Beatifully Broken

Chapter 7

"What about this one?" Kara strutted out of the change room of the surf shop we were in wearing the tiniest bathing suit I think I've ever seen. I scrunched up my face, "What's wrong with it? I look hot," she frowned.

"Leave something to the imagination! Besides if you wore that in the ocean, you might come out without it," I reasoned. 

"I'm not going in the ocean, its purely for show," Kara said matter of factly.

I rolled my eyes at her as she walked back in to try on the next one. This is how shopping with Kara often went. She tried on, I judged. She liked any outfit that showed off her amazing figure, while I was more modest. It worked, she encouraged me try outfits that showed off my assets and I helped her to cover up a bit, or as I liked to remind her, keep some mystery. She just thinks I'm a prude. Sometimes it's amazing how two total opposites just work perfectly together.

"Ok, this is the one, I'm sure of it," she stepped out again and this time, I smiled my approval. 

It was a coral colour with white flowers, the bottoms covered just enough to be modest, but sexy. The top a triangle style with cute little ruffles. Honestly, she looked like a supermodel. 

After purchasing the winning bikini, we head to Starbucks for some much needed coffee and girl chats.

"I've missed these girls days. It's all fun and games, like literally, living in a house full of boys, but sometimes I need my girl," I sighed.

Kara holds her hand over her heart, "Oh, I'm touched! I totally smell better than them too don't I?"

"If I'm totally honest, these boys have some great aftershaves. Sometimes I even have to fight them for bathroom time too because Mason and Jason hardly go home!" we giggled, like young school girls.  

"Ok, so tell me about Tyler then. I've been dying to question you about him all day!" She battered her lashes at me and I took a big gulp of my Mocha Frappuccino to give me time to think about my answer.

"I mean, there isn't really much to say," I shrugged.

"Kayla Robins, don't you be coy with me!"

"Well, there's no denying he is something special to look at, but the guy is still a total mystery!"

"But you like him?" I felt my face flush as I took another sip of my drink instead of answering, "You do!!" Kara exclaimed excitedly.

"I'm... interested in getting to know him. I think his past is trouble, I'm not sure I need his baggage on top of my own."

"Maybe you can help each other," she shrugged. I didn't want to talk about him anymore.

"Anyway! You want to come back for dinner?" I asked, trying hard to change the topic.

"Sure! Gives me a chance to witness the love blossoming in person," she grinned like a crazed woman.

"Don't make me regret inviting you!" I glared at her. 

"I'll be on my best behaviour, cross my heart," I gave her a stern look as I got my phone out to text Harry that Kara was joining us, checking if he needed me to pick anything up.

"Thanks Harry! That was actually really good!" I said, finishing up my bowl of pasta. It was nice to have a proper meal for once instead of pizza or Chinese take-away.

"Mama raised a future husband," he winked at me, "So what do you say Kara, be my wife?" he joked. 

"So, Tyler," Kara began ignoring Harry, I shot her a look silently asking her to behave and she returned with a smile that looked sweet to everyone else, but I knew it meant otherwise, "Are you joining us at South Coast High in the fall?" 

Alright, I'll give that one to her, I hadn't even asked that question and now I was curious to know the answer.

"Yeah, that's the plan," he answered. 

I held back laughter at the blunt answer while Kara was trying to be overly friendly. 

"We might stay living here actually, my parents haven't decided, I think they are waiting to make sure we don't burn the place down over the summer, but it's better than all of us at home with my brothers," Harry volunteered this information.

"Sweeeet, permanent party house" Jason said, only to be met with a chorus of "You have a home to go to!" from Harry, Mason and myself.

Now ignoring Jason, Kara continued her questioning. "What about a girlfriend?"

I shot her a glare, knowing exactly what she was getting at.

"Nope." He replied, again not giving in to her questioning.

"Not even some girl that you left behind who might show up one day begging for you back? Surely you left someone broken hearted and pining after you?" She pushed on, my heart thumped. 

I didn't want to admit but I really did want to know the answer.

"No. No one," Tyler answered bluntly as he got up to start clearing the table and before I knew it, "Kayla can help you, Tyler" Kara offered, earning yet another glare from me. 

Everyone in the house knew what she was up to, including Tyler. I collected the rest of the plates and followed him into the kitchen.

"Sorry about my so called best friend," I cringed as we loaded up the dishwasher.

To my surprise, he smiled. Tyler, king of the scowl, smiled. That's twice in two days. 

"If I didn't know better, I'd say she is trying to play matchmaker." 

I groaned out of embarrassment, "She isn't very subtle, is she?" 

He winked, closing the dishwasher, turning it on before leaving the kitchen. Leaving me standing alone wondering what that small exchange meant. Was it good or bad?

I left the kitchen to join everyone else where they had moved to the lounge. I glanced around the room, my smile faltering slightly, trying to work out where I could sit. 

Jason as usual was on the loveseat alone, Mason, Kara, and Harry had taken the 3 seater couch, which left only a spot right next to Tyler. Of course. If I didn't know better, I would think all 4 of them were now working together. I can't say I minded though. 

I sat down as the arguments had begun on what game we were going to play. Jason wanted to play charades, which we all said no to, Harry suggested poker but both Kara and I screwed up our noses at that suggestion, eventually we settled on cards against humanity. Harry went and got some drinks for everyone as Kara dealt out the cards.

The game had us in tears of laughter pretty much the whole time. When it was Mason's turn he gave us a black card that said "Lifetime presents ________, the story of _______. When the winning combination was 'Lifetime presents not wearing pants, the story of waking up half-naked in Denny's parking lot" everyone except Tyler broke into laughter, he looked confused, but quickly understanding there was a story here.

"Do you remember the day after homecoming last year?" Jason exclaimed.

"Jack Rollins on the football field," Mason said between laughter.

"He woke up with just the school mascot head and nothing else on. Did we ever find out how that even happened?" Jason asked, Kara and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"You can't tell anyone! The part no one noticed was the KK on each of his butt cheeks. The wet grass rubbed it off because it was cheap lipstick," I revealed.

"It was you two? Seriously, am I always the last to know?" Jason said. 

Mason and Harry were doubled over laughing as they knew the story already. Tyler had a hint of a smirk on his face at the antics we got up to.

"You two told him you wanted a threesome to lure him in," Harry tried to get out between laughs.

"Which let's be honest, everyone knows that I'm down for, but Kayla over here is Ms. Untouchable," Kara wagged her finger, "So he thought he had struck gold. What he didn't know is that we were just getting payback for the way he treated Missy Harris."

"Maybe we went a little far, he nearly got charged for public indecency. But then again he was a real jerk and deserved it!" I defended.

"Not to mention he thought he was special enough for Miss Virgin over here to give it up to him of all people, let alone in a threesome!" Kara said like it was no big deal. 

The mood in the room though instantly changed, all laughter stopping. 

"Kara!!!" I stared hard at her as she realised what she had said.

"Seriously? Again, I'm the last to know these things. I always just assumed you and Mason actually had..." Jason said, trailing off when Harry threw a pillow hard at his head. 

I felt my face heating up, glancing sideways at Tyler who looked down at the ground instead of at me. Then the anger took over, anger I had been holding inside of me since the grad party my brother hosted.

"Sorry that I don't jump on anything with a heartbeat and a d**k," I seethed, standing up and sending the whole room into silence.

"Kay" Mason tried to calm me down. "She didn't mean-"

"No! She has no idea what her pushing did. People know we are best friends and just assume that I'm just as easy as she is. I'm the one who gets hurt in the end. Poor virgin Kayla, like its some sick game to try and get with me," I shot Kara a glare before I left the room and she couldn't even look at me. Maybe I was a little harsh, because no one actually knew what was going on with me, but I was hurt and I was embarrassed and in that moment, I simply didn't care.