Battered and Bruised | Emblem3

Chapter 5: Realization

Keaton POV

Shayley was just as shocked as I was. Something about that kiss was right. It was meant to be. But that isn’t it. I know she felt it too, I just don’t know what that is. She left right after we kissed, leaving me to my thoughts. All I know is that kissing Shayley was amazing. I felt things I had never felt with Emily, and I dated her for six years. How can one girl have this big of an effect on me? I tried my hardest all night not to flirt with her because of her boyfriend, but I couldn’t help it. I hated the fact that she had a boyfriend. That’s probably why she left so quickly. She has a boyfriend and she probably thinks kissing me was the biggest mistake. Dammit.

I went in the house to find Macy asleep on the couch and Wes asleep in his usual spot, the recliner. No UV Blue bottle this time though. I laughed to myself at the memory of the party Macy had about a month ago.

“Yo Keats, come here,” Drew called me from the kitchen. I went in the kitchen just when he had finished making his glass of water.

“Yeah?”

“I know you like Shayley, and I just want you to know that she is awesome. You two make a beautiful couple.”

“So do you and Macy, you know? You need to just realize that you two are made for each other,” I said confidently. It was true. Drew and Macy are perfect for each other in every aspect. She loves him for him, not because he is Drew from Emblem3.

“I know it, thank you Keats.” He walked into the living room, grabbed a blanket, and laid beside Macy on the couch. She instantly cuddled into his chest. They were cute.

I looked back at Wes, remembering the party again. A thought clicked in my head. What if I go back to the bedroom and try to remember the events that happened that night? Maybe I could either confirm or deny my thoughts that the girl could have been Shayley? I quickly went up the stairs to the guest bedroom. Memories of me leaving the sleeping girl flooded back to me and I remembered that the condom was still in my wallet but that’s about it. That girl could be pregnant or something and I would never know it because I have no earthly idea who she is. I hate alcohol right now.

I flopped down onto the bed that should be familiar to me, but the memories that I had in it didn’t come back to be, unfortunately. I had sex with the second girl in my life and I don’t remember it. This makes me feel like shit all over again. That girl didn’t deserve this, whoever she was. My drowsiness eventually got the best of me as all the thoughts and possibilities got quiet and I drifted off to sleep.

“Keats? Keats, wake up.” I heard Macy’s voice in my half unconscious state.

“What? Why?” I groaned to her.

“Well, it is one o’clock in the afternoon and you barely ever sleep past ten. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, uh, just a long night I guess,” my excuse was weak but it worked.

“Okay, but why are you in here? We were all in the living room.” She was referring to her guest room that no one ever sleeps in. Wes, Drew, and I have slept over here plenty of times and never have one of us slept in here. Well, until I did at the party.

“Um, I was just trying to remember your party from like a month ago.”

“Why are you trying to recollect your drunken memories in my guest bedroom, Keats?” She laughed but she didn’t know the full story.

“Well Mace, this is where I was that night,” I said kind of shaky. I didn’t really want to let Macy in on my night at her party.

“No you weren’t? Shayley was in here the morning after my party?” My mouth dropped open. Did those words seriously just come out of her mouth? The answer to all of my questions? Month long thoughts swirling through my head?

“She what?!” I was truly surprised I even got those words out of my mouth because I was so shocked.

“Yeah, she slept in here that night.” I listened to her last sentence as I ran out of the door. I needed to find Shayley. That is why we clicked. That is why she seemed so familiar. This is what we felt during our kiss last night. She was the girl that had been stuck in my thoughts for a month now.

I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Shayley’s number as I started my car. Listening to the rings was excruciating. She answered on the fourth ring.

“Hey Keaton, what’s up?” her beautiful voice spoke through the phone.

“Shayley! Where are you?! I need to talk to you!”

“Um, I’m at home but why Keats?”

“Just text me your address! I’ll be there in a few minutes.” I hung up on her. I needed to see her as soon as possible. I wouldn’t be okay until I talked to her.

I followed the address she sent and I pulled up by a house with the most beautiful girl standing out front. I quickly turned off the car and ran to her.

“Keaton, what’s wrong?!”

I didn’t answer. I just crashed my lips into hers. I felt it all. Now that I know, I remembered kissing her on the couch at Macy’s party. I can’t believe this. She kissed me back so sweet but so confused at the same time. I didn’t want to pull away, but I have to explain everything to her. I ended the kiss sooner than I wanted and laced my fingers through hers and led her into the house.

“Where is your room?” She didn’t even answer me, she just led me down a hallway into a bright room. She sat down on the bed and I stood in front of her.

“Shayley, did you have sex with someone at Macy’s party a month ago?” Her eyes almost popped out of her head. She looked in utter shock and confusion. She probably was wondering how I even knew this information.

“Um, Keaton. I don’t think I should talk about that.”

“Shayley, baby, it was me. We were both so drunk and we didn’t remember. We had sex and I left earlier that morning and I have felt bad about leaving ever since. I’m so so so sorry. Macy told me you slept in there the night of her party and everything clicked.”

“Did you just say it was… You?”

“Yes, it was me.” She was pulling my face to hers before I even finished my sentence. She kissed me passionately and lovingly. It was amazing. She’s amazing. Then I remembered.

“Wait. Shayley.”

“Yeah, Keats?”

“When we had sex at the party, I didn’t use a condom…”

“Well then, thank goodness for birth control. Huh?” A huge smile found its way onto my face as I continued to kiss this lovely girl. She is perfect. I’m so glad it was her and not anybody else. I always wanted Emily to be my one and only, but that ended when she cheated on me. Shayley is special. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but the fact that I didn’t just have sex with a random girl at the party is reassuring to me. Although she was a random girl at the time, she means something to me now. She snuggled into my side and I kissed the top of her head.

“That’s exactly what you did at the party, Keats.”

“Is it? Well this time, I’m not going anywhere, baby.”

We talked about everything for the next 30 minutes. We talked about the party, how we were automatically attracted to each other at the grocery store, and just enjoyed each other’s company. Everything was quiet until I heard a door slam.

“Shayley?!” a man yelled angrily. It was probably her boyfriend, whom had completely escaped my mind until just now.

Shit.