Chapter FOUR

An hour later, Kyler and I were making out in a guest bedroom upstairs. He was half on top of me, and I felt amazing. I'd already had a third beer, now I just drank it like water. I had no idea what time it was, and I really didn't care. All I could think was that I was making out with one of the of the most popular football players at my school. That, and that he didn't know I'd never done this before.

   Kyler's hands were wandering up my shirt, and I wanted to know what he wanted to do. My eyes were closed, and I didn't stop when he tried to undo my bra.

   The bedroom door opened suddenly, and I heard Gibson's voice a second later. Gibson obviously didn't care that he was interrupting something.

   "Dude, your sister is looking for you," he said to Kyler, who stopped kissing me to look over at the door. I didn't look at Gibson, I just kept my eyes on Kyler. I just wanted him to be kissing me again.

   "Stephanie?" Kyler asked, not moving.

   "Yeah. She said she needs a ride home,"Gibson went on.

   "Okay. Tell her... I'll come find her soon," Kyler told him, and then Gibson was gone and the door was closed again. Kyler let out a sigh - he was still breathing as heavy as I was. "Sorry," he whispered to me, then kissed me again.

   I forced a smile against his lips, but didn't say anything.

   "Do you have a curfew? It's... after eleven," he went on, glancing at his watch.

   And that was when things snapped back to reality.

   "Yes, shit. I'm supposed to be home by midnight," I said, now realizing what I was doing. My head was still fuzzy, and home was the last place I wanted to go. But I didn't want to be in trouble with my parents, the very first time I went on a date.

   "I don't want to get you home late," Kyler said, then kissed me again before sitting up. "Just so you know... I didn't want to stop."

   I smiled at him, blushing. "Me either."

   He grinned. "Will you go out with me again?"

   I sat up, fixing my shirt. Somehow I didn't feel awkward now, so I nodded at him and then followed him out of the room. We went down the staircase, holding hands, and Kyler high-fived and waved at a bunch of people before we went out the front door. It felt like two hours had passed in just a minute, and now Kyler's sister, Stephanie, was waiting on the front lawn, alone. I didn't really know her, but she was in a couple of my classes.

   "How'd you get here?" he asked her, as she followed a few steps behind us, walking towards his car.

   "Mitch, and Casey, but they were being dicks," she said, loudly.

   "They always are. And you're supposed to be home by eleven-thirty. You shouldn't even have been out here," Kyler continued, obviously annoyed.

   "Well, I knew you'd drive me home," she snapped back.

   "What if I wasn't leaving now?" He shot her a look, as we approached his car.

    Stephanie looked at me. "Were you going to crash at the beach house with her?"

   Kyler looked embarrassed now, for a second, then opened the passenger door for me. I was quiet the entire drive back to town, as my buzz was wearing off and I felt strange, with Stephanie in the back seat. When Kyler pulled into my driveway, I thanked him for the ride and got out of the car, before he could say anything.

   My Dad was waiting up, in the living room, for me. It was quarter after twelve, I saw the clock on the microwave as I passed through the kitchen.

   "How was the party?" he asked me, obviously glad that I was home safe.

   "Fun, thanks," I smiled at him.

   "Okay," he said, then sighed. "Goodnight, sweetie."

   I was surprised and relieved that he didn't ask who I was with and why I was late. I was also glad to feel normal again, as I went up the stairs and into my bedroom. I threw myself on my bed and pulled out my cell phone, only now seeing a message from Kaylee.

   So, how was the party?

   I never lied to Kaylee. And we didn't keep secrets from each other. She had called me the moment she got home from her (ex)boyfriend Max's house, the night she had sex with him. We'd been friends so long, it was just expected. Georgia, too, even more so. She had called me crying within an hour of her crush, from her karate class, turning her down. So, now I knew I had to tell the truth.

   I made out with Kyler, I replied.

   Kaylee: Whaaaaat?!

   Me: Yeah. I had three beers. We made out. It was awesome.

   Kaylee: I'm so jealous right now. Kyler is so hot. Are you two together now?

   Me: I don't know. He asked if I'll go out with him again.

   Kaylee: Nice. I can't believe your first boyfriend is a popular senior, football player! I guess growing up with Kane did you good after all.

   This comment really made me think. Yes, Kane transferring to my high school was the reason Kyler even knew I existed. He was the reason tjat I was in with the popular girls. But now, I was not just the girl that Kane grew up with. I was Marley Jay, and I could stand my ground in high school. I hope.

   On Monday, I was bombarded by Mandee and Mel, practically as soon as I got out of my Dad's car. Mandee linked her arm in mine and walked close beside me. She was the pack leader, Mel always following behind. Sometimes there were other girls following close, too.

   "So, we saw you with Kyler at the party," she began.

   I'd only seen them there in passing, in the main part of the beach house. They were both drunk before Kyler and I even arrived.

   "Yeah," I nodded.

   "He's so sweet. Like, really sweet. His ex, Marisa, cheated on him... like, a few months ago. She totally has no friends now," Mandee went on.

   "Oh," I said, still walking towards the school. I didn't know much about Kyler, it turned out.

   "So, and you are and Kyler, a thing? Or what?" Mel asked, pulling at my arm.

   I hadn't heard from Kyler since the party. I didn't even know if he had my number. I was in a bit of a rush to get out of his car that night, and it slipped my mind. I had no idea if he actually wanted to date me.

   "No," I shook my head, trying to look casual.

   "No?" Mandee asked back, confused.

   "I haven't talked to him." I wanted them to think I didn't really care either way.

   "There he is," Mel squealed, like he was a supermodel or famous actor or something.

   We were inside the school now, and she was pointing at a row of lockers where Kyler was standing, with Gibson and a few other guys. I smiled at Kyler as we walked by, but suddenly I was worried about what he was thinking, or saying, about me to his friends. This was all so new.

   At my locker, I separated from Mandee and Mel. Georgia and Kaylee appeared a few minutes later, just like I knew they would.

   "Did you talk to him?" Georgia asked, obviously Kaylee had filled her in.

   "Go, talk to him," Kaylee added, knowing that I hadn't.

    "No. I am going to let him make the first move. I mean, yes, we made out. But I was drinking, and maybe -"

   "I'll punch him in the balls if he only made out with you because you were drunk," Kaylee said, then laughed.

   "I wasn't drunk," I said. "But, it's actually... Kane. He apparently told Gibson and Kyler that I was off limits. So I don't know if Kyler will be making any public displays of -"

   "Hey, Marley?"

   And there he was, standing beside Kaylee, suddenly, at my locker. Georgia cleared her throat, pulling Kaylee away. Kyler looked happy to see me, so I smiled, then closed my locker door.

   "Hi," I said to him.

   "You didn't give me your number," he said, like I had asked why he didn't call.

   "Oh, right."

   "I mean, I was going to ask Kane for it," he let out a laugh. "But I figured that wasn't a great idea."

  "No," I said quickly, "Here." I pulled a pen from my backpack and wrote my number quickly on his hand.

   "So, when can I kiss you... I mean, take you out, again?" he asked, flirting. I could not believe what was happening.

   "Um, I don't know," I said, then shrugged.

   "Can you go out during the week?" he wanted to know.

   "I can, sometimes. Curfew is ten. I have to be done homework, and make sure I don't have to babysit my brother..."

    "Okay. Well.. how about I text you after school?" he asked, still smiling this sweet smile.

   I nodded. "Okay."

   He leaned in close and put his nose touching mine, then kissed me, just once. And then he was gone, before I could even react.