around him, I make a fool of myself. I have had the biggest crush on him since I first met Hayley in my first-year student year. Hayley: “Well, he does live there, so he’ll be around. "He’ll probably be in the game room with his friends though, so he won’t bother us. As if him being there isn’t hard enough, his friends too! In a nutshell, Alex’s friends are d***’s. They are typical boys. Whenever I see them, I am bombarded with wolf's whistles and sly comments about my appearance; it gives me the biggest ick, but what can I do because, 9 times out of 10, Alex is with them and does nothing to stop them? Hayley: “Wait, why does it matter if he’s there; it’s never bothered you before?” She looks at me confused, and her tone is accusing, like I had just offended her in some way. She knows about the taunting I face every time Alex’s friends are in the same vicinity as me; she’s also aware that her brother does nothing to stop them, which makes him complicit in their actions. Kayla: “No reason. I was just asking, you know how uncomfortable they make me. It’s fine though; am I catching a ride with you, or shall I meet you there?” Hayley: “Well, I have cheer practice, but you can jump in the car with Alex, and I’ll meet you at mine. That way you can set up for movie night”. Dread filled my body once again; the thought of being in close quarters with Alex creates chills all over my body. I stand and think about it for what feels like a lifetime; his eyes are like pools that if I look in them too long, I may drown. I quickly pull myself out of it though because I hear the warning bell, dragging my gaze away quickly as a slow heat trickles up my cheeks. Hayley: “Right, I need to head to English, but I'll text Alex to let him know he’s driving you to ours; okay? See you at lunch!” And like that she’s gone, strutting away ponytail swaying as she walks away to her first class. I stood there for a while, not actually comprehending what she said. I knew I’d be overthinking this all day. It brought a wave of anxiety up my spine; a lot of thoughts were filling my head all at once, and I had to force myself to start walking to my class. I keep my eyes trained to the floor as I try to push the voice in my head laughing at me for how pathetic I am. Before I can pull my gaze from the floor, I bump into what feels like a wall and fall to the floor, my books flying all over the hallway. Kayla: “Jesus Christ, how could I walk into a wall? How stupid can I be”? I then notice the big combat boots standing in front of me and the anxiety fills me once again. Alex. Alex: “Now, now don’t be so hard on yourself. You were captivated by the floor. You couldn’t help that”. He sniggers as he crouches down to offer me his hand. I take it reluctantly, still keeping my eyes down. Kayla: “So…Sor…sorry, I thought you were a wall. Urm no, I mean I thought. Yeah, I urm I thought I bumped into a wall.” Alex: “I don’t know whether I should be offended by that or not, to be honest, Kayla. "Why aren’t you in class, you’re usually the first one there”? I pick up all my books and take a swift look at him. He’s so beautiful I can’t stand it. It hurts to look at him because all I can see is the facts 1: he’s way out of my league and 2: he would never look twice at me because I’m his sister’s best friend oh and the fact I’m not blonde, skinny, and I’m definitely not a cheerleader. Still doesn’t stop me from wanting him, loving him. In the blink of an eye, I’m collecting my things from my locker and heading out to the car park. I hadn’t realized it had started raining during the whirlwind of the day I had; but I didn't bring my coat. So, there’s me standing in the pouring rain, freezing my ass off, waiting for Alex, who was already 20 minutes late, to pick me up. I feel and look like a fool as the last few people leave for the day. I pulled my phone out and texted Hayley. Kayla: ‘Where’s your brother? He was supposed to pick me up 25 minutes ago and hasn’t showed up’? I don’t have to wait long for a reply. Hayley: ‘Ugh, I’m sorry, I'll call him now and tell him to drop whatever stupid s**t he’s doing and come get you; I’m sorry’. I waited another 10 minutes and decided to give up waiting no longer and walk. I’m sure the rain will stop soon. I made my way out the gates and headed down the long winding road that leads to the not-so-small town where Hayley's mansion sits; the rain didn’t seem to be letting up any time soon, my teeth had started chattering, my fingers going number and, not to mention I looked like a drowned rat. Pulling me out of my thoughts, a car horn beeped and came to a halt right next to me. Alex: “KAYLA! Get in the car”! I took one swift look at him and carried on walking. He was unbelievable. After he stood me up and forced me to walk in this godforsaken weather, he just shows up and pretends to play a hero. I shake my head; this is the behavior that really makes me loathe Alex Gray; it tears down the wall of my crush. It opens my eyes to what a selfish human being he can truly be sometimes. With that thought, I shook my head and ignored his pleading with me about getting the car. I shook my head at the thought of how stupid I truly am for loving someone like him and that brings tears gliding down my already-soaked face. I get forced out of those thoughts with a firm pull of my arm. Alex: “Look, I’m sorry I lost track of time. Please can you just get in the car. You are going to get seriously ill if you stay out in this weather any longer, please”? I look in his dreamy eyes and I scowl; I hate myself because with one tiny gaze I come crashing back to being that lovesick little girl dreaming about him one day, turning to me and telling him he loved me too. Kayla: “Look Alex, I’m already soaked, so if I’m going to get ill I probably already will. It doesn’t really matter if I stay in the rain any longer. That’s not the point though, is it? If you pulled your head out of whatever bimbo you’re sleeping with ass long enough to breathe some oxygen you wouldn’t be such a selfish d**k all the time! He’s taken a back from my harsh words; I’m shocked at what I said. That was an inside thought that I should have kept in. I didn’t think I was just so frustrated at him. At how he only thinks of himself. Alex: “Yeah, well, I can’t help it if you are so dependent on my sister you can’t even remember to bring a coat”! The air is knocked out of me; how can he be so cruel? He’s the one in the wrong. He left me to freeze in the pouring rain. The bile rises up in my throat and tears well up in my eyes. I’m not sanding here and taking it from him. He may own the school and think he can talk down to everyone he sees, but I’m not standing for it anymore. With another shake of my head, I walked away from him. Alex: “Kayla! I’m sorry, okay, I didn’t mean that. Please just get in the car”. I can faintly hear him begging under the sound of my footsteps hitting the ground and my heartbroken sobs as the veil of my unrequited love is washed away with every raindrop that falls on me. I once again am pulled out of my thoughts when I’m dragged back to Alex’s car and forced into the passenger seat. He leans over me and buckles me in, and he’s so close to me, I can feel his hot breath on my neck as the buckle clicks into place with a loud snap. We stay in this position for at least 5 minutes just staring; losing ourselves in each other’s eyes. I flinched at him, raising his hand to wipe the hair that was stuck to my glistening forehead, and suddenly I was not cold anymore. My breath hitches and I lean into his touch silently begging him to keep touching me. Alex: “You’re all wet”. He whispers, his hand still placed lightly on my face and I can feel my cheeks heat up. Alex:“ We should head to mine to get you out of the wet clothes, into something dry and warm”. Smirking at me as he leans away and slams the door. Jesus, I need to calm down the dirty thoughts running through my mind right now. But he’s never looked at me like that before. I don’t know how he does it, but he’s just made me want him even more.