New Rise

Crushes

I put on the brakes, but it's too late. The bike buckles underneath me and I'm flung off. I hit my head on a rock and I feel the blood dripping. "Kaitlyn, are you alright?" I hear Griff ask as he comes to a stop.

"I'm fine, lets keep going." He walks over and his face is full of shock and horror. "Kaitlyn, your bleeding!"

"I know but it's fine," I assure him. He shakes his head and takes off his shirt and presses it to my head wound. I then get a really good look at how muscular Griff has gotten. He notices me looking.

"What are you staring at?" he asks me, his voice full of curiosity.

"You know, your beautiful Griff," I say, not really thinking.

"You really must've hit your head hard," he jokes and I laugh, it was easy, natural, just like breathing.

"Well your beautiful too," he says blushing and I can't help but smile at how adorable he is. I feel as though it's wrong, because it's not Shawn but, it also feels right.

"Ok, let's go, the bleeding has stopped," he says, extending his hand out for me. I take it gladly and we walk the bikes back to his truck. He grabs a clean shirt from the back seat and puts it on. Let's get you to a hospital."

"No, please don't. I'll be fine," I argue with him and he gives in.

"Fine, but any sign of a concussion and it's a trip there, whether you like it or not." I nod my head to the compromise and we head back to my house. He drapes a tarp over the bikes to keep them dry.

I head inside to see dad home. He sees Griff's bloody shirt in my hand, then the shallow scrape on my head. "Are you okay honey?" he asks, knowing how dangerously clumsy I am.

"I'll be fine," I say to him and he smiles over at Griff.

"She just fell off the bike," he tells him honestly.

"The ones you fixed up?" Griff nods his head, but dad wasn't mad. "Just wear a helmet next time, okay," my dad tells me and I nod my head. I can't believe he's not freaking out right now. But what shocks me more, is that no matter how hard I try, Shawn will always be on my mind, and in my heart.

"What's for dinner tonight?" Jordan asks as he walks through the door, Blake right on his heels.

"I'm not sure, how about pizza?" dad suggests, then my brother gets a good look at me and starts howling.

"What did you do this time? Trip over a crack in the ground?" I laugh too because it was kinda funny how clumsy I could be.

"No you moron! She fell off a bike!" Griff roars, immediately shutting us both up.

"Hey man, I didn't know,..." Griff interrupts him.

"No because your never around when she needs you!" I grip his shoulder and turn him to face me.

"Griff, clam down. He wasn't insulting me, I am a very clumsy person, I have tripped on flat, solid ground," I explain and this does calm him. I smile at him and he gives me a beautiful half smile.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I got so upset."

"It's alright man," Jordan tells him and they shake hands. Dad then goes to order us a party tray. Griff grabs me and pulls me into an unbreakable bear hug. "I'm sorry Kaitlyn."

"It's okay." He pulls away and looks at me with complete admiration in his eyes and my heart slowly begins to heal. I think that I might actually like Griff, but I think more like a brother.

He slowly lowers his head down, his eyes locked on mine and every muscle in my body is screaming at me to run, to wait for him, then Jordan walks back into the kitchen and he straightens up. "The pizza will be here in 15 minutes," he informs us, slightly glaring at Griff. I breath a sigh of relief internally because I would've felt as though I betrayed Shawn.

The pizza arrived around 15 minutes later and I basically had to fight for even just one slice, men are like vultures when it comes to food. I manage to grab 4 slices and I head up to my room with Griff following me like a puppy. "I feel fine, honestly," I tell him for the tenth time today.

"Are you sure?" he asks.

"You know what, I do have a headache!" I snap at him.

"Really? Can I help?" he says quietly.

"You can help by not talking, because you're giving me the headache." He looks as though I slapped him across the face. "I'm sorry, it's just, I really am fine and it was getting annoying when you kept asking."

"I know, it's just,..." but he gets interrupted by me tripping on the last step. "Seriously? Do you have a death wish or something?"

"It's not my fault I'm clumsy, alright!"

"Why do I feel like this?!" he shouts to no one.

"Feel like what?" I ask.

"It's complicated."

"Explain," I insist.

"Well, I feel very protective of you, insanely jealous when I see you with other guys and..." I stop him by placing a finger to his lips, they are soft and very warm.

"I have feelings for someone else," I tell him, knowing what he might say, that he loves me. I could break his heart by telling him I didn't feel the same way.

"Who?" he roars angrily and his hands form into fists at his sides.

"It doesn't matter, he doesn't feel the same way anymore," I explain. He reaches a hand to my face and wipes a tear, then I realize I'm crying.

"He must be an idiot," he laughs.

"He is not an idiot!" I scream at him and he stops.

"I'm sorry. But what guy would let you go?" And then all the pain comes flooding back and the memory of him leaving me. I gasp for air but it feels like no matter how much I try, I can't breathe. "Kaitlyn?! Are you alright?!" And I start balling my eyes out.

"He's gone," I mutter to myself over and over.
_________________________

The last thing I remember is Griff picking me up effortlessly and placing me in my bed. I open my eyes and see Griff sound asleep, his arms around me. I try to squirm my way out but he wakes up. "Morning," he says cautiously.

"What, what happened?" I ask confused and then I'm aware of the pain in my chest, it's as strong as the day he left.

"I'm not sure but all you could say was he's gone, who's gone Kaitlyn?" he asks and the pain worsens.

"Shawn," I say and the pain hits me even harder and I feel tears roll down my cheeks.

"Mendes?" All I could manage was a nod of my head. He looks at me and I see concern light his eyes. "Listen, he was stupid to leave you." I chuckle at how sweet Griff is. "How about we go fishing or something?"

"I don't fish," I say. He thinks for a second and finally comes up with an idea.

"I know, let's go swimming."