Could Have

Chapter 15: Bittersweet 16

           "Oh my god! Kiera, are you okay?" Callie's voice came trailing behind the figure of Kalen.

I stopped in my tracks as Kalen ran up and gripped my shoulders looking me over in a terrified shock. His eyes quickly turned to a green fury.

"Where is he?" Kalen demanded.

"I took care of him," I said in shock as I felt silent tears fall from my eyes.

"Oh Kiera, you're bleeding," Callie finally caught up to Kalen and Dylan wasn't far behind her. Kalen was wearing a white t-shirt and he resembled a blonde Adonis.
He lifted the hem of his tee shirt and wiped at the blood on my arms.

"No, not your shirt," I slurred.

"Don't be ridiculous," Kalen swallowed hard and wiped away the flecks of rocks on my face. His eyes darted up and looked beyond me. The far dark outline of Chase stumbled out of the path down the beach and looked towards us. Kalen clenched his jaw and I could see it in his eyes he wanted to kill Chase. I brought my hand up to Kalen' cheek and lightly pulled his glare back to me.

"Not worth it." I softly shook my head pleading for him not to leave me in this moment. Kalen nodded agreeing with what I hoped my eyes were telling him. I felt another tear slip down my face and he reached up to wipe it away.

"What a piece of shit!" Callie said, grabbing my hand and then looking back at Dylan."How could you be friends with that prick!?"

"Not my friend, I don't even really know him!" Dylan said defensively.

"Should we call the police?" Callie asked, holding her phone ready to dial.

"I doubt they'll do anything, plus I'm pretty sure I broke his nose and I don't need an assault charge." I said, holding my gaze with Kalen. I started to unfreeze and it hit me that Kalen was really in front of me

"Good!" Callie cheered.

"How did you know where I was? What are you even doing in town?" I searched Kalen' s eyes wondering if I was somehow hallucinating. I wondered if drinking too much caused hallucinations...
Kalen smirked and held up his phone which was on a call with me. I finally looked down at my phone and completely forgot that he had been on the phone with me before Chase showed up.

    "You heard everything..." I whispered out loud, piecing the puzzle together, "but, then how close were you?"

"I was at a party not far from here," Kalen answered. I looked at his phone still on a call with me and then Melanie's name popped up on an incoming message

"Your girlfriend is trying to get a hold of you." I said flatly and ended the call with Kalen on my phone.

Kalen quickly turned his phone over and looked at his screen, he shook his head and slipped his phone into his back pocket.

"Let's get you home." Callie said, frowning. She drunkenly swing her arms around me and hugged. "I'm so sorry," Callie started to cry, "I should have peed with you."

"Shit happens" I didn't know what else to say. I squeezed Callie back. "At least this is a birthday I won't forget?"

Nobody laughed. Callie stayed hugging me.
Kalen's phone buzzed again and again in his back pocket. I darted him a look from Callie's embrace.

"Just answer it," I said in the most nonchalant way I could muster.

Kalen rolled his eyes and nodded. He pulled out his phone and answered, turning away from us as he spoke in a low voice.

Callie let go of me and smiled madly.

"He forgot something!" She turned around and ran towards the fire. Dylan and I slowly followed behind her. I watched as she bent down and grabbed Chase's guitar. Callie lifted the guitar up over her head.