Kaylas Story

Chapter 1: Tyler

Present-day.
I sat on the floor of my best friend Maddison's dorm room allowing her a better angle to braid my blonde hair. I was setting up a dating profile on this app called clover since Maddison wouldn't stop telling me I needed one. Maddison thinks I need to get out more since I've only been to one party in the 2 years I've been going to Western Carolina University, and on my 21st birthday I wouldn't even get drunk. Sometimes I don't know why she is friends with me since I don't even do anything, but opposites attract I guess, and they try to change their lame friends.
"Hello, earth to Emma you have been staring at your pictures for like three minutes now do you need help?" Maddison said waving one hand in front of my face the other holding my blonde hair together at the ends. "Do I really have to make this profile?" I asked her with a groan. "Yes, yes you do. Now that picture right there should be your profile photo, your eyes look so blue." she tapped a picture she took of me in a black tight v-neck top drinking a McDonald's coffee at a picnic table. It was a cute picture my eyes were a really deep blue and I wasn't wearing makeup since my face was really clear that day. My blonde hair was curled and falling around my face, making me look small. I nodded and kept filling out my profile, 'i'm kind and shy and my friends say I need to get out of my shell. I got to WCU and work at bath and body works. You should just message me if you think you can find me something fun to do.' I let Maddison read over it and she seemed to think it needed more but she left it alone.
Then came the fun part, swiping on cute guys. Maddison took this over almost immediately swiping on every guy that was even slightly cute as long as they were not nerdy. She matched me with a few Austins, a Tyler, 2 guys named john, and another guy named Luke. I have to give her credit they were all really cute, especially Tyler and Luke. Tyler was tall and buff with hazel eyes and blonde hair. And Luke was tall and slender but still muscular with blue eyes and brown hair. I sent them both a simple hi and a smiley face and then put my phone away tired of the app already.
"Are we still going to the bar tonight with Alex and Hannah?" I asked Maddison secretly hoping that plans were canceled. "Yep they are almost ready to go actually, Alex texted me a little while ago saying that they would meet up out front in 45 minutes. And you are not staying here and studying again for Gilmer's test, you're coming tonight." she wrapped her hair up in a messy bun and started pulling clothes out of her small dresser. I started to groan when suddenly I had a black mass being hurled at my face with the command to go change.
I went into her bathroom and held the fabric up, "Oh hell no." I scoffed and flung the door open entering her bedroom. "I am not wearing this. It's the middle of winter and this is just a tube of spandex. If I wear this I will probably be constantly molested all night." I threw it back at her only to have it hit me in the face again. "Go put it on I have a really cute leather jacket to put over it and you can wear some tights if you're really freaked out." Maddison turned away from me after that and started to undress so I went back to the bathroom to try and get this dress on. It's so tight that it barely goes over my hips but I manage. It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but still, my boobs are half out and it barely reaches mid-thigh. But I do look good. I go back into her room and find the leather jacket and fishnet stockings I was supposed to wear on the bed, but no Maddison. I slip everything on and find the most comfortable heels she had, which ended up being red Jeffrey Campbells with a black heel and black laces. Once satisfied I tried to find my phone but it wasn't where I left it. I looked around a bit more for it and then look out into the hall to see if Maddison is outside the room.
I get lucky and she is, but she's on the phone with someone. I walk up and she notices me and quickly types something into her other phone. Wait she doesn't have two phones, why the hell is the on my phone. She hangs up and then hands me my phone as nothing happened. I look at my call log and there is no name just a random number. "What the hell were you doing?" I ask snatching my phone from her. "I got you a date tonight, you're welcome." She smirked and then locked the door to her room and started walking outside. I followed after her reluctantly knowing I really had no choice. I was definitely going to be having some words with her later.
Alex and Hannah were already waiting for us outside in Alex's car. We climbed in the back and madison immediately bragged about finding me a date. "Girls he is fine, and Em if you don't like him I'll gladly take my chance with him." she laughed giving me a side hug. I was still mad at her but I can't resist her hugs they always make me feel better even if it's just a small one. Hannah passed a bottle back to us and I quickly realized that it was Fireball. I took a sip of it just to loosen up a bit and so they wouldn't nag me all night about how I'm no fun. Maddison took two sips of it and passed it back to Hannah who took a sip but she had clearly drunk a few before we got in the car. Her dark skin looks shiny and her eyes were glossy and her cheeks a bit pinkish indicating that she was warming up from the liquor. Alex still hadn't had a drink since she's driving, but later we are all gonna have to uber back to the school.
We made our way to the bar and once inside I found us a table and the girls went to order drinks. I pulled out my phone and tried to see if I could figure out what guy she invited out here tonight. The messages on clover had been deleted because both the guys I said hi to are gone from my history. So there's no way of knowing who she invited tonight. Eventually, the girls made their way back to our table and Maddison handed me a brown drink. "What is this?" I asked sniffing it, the glass was warm. "It's hot buttered rum I figured I made you wear that skanky dress you should drink something warm. You're welcome now drink up." she raised her glass of whiskey and we all tapped glasses and started drinking. About halfway through my drink I definitely felt warmer and looser, I was laughing and having a really great time. I was having so much fun in fact that I went and got us two rounds of tequila shots. We downed them both and within 5 minutes I decided dancing would be amazing.
This was the first time I think I've ever loosened up this much when drinking, actually this might be the first time I've ever been drunk. I was so busy dancing I didn't even notice when Maddison disappeared until she came back with a guy who then grabbed my hips and started dancing with me. I was having a great time and felt amazing so despite not knowing who the hell this guy was or where he came from I turned around and pulled him to me initiating a makeout session. I could hear the girls cheering me on from around us where they were dancing with random guys too. The guy pushed me away after only a few moments and I wondered if I was too drunk to kiss properly. Then he led me over to a table and sat me down returning moments later with two glasses of rum and coke and I had managed to steal someone's vodka shots they left on the table.
I downed one of them and while the mystery guy was walking back to me I tried to down the second one. "Woah there you might wanna slow down a bit." he took the second shot from me before I could knock it back and he took it instead. "That's not fair I stole that shot it was mine," I whined and laid my head on the table. "Well now it's mine, here take this." he gave me one of the rum and cokes and I was happy again. "You're a pretty wild girl you know that, that was really something out there." he chuckled and took a sip of his drink. "I think this--is the first time--I've ever been drunk--I never act like this." I hiccuped between words. "Well let's take our time drinking what we have and try and sober up just a little bit." he smiled and took another small sip of his drink. I smiled back and took a big swallow to which he laughed at.
"Wait who are you?" I asked leaning with my elbows on the table holding my head up. "I'm Tyler." he held out a hand and I took it shaking it lightly. "I'm Emma, it's nice to finally know your name. I'm pretty sure I'm the one that swiped on your profile but to be honest I can barely see what you look like." I laughed and leaned my head onto his shoulder. "I think someone needs to sober up. Come on let's go get some coffee and we can talk some." he helped me stand and I instantly felt sick I bolted over to a trash can and puked up anything that I had in my stomach. "Ah, I feel better." I sighed and spit in the trash can again. "Alright come on I think it's time to get some air."
Tyler walked me outside and the cold instantly got to me. I started to shiver and rub my arms. "Hey I actually have some spare clothes in my car you can change into them if you want." he led me over to his car and popped his trunk returning moments later with sweats and a hoodie. I took them from him and pulled the sweats up on my legs under my dress and then just threw the hoodie on. "Thanks." I smiled at him and then started trying to stumble over to the coffee shop around the corner. "Here let me help." he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I wrapped mine around his back to steady myself. I still stumbled some but it was certainly easier.
I sat at the closest chair inside and Tyler went to go order our coffees. I laid my head down and closed my eyes feeling the world spinning around me, it felt like a roller coaster. "Are you alive?" Tyler asked brushing my hair to the side. Still, with my cheek on the table, I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was really good-looking his hair was a light shade of blonde and his eyes were alight brownish color, he was really tan and tall. He looked like an angel the way the light was folding around him. Simply breathtaking. "Well, I don't wanna take your breath away so stop staring at me." Tyler laughed and I immediately knew I had said that last part out loud. I turned my face to the other side to hide my blush and I felt him sit down in the chair in front of me.
After a moment I sat up and just stared at him for a few seconds, "you know guys would normally take advantage of a drunk girl." a waitress set our coffees on the table and gave me a startled look when I said that. "Well, I'm a nice guy. You know you're friend called me and told me that you don't drink much, I don't really care about drinking either. But when I got there you're friend told me you were drunk off your ass and that I should get in on the action. I was kinda disappointed that you were drunk I was looking forward to a sober conversation, but then again you practically had sex with me on the dance floor and I have to be honest it was pretty hot. But again I'm a nice guy I could have taken it to the next level but I brought you here to get coffee and I had you put on clothes instead of taking them off." he sipped his coffee and watched me curiously. "I really never drink I'm just getting tired of my friends nagging me about being a buzzkill. I drink just enough to where I can't drive but I can function normal enough and remember everything that happened the night before." I sat up and drank some of my coffee feeling very grateful to have something to sober me up a bit. "Well, I'm glad I got there in time before you did something you regret. I can drive you back to the college later if you want I don't live far from the campus I have to go that direction anyway." I smiled at him, "That would be really nice thank you. So if you don't mind because I'm curious, was that kiss bad." I laughed sipping my coffee. "Actually it was pretty good for a drunk kiss, curious to see how it is when you're sober." he winked at me and made me blush.
We sat there talking about his job as a veterinary assistant and how he will be a vet after he finished this school year. And about me being in school for writing and journalism. After a couple hours had passed I was getting tired and we started our drive to the dorms. As we were driving down the road I hear the amber alert sound from the radio and turned it up. "There is another missing girl in Cherokee North Carolina, she was abducted outside of an Olive Garden, witnesses say it was a black Nissan Pontiac the first three license plates numbers are 6U5. The vehicle seems to be moving towards Cosby Tennessee. If you see the vehicle please report it. The girl's description is blonde hair and blue eyes she has a mole on her left cheekbone. The man's description was tall with dark brown possibly black hair and very pale skin. Please again if you see anything report it to the police." it cut off switching to some pop song that I didn't know resulting in me turning his radio off.
"That's so fucked up, and it's really sad that they can't catch these people, this is the fourth girl this month. It all has to be a group. It's probably sex traffickers." Tyler nodded acknowledging what I said then added, "what about the car that's the second time it was a black Nissan, but this time they got half of the plate number. I hope that sets them a little closer to catching them. Women should be cherished not used and sold as sex objects, and a lot of the abducted women are kids. It's disgusting and I apologize on behalf of all men, we are horrible creatures." he pulled into a parking space in front of the dorms and got out of the car. He opened my door and helped me out of the passenger seat.
Instead of walking away to the dorm rooms, I leaned against his car. The air hitting my face made me colder and I felt very sober compared to the beginning of this night. Tyler was leaning next to me just watching the stars. He looked so much softer in this light, beautiful even. Then I got the courage to do something I've never done before, "do you wanna come inside for a bit? I really enjoy your company." I gave him a hopeful look and he smiled at me and nodded taking my hand in his. I led the way through the lobby and into the elevator to the top floor.
I unlocked my dorm room and let him inside following after him. I have a single bedroom, I have to pay extra for housing but I enjoy the privacy, plus it's easier to keep it all clean. "You can sit on the bed I'm just gonna go change into some more comfortable clothes, so you can have yours back." I went into the bathroom and slipped on some Nike shorts and a tank top, and brushed my teeth and hair. Then I washed all the makeup off my face and put a small bit of perfume on.
When I walked out Tyler was laying on my bed looking very half asleep. I shook him slightly and he jumped up a bit startled, "you're welcome to stay here tonight I'd rather you not drive while tired." I set his sweats and hoodie on the nightstand and laid down next to him. "Are you sure you're okay with that? I mean I don't want to be a bother," he mumbled the last bit already about to fall back to sleep. "Yes, you can stay here. Go change into your sweat you won't sleep very well in skinny jeans." I sat him up and handed him his clothes. He sighed and after a moment he went to change. I untucked the blanket and crawled under it and moved to the side of the bed by the wall. Tyler came back and crawled under the covers next to me. We laid there awkwardly till he pulled me closer to him and held me. I relaxed and laid my head on his chest throwing a leg over him and sighed.
A few moments pass and I'm on the edge of sleep when I feel Tyler put his hand on the side of my face. I slowly open my eyes and see him staring back at me, he glances at my lips then back to my eyes, and then like a flash we were kissing. It wasn't one of passion and desire, it was more just an intimate kiss. It was slow and soft with small bits of tongue and nibbling each other's lips. It lasted a good 15 seconds and then I pushed him away needing air. Tyler tried to apologize for coming out of nowhere and tried to move over so he wasn't touching me anymore. "Tyler stop its okay. I liked it." I grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back to me. He eventually started to hold me again but when he started to apologize again I kissed him this one a little deeper than the first. After we broke away that time I told him that he apologizes too much and went back to cuddling him.
The next morning felt insane, Maddison let herself into my room right when I was done changing in the bathroom. She started talking pretty loudly and I didn't know if it was my hangover or her. But I quickly held up my finger and pointed to Tyler, to which Maddison smirked and dragged me into the hallway.
She handed me a coffee and just from the first sip I knew she put just a bit of alcohol in it probably to help soothe the hangover. I had to explain to her everything that happened that night and she was disappointed that we didn't have sex but she was satisfied by us kissing. After we talked about my night she told me about the rest of her night and how they all got way too drunk and had to get an uber home and Alex and Hannah stayed in Maddison's room because Alex kept throwing up and Hannah kept crying. I felt really bad for her but how many times have I had to take care of all three of them, I'm pretty happy with my choices. Maddison also told me about how when Alex would throw up Hannah would start crying more and beg Alex to stop because she was making the room smell. We busted out laughing at the video she took of them last night when my dorm room door opened and a very sleepy-looking Tyler stood in the doorway in just his sweats.
Maddison very obviously checked him out and I asked him if he was okay. "I was just trying to find you I was concerned that you would just leave a guy in you're room with all of your personal belongings. If you had actually left me here alone and I wasn't a gentleman I would have taken a few of your things and pawned them off. Hello Maddison, thank you for setting last night up me and Em here had a great time." he said that last part and winked at me which caused madison to turn to me with a look of astonishment at how I could have possibly not had sex with Tyler. "You are very welcome, treat her right or I will cut your head off. Emmy, I'll come by later with the girls and we can have a recovery spa day, I do gotta run and check on them. I'll see you later." she hugged me and awkwardly waved to Tyler and then started to head toward the elevator.
Tyler still stood leaning in the doorway staring at me. "What?" I asked him trying to walk past him through the door. He grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder shutting the door behind him. "What are you doing!?" I half laughed half yelled. Suddenly I was thrown onto the bed and was being tickled and could not control my laughter. Tyler was almost as hysterical as me, clearly enjoying my struggling to get him to stop. I tried to grab his wrists together so he wouldn't be able to get me but he pinned both my arms above my head with one hand and tickled me with the other. I tried to roll from side to side attempting to wiggle free, but when I decided that wasn't going to work and that I could no longer breathe I kneed him in the stomach.
He moaned in pain and rolled over onto his back clutching his stomach. "That really hurt you got some hard knees." he laughed but winced in pain a bit. I curled up next to him and ran my hand in circled over his stomach, which might I add was pretty toned. "I'm sorry I didn't want to hurt you but I needed air." I laughed and laid my head on his chest looking up at him. "Oh really because last night when you needed air you didn't knee me in the stomach," he smirked and rolled over on his side to look at me, placing his pillow under my head. I blushed and tried to turn my head into the pillows to hide my face, but he grabbed my chin and turned me back to face him. He started to kiss me again, this one soft and sweet.
We broke away and just held each other for a few moments, enjoying the comfortable silence. He was a really sweet guy and I would love to see him again. He's kind and caring, he's also knowledgeable of many different things. Suddenly my phone went off, I checked it finding a message from Luke on Clover. I decided to check it in a bit but it went off three more times. "I'm so sorry I don't know what this person wants." I apologized to Tyler and opened the messages. Tyler took this as an opportunity to go get dressed, which I was sad about since that meant he would probably be leaving soon.
Luke had messaged me introducing himself and asked if I would want to go on a date tomorrow night, I decided to leave him on read for now until I can talk to Maddison. Tyler came back into the room and sat on the edge of my bed. "I'm going to have to head out, I need to go home and shower and get fresh clothes, I need to be at work in about 2 hours. But if I could stay I totally would." he smiled at me and I noticed his dimples for the first time and he was absolutely adorable. "It's okay Maddison and the girls are coming over in a bit so I should probably get ready to. I had a really nice time last night I'm sorry I was so drunk though." he chuckled and told me it was alright and that he had a great time and he would try and set something up for us to do one day soon. I gave him a peck on the cheek and let him out of my room, I watched him go until he reached the elevator.
I really hope I see him again.