Chapter 13
Blast from the past
I stroll into school on Wednesday only to be bombarded by Sam. He's so excited and cheerful, jumping up and down in front of me. The way he is behaving is kind of making me feel cheery as well even though I have no idea why he is so happy.
Josh walks up to us sliding his arm around my waist, he looks down at Sam confusedly. "Why are you so happy man?" Well that solves the big dilemma on how to ask Sam that myself.
Sam looks up at Josh practically beaming his happiness, "I'm so excited because Kaila is coming to cadets with me tonight. It's great because unlike the rest of you, she actually cares about what I like." Ok so I think I understand why all the girls think he's gay now.
Josh looks down at me pointedly, "I thought you were only considering it. But have fun anyway Kaila." He turns around and stalks off to our locker area.
Sam looks at me thoughtfully, "You two are finally a couple now right? Oh my god that is just great, I knew that you two would make a great couple!" Sam waves at the others walking in through the gates. They rush towards us and he beams at them. "Josh and Kaila are finally together!"
Ash looks at me and grins, "I knew this would happen! The snow queen is gone forever now!"
I grin broadly at the others as they laugh and say well done, for what I do not know. But I felt proud about having the hottest guy at school as my boyfriend.
I start to walk towards the school buildings when Sam calls out to me, "Hey Kaila, I'll pick you up from your house at six tonight, wear something that can get dirty."
I nod dumbly then walk into the building and up the stairs into my locker area. Josh is leaning against my locker and when I walk into the locker room he stares at me. "Ok so what's the problem?"
Josh stares at me and then moves across so I can open my lock. "What problem Kaila? There's nothing wrong with you going off to some cadet party without me where there are lots of boys who are bound to flirt with you, why would I have a problem with that?" He asks sarcastically.
I look at him warily, "Look, Sam asked me to go as a favour. I didn't think it would be a big deal because he's my friend and I know he'll ward away other guys." I glance at Josh. He seems to be softening up a tad.
"You promise nothing will happen, Kaila? I mean you are just going as a friend?" He looks down at me worriedly.
I smile at him, "Nothing will happen, Josh, and in case it does I will tell you. Josh?" I grab my books turning towards him.
He looks at me uncertainly, "Yeah?"
"Sam is only a friend."
He nods slowly then grabs my hand and we walk to roll call.
…
Throughout the day Josh walks me to classes that we have together, he kisses me when no one else is looking and gives Ali and the cheerleaders menacing glares.
Once the bell rings for home time Josh pulls me aside outside the classroom door and asks me if he can give me a lift. I decide that I should take the bus because I don't want our conversations turning towards the cadet party again.
When I get home I run straight for my room and start sifting through my clothes, I uncover my leather jacket and navy jeans which I haven't worn since I lost them in my piles of clothing. I quickly throw them on and pull a black singlet top over my head. I rush into the bathroom quickly sliding my hands through my hair and applying some make up rather hastily.
When I finish I look into the mirror and grin, whoever said you can't put make up on in five minutes is seriously wrong.
I walk out of the bathroom pull my black boots on and walk down the hall to the front door, I open it to discover that Sam was just about to knock.
He looks at me and smiles, "I shouldn't have worried at all, you're Kaila not Ash."
I grin back, "Too true, if you were taking Ash I would suggest you tell her you're picking her up at four-thirty and if you turn up at six you would find her only just sticking her shoes on."
Sam just laughs, he smiles and walks me to his silver Mazda3. "And may I present my baby. Who needs a girlfriend when you have a beautiful car like this?"
I theatrically roll my eyes at him, "Nice car though."
He smiles happily at me, "Yeah it's a great car. It's nothing like Josh's Subaru but I don't look for grunt power I rather like stylish looking cars, comfort is my priority."
I just smile and nod awkwardly. I don't really want to compare their cars not after the grilling I got from Josh. "So we should probably get going?"
Sam nods and unlocks the car; I climb in and wait for him to start her up. Sam pulls his car out from the curb and turns on the radio. We drive listening to the music quietly until we stop at a red light and Sam turns to look at me. "So you're dating Josh now? I'm guessing he didn't want you coming with me tonight?"
I look at Sam completely shocked, "How did you know that Josh didn't want me coming with you tonight?"
Sam chuckles and steers the car through the intersection. "He was glaring at me all day and then he kept looking angrily at you. So I guessed that it had something to do with us going to this thing." He smiles at me, "Don't look at me like that, I've known Josh a long time and it isn't hard to figure out why he's grumpy with people."
I sigh and look out the windshield. "Yeah he was really angry at me for agreeing to come with you. But you're my friend too, and Josh being angry doesn't change the fact that I agreed to go out with you before Josh and I got together. He's just being a baby and I think he thinks I'm going to run off with another guy!"
Sam chuckles again, "You got that right, you and I are just friends, not that I don't find you attractive but I don't need a girlfriend right now. Don't worry about him, Josh thinks that every girl is just like his ex-girlfriends but you're not. He'll figure it out eventually."
I nod slowly, realising that Josh must have dated a lot of girls who cheated otherwise he wouldn't be treating me that way. "Yeah I guess you are right Sam, it's just that I'm not that kind of person."
Sam looks at me nodding slowly, "I know you aren't Kaila. I guess Josh has had his heartbroken so many times by that kind of girl he just thinks that everyone will do it to him. But he will be fine eventually, just let him be he'll get used to the idea that you are faithful."
I smile sadly at him, what am I supposed to say? Why can't Josh see that I am completely committed to him? That I don't want to be with anyone else? Why can't he see that I'm not Ali? "Yeah well it's easier said than done Sam." I stare dejectedly out the window and refuse to engage in further conversation.
Sam sighs, "I never said it would be easy Kaila but you have to try. Josh trusts you but he doesn't want his heart to be broken again."
I glare at the passing trees. Well it's not like I haven't had my heart broken by a guy before. But I don't think that will ever happen to me again.
Sam drives the car into the car park overlooking the beach. He smiles at me as he jumps out of the car. "Anyway just forget about Josh and have fun. We're having a fire on the beach and we're going to sit around and toast marshmallows and chat with everyone. Maybe someone will bring a CD player with them."
I nod at him and jump out of the car. We walk down onto the beach where some of the other cadets are waiting. They see Sam and yell out greetings and laugh. It seems like he has many friends from cadets. "Hey if you had so many friends why did you have to bring me along with you?"
Sam looks at me and laughs, "Because you're my friend too and I wanted to bring one of the gang along with me so that they would stop teasing me and calling me a loner all the time." He laughs at my expression. "Chill Kaila, it's going to be fun, you might even forget your worries for a few hours."
I laugh and punch him on the shoulder. "You're a real joker you know that? Anyway I think I'll be alright Sam."
A couple of guys walk towards us and I recognise one guy I never wanted to see again. They introduce themselves to me as Trevor, Jacob and of course my ex-boyfriend Dean.
Dean smiles condescendingly at me, "Thought you never wante
d to see me again Kayley?"
I glare up at Dean, "I still don't want to see you Dean. And as far as I'm concerned you're not even here."
Sam looks at us speculatively, "So how do you two know each other?"
I glare at Dean while I tell Sam the truth, "Dean is my ex-boyfriend. Sometimes the idea of remaining friends with the guy who broke your heart is a very bad idea. Dean is a useless bastard who cheated on me with a plastic cheerleader!"
Sam glares up at Dean as well, "Anyone who hurts Kaila is my enemy. I always thought you were a bastard at least now I know you are."
Dean smiles maliciously at Sam, "Don't get your knickers in a twist little lady. We don't want hysterics from you too. Kaila, Kaila, Kaila, didn't your hot mother teach you how to treat a man? She seems to know a lot on that subject, especially her ability to satisfy anyone."
I stare wrathfully at Dean, "I know you and my mum had some fun Dean but don't drag her into this. You were the one who stuffed our relationship up, if you hadn't screwed that cheerleader at the after party, we probably wouldn't have broken up until now." I sigh at him, "Dean I don't want to fight with you. I came here because I wanted to hang out with Sam."
Dean turns to look at Sam menacingly, "So you're her new boyfriend? You better watch your back from now on because you just put a target on yourself."
I turn quickly and slap Dean across the cheek. "If you had bothered to ask me Dean, I would have told you that Sam is not my boyfriend but rather a good friend. I am dating another guy, I'm not telling you this so that you will leave Sam alone but to let you know you have the wrong man."
Dean grabs my hand, "Kaila mark my words; this isn't over I will make your precious boyfriend wish he was never born because no one steals my woman."
I pull my hand away from Dean's grip, "That's just it; I was never your woman Dean."
Sam grabs my wrist and tugs me around Dean and down to the fun on the beach. I now realise tonight is going to be a very long night. Life seems so cruel when you have to look upon the face that you once loved and adored.
Dean doesn't know just how much I loved him, if I hadn't found him making out with one of the popular girls at school I wouldn't have dumped him but there is no use looking back and asking what if questions.
Sam turns to look at me and sighs, "Are you ok? I can understand why you want to break up with a jerk like him. Do you want me to take you home instead?"
I smile up at Sam unsure of how to respond but I can see his warm smile. "I'm alright. It's not easy seeing him but I think I can stand his company for a couple of hours, if he tries anything else I'll just slap him again."
Sam beams at me, "Have I ever told you how brave you are? If I were you I would be running to my car already and speeding home. I think Josh is a really lucky guy to have a girlfriend like you." Sam reaches out and pulls me against his chest holding me close to his chest; it feels great to know that I have friends who want to comfort me.
I laugh at Sam and look up into his big blue eyes and say, "I think you're just as brave as I am Sam. Never underestimate how strong and brave you are."
I look across at the fire being built up by the other boys and realise that tonight might actually be a good night. Sam smiles at me as he drags me over to the group of boys so that he can introduce me to his cadet friends. "Kaila this is Matt, James, Cam, Tom, Nick and Marcus. Guys this is Kaila she's one of the group from school and she is also dating my best mate. Kaila is all around awesome so don't give her a hard time."
I smile laughing slightly at being described as awesome. "Sam! Seriously you don't have to talk me up. You make me sound like some superhero or something. I'm nothing special."
The guys or look at me like I'm bringing their dreams to life which is really freaking me out. Nick reaches out his hand to shake mine, laughter in his eyes, "Hey Kaila, sorry about these guys they revere any type of woman who even looks at them. So I am guessing Sam just dragged you along without telling you what this is about or what we're actually doing here?"
I nod smiling conspiratorially with him, "Yeah I think Sam thought I would run away if I knew what was going on."
Sam shakes his head at me but Nick just laughs, "Yeah that definitely sounds like our Sam. Well we are doing a group bonding thing because our leaders believe that our unit is too fragmented, it's because there has been so many fights breaking out between Dean's group and the rest of the guys. The common denominator is that Dean keeps stealing other guys' girlfriends."
I smile sadly, "I know all about him. He's my ex-boyfriend and I have experience with his cheating and the way that he treats others like they're just there for his entertainment."
I could feel his gaze on the back of my neck and then I felt his arms curve around my waist. "Well what do you know? Kayley is talking about me, who would've thought? Well you know you are here for my entertainment Kaila? You will always be tied to me no matter how hard you try to get away I will find you."
I twist around to glare at him, "Get. Off. Me."
He smiles menacingly, "Or what? Will you cry hysterically? You can't hurt me Kaila and you know you can't."
Seething I pull my arm back and punch the pressure point in his arm. He cries out and pulls his arms away from me shocked to find that I've hurt him. "Yes I can hurt you Dean. So back off. I have no intention of ever spending time with you."
I walk over to an empty spot away from the others; sitting down in the sand in front of the fire I resign myself to a night of annoyance and restraint. Sam quickly joins me glaring into the fire. He sighs finally looking down at his hands clasped around his knees. "I can understand why you were so cautious trusting Josh now. I understand how you must have felt spending time with that guy." He flicks his thumb in Dean's general direction. "I get it. I'm not sure that Josh would be impressed but I can understand you more now. You know you are one very interesting person Kaila?"
Looking into Sam's fire lit blue eyes I smile. "You know you're the first person who realises how I must have felt with him. Thank you Sam you're a great guy as well. I have been told a few times that I'm interesting."
Sam smiles back at me, "Well of course you're interesting Kaila! I'm glad I can share tonight with you, it wouldn't be so much fun if I was here by myself, besides you have already slapped Dean once and you punched him too so I think tonight will be very entertaining."
I laugh, "If that is the type of things you like then you will find tonight very entertaining."
We are both grinning at each other now, "Oh I think I will be. Who knows, you might actually knock him out?"
"Aren't you a little too hopeful? He would absolutely love that, considering he thinks he has power over all girls I think he'd be particularly humiliated to be beaten up by a mere girl!"
Sam smiles cunningly, "Oh I think I haven't set a large enough goal but it would be great to wipe that smug smirk off his face!"
"I can agree with that. That smirk has got to go."
….
The night continues like this, the fun camaraderie between Sam and me becomes really comfortable to sink into. By the end of the night as Sam and I crawl into the car, we giggle at the boys who decided to hijack the CD player and play old Britney Spears songs and torture the rest of us with her early renditions of being a child pop star. Thank god her music has gotten better.
Sam smiles at me in the dark. "Shame the others couldn't share tonight with us but I think I've had the most fun in ages. We should definitely do this again sometime."
I grin at him, "Of course we have to do this again! You know what would beat this?"
Sam shakes his head as he reverses. "I don't know what would make this night any better?"
I smile conspiratorially, "If we turned on the radio and it was playing old Britney Spears' songs as well! That would just make my day!"
We laugh as he pulls out of the car park, he switches on the radio but instead it is Avril Lavigne. We sing along to Sk8er boy and laugh as many more old tunes come on. When Sam f
inally drops me off at my house I can't help but laugh at the most trivial things. I open the door and walk into my bedroom.
And I find Josh sleeping on my bed holding a crushed bouquet of flowers. I smile as I take the flowers from his hands and place them on the desk. I try to make as little sound as possible but I trip over my pile of clothes and land in a heap at the foot of my bed. Josh looks up startled out of sleep and gives me his cutest lazy grin.
"Glad to see you're finally home, I would say safe and sound but you just tripped over your clothes. I swear your room is a health hazard Kaila!" he grins down at me.
I smile as I try to untangle myself and stand up, "Yeah well I didn't expect to see you here. I would have come home sooner if I knew you were waiting for me."
Josh grins back at me, "Come here already. I've been waiting forever for you so get your cute butt over here."
I smile down at him, "Are you going to make me? What are you doing here anyway? Does my dad know you're here?"
Josh smiles sleepily, "If you don't lie down next to me soon I'm going to drag you over here. I wanted to apologise for acting like a conceited jerk. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me. And yes your dad knows I am in here, he was the one who let me in, he even made dinner for me and we had a little chat. I think he knew you weren't coming home for some time."
I smile tentatively, "Yeah I told him I wouldn't be home until ten. But that doesn't explain why you were asleep in my bed."
Josh winks at me, "You know you love seeing me waiting up for you. Anyway it was your dad's suggestion, he could see I didn't want to leave until I saw you and he could see that I was falling asleep so he told me I could sleep over and wait up for you in your bedroom."
I shake my head, "That old man is such a match maker. Seriously when will he learn that he isn't supposed to be encouraging you?"
Josh's grin disappears, "He told me what happened between your ex-boyfriend and you. That must have been really devastating? Do you want to talk about it?"
I sigh and climb into bed next to him; Josh curls his arms around my waist and leans his head against my shoulder. "I saw him tonight. He was a huge pain in the arse; can you believe that he is still trying to win me back? And it would only be to cheat on me again. He's such an arrogant prick! I just hope I never have to see him again."
Josh sighs dreamily, "Do you still love him? It's ok to say you do, I want to know what I am up against because I am not giving you up to anyone Kaila, never."
I smile gazing up into his eyes, "I don't love him Josh. I would never expect you to give me up for anybody Josh; I don't want to let you go either."
I feel my eyelids growing heavy and start to fall asleep in his arms. What beautifully strong arms. "Josh I never want you to let me go." I say dreamily.
I can hear his murmured response as I drift off. "I'll never let you go."