Small Town Sweethearts

STS - Chapter 9: Car Wash

Chapter 9

Amelia's POV

The call from Lacey came the morning after the party. I knew she left with Kai, but that was the end of my knowledge on the subject.

"So how was it?" I answer the phone. "Is Kai a good kisser? Because he looks like an amazing kisser!"

"Amelia! I will kill you!" she shouts in answer. I blink in surprise, falling backwards onto the bed in my room. "You totally ditched me with that creep! And then Kai had to punch him because the guy wouldn't let me go! And then . . ."

Her voice abruptly stops. "Babe, what's wrong?"

"I'll kill you later. Can you come over? I'll tell you everything."

I answer quickly and throw on some sweats from the floor, knowing from her tone she's in no mood to leave the house. I drive to my best friend's house and let myself in, quickly heading toward her room.

I find Lacey sitting on the bed with a blank look in her eyes. She's still in yesterday's makeup, and hasn't bothered to tame last night's bedhead. I swear, once I find out who did this to her, I'll kill them. Lacey is the strongest girl I know, she's been through so much. She's told me most of it, stuff I don't like to think about.

I join her on the bed, and she blinks, as if noticing I'm here. "Hey." I say, treading lightly.

"He said he likes me, that he couldn't keep me out of his head," she tells me, snapping fully out of her trance. Flopping back on the bed, she pulls a pillow pet to her stomach and hugs it tightly. "But I said no. To Kai, I mean."

"Start from the beginning. He didn't hurt you did he?"

Lacey shakes her head quickly. "No, of course not. He dragged me out of the party, saying I was too sweet to be there, that I would get hurt. He said it scared him - me getting hurt. Then we started driving." She pauses and sits back up, crossing her legs Indian style. "I was mad. He just dragged me out of there like I was his possession!

"But then he just blurted out that he broke up with Payton. There was some name calling, and I made him mad. There may have been the word whore involved . . . multiple times . . . And then he said he broke up with her for me! And that he couldn't get me out of his head! I was going to reply, but he kissed me." She pauses to catch her breath, her eyes wide and brimming with excitement.

"And he is an amazing kisser. Like, oh my God. I was on his lap in under a minute. Once we pulled away, I stayed quiet, and he said to just say something, so I did. I asked how many other girls he'd done the same thing to. Oh, and I said I wouldn't put out . . . he didn't seem upset though. Angry, yes, but not, you know? After that he drove me home."

I blink a few times, taking in all her words. "I think he's being legit."

Lacey shakes her head adamantly, "No. Don't tell me that. I can't take the fact of that." She sighs, the tiredness in her eyes that she's trying to hide peeking through as her voice drops to a whisper. "I still like him, Mel. He's a pain in my butt and I still like him. I'm pathetic."

I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her tightly and taking a deep breath. My friend is hurting and I feel helpless, which isn't something I'm used to. "Don't worry honey. He's not worth you, I promise. Now go take a shower - you smell."

Lacey rolls her eyes at me before getting up and walking into her bathroom, closing the door. I soon hear the shower start, and I know she'll probably take a while. It gives me time to think about . . . well, everything.