The Protection

Twenty-Four

I smoothed down the navy lace fabric of my dress thinking I looked oddly beautiful. The dress was modest, covering my arms and landing just below my knees complimented by my second-hand simple nude pumps. The outfit was a far cry from the usual skin-tight revealing attire that I wore out to Bash's on a weekly basis. This, however, wasn't a drunken night out in Dallas. This was the prestigious opening ceremony for the national volleyball tournament. My hair was polished and shiny and pulled over one shoulder in long auburn waves, and my short nails were painted a deep red. Beth was my angelic counterpart in a designer gold floor length dress that shimmered in the light.

Players piled into the convention center each one taller and more accomplished than the next, and I felt small for the first time in my life. I gripped my plastic silver clutch as tightly as I could, trying to conceal my nerves. We were easily the smallest team here, by several inches, and no one had even heard of our program. Small but mighty, my mind tried to reassure itself. I could feel the other players' condescending glances as we wound around to our table and found our assigned places. The speaker began her remarks and I fidgeted with the clutch, nervously opening and closing the latch. I glanced down into my lap during the prayer and something caught my eye. There was a small, intricately folded piece of blue paper shoved in the small purse. I glanced apprehensively around the table and pulled out the paper, unfolding it on top of my lap. After a few seconds, I looked down to read mysterious note:

South entrance, one hour. –Brown Eyes

I tried to hide my smile. Kyler was teasing me by signing it Brown Eyes, and I was a little embarrassed. He had remembered me calling him that on the park bench. We already had inside jokes. I smiled again and glanced at my watch. I had no idea when he had left this note for me, but seeing as dinner had taken the better part of an hour, I knew I already had to be late. I had to meet him now.

"I have to pee," I lied to Beth as nonchalantly as I could, before I dropped my napkin and practically ran from the room. I managed to reapply my lipstick and pull up my boobs as I walked through the entryway, and I prayed Kyler wasn't watching me at this very moment. I had to guess which door was the "south entrance." I had never been good with directions. Of course, this was something Ben and I had always fought about, along with the fact that I was always taller than him when I wore these shoes. I pushed my way out the door I guessed was the south entrance, and braced myself as the cold Iowa winter hit me in the face. My red pea coat suddenly felt as thin as a sheet of tissue paper around my shoulders. I shivered violently as my eyes scowered the parking lot for Kyler.

"Hey there," a male voice beckoned from my left. I turned and saw a teenage boy much too small and skinny to be Kyler. His jacket boasted he was with the valet service. He ran a hand through his greasy red hair as he scanned me from head to toe.

"I'm sorry. I was looking for someone else." Of course, my directionally challenged self had picked the wrong entrance. I turned to head back inside but the man grabbed my wrist.

"What's the rush, little Miss Pretentious? I'm here, and I could show you how the boys in Iowa can treat you very well," he leered at me. I felt my irritation flare. How dare this creep? He didn't even know me, and he was talking about having SEX with me outside by his valet stand?! I opened my mouth to tell him what I really thought about his crude offer when I was pulled away and swept into a pair of strong arms - arms I would know anywhere.

"Sorry man, but the lady is with me," Kyler's gravelly voice purred, but this time with an icy edge that was colder than the howling Iowa wind. My heart leapt from the way he said 'with me'. The man frowned before he hung his head and shuffled back to his valet post. When he was out of eyesight Kyler let go of me, and I almost fell back against the side of the convention center. The cold had returned, even harsher now. I tried to make eye contact with him, but it seemed as though those beautiful Brown Eyes were constantly fixed on anything but me. It was a mistake, nagged the voice inside of me. Suddenly, I felt exposed with my ruby red lipstick and fluffed hair. I turned, ready to head back inside to the warmth of the convention center. Meeting up with Kyler had been a mistake. Getting caught up with him in the first place had been an even bigger mistake. His large hand closed over mine, and I looked up to find his eyes frantically searching mine. Begging me. Apologizing to me. For what, I wasn't sure.