Hawk's Eye

Chapter 17

Mallory knocked on the door to Brett's room. Opening it, she saw Brett crying into her pillow. Sighing sympathetically, she sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed Brett's back in an attempt to comfort her.

"B, you had nothing to do with it right? Please tell me that you didn't kiss him after he told you he loved Dolly," Mallory asked. She pulled her head out of her pillow and hesitantly nodded at her. Mallory sighed and closed her eyes. "You should learn to let go of people who want to be. You can't have everything," Mallory said.

"But now I have nothing," Brett sobbed lightly. Mallory sighed and pulled her into a hug.

"That's not true Brett; you just can't see it yet," Mallory said. James walked into the room where Ryder was pacing. Sighing, he turned to Kyndall's bag and made sure everything was in it. Going to the bathroom, he grabbed her stuff from there and put it in her bag. Ryder looked at him confused as James zipped up the bag.

"What are you doing Jay?" Ryder asked. James picked up her bag and looked at Ryder.

"I'm taking Dolly home. You really hurt her, and you know that she's already been through a lot. Why did you think hiding was the best way to keep her happy? You were the only person she trusted and you blew it. After everything... you blew it," James said bitterly before he left the room. Ryder looked after him stunned. James had never been one to yell at him like that. He was losing people left and right on this trip. Mallory came downstairs in time to see James and Kyndall leaving. Mallory hugged Kyndall tightly, knowing that she was leaving.

"I'll see you when we get back. Take care Dolly," Mallory said softly. Kyndall nodded before she turned and followed James out to his car. Kyndall looked out the window at the passing objects once they were heading back. James looked over to her worried before bringing his eyes to the road.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly. She sighed and looked at him.

"Ryder... well, Brett kissed Ryder, and he hid that from me. He was acting weird and... I don't know. I guess I just have a hard time trusting people, and I didn't expect Ryder or Brett to do that to me," Kyndall said. James glanced at her.

"The question is: are you mad at Ryder or Brett?" he asked. She sighed and closed her eyes.

"Both, I guess," she shook her head. "I'm mad at Brett for kissing him, and I'm mad at Ryder for not telling me," she said. She looked at him curiously. "I know I said not to mention it, but what was that when we were playing football earlier?" she asked, looking for a distraction. His cheeks turned bright red and he adjusted his grip on the steering wheel.

"My, um... hand slipped," he mumbled. Kyndall looked at him and laughed.

"Your hand slipped?" she laughed. He shrugged as his cheeks heated even more. She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Now that, I don't believe for a second," she smiled. He shrugged as he kept his eyes on the road.

"Is it such a crime to like you?" he muttered. She shook her head.

"No, I guess not, but you would like me even considering that Ryder is your best friend?" she asked. He shrugged and gave her a wry grin.

"Well, I'm under the impression that Ryder isn't in your best graces right now," he said raising an eyebrow at her. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"No... no he's not," she agreed. The car fell silent as they pulled up to Kyndall's house. James looked at her.

"How are you going to explain the, um..." he tripped over his words as he looked at her. She looked over herself and shrugged.

"The sun tanned out most of my skin so it's not as noticeable, and even then, I just got bruised up when we played football," she smiled. He chuckled and shook his head.

"I'll see you on Monday, Dolly," he said. She smiled lightly and pecked his cheek.

"Thanks... for everything," she said before she grabbed her bag and went inside. James sighed and ran a hand down his face before he sighed and drove off. Kyndall unlocked her house and walked inside. Halfway up the stairs, her parents appeared from their room.

"Kyndall honey; is that you? I thought you were at the beach house with your friends," her mom said sleepily. Kyndall looked at her and nodded.

"I came home early. I was getting homesick," she lied. Her dad immediately took notice to the faint bruised on her.

"Why do you look so beat up darling?" he asked. She laughed and shrugged.

"We played football and we all kind of played rough," she lied. Her father chuckled.

"That's my girl," he smiled. "Speaking of sports, would you be interested in going to George's Gym anytime soon? I was hoping you would try out for their gymnastics, dance, and competitive cheer units," her dad asked hopefully. She smiled and nodded.

"How's tomorrow?" she asked. He smiled.

"That would be perfect," he said proudly. Her mother squealed in excitement.

"Great, I'll take you. I love to watch. The evaluation is going to start at three," her mother smiled. Kyndall's mother loved watching Kyndall. It was her idea to get her in gymnastics in the first place when she was just a baby. Kyndall had to admit that she loved doing the sport. It made her feel powerful and in control; two places she loves to be. Kyndall nodded once and yawned.

"Well, it's been a long day and I'm extremely tired. Goodnight," Kyndall said, finishing her walk up the stairs. She set her bag in the corner of her room and went to her drawers. She smiled softly before she opened the second drawer that was reserved for her work out clothes. That drawer was filled with tight compression tank tops, leotards, tight spandex shorts, and so much more. She sorted through her layers of colorful stretchy clothing and found her favorite leotard. It was black with a wavy hot pink strip running down from her shoulder to her hip. It crossed decoratively and had a similar hot pink strip in the back. She set it on the chair near her vanity and went back to her drawer and found her matching hot pink spanks. Knowing that she was going to have to try out for all three units, she grabbed her hot pink, zebra stripped sports bra that matched her spanks as well. Setting it down, butterflies started to fill her stomach. She missed the sport and she couldn't wait to get back to it. She showered and dressed before she lay down. A small smile ghosted her lips as her eyes finally closed.

James pulled back up to the beach house as the first rays of dawn started peeking up over the horizon. He went inside to find Ryder sitting on the couch with Oscar. A small smile played on his lips as it had the whole trip back. He kept replaying the small gesture of gratitude that Kyndall had given him. Ryder and Oscar looked over to him.

"Why do you look like you just had the best night of your life?" Oscar asked. James laughed and shrugged.

"No reason," he said. He turned his look to one of worry and looked at Ryder. "Kyndall was mad at you." He said. Ryder rolled his eyes.

"No shit," he said sarcastically. James shrugged.

"Chivalry is your best option. Go to her and beg for forgiveness with a dozen roses and a something she can eat, but nothing too sweet. Tell her that you were wrong and that you promise that you'll never do it again. Promise her that you'll always be honest with her, and that you won't keep anything else from her. But most importantly, promise her that there is nothing going on between you and Brett," James instructed. Oscar and Ryder looked at him stunned.

"Okay, when did you become the expert on Dolly?" Oscar asked. James smiled proudly and shrugged.

"I asked, she talked, and I listened. It's not a big deal," James said. Ryder looked at him gratefully.

"Thanks man; I'm going to go tomorrow," Ryder said. James sighed and went up the stairs. He was going to have restless sleep tonight.