Him

Chapter Sixteen

I couldn't think rationally. I just kept hitting the bag. That's the only thing I saw. I couldn't hear anything around me anymore.

"Why?" I kept asking when I hit something. Eventually I stopped to take a breath. I realized I'd been crying too. That was odd.

I turned around to look at Dylan, but he wasn't there. I looked around and saw him in one of the rings. I ran over to join the crowd and pushed my way through. The person in there was at least twenty and had at most 3% body fat.

Dylan had muscle, but compared to this guy he looked like a twig. I just hoped he knew what he was doing. I watched the fight and as I did this, my anxiety slipped away. I decided that they were sparring and that no one would be hurt. This was a safe space.

Dylan used moves I had never seen before and I wondered where they came from. Dylan ended up 'winning' the match.

He hopped out of the ring.

"Hey." He said. He was sweaty and I noticed for the first time, that he didn't have a shirt on. How the hell was he so fit? It wasn't fair. I saw bruises on his torso too. They were from his father, not the fight.

"Hey." I replied.

"So, did that help?" he asked as he dried off and put his clothes on.

"yes, thank you." I smiled. He returned my smile.

We left after that, making sure to thank Craig. When we were in the car I still hadn't tried to put my barriers back up.

"So, is Craig your uncle?" I asked.

"No, he is Lynn's boyfriend." He said casually. His tone implied that it wasn't permanent.

" When is your father leaving?" He asked. I could hear the agitation in his voice, and I hoped he would let it go.

" Two days." I said. I took a deep breath and decided to ask my next question.

" Are you taking me home?" I asked, surprised that my voice was strong instead of weak.

He gave me the side eye as he drove down the road. Our town wasn't very big and he had already started circling around.

" No." He said after a moment. I sighed, not knowing what else to say.

" I won't let you go home until he is gone." Dylan growled. I felt like I needed to fight this. I could feel myself closing up again.

" You can't protect me all the time." I said calmly. I didn't want to scream at him today.

" I know." He grunted. His hands were gripping the wheel so tightly. I put my hand in his arm and he reluctantly pulled over.

" It's okay. I will be fine." I replied, trying to keep him from blowing up.

" It's not fine! I won't let another person be harmed because I didn't do anything." He complained. I took a deep breath, and tried to call him down.

It wasn't working very well.

" Look, I know you feel bad about your mother, but you can't protect everything. " I said as calmly as I could.

" I need to-" Dylan started to yell. I could see his brain freaking out so I did the one thing I could think of to calm him down.

I kissed him.

I leaned in and kissed him, so he would stop talking. It was my first kiss, and I had no clue what I was doing.

My brain was full of anxiety almost immediately. It didn't help that he sat there motionless.

He didn't react one bit. I pulled myself back and stared down at my hands.

" What was that?" Dylan asked, his voice was gravely.

" Sorry, I didn't know how to calm you down." I said quickly before falling silent again. The air began still and thick with silence.

I didn't dare look over at him. I sat staring at my hands.

" Kylie." Dylan broke the incessant silence.

I couldn't find my voice so I turned my head and looked him in his eyes.

" Was that your first kiss?" He said almost mockingly. His signature smirk had returned to his face. I was mortified. I had no words.

My eyes widened and I sat there shocked.

Dylan started laughing. He was laughing at me. I didn't know what to do.

He continued laughing and the longer it went on the more annoyed I became. I wasn't embarrassed anymore. I was pissed. Pissed that he was laughing at my expense.

" Are you done?" I yelled. He tried to compose himself but it only made him laugh more. His laugh shook the car.

" I'm done now " he said, snickering through the sentence. I have him the evil eye.

" Oh don't be like that. I can teach you how to really kiss someone." He smirked as he leaned in. I could feel my heart wanting to burst out of my chest. Was he messing with me?

He had to be. Right?

" Kylie?" He asked. I returned to reality and saw him smirking again.

" Your really annoying, you know that?" I snapped. He chuckled and leaned in again.

" Quit doing that!" I yelled.

" Does this bother you?" He asked, smirking again. He moved his lips to my neck. I knew he was only teasing me now

" Stop!" I complained. He grinned.

" You don't sound very convincing."

" I will smack you boy!" I warned. He chuckled again. He was leaning closer and I was about to smack him when,

His lips touched mine.