Deadly to Love (6 page)

The match was one of the hardest I had ever played and after an hour the final whistle went leaving the score at twenty-one to nineteen to us.

As we all shook hands, congratulating each other Chloe came up and hugged me.

“Can you believe Ian’s nerve? He’s here like your still his girlfriend,” she whispered as she held onto me.

“Oh, I had forgotten he was here,” I said, surprised something like that had slipped my mind. “Just forget him yeah? I don’t want to see him, that match has put me in a good mood.” I led Chloe towards the other side of the court, while a few other team members came up to me, praising me on the goals I scored.

I was elated when I got home and to make it better the weather seemed to have brightened up. Entering my room I grabbed my iPod and decided to lie in the sun for a bit, checking it as I made my way downstairs and smiling as I saw the message Kai had left. Even though he was using his real name and knew mine, I wanted to remain as Darcie, it made me more confident for some unknown reason.

Kai: Sorry I went so suddenly yesterday, I had to go to work. Here’s the pic you wanted.

I fumbled with my iPod, suddenly nervous about opening the attachment. The image loaded slowly on my screen and I gasped as I saw the picture, shocked by how good looking he was. In front of me was a black haired guy with tanned skin and deep brown eyes. His shoulders were strong and it was evident from his fitted black shirt that he had an incredibly well built body and worked out a lot. I didn’t know whether to believe it was him or not.

Darcie<3: I was at a netball match. Is that really you?

If it was I considered myself extremely lucky.

Kai: Yeah of course, if you don’t believe me accept the webcam link and you’ll see me :)

Making sure it wouldn’t bring up my image as well I clicked on the link and up came the same face that had been in the picture, only this shot was further away and I could clearly see the well defined abs through his shirt as he waved. Closing the camera so I could type again I couldn’t control the biggest grin that formed on my face; not believing my luck.

Before I could comment on his looks or say anything, another message popped up on my screen.

Kai: So can I see you now?

I didn’t know what to say, suddenly self conscious. I had never thought I was exactly pretty, I wasn’t bad but I wasn’t super hot like Chloe who could have any guy she wanted, but I couldn’t find a way out of it. Looking through the picture on my photo album I chose the one I thought I looked best in and sent it him, nervous of the reaction I was going to get.

Kai: Wow you’re hot ;) I definitely chose right on that game.

Laughing I made no comment as I didn’t believe what he was saying. Instead I changed the topic to a completely different subject, remembering something he had said previously.

Darcie<3: What’s your job then?

Kai: Nothing interesting really, the usual stuff people our ages do. What happened in the match you played? Did your team win?

I noticed how he had casually avoided answering my question but seeing as I had done that on more than one occasion I couldn’t exactly say anything, even if it did feel wrong.

Darcie<3: Yep 21-19 :D I scored 18 of them, it was a hard match though and the spectators weren’t great either...

I wasn’t boasting or anything like that just informing Kai and I hadn’t had a chance to tell him about my ex, Ian yet but then seemed about as good as any.

Kai: Wow! Congrats. What was up with the spectators though?

Darcie<3: Well there was only one of them and he was my ex...

I didn’t know how he would react to hearing about my ex but I wasn’t really thinking about it, if he wanted to listen to me he was probably the only person I could talk to who wouldn’t gossip about it.

Kai: Oh, bad break up or something?

I took that as a sign he didn’t mind talking about it so continued.

Darcie<3: Something like that, I caught him cheating on me so I dumped him. Then he spread rumours he dumped me so he didn’t ruin his reputation as well as pulling me into a class begging me to hear him out before forcing me to make out with him. Oh and because of that his new girlfriend broke up with him so he’s now trying to win me back...Sorry I’m rambling.

I could feel my cheeks reddening even though I was only looking at a screen.

Kai: What an ass, I can’t believe anyone would cheat on you. Oh well, his loss is my gain ;)

I must have looked pretty weird as I lay in the sun laughing to my iPod but I didn’t really care as long as my parents didn’t come home and catch me; I didn’t feel like explaining about my new boyfriend to them just yet.

Kai: How long were you two together? You don’t have to talk about him if you don’t want to by the way.

Darcie<3: It’s OK, um just over two years. Just so you know he also threatened you when he overheard my friend trying to get me to spill the details. He said he didn’t want to see us together, or ever see you around here.

I thought he had a right to know, seeing as it was him who was going to end up in a fight if we ever met up, which I doubted. Also by the size and build of Kai I was pretty sure Ian didn’t stand a chance if they ever got into a fight with each other.

Kai: Sounds like a nice guy...don’t worry about me though I can take care of myself, he’d wish he never met me if he ever starts something.

I didn’t like the sound of his words. There seemed to be a darker undercurrent to them but I had no doubt in my mind that Kai could do some serious damage to Ian.

Kai: Do me a favour though and stay away from him? He doesn’t sound like he has anything good planned if what you have told me is anything to go by.

Darcie<3: Don’t worry I’m trying and I’ve only got a term left, but until then I’m stuck with him in one class, he can’t do anything there though.

I didn’t know if he was genuinely concerned but that was the way I took it as it was better than considering any alternative.

Kai: Good. Look, I have to go to work again, sorry bye x

Darcie<3: Bye

As soon as he had gone I remembered that he still hadn’t told me what his job entailed and as I went indoors to find something to eat, the thought was gnawing away at my mind. My parents came home not long after I walked into the kitchen and as usual Mum was asking about how my day had been. They didn’t know about Ian’s and my break up or about Kai and because I had no imminent plans to tell them I simply said it was fine; while recounting the netball score and how the match went before heading upstairs, which is where I stayed until I decided to go to bed.

It had been a few months since Kai and I started dating – if you could call it dating that is, so far we’d only messaged and talked on live chat. Nothing had happened to cause an argument, fight or disagreement yet which I was grateful for. We were just enjoying learning new things about each other. We had spoken nearly every day and only when I had a photography assignment or a sports match did we not. Everything was going surprisingly well and I found myself starting to trust him a little more. There were however a few occasions where he acted oddly causing me to question those feelings and the idea of our relationship.

I had nearly finished my first year in college and only had a week left. Most people were focused on the end of term dance but not me as I wasn’t so keen on dancing. Ian had tried to persuade me to go with him by begging me outside my house, but all he did was make yet another scene as I turned him down. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go anyway.

My friends occasionally asked about Kai and I, but the topic had become boring and old by that point. People had also got bored of the gossip about Ian and me so once again I was able to blend into the background. Thankfully the time in lessons was running out, meaning that I would no longer have to sit by Ian in history. It also meant I could spend seven straight weeks with Kai, which I was looking forward to immensely, even if the idea of my parents finding out wasn’t such a pleasant thought.

As I lay on a sun lounger on my patio, wearing my bikini, in the blazing heat one weekend I waited for Kai to come online. It had been extremely nice all day and I was hoping to top up my tan. I had become a pasty white over the past few week so decided to change it while reading. As soon as I picked up my book though, dark, menacing grey clouds started to drift towards me, blocking out the sun. This caused me to notice the sudden gusts of winds that were bustling across the patio. There was no sign of the clouds ending so I headed indoors, covered in goosebumps before the predictable rain began to fall.

Leaving my book and iPod on the kitchen work top, I ran outside to collect the cushions I had been lying on. As I picked up the last cushion, hurrying towards the house with my arms full, the clouds burst, soaking me with torrential raindrops that were the size of marbles. All I remember thinking was that I was grateful that I was in my bikini. I dumped the soggy pillows on the kitchen floor, leaving them to be sorted out later, and walked up to my room to change, taking my iPod with me.

Looking in the mirror I saw that my eye liner had run, my hair was knotted, tangled and that beads of water were dripping from the ends. Clutching the towel I had taken from my bathroom I tried to wring the water from my hair and remove the streaks of black make up running down my cheeks, when I heard the bleep of my iPod telling me I had received a message.

I walked over to my bed, wrapping the towel around my body before sitting on the corner of my bed to read it.

Kai: Hi, sorry I got called out on a job last minute. What you been doing?

I was slightly annoyed by his comment as he had still yet to tell me what he actually did. Also he seemed to be going on a lot of last minute jobs lately. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the suspicious, jealous type but the way Kai was acting was starting to irritate me. As well of this he had recently added one of his new work colleagues on Facebook and she was super pretty, which only added to my irritation.

Instead of replying to the message, I text Chloe before I jumped in the shower, deciding my hair was just a hopeless mess that could not be untangled until washed. I didn’t spend long in the shower and surprisingly the rain had stopped by the time I got out, once again leaving the bright, hot sunshine to heat Mavera. Still not in the mood to talk to Kai, I logged out of the app and agreed a place to meet up with Chloe as I needed someone to vent to.

* * * *

“He’s just so urgh!” I said, not being able to find words to describe Kai at that moment in time.

“That’s very well explained Rea ’he’s so urgh’” Chloe said as she laughed at her impression of me.

“You know what I mean. He’s frustrating. He doesn’t tell me much about his life, job or anything. He just disappears now and again then blames his job, there’s also this really hot girl he added on Facebook and from the messages they’ve sent I’ve gathered she’s like his new partner or something.” I sighed, out of breath from my tirade and nervous about what Chloe was going to say next.

“Do you think he and this girl are..?” she asked cautiously.

“I don’t know Chlo, it happened with Ian so why wouldn’t Kai too? I just don’t know what to say, there isn’t really a good way to say ’hey are you cheating on me?’ is there?” As I spoke I poked at the strawberry frappuccino I had just bought so I didn’t have to look at Chloe.

“You need to ask him though Rea, you’re just making yourself miserable by assuming the worst, you don’t know what he’s doing.”

I just nodded.

“Look you know I don’t like the guy, I’ve never hidden my dislike at the fact you’re dating him but I saw how happy he made you to start with so I didn’t openly say anything. However now he’s making you miserable I am fully entitled as your best friend to say what I like. Either ask him or dump him OK?”

We were walking to our usual bench in the park as she spoke and even though I wouldn’t admit it to her, she was right.

“I want to ask him but don’t know what to say,” I said still poking the cream on top of my frappe with the straw.

“Give me your phone.” She held out her hand and beckoned me to hurry up, emphasising her words.

“Why? What are you planning on doing with it?” I recognised the mischievous look she had in her eye and it usually occurred when she was planning something she knew I wouldn’t like.

“Just trust me okay?”

I sighed in defeat and handed over my phone, not in the mood for another fight. Chloe proceeded to start frantically typing something and it was at that point that I realised what she was doing.

“Chlo don’t you...” I lunged across the table to try and grab the phone from her grasp but she leaned back just out of reach, pulling the phone above her head.

“Too late it’s sent,” she said with a triumphant smile and I groaned.

“What did you say?” I said a little disgruntled.

“Doesn’t matter and I’ve deleted the text so you can’t read it.” Her smile widened as she put my phone into her bag so I wouldn’t be able to see the reply either.

“Chloe!” I whined but my response was muffled by my arms as I had buried my head so I was lying on the table top.

“Just trust me okay? I didn’t say anything mean or insulting and I didn’t dump him if you’re worried about that. I may have been a little rude but the guy deserves it, so just. Trust. Me,” she said, pausing in between each word to add emphasis and I groaned inwardly. When Chloe was rude it normally came across as mean, she just didn’t see it that way.

“Fine.” I muttered, not overly thrilled with her plan.

I didn’t realise we had been out for so long until I noticed the sun beginning to set, and when we realised this we headed back to Chloe’s place. Her excuse for dragging me over was that her parents had gone on holiday so she was lonely having the whole house to herself but I knew the real reason was to keep me from going home and talking to Kai. A few times on the way home she got out my phone and started replying to messages that I wasn’t allowed to read. I tried to see over her shoulder a few times but each time she turned the phone out of my eye line and continued to type.