First Kiss (Heavy Influence) (25 page)

I grabbed my phone and read them over again to remind myself they were real.

***

My brother was chilling in front of the TV catching up on Entourage in the adjacent family room. I shuffled over to the fridge and took out the strawberries and rinsed them off in the sink. The cool water ran over my hands and felt refreshing. It was already way too warm in our house. I stared at the back fence in a daze, watching the leaves on the bushes rustle in the breeze. The swimming pool shimmered catching my eye and I daydreamed I was wrapped around Jake in the cool water.

My daydream screeched to a halt when Kyle’s voice broke in. “Hey!” he shouted at me and I jumped. “Hello, turn off the water, we’re in a drought.”

“Oh, shut up!
” I spat playfully, stuffing a strawberry in my mouth, glaring at him for scaring me.

I wondered where he’d been.
I hadn’t seen him in days. “Where have you been lately?”

I noticed he was a little tanner than he normally was.

He picked up the remote pausing his pre-recorded show on the DVR and stared at me blankly. “Now what do you want?”

“What have you been doing this week, you look tan, Mr. Non-beach-goer.”

“If you must know, yes, I have been going to the beach.”

“Really.
” I said marveling in exaggeration. “Who paid you and how much?”

“I don’t mind going to the beach.”

“Alright, who is she. It has to be because of a girl.” I snickered.

I loved teasing him.

He ignored me.

“Want some strawberries?”

I obnoxiously held the bowl right in front of his face.

“Yes…thank you,
” He said grabbing the bowl out of my hand.

I contemplated telling Kyle about Jake. I wanted him to go to the party with me on Saturday, if I was with him my sister would have to suck on it. If Kyle knew, it would kick her off her soapbox. I watched my loving yet annoying big brother eat my strawberries. He was coming into his own good looks. I’d never thought of him as good looking, probably because he was my brother, but yes, he was definitely cute. I could see how a girl could like him. He was kind and
thoughtful. A “nerd” in my book who only sported polo shirts but whatever, I knew I could trust him.

“Kyle, there’s something I
wanna tell you,” I paused. “But you have to swear on your life you won’t tell mom or dad.”

He stopped chewing mid-mouthful looking over at me.
“Uh oh.”

“Well, um, I guess there’s no other way to say it. I’ve been seeing Jake.” I admitted and just like in the movies, Kyle started choking.

“What!” he exclaimed. “Aly, please tell me you’re kidding!” He continued coughing, trying to clear his throat.

             
“Why?” I whispered loudly putting my hand over his mouth.

             
Kyle collected himself as I waited for his reply.

“Aly, you gotta know what he’s all about, right?”

              “Yes!” I said loudly, “I’m not an effing idiot!” I got up and grabbed the bowl out of his hand and huffed into the kitchen. His response wasn’t what I expected.

             
“Woah, Aly, come on, I’m just looking out for you…”

             
“Yeah, whatever, that’s what Allison said too and I don’t need to hear it from you either!”

             
“Hey, calm down,” He said walking into the kitchen. “So, Allison knows and you’re worried about me telling mom and dad?”

             
“She’s not going to say anything. I got dirt on her. She doesn’t know I know though, I prolly should make sure she does though, before she screws me.”

             
“What dirt? I got dirt too.” He raised his eyebrows, humming a silly dooms-day sound.

             
“It’s probably the same dirt,” I said smiling. “Is it those late night rendezvous with Owen?”

             
“Yep.” We both laughed. “She’s an idiot to think that none of us wouldn’t notice him creeping around in the middle of night. It’s a matter of time before mom or dad catch them.”

             
“Whatever, I don’t care. I just don’t need her threatening me.”

             
Kyle cocked his head and his eyes narrowed in on me. “Tell me what you mean that you’re seeing Jake.”

             
“We’ve been hanging out the last couple of weeks, and we both really like each other.”

             
“Isn’t he seeing Rachel what’s her face?”

             
“No, and he never was, they’re just friends.”

             
“He told you he likes you? Or are you just assuming he likes you because he’s nice to you?

             
I sighed. “Kyle, he’s told me way more than that. We were at a party together last weekend…”

             
“What?” he cried out. “You went to a party?”

             
“Yeah, that’s when Allison found out, she caught me there, with Jake. A whole bunch of drama with this Rachel chick went down and it was crazy,” I confessed. “That hoe bag pushed me into the pool.”

             
“Wait, you were at a party with Jake?” he asked again, stuck on the impossibility of it all. “And he was with you? In front of everyone else?”

             
“Yes. He held me, kissed me and introduced me to people.” I shrugged, trying not to come off too excited even though I could have shot to the moon.

             
“Wow.” He leaned against the counter in complete shock.

             
“That seems to be everyone’s reaction,” I said, “which is kind of a bummer, like I’m not worthy or something.”

             
“Hey, that’s not it, it’s just, well, you’re always in a bubble with your little click of friends and I just want you to be careful… ‘cause I don’t wanna have to try and kick his ass or anything,” Kyle teased. “Jake’s an alright guy. I guess he just gets a bad rap because he’s in a band…you know chicks, drugs…rock and roll. You know they go together like mint and chip.”

             
I couldn’t love my brother more than at that moment.

             
“So have you heard anything bad?” I wanted more of his perspective.

             
“Actually no, no I haven’t, that’s what I mean by a bad rap. I’ve seen him hanging with chicks at parties, but at school, he’s totally low profile. Rachel was always around though.”

             
“Huh, sounds like you know a lot for being the quiet one,” I jabbed, playfully.

             
Kyle winked at me. I was relieved with the way our conversation went. Now I had to ask him to take me to the party. Ugh, the way he dressed would laugh us out the front door. He so needed a makeover, desperately. The only problem was he didn’t have anyone to borrow cool clothes from. Did guys even do that?

             
“I have an idea Kyle,” I said pausing for theatrics. “What do you say about taking this girl you won’t tell me about to a party this Saturday?”

I batted my eyes at him with a crafty grin and he looked at me sideways.

“Would this be a party that Jake’s gonna be at? Just give it to me straight, Aly.” He crossed his arms to his chest.

             
“Yes, it is, and it’s at Rachel’s, and he’s playing. This is the first time I’ll see the band play live, and if I’m not there I’ll just die, you just have to take me.” I rambled on, pleading.

             
I stood there with my hands praying underneath my chin, looking as pathetic as I could.

“Please,” I begged, whimpering.

              Kyle contemplated, rubbing his chin. “On one condition, if I want to leave you’ll have to leave too,” he said. “No matter what. I don’t care if Jake says he’ll take you home.”

             
“Ahhh!” I screamed. I launched at myself him, hugging him. “You are the most awesome brother ever!”

             
“Stop!” he said pushing me off of him. “I’ll look pretty cool taking Chelsea,” he said. “Plus, with my little sis seeing the most popular guy in school, this may just seal the deal.”

             
God he was
such
a dork.

             
“Oh, so you’re using me?” I playfully accused.

             
“Uh, I think you were using me first.”

             
I laughed. “I love you!”

             
I ran up the stairs and into my room and frantically searched my bed covers for my phone. I was electrified by excitement and couldn’t wait to tell Nicole and Nadine.

-
       
KYLE SAYS HE’LL TAKE US TO THE PARTY ON SATURDAY
–

             
I waited anxiously for what seemed like 15 minutes, finally Nicole replied.

-
       
AWESOME, CHRIS SAYS HE WAS PLANNING ON TAKING US THOUGH, HE’S STILL SEEING NADINE. CAN U BELIVE IT?
–

             
I wanted her to dish!

-
       
SPEAKING OF, WE NEED TO TALK, R U ALONE? CAN I COME OVER?
–

-
       
YEP, COME OVER –

-
       
CALL NADINE, TELL HER TOO, I WANT THE SCOOP -

-
       
NO, I’LL GIVE YOU THE SCOOP, JUST COME NOW, GRANT MIGHT BE HERE SOON
-

I rushed to get ready. Running down the stairs I screamed out to Kyle to text me when mom got home and that he and I were going shopping.

“What do you mean, you and I are going shopping?!”

“Your polo’s aren’t making an appearance, Kyle!” I hollered, stepping out the door. “And we need to do something about your hair!”

I rushed down the street as quickly as I could toward Nicole’s when I spotted my friend Marshall, in his driveway, looking way too fashionable to be washing his brother’s car. I hadn’t spoken to him since Grant chased him away with his immature teasing two weeks prior. As I approached he noticed and a smile spread across his beautiful, flawless face. His funky, usually coifed hair was pulled back in a silver headband.

I envied his thick hair.

“Hey Alyssa, what’s up,” he said as he walked around to the front of the car.

“Hi Marshall,” I said cheerily and stopped. “How are you?”

“Pretty good, just trying to finish up Jon’s car before he kicks my ass.” He laughed.

“Right, what sca
res me is he probably would try,” I remarked, concerned.

“I know, right! He agreed, animated
. “Naw not really, he’d just give me shit.”

“Why
are you washing his car anyway?”

“Well,” he paused.
“Good question, I guess because he told me to, and I just don’t need him being a dick anymore than he already is, plus he gave me five bucks.”

I smiled sadly and reached out grabbing his elbow. A silent understanding passed between us.

“Hey, what are you doing Saturday? You wanna come to a party with the girls and me?” It made me happy to include him.

His eyes lit up and my heart instantly soared.
With Marshall being a different kind of guy, with a truly feminine side, I knew he would appreciate hanging out with us. He smiled, embarrassed. “Yeah, sure I’d love to go with you. Are you sure? I mean I don’t wanna put you out or anything.”

“Marshall, I wouldn’t have asked you if I wasn’t sure, silly.” I responded, smiling.

“Cool, that’s cool, thanks for asking.” He beamed, thankfully.

“Ok, cool. I’ll come back by on my way from Nicole’s. I gotta get over there, they’re waiting.”

“Ok, see ya later!” he shouted as I trotted away.

My heart was full. I remembered
when we were in fifth grade and the boys were teasing him because he liked to hang out with the girls and do dance routines. They called him fag and gay boy, making him cry. I just stood there staring, wanting to cry with him. I felt like such a loser for not saying anything. I decided right then I would never let anything like that happen again. We were all going into high school in a couple of months and we would do it together, as equals.

26

Alyssa

Nicole sat at the edge of her bed and tucked her legs up underneath her. She looked like she’d just woken up. She turned taking her nearby laptop into her lap and tapped away. “Gah, I don’t know where to start. Grant is so amazing. I totally love him.”

She didn’t look at me while she talked…and typed.

Tap, tap, tap…