Her Only Secret

knight in shining grease

Uodated
I wake up the next day with a little bit more of a pep in my step than I usually do. I blame it on the little bit of champagne I snuck last night when my parents weren't looking but I knew deep down it was Bryce. I think he unlocked a happier part of me I don't usually have because I'm always being told what to do and how to act and he is the exact opposite of everything I'm told I should be. I stretch and climb out of my ridiculous large bed and go into my equally ridiculously large closet to pick out some clothes for the day. I pick some jeans and a graphic t-shirt with the rolling stones classic tongue logo. My mother would lose it seeing me in such casual clothes but she's not here and even if she were, I'd still wear it. She's decided to pick her battles with me because I'm just as stubborn as she is and she would rather me dress like this now and give in and wear the stupid gowns to the parties rather than her force me to dress nice now and possibly show up to the parties in a banana suit or something and embarrass her beyond words. I get ready and go down to the foyer where I see Anita our head maid cleaning. I say Hi to her and walk out of the house and go to my beautiful red jeep wrangler. The one good thing about my parents being rich snobs is they have to make sure they spend good money on everything. Including their children's cars. I love jeeps. I get into the car and drive downtown to meet my best friend Amelia at our favorite Cafe for coffee and breakfast. Our usual Saturday morning routine. Unlike everyone else in the school, Amelia has been my best friend since before she found out I was rich. She and I became friends when I kicked a boy in his nuts on the playground in first grade because he was bullying her for wearing a tiara saying she was a princess. Everyone else was scared of me after that until middle school when people started finding out about my family's money and either wanted to be my friend to try and get money or to date my brother for our money or they treated me like a spoiled rich kid who thought I was better than them or something. I dont care though. I have Amelia and she Is plenty. I parked and got out of the car and went into the Cafe where Amelia was already waiting with our usual order at a seat by the window. I sit down and say "You are the best." Abd I stick the straw in my iced coffee she ordered me and its exactly the way I want it. She smiles and says "Aren't I?" I sip the coffee and close my eyes and hmm happily. She laughs and says " So how was the party last night? As dreadful as usual?" She takes a bite out of her croissant and then sips her own iced coffee. I sit back in my chair and sigh saying "Just as dreadful. Maybe a little more." She laughs and says "Well at least you weren't stuck babysitting my baby monster. I swear my parents give her candy before they leave me to babysit. She's a monster. " Amelia's 2 year old sister Lily is the cutest thing ever. She doesn't think so though. "Mels....she's not a monster, you just aren't good with kids. " I reply and laugh. She rolls her eyes. "No one ever listens to me. I swear she was going to try to kill me in my sleep last night. I saw her sharpening her claws on the side of the crib." I burst into laughter at that response and then Amelia followed soon after. After we finally stopped laughing I said "But honestly, the party wasn't so bad." Amelia stopped smiling at that and said " Am I hearing you right? Did Kaylen LeAnn Henson just say that a party was fun?" I roll my eyes and say "I didn't say fun. I just said "not so bad"" she slammed her hand down on the table and said "Who are you and where is the real Kaylen?" I laughed and said " Calm down. It's just because I met someone there that was pretty cool
That's all." She immediately lit up and started questioning me. "Who? A boy? Was he cute? Did he get your number? How old is he? Was it love at first sight? Does he have a friend?" I covered her mouth with my hand and said "Do you want me to tell you or not?" She nodded her head with my hand still on her mouth and I took my hand off and Said "Yes. A boy. He was super cute. He's our age and love at first sight, I don't know but I definitely feel like something could happen. And as for friends I don't know. I just met the guy." She said "awww. What's his name?" I smiled and said Bryce Stevens." Her smile instantly fell. "The Bryce Stevens? At a high class party? How?" I looked at her confused and said " He was working. Wait how do you know Bryce stevens?" She said "I thought everyone knew him. He went to school with us since 5th grade but he dropped out last year. I heard because he joined a gang." I scrunched my eyebrows at her and said "How come I never heard of him?" She shrugged her shoulders and said "you aren't the type to gossip" she continued drinking her coffee and then said " So what happened with you and the mafia leader?" I let out a short laugh and said " I don't think he's in a gang. Or the mafia. He was working as a waiter . I went for a walk and literally ran right into him. We went out to the edge of a cliff and..." Amelia interrupted me and said "...and he pushed you?" We both burst into a fit of laughter again. Once we settled back down I continue and say "We just talked. He called me beautiful a couple times. But he seems really genuine. He dropped out of school to take care of his mom and siblings. She has cancer and can't work. I feel really bad for him. He works so many jobs and can't barely even get by. My parents throw money at a stock market investment that may or may not make them more money and still don't have to worry about if they'll be able to pay a bill next month or even next year." Amelia smiles and says "Thats why I love you Kaylen. You have everything plus more. Anything you want you could have and yet you don't care. You never think about yourself. It's time you do." She stands up and picks up her breakfast trash and coffee and I look up at her confused. She turns and says "Well. What are you waiting for? Come on." I pick up my coffee and trash and follow confused about what she michevious idea she has planned. We walk to the door of the Cafe and both drop our trash in the can on the way out. I follow Amelia down the sidewalk that leads to the down town business district. I catch up to her and ask "where are we going?" She just smiles and says "you'll see." I roll my eyes. This definitely means she's concocted some scheme to get us into some serious trouble. Amelia has mastered the art of mischief. She has gotten us into some really cool parties and even a bar once with her story telling and distraction. She's also gotten us into a lot of trouble as well many times. "Why the big secret?" I ask. She just laughs and says "It's a surprise" I roll my eyes again and just give up and let her lead the way. I hate surprises. I follow her all the way to a small auto shop with 2 garage doors that are both opened. One has an old brown rusty pick up truck that's jacked up and has one guy underneath it and one guy under the hood. The other side has a nicer looking blue suv with 2 guys looking under the hood. I look at Amelia who's just smiling and says "Surprise!!" I give her a quizzical look and say "what?" Are we going to apply to become mechanics?" I ask. She just rolls her eyes and says "Bryce works here. Well he used to. My dad used to bring the old station wagon up here. Turns out he wasted more money on it than it was worth." I look back at the shop and see the sign that says Anderson Towing and repairs. I remember Bryce said he worked at the shop on the weekends and I drag Amelia away from the shop before I see him. She starts questioning me and once we're far enough away that he wouldn't see me I stop and tell her "Are you crazy?! He's going to think I stalked him or something if he sees me here!" She laughs and says " you're the crazy one. We're shopping. We walked by and saw him. Don't be so dramatic." I throw my hands up and say "I'm not being dramatic. He probably doesn't even like me and was just being nice last night. I'm gonna look like a stalking freak" She just laughs and grabs my hand and pulls me back to the garage as I protest and try to yank her back but she won't have it. We get back to the door where the rusty pick up is and the guy who was underneath the truck is now standing up and wiping his greasy hands on his shirt. Amelia shouts "Hey!! It's Bryce. Right?" The guy turns and I realize it is Bryce. A very greasy Bryce but still Bryce. I turn to Amelia and give her a glare before turning back to see Bryce walking towards us. He smiles and says "Hey. Do I know you" to Amelia and then looks at me and instant recognition registers in his face and he smiles wide and says "Hey!! What are you doing here?" I shrug and start feeling my face heat up. Amelia comes to the rescue of course and says " I'm Amelia. I remembered you from when my dad used to bring his old station wagon up here." He just smiles and said "oh yeah. I remember. How has the station wagon been treating yall?" She says "oh he got rid of it. It wasn't doing anything but giving him a headache and emptying his wallet." They share a laugh and then the attention is turned to me again. Bryce asked "So what are yall doing over here on this fine Saturday morning?" I smile and said "We always go to the Cafe and get break on Saturday mornings and then just walk downtown and shop or whatever. It's a tradition." He just nods and says "So is this your best friend then?" I nod and say "yeah. Since first grade" he smiles and says "Well thats awesome. I don't think I've been friends with anyone for that long. " I just smile and say "Yeah she's something" with the last word I grit my teeth and give Amelia a side eye. She just sticks her tongue out at me and laughs. Bryce grins and says "Well hey. You didn't even have to wait 24 hours to see me again." I smile and start to blush and try to come up with some sort of witty response back when I feel a gentle push in my back that knocks me forward and almost straight into Bryce. He instinctively reaches out and grabs my arms to keep me from falling and stands me back on my feet. He laughs and says "If I have to keep saving you from hitting the ground every time I see you you're going to have to start calling me your knight in shining armor. I laugh and look at my arms where Bryce caught me and got black greasy from his hands on my shirt. I decide to make a joke and say " More like my knight in shining grease." He busts out laughing at that and says "oh my god. I'm so sorry. I'll get you another shirt." I respond "No. It's totally fine. It's not a special shirt. There's no problem." He says "No. I've got to repay you somehow. I just ruined your short. You know that stains not coming out right?" An idea pops in his head and he says " wait right here. I'll be right back. " He runs off inside and I instantly turn to Amelia. "Why did you push me?? Are you crazy? Now he's gonna think I'm a clutz!" She rolls her eyes and says "No he doesnt. He thinks it's funny. And cute. Geez. He can't even keep his eyes off of you!! He smiles literally every time he looks at you and his eyes lit up the second he saw you!! You have to invite him to hang out with us tonight at the Start of summer bonfire tonight!!" I shake my head and say "No!! He probably has to work anyways. And I'm sure he's not interested since he's not in school anymore..." Bryce walks back out of the shop and Amelia yells "Hey Bryce!!! Would you like to come with us tonight to the start of summer bonfire!!" I smack her arm and said "it's ok if your working. You can say no. " and I laugh awkwardly. Bryce smiles and says " Well I don't want to intrude on yalls fun but I would love to come if you insist." I start to smile and say "Really?" And Amelia says " Awesome. It's gonna be so fun" and starts doing a little haply dance. Bryce laughs and turns to me and says " Here. He hands me a black T-shirt like the one he had on yesterday and says "Don't worry. It's clean. And I washed my hands before I went and got it. You can wear it so you're not wearing a stained shirt the rest of the day." I start to protest and say "It's fine. Really. A stain wont..." Bryce interrupts and says "No. I won't take no for an answer. Besides..." He gets quieter with the last part "it'll look better on you than it does on me." I feel myself start to blush yet again and then I gain a little more confidence and say "I don't know about that." I bite my lip and flirt back and he grins and says " Oh really?" I nod my head and I can see Amelia's eyes get big and she starts silently praising the heaven's that I'm actually flirting. Bryce just keeps grinning and then winks and says "So Where should I meet yall tonight then?" I look at Amelia. We usually get ready at her house because my parents are always having their friends around and when they see us in our casual party attire they are appalled. Amelia says "Meet us at the old pier." He nods and says "OK. I can't wait." He looks back over at me and grins again. He reaches over and pinches my side and then winks and walks back to work. I smile and turn to Amelia who squeals and drags me back to our cars at the Cafe. We walk back and she is rambling on and on about what we need to wear and how much fun we're going to have but I'm in a daze. I'm so excited and nervous about tonight. What's going to happen? Does he actually like me? Does he like me or is it because I have money? I can't contain it. I blurt out to Amelia " Does he like me or my families money?" She instantly stops talking and walking and says "What?" I ask again "Does he like me or my families money?" She says "Honestly. I don't know? He seems like a good person and he seems like he likes you. But sometimes you just have to take risks and stop worrying." I said "I know but I'm scared of not knowing. Sometimes I feel like that's all that anyone ever sees in me." Amelia grabs both my hands and says " Follow your heart Kay. Do what makes you happy. Go where you want..be who you want and whoever stays by your side even in the roughest days is the ones who truly love you and will always be there." I smile and said thank you and we keep walking back to the cars.