Fears To Face

∞ Chapter 36 ∞

~ Kayley ~

Near the end of our school day, when we were stuffing our books in our lockers, Gwyn finally took a deep breath and said, "You remember Alex? From the store where I work?" I had seen she was dying to tell me something all day, the nervous twitch in the corner of her mouth had told me that, but every time I thought she was about to spill it, she kept it inside and fidgeted further.

"Yes, I remember him. He was the one you couldn't keep your eyes off from the first moment you saw him and he was the one you almost threw away your job for." She flushed. "What about him?" I smiled smugly. This was going to be interesting.

She bit her lip before she said, "He asked me to go out with him."

I laughed, I couldn't help it. "No way! That's awesome, Gwyn. So when are you going?" She shot me a look. "What? Don't tell me you turned him down!" I said disapprovingly.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. After a second she tried again. "I told him I wasn't sure whether I was free."

"Gwyn! That's just as bad. Why did you say that? You do like him, right?" She shrugged and avoided my eyes. "Gwyn, I'm not crazy. You're daydreaming an awful lot lately. Is it about him?" I eyed her. She flushed. "Ha! I knew it."

"Kayley, what if he doesn't like me?" The genuine concern in her eyes kept me from laughing.

"He asked you out, Gwyn. That already means he really likes you. Just give him a change. Give yourself a change." I rose an eyebrow at her. When her cheeks turned pink, I knew the point was taken and hugged her. "You deserve some fun, Gwyn." We reached the doors and were welcomed by a warm dry wind when we opened them. It felt like summer out here and I was definitely over-dressed for this temperature. Gwyn was still doubting even though she was quiet. "He didn't ask you to marry him. He just wants to drink something with you, Gwyn. Ease up and tell him you would like to go out with him. I'll do it for you when you can't tell him that."

She sighed. "Fine, I'll text him."

"Good girl," I nodded with a grin on my face. She rolled her eyes at me and left me for her car. "See you tomorrow!" I called before she got in. I turned and found a very nice surprize right behind me. "Hey," I said as I threw my arms around Rayne's neck. "Nice outfit." He wore a white cotton tank top that fitted tight around his body, a blue floral swimming trunk till just above his knees and flip-flops. Oh, he was so sexy.

He smiled and automatically wrapped his arms around my back. "It's really warm, are you in for going somewhere with me?"

"Always."

He drove me home and told me to pull on swimming clothes under my normal ones. "Are you taking me to a pool?" I asked as I heaved myself into thinner clothes.

He opened his mouth to answer but before any words came out he chewed his lip and said, "It's a surprize."

I laughed. "One that includes a bikini?"

He nodded and smiled, but said nothing more.

We got back into his car only drove a little while before we slowed and Rayne said, "Close your eyes." I looked at him, trying to decide whether he meant it. "I'm serious," he laughed. "I told you, it's a surprize." I contemplated for a second, then did what he asked. We took a number of turns and drove for a few minutes more before we stopped and he turned off the engine. "Keep them closed," he warned. "Also when I'm walking around the car. I mean it, no peeking. "

I grinned and nodded obediently. "Okay, okay. God, you're so bossy."

Within a few seconds he opened my door and took my hand to lead me out of the car.