Short Stories

Leesh & Kai

Dedicated to @thebreakfastclub for inspiring this first short story! -MakennaCullen

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I watched as the snow fell outside the window, and I watched as my best friend in the entire world completely fell apart. My throat wasn't able to release the words I wanted to use to comfort her. I was happy he set her free. He was a vicious abuser, and she deserved so much better. She never saw that, though. She cried on my shoulder, her tears and my arms seeming to be the only things keeping her warm. Her breath came out in shuddering gasps, clearly heartbroken. Her voice was shaky as she coughed out sobs, her hands fisted on the hems my coat for comfort. It was the two of us, kept company by a broken heart and the snow that continued to fall.

We eventually fell asleep like that. We hadn't even had the chance to take off our coats. I hugged her to my chest as tight as possible. As tightly as I could. She never found out about my crush on her. Her glittering laugh, and the way it chimes like wind chimes. Her incessant need to help people, even if it was to her own detriment. The fire she gets in her eyes when she talks about anything related to social justice issues. I didn't know you could fall in love with someone, and that person would never know. In that moment, I knew I had to tell her. It was 2:30 in the morning, but I didn't care. She needed to know that I cared for her with every cell in my body. That I would never hurt her like that monster did, if she would just give me the chance to prove it. Hell, I'd go to the moon and back if it meant that she would believe me.

"Leesh, wake up." I whispered. "Alicia."

"Mhh?" Her response was groggy. She looked at me with her wide brown eyes, and my resolve cemented itself together.

"Take off your coat, you're going to overheat."

"Mmkay. I know you didn't wake me to tell me that, though. I know you."

"I, uh-" I stuttered, "I wanted to tell you something. But it can wait until morning."

She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and responded "No it's okay, tell me now."

"Okay. Well I, uh – I know this is bad timing, and I know that you're going through a rough time, and if you want me to stop talking or take it back I can-"

"Kai just spit it out." She encouraged while she tossed her coat on my floor, where it joined mine.

I took a deep breath, and started to speak.

"Leesh, we've been friends for a long time, back when I thought girls had cooties. But you were different. You were the one who wanted to make mud pies and play baseball. I was thinking about what happened today, and I need you to know that you can trust me. I wouldn't ever hurt you like that. I want to rip him limb from limb for what he's done, and I'm sorry you're suffering. That's not what I wanted to tell you, though."

I ran my fingers through my tangled hair, trying to persuade the words to come out. "Leesh, I really like you. As more than a friend. I have for a long time now."

My heart was pounding in my throat, and I watched her eyes as I waited for her verdict. She closed her eyes for a moment, and I started to panic. Friend-zone, here I come.

"Kai," she started, "you're right, it is slightly bad timing. But you know what? I don't give a shit about that."

I looked up hopeful, my heartbeat picking up it's rhythm.

"I've liked you for a long time, too. I always thought you were out of my league, with playing college baseball, and still managing to look like the same brooding kid that was scaring people shitless in high school. I knew that underneath that tough exterior was just a kid mourning the loss of his childhood that was taken too soon. So I never tried to make a move, because why would you ever feel that way about me?"

I could hear the double meaning in her sentence. It was hypothetical and literal. She wanted to know what I saw in her.

"Because of how you embrace your individuality. You're the only tomboy I know in greek life. You have bright purple hair and a nose ring for pete's sake. How many sorority women do you know who look like that?"

She laughed as I continued, and the sound was like music to my ears. "You adore any animal, and if I didn't know your parents, I'd swear you were secretly a Disney princess. They're like magnetically attracted to you. You have such a kind soul, and people can sense that kind of thing." I was getting emotional just talking about it. God, I loved this woman so much.

I didn't realize that as I was talking my face was moving closer to hers, until our foreheads were touching. The air surrounding us was electric. Any spark would send the room up in fire, and from her body language, I knew she could sense it. Her tense and waiting body language was expectant, like she would welcome the inferno.

Slowly, painstakingly, I moved so my lips were centimeters away from hers. I hesitated for half a second, realizing that once I did this, we'd never be the same. Our world would never be the same. But I was ready for it. I could love this girl for the rest of my life, and it wouldn't be long enough. I pressed my lips against hers, and I felt her respond beneath me. We both knew we were playing with the flames that threatened to engulf us, but I knew that I didn't care. The gentleness with which she kissed me back was entrancing. It made me want more. So much more. I pulled away for a quick breath of air, and watched as a genuine smile crossed her face. The first one I've seen in the past few months. It was a true mega-watt smile. In that moment, I felt victorious. Like I had just won a gold medal, or hit the winning run for the world series. I leaned back down to kiss her again, murmuring that I loved her smile. When our lips touched that second time, the spark in the room caught fire. Passion exploded from us, and saturated every action, every thought, every cell that was part of me. I couldn't get enough of Alicia Marie Anderson. Her soft skin, her warm eyes, and every other thing, good and bad.

I pulled away from her again. "Leesh, I will do whatever it takes to help you take Ryan to court. I will support you always." I felt the emotional tears spill over, but I didn't try to stop them. Her compassion expressed itself in her hands wiping the tears from my cheeks. Suddenly, she was hugging me tightly, her arms wrapped around my neck and her body pressed against mine. I hugged her back, one arm around her waist and the other along her spine, protective.

"You have no idea what that means to me, Kai. Thank you. Thank you."