Chapter Twenty Four

Christmas that year was unlike any other - with Bruce in the hospital and Kane and I together. We hadn't really discussed what we were, but he wasn't hesitant to hold my hand, steal kisses and cuddle whenever he could, expect for in front of my dad.

   On Christmas Eve, we all went to Bruce's hospital room with gifts, and we stayed, laughing and visiting until they kicked us out, long after visiting hours were done. The next day, I stayed home. Kane and Carla went to see Bruce, then came to our house for dinner and my dad's famous apple pie. There were lots of gifts for Andy, a few for me, and I gave the ones I'd bought for my parents and Andy to them.

   Kane and I sat outside on the chairs on our porch long after dark - Andy had already gone to bed and Carla was still inside visiting with my parents. He held my hand, but we remained quiet.

   "It feels weird that my dad isn't here," he finally told me.

   "I know," I agreed.

   "I am so happy I'm here, though, finally. With you."

   I smiled at him, squeezing his hand. I didn't doubt any of this; the last week had been amazing. We'd spent every day together, often with Trenton and Jessie, as well. They were surprised, but excited, to see that we were "together". But for some reason I was wondering why. Why was this happening with Kane and I now? And what would happen once we were back at school?

   "So, I got you something?" I told him, interrupting my own thoughts. "Before all of this. Actually, it was the day of the party at Trenton's."

   "You did?" he asked.

   I just nodded, reaching into my sweater pocket. I held out a small velvet bag to him. "It's just something, and I don't know if -"

   He pulled out two key chains, that clicked together to make a heart. They said "Best Friends Forever" when they were clicked together. This could have been a strange gift, I know, but when we were kids, we always bought things like this for each other's birthdays. One year, I picked out a necklace with two halves, similar idea. We were six and seven, and my mom was skeptical that it was a good idea. But Kane wore it every day until the chain broke. He kept it in his bedroom long after that.

   Kane let out a funny laugh, now, then grinned at me. "Wow."

   "What?" I asked him, smiling.

   He unclicked the key chains and passed one to me. "Well, I guess we are still best friends."

   "You guess?" I teased him.

   "Well, I got you this." He handed me a small, wrapped box.

   I took it and unwrapped it, revealing a small jewelry box. My heart started racing.

   "I just got it a few days ago," he added, as I opened the little box.

   I was surprised to see that it was a ring. Kane didn't seem like the type to buy gifts, let alone this. I just stared at it, trying to figure out what was happening. It was a thin silver band with one small gem in the center.

   "Kane..." I said. "Why did you...?"

   "Look inside the band," he smirked.

   I took out the ring and looked on the inside. It was a bit hard to see in the dark, but the porch light provided just enough light. There was an engraving on the inside, which said - BEST FRIENDS FOREVER. I LOVE YOU.

   Tears filled my eyes as I looked up at Kane. He was just smiling at me, like he had been waiting for this moment for years. We hadn't given each other gifts in years, and now, back together again, this happened. It felt unbelievable.

   "Meant to be?" he asked. I nodded, slipping the ring onto my finger. "So, will you be my girlfriend?"

   "Girlfriend?" I asked, teasing him. He was just grinning. "Really?"

   "Uh, yeah," he said, looking confused for a second. "Do you want me to beg?"

   "A little," I said, then laughed. "No. I mean, yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

   And then he was kissing me, on the front porch of my house, without a care in the world. I didn't care that my dad was just inside the house, and could look out and see us at any moment. But it obviously worried Kane, even if slightly. He looked unsure as he pulled away from me.

   "Do we tell our parents?" he asked.

   "Well, my Mom knows. I assume she hasn't told my Dad, but -"

   "What is he going to do?" Kane looked freaked out for a second.

  I shrugged. "Maybe he'll be happy. You'll still be keeping me safe, right?"

   "Of course," Kane grinned again. "But, maybe we don't have to tell him just yet."

~~

   Things didn't change much, even when we went back to school. We stood together at the side gym doors in the mornings, like always, Trenton smoking a cigarette and Jessie telling another story, this time about how her brother "ran away" over Winter Break, and they found him two days later, at a friend's house.

   "He's so dumb," she laughed. "And he's lucky I called his friends to find him before I called the cops."

   Trenton laughed, and Kane slipped his arm around my waist, just a minute before the bell rang.

   "See you at lunch," I said to him, but he kept me close, then kissed my neck.

   "Yes, you will," he said in my ear.

   I spun my new ring, which still felt weird on my hand, as I walked to my locker. I hadn't thought much about people seeing me with Kane - I'd spent two weeks with him and forgot that no one knew we were together. But when Kaylee came up beside me after I closed my locker, I knew, somehow, that this was all people had seen.

   "Hey," she said casually, like we weren't fighting. "So, you and Kane. You're, like, together?"

   I looked at her. "Uh, you're, like, talking to me now?"

   "Come on, Marley. We've never fought for this long. Can we just -"

   "You still want me to apologize?" I asked, annoyed.

   "I am sorry. For not being supportive. I didn't know you and Kane were... a thing. You said it would never happen."

   I smiled, but not at her. "It just happened a week ago, really. But he really helped me through the last couple of months. I needed to be with people who knew how to help me... be calm," I told her.

   She shook her head. "I'm confused."

   The second bell rang.

   "I know. I'm sorry. But I couldn't just sit there and hope Kyler didn't come near me. I had to know he wouldn't. And with Kane and Trenton, I just knew...." I went on.

   "I didn't know you were still struggling with that," she admitted.

   "I know."

   "I'm really sorry, Marley."

   I hugged her and relief flooded through my body.

   "Ladies, get to class," a teacher called to us. The hallways were already all cleared.

   I knew it would be different now, but I followed Kaylee to her locker at lunch, liking how familiar it felt. She kept smiling at me, obviously happy to have me back. But when Georgia saw me as we got close, she was literally jumping with joy.

   "Marley! You guys made up?" she yelled, hugging me right away. I just nodded. "Finally!"

   Sitting at Georgia's locker already eating lunch, were Ryan and two other girls I didn't know, and Nolan, who played in the band with Ryan. They were watching my reunion with Georgia.

   "Are you staying?" Kaylee asked me.

   "Yeah, sit!" Georgia told me.

   "I'm actually... I told Kane I would meet him -"

   "Right," Kaylee nodded, dropping her bag. "Of course."

   She didn't look mad, but I couldn't be sure. Georgia just smiled at me.

   "I'll see you guys in third," I said, then kept walking before anyone else could say anything.

~~

"Hey!" Jessie called to me as I neared them a few minutes later. She was wearing a bright red headband I'd never seen her wear before.

   "Hey," I said back, glancing at Kane, who was leaning against the tree, wearing his winter jacket.

   "You get lost?" he laughed, obviously referring to the fact that it was already fifteen minutes into lunch.

   "No. Actually, I started talking to Cassie," I told him, stepping closer.

   He hugged me, kissing my head at the same time. He kept me close for awhile; I could just smell his cologne on his neck and hear his heart beating.

   "Oh? How'd that go?" he finally replied. Something seemed off.

   "Good, actually. She apologized to me, and she is happy for us," I said, then laid my head against him.

   He nodded, forcing a smile. But now I knew something was wrong. I leaned in close again, and asked him quietly, "You okay?"

   His arms were around me again and he closed his eyes. "Well, Kyler had some choice words for me this morning. I guess he saw us -"

   "Seriously?" I asked, surprised.

   "He threatened to kick my ass, and said we should both watch our backs." His heart was pounding. "I want to take you home. Then I'll deal with it."

   "Kane, come on. What's he going to do?" I asked.

   "He has nothing to lose, and he's really angry. To keep you safe, I need you to not be here." He was just looking at me with a serious look on his face.

   "Can't you just tell the principal what he said to you?"

   "Marley, I am serious, okay? It could be bad."

   I  sighed. "Fine, I'll go sign out."