The Protector

FIFTY-FIVE

We pulled up to the parking garage and I hopped off the bike, my legs a little wobbly and my hair wild from blowing in the wind.

"That was amazing!" I twirled a few times, tossing the helmet to Julian. "The way you moved around that eighteen wheeler... incredible!" I hurled myself into his arms, almost tipping over the bike in the process. "God, I love you!" I pressed my lips to his, knowing my mistake the second the words crossed my lips. Why do I always do that? I've got to learn to filter my words. I pulled back from his kiss a little, praying he wouldn't notice. Why did I say that?! Do I love him? My conflicted mind swayed back and forth wildly. Julian pulled back, his forehead pressed against mine, and he tucked some hair behind my ear.

"I love you too, Perry." He smiled a shy smile and my heart beat quite rapidly.  My skin burned beneath his fingertips, the passion burning from deep inside. Could this be what love with Julian felt like?! The door to the stairwell opened with a noisy slam and I jumped.

"Where the hell have you been?!" A deep voice boomed, and I spun around. Kyler stood across the garage, visibly fuming, his handsome face bright red, and his fists balled. I could taste the rage flowing from him like a gigantic tidal wave as he addressed me but stared at Julian.

"We were out," Julian responded dryly, lifting the storage component to retrieve my things.

"You could have bothered to tell someone. You just got out of the hospital, and you're out running around town like nothing is wrong." Kyler's anger rose equal to Julian's disinterest in the conversation.

"Calm down. We did. I called her dad this morning and told him. He said it was fine." Julian was openly enjoying Kyler's meltdown. He turned to me. "Thank you for the most incredible day, mi amour." Julian's Spanish nickname took on a different meaning now. My cheeks burned as he grabbed my hand and kissed it before getting back on the bike. He sped out of the garage and the exhaust from the bike billowed my dress.

I clutched my belongings to my chest, still on a high after the wonderful day we had. I think I really did love Julian. My heart fluttered, and I fought the overwhelming urge to twirl again. I skipped across the garage to the stairwell.

"What is wrong with you?" Kyler hissed as I passed by him. He grabbed my arm to turn me towards him. My euphoric bubble popped, spilling rainbows and unicorns onto the concrete floor below.

"What do you mean?" I asked defensively, ripping my arm free of his grasp. I noticed his eyes were so dark again.

"Why are your cheeks red? Were y'all off having sex somewhere?" Before I even realized I'd moved, my hands shoved him.

"How dare you!" I roared and several car alarms came to life. "My sex life is none of your business, and it hasn't been for a long time. Not since you left." I stalked off towards the elevator. I shoved my finger against the button repeatedly. Since when has it ever taken this long?! I lost my patience and ripped open the door to the stairwell. I didn't care if I had thirty plus flights of stairs to climb. I would've climbed any number to get away from him.

When I was somewhere around the fifth floor, I heard the door open again and Kyler climbed quickly. I ran, taking two steps at a time, like I was being chased by a serial killer. Somewhere around the tenth floor, Kyler finally caught up with me thanks to my deconditioned lungs and his super human speed.

"Wait," he panted, out of breath too. "I shouldn't have asked you that." He hunched over, and I climbed again, but he stopped me with his arm. "I'm sorry, Perry. I was worried about you. I came to check on you this morning in the infirmary, but you were already gone, and I went by your room and you weren't there either." He ran his fingers through his hair.

"I didn't know I was supposed to report to you where I was going, and who I was doing," I snarled with vitriol, still stinging from his disgust in the parking garage.  He grimaced, but only for a brief moment.

"You're right. You don't owe me anything. After what happened the other night though... it's weird. I feel protective over you for some reason." I tried to keep my pulse steady, but my heart beat wildly, betraying me.

"That's sweet, but Julian took amazing care of me all summer, and he'd never let anything bad happen to me." I felt my anger slowly fade away. Kyler nodded, but wouldn't look me in the eyes. "Hey," I said as I wrapped my fingers around his forearm, his eyes finally meeting mine. I wondered why I couldn't feel the fireworks from our connection anymore. Last year, whenever I touched him, it felt like we were connected, like my skin would burn straight off my bones. I felt nothing, like there was a great divide keeping us apart.

"I know," was all he said as he glanced back down to his shoes. "So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?" he asked out of the blue, and I wondered why he cared.

"Nothing much. I was going to study a little on the roof and finish my paper on the Sisters for Intro to Protection Studies." He smiled,  and his dimples looked absolutely delicious.

"I wrote my paper on the Sisters too. I know it was forever ago, but I could help you if you want." He glanced nervously at his shoes again and I frowned. Why would Kyler want to hang out with me? Did this stem from his need to save me? Again. "I mean, if you'd rather not, that's okay too." Who was this version of Kyler Isaacs in front of me? He almost seemed like the man I used to know, the one I had loved. "This is not a good idea," my mind screamed at me, but my mouth didn't listen.

"I'd love all the help I can get." He smiled, and we climbed the stairs, together this time.