Because She Could

Ty's Secrets

Tyler pulled his pickup into the drive, honked and watched for the door to open and Aleah to come bouncing out. His heart rate sped up as the door opened and he watched as she came toward the truck wearing a pretty green shirt that accentuated her eyes even more than usual. As she slid in the truck she kissed his cheek making his heart skip a beat. He wished, and not for the first time, that he could kiss those perfect pouty lips. Aleah was different. She wasn't like most girls. She rarely wore makeup but she didn't need to. Her skin was perfect with just a dusting of freckles across that cute button nose. Her eyes were big and shiny and bright, although they had held entirely too much sadness in the last year. He guessed everyone's had. And that hair. So beautiful and shiny and red, with soft curls flying around. There was always one loose around her ears that he wanted to tuck back, but he rarely touched her anymore. He couldn't. He was terrified if he touched her, he would kiss her and what if that scared her off? No, it was better to have her as friend than not at all.

“Good morning, Sunshine! Are you ready to conquer the kingdom today?” she chirped in her sweet voice.

He grinned. “You are the conqueror, sweet girl!” She was too! She was sweet and helpful and friendly and most people loved her. No one wanted on her bad side tho, because she had proven more than once she could hold her own when pushed around. She was a fireball. He grinned to himself, thinking about all the things he knew about Aleah that others didn't. They had been best friends since their diaper days because their moms were best friends too. They had been anyway.....before...well best not to go there. Because he had grown up with Aleah and Sammi and....him...he knew her so much better than even her best girl friend, Cassie. She was just as comfortable working on his truck with him or going fishing as she was going shopping or talking girl talk with Cassie and Sammi. She could out shoot him any day of the week with either a pistol or a rifle and she could catch fish when no one else could get a bite. Yeah, Aleah was special.

Suddenly he realized Aleah hadn't said anything for awhile, which wasn't like her. She wasn't a chatterbox, like some girls, but she usually had plenty to say, unlike him. He couldn't find the words to express himself a lot of the time so he was usually much quieter than her. He glanced at her. She had an odd pensive, almost angry look on her face, then she shook her head fiercely. She shook it like she was trying to shake something out of it.

He touched her shoulder lightly. “You ok, Lee-lee?” She jumped, then grinned teasingly at him and made some smart remark about what girl he was going to chase this year. Ha! If she only knew that she was the only girl he had ever had eyes for! What would she do if he were to tell her? Would it be such a bad thing? What if, just maybe she liked him too? Could he take that chance? No. If he scared her away with his feelings and lost her completely he didn't know what he would do. She knew him so well. Sometimes she even finished his thoughts for him because he just couldn't find the words he wanted to say and somehow she just always knew. He couldn't. He would rather have her as his best friend than not at all.

All at once he realized he hadn't responded to her teasing remark. He grinned at her cheekily. “You're the one with all the guys lined up! Who will you chase hot stuff?”

“Oh please! I hear the whispers and talk in the locker rooms! All the girls looooove your dark hair and 'such piercing blue eyes'!” she mimicked in a high pitched teasing voice.

HE didn't care what the other girls in the locker rooms thought about him. Sure, some of them were pretty and even had good personalities, but he only wanted to know what she thought. Knowing she was expecting a reply he decided to try turning the tables on her.

“Oh yeah? Well what about you! I hear the talk to sweet cheeks! 'Such gorgeous red hair and you seen that sweet ass?'” Now he used a high pitched silly voice. He hated when he heard the guys mention her. More than once, unbeknownst to her, he had let the guys know they better respect her and to keep her name out of their mouths if they were talking trash. He wouldn't stand for them to make derogatory remarks. That stupid Zeb had said more than once he was gonna get in her panties this year. Ty would beat his ass if he tried anything stupid for sure, and he had let him know that. Ty could too. Ty and Aleah both worked out, kept in shape and Ty was on the wrestling and football teams. He could hold his own when it came down to it.

“Oh I don't know, Ty. Maybe I'll try to tie Zeb down this year. He needs a good woman to tame him and his wild crazy ways!” Aleah quipped.

Ty saw red. No way would he let that scumbag touch Aleah. She was too special for Zeb's wandering hands. He clenched his jaw. He knew he couldn't say too much here but he wanted to make one thing clear. That was a no-go.

“Don't you mess with that snake, Aleah Rayne. I'd have to kill him when he hurt you. That dude is trash, Lee-lee, when it comes to girls, and you and I both know it.”

“Wow, even my middle name, huh? Guess you do mean business. Whatever then shall I do?” she wailed dramatically, with that cheeky little dimple shining through. “How will I ever find true love when I have such a protector? No one will ever get through your 'big strong muscular arms, and have you seen those abs? They are to die for'.” she mimicked again.

He rolled his eyes as they pulled into their parking space at school. Part of him was relieved this conversation was ending, but now he didn't want her walking into that mess of perverts. It may be “old-fashioned”, but his Aleah was just too good and her soul too pure for all the crap he'd heard being said in the locker rooms. He wondered if he would have to fight over her this year. He instantly made up his mind that if it came down to it, yes, he would kick ass over his sweet girl.

He glanced back at Sammi, “hey, kiddo, have a great first day of high school and don't let anyone razz you. I got your back sis.”

Sammi grinned, “Yeah, Lee-lee said the same thing and I'm not worried. With my awesome big sister and almost brother backing me up, I'm good. These other freshies don't stand a chance!”

He grinned. He loved this sweet spunky, smart-ass younger version of Aleah so much. She was the little sister he never had.

Suddenly his truck door flew open and a squealing blonde bombshell pulled Aleah out of the truck, talking non-stop. This was another reason he didn't say much. No one could get a word in around Cassie. He loved her but he knew when she was around no one got to say much of anything, not even Aleah.

He grabbed Aleah's hand as Cassie pulled her out of the truck babbling about senior year. When she looked back and made eye contact with him, he smiled and said “Happy last “first day” of high school, Lee-lee.” She grinned cheekily.

“You too TyBear!” He smiled. He hated his mom or any of his family calling him that old baby nickname but when it came from her lips it just felt....special.