Twice As Shy

Chapter 1

“Megan, would you mind  locking up tonight? I need to go pick up Jonathan from football practice,” my boss, Camille asks me.

“Of course not,” I responded. 

She said her goodbyes to the rest of our coworkers and left. Camille started this afterschool center with her husband a long time ago. He died a few years back, and life has been tough for her and their son, Jonathan.

Camille gave me my first and only job, so far. I love it here at Dailey’s  Akademy. I mean, I love working with kids and the pay is great. I always feel so mature and grown-up when I think about it. I make my own money, pay my own phone bills and gas with that money, and I even have my own credit card. Although, I do prefer cash. Granted, I can’t be all that grown-up because I’m 17 and just graduated high school.

A year before Camille’s husband, Michael Thomas, died they began to offer summer camp here as well. So this is how I spend my days in the summer. Wiping noses and making money.

Finally, I’m the last one here with the exception of two of our campers. I figure when they leave, I can get back home to dinner. I sit Mike and Jessica down with a movie in the game room, while I check my facebook page. I’m only a teenager, and they have really fun games. Anyway, I’m just logging off when I hear a car blow its horn. I suppose it’s time for the last little bugger to go home.

“Mikey, I think your ride is here,” I tell him from where I’m sitting at the computer. He just turned 10 and is one of our one of our older campers. I help him gather his things and get Jessica ready to go. As we walk through the building, I turn off all the lights and set the alarm.

“ Mike, tell your mommy I said hi. She’s been on vacation for 3 weeks now. I bet you miss her,” Jessie says to him.

“ I don’t miss her that much. I’m 10 years old now and I don’t have to tell her anything,” Mike responds.

Jessica has never been one to accept not getting her way. “ Fine, I’ll tell her you said that when we come over tomorrow .” Then, she runs off down the hall.

“ I WAS ONLY KIDDING , Jess. Gosh. Don’t tell her!” Mike yells chasing after her.

When I finally get to the front, Jessica and Mike are having a stare down. I walk right past them and out the door. I told them if they didn’t come on, I’d lock them in the building. That got their attention fast. No one wants to get locked in a dark building at night.

“ Isn’t that considered child abuse or something?” I hear a familiar voice say.

I turn around slowly, hoping it doesn’t belong to the one person I never expected to see again. But how often do hopes and dreams come true?

“ Kyle !!!!!!” Jess and Mike scream in excitement at the same time, before running to hug him.

I look at the ground and address a question to Mike.

 “ I thought your dad was picking you up tonight.”

“Dad had to go pick up Mom from the airport. I just got back in town and told him I could pick up Mike today. I’d forgotten how to get here so it took me a little longer than usual to find this place,” Kyle responds before Mike could.

Looking at the ground, I can see his feet approaching me. I turn around, close my eyes, and pray that this is all a dream. Jessica and Mike come and sit on the steps beside me ,waiting to see what will happen next. I’m startled from my thoughts, when I feel Kyle’s hands wrap around my waist.  I can feel him behind me, his warmth reaching out to me, wanting to pull my body back to his……