“ Behind every beautiful thing there is some kind of pain. ”
Arslan.
~~~
Tyler told me that he had been sad he couldn't be at my party so he had prepared something to make up for missing my party which he had claimed had way too many kids. I looked at the time on my phone growing impatient, he was supposed to be here an hour ago.
My mother looks at me from her position on the couch but doesn't say a word, she had come to know about the party that Phoebe had prepared for me last week and she was very disappointed in my choice of clothing as she had put it but she was even more disappointed at the fact that Tyler had been the one to drive me home late at night.
“ Do you have somewhere you are supposed to be? ” my mother finally asked.
I look at her and force a smile, “ nothing...Phoebe just wanted me to go over at her place, she's babysitting her little sister. ”
“ are you sure it's Phoebe, Kiya don't lie to me. It's that boy again, isn't it? ”
When I fail to answer her, she takes that as her chance to proceed talking “ I know how it feels to be a teenage girl, all the excitement of dating older boys. But I'm telling you this boy isn't the right one for you, there's something about the way he treats you, it just doesn't seem right. ”
I looked at my mother wide eyed my mouth slightly parted, the thought of ever dating Tyler hadn't crossed my mind not even once. “ mother, Tyler is like an older brother to me stop thinking of things that aren't there. ”
My mother groaned then she moved closer and took my hands in hers, “ Kiya, I have seen the way the boy looks at you. Trust me in his mind you aren't his little sister, just do me a favor and stay away from that boy, will you? ”
“ he's my friend mother and I don't abandon my friends. ”
Tyler never came that day or the one after that, and neither Aimee nor Kyle knew what was up with him. They said he was just fine whenever they saw him but he never told them why he had stopped contact with me.
Then suddenly one Friday night when I was home alone I heard the door bell, I hadn't been expecting anyone since Phoebe had to babysit again. I went over and opened the door and that's when I saw him, Tyler looked awful his eyes were bloodshot red and he reeked of alcohol. He stumbled falling face first in the house, I hurriedly helped pick him up and helped him to the couch.
“ what happened to you?, you look awful. ” I said as I handled him a glass of water, he pushed the glass aside causing it to fall to the floor but thankfully it doesn't break it lands on the fur carpet. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me next to him.
“ I needed to see you, I can't stay away anymore...I know I promised Kyle I wouldn't bother you but I can't do it ” he said leaning his head on my shoulder.
“ why would Kyle tell you that? Is something wrong? ” I asked him.
He removed his head from my shoulder and looked at me, “ I love you Kiya and I know you love me too. ”
I looked at him not fully understanding his words, “ you love me too, right? ” he asked desperately. What was wrong with him, first he showed up drunk at my house now he was asking me all these weird things, I needed to call Kyle.
“ tell me do you love me? ” he yelled gripping my shoulders tightly, he leaned closer his breath fanning my face. The stench of alcohol filled my nostrils, I turned my face away, “ Tyler! I love you, you're like a brother to me. ” I finally managed to say.
