The students all laughed as he animatedly stepped aside for the guy carting the masses of things into the classroom as though it were the biggest pain in his art-teaching, sexy ass. Every woman eyed that cart full of roses, stuffed animals, chocolate, and balloons in longing they couldn’t conceal. I was no different. Who didn’t want to be special enough to someone on this day to receive something? In the same token, who wanted to be the odd woman out? I had my nervous fingers crossed that I wouldn’t be one of them simply because I could be a jerk on the track… after all, it’s not like I meant to be…
To be an ass, Mr. Miller brushed his long hair out of his face as he bent to one of the floral arrangements one of the most popular and beautiful cheerleaders in school had gotten. He plucked the card after asking her permission, then began to read aloud the pathetic love note written on the other side from the even more popular football star boyfriend of hers we all knew and loved. He delivered it in the most theatrical of ways to make us all laugh, even as the stuff on the cart was dwindling. Don’t sweat it, Kinsley. The day isn’t over just because you leave the school empty-handed. Just means no one at school thinks you’re special this year. No biggie. Not that you have given anyone a reason, or have any right-
My fears were silenced when he stopped and set a large bouquet of lavender roses down in front of me. Tears of happiness rushed to my eyes, even if I had no idea who they were from. I gasped when he set down another vase filled with orange calla lilies mixed with white roses. Orange calla lilies were my favorite flower. Those had to be from someone who knew me well. He pulled a large bear, and a group of balloons untangled from the bottom of his cart that were anchored to the lily vase. He set down several envelopes, and one box wrapped in red and silver scrolling paper like a present before he moved on. Holy crap! Look at all this stuff!
Mr. Miller echoed my thoughts when he walked up and told me that he and the entire class were dying to know what was inside the box. I chuckled and felt a blush steal over my cheeks at his attention, but I set about opening it carefully. The paper was so pretty! Foil. I wanted to save it. He found that amusing and in the meantime asked to read the card on the lilies. I nodded. He didn’t read it aloud.
“Interesting. Either a poem or song lyrics. No name,” he told me. “Rather than butcher someone’s work with my horrid drama, I will leave this to you, Ms. James. You save wrapping paper?” he asked me with an amused light in his eyes. I nodded shyly, and he took it to fold it for me so that I could open the box more quickly. I opened a large, flat jewelry box and gasped.
“Wow,” I sighed in shock. I didn’t know what to think of it. It was beautiful and obviously expensive. A necklace that didn’t go all the way around my neck, rather it wrapped over the back so that it remained open in the front. An emerald vine that hooked close to my collarbone on the left, and wrapped around my neck to fall down my chest just before my cleavage. Small diamonds created flowers in the emeralds, and it was the prettiest necklace I’d ever seen. I had never had anyone other than my father buy me jewelry before. Was this from him? He normally left a card. No matter what, I was so very humbled by all of these sweet things. I was sometimes gifted with flowers, a balloon or two. Nothing like all of this. I was so very undeserving, considering I’d likely turned everyone of these men down at some point.
Mr. Miller whistled, and I looked up at him in agreement. “Beautiful color pallet with your eyes, Ms. James. Good luck with the rest of those cards and gifts. This one puts the others to shame. I’d say you have a man in the midst of little boys pining for your affections. Coach Walton is gonna be so nervous if you have a boyfriend,” he winked and moved on to the next victim, reading Shakespeare like a pro from another card on some flowers. He was right about Coach Walton. I’d only had one boyfriend during my college years, and he’d been helpful, not hurtful to my running, but he’d been nervous my entire career that I would fall in love and slack up. Fortunately, Coach didn’t have anything to worry about, because this person left no indication of who he was. Hell, maybe my mother sent it? She was always trying to urge me to act and look like a lady rather than a tomboy anyway. Made sense. After reverently putting that back up as though my life depended on it, I went about opening the cards. Some were positively adorable the likes of which you would receive in grade school, heart candies with corny sayings included. I read the poem or lyrics from the card Mr. Miller had read, but didn’t recognize the handwriting nor the source for this one. Without a tune to go off of, I couldn’t be positive it was a song, and I had no idea where to look. The lavender roses, three dozen, were beautiful and all different depths and shades of the soft hue. At first, I didn’t see a card, then I spotted that it had fallen deep between the pretty blooms. My heart caught when I opened it. Speaking of Shakespeare.
“See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O that I were a glove upon that hand,
that I might touch that cheek!”
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 2.2
It was typed. No handwriting to go off of, but what pretty words! I wondered who half of this stuff was from as only a few were brave or cocky enough, to put down their actual names. Those brave souls would be getting a sweet thank you card from me in return.
As though Coach had been told of my girly bliss, when I went to practice, he drilled me and wore me the hell out. He told me to go home and practice harder since our first meet was the last weekend in February.
Needless to say, I trained a bit harder and had also been going to the beach even earlier, normally waving at the guys on my way out when they were coming in. This was killing me! Jase had cancelled his performances that were usually on the schedule because he wanted to help Keane move in with him and get him settled, so the days were dragging by. Sure, I could understand that. Didn’t make it suck any less. Not to mention, I wanted to ask Jase about the lyrics. Maybe he would know the source since he was just as big a music lover as I? Though it’s shameful, I will admit, it also might show that I’d gotten presents from other men. Yep, girly stupidity rears its ugly head since I could just as easily type in the lyrics and see what popped up. However, I wanted and excuse to talk to him and wanted it to come off as natural and off-hand, rather than seeking him out as though to say ‘hey look at me! Some other guy wants me, does it make you want me, too?’ Stupid. So I kept up with my discipline and patience.
After a particularly late shift on Saturday night, I fell into bed and hit snooze until just after five-thirty! Crap!! I hauled out of bed and threw on some pink shorts and a pink sports bra and struggled into my college sweatshirt. I was foggy as I made my way to the beach. I forgot my water, dang it! At least I had my iPod, grrr! I rolled the windows down and let the slowly warming air blow into my face, forcing me to wake up completely. I parked and decided on no sweatshirt this morning since it was warmer. I hadn’t meant to only wear a sports bra, I had completely forgotten the tank I would have worn over it. “Who the hell cares, Kinsley!! Jeez, you prude, lets get this in gear!” I yelled loudly, my sometimes poor attitude rearing its ugly head while I threw my sweatshirt into my backseat. I wrapped the bracelet with my key onto my wrist and tucked my iPod into my bra. This morning I would need some music. I was not myself, and those waves would only serve to slow me down. I put on some Fergie and popped my earbuds in. I jogged to my first lifeguard post, and I quickly stretched, gaining a few looks from some men jogging past. I smiled politely, though I was annoyed as I popped my neck and rolled my shoulders, trying to pump myself up. I turned the music up loud. I put my sunglasses on my head since the damn sun would be coming up during my jog instead of at the girly bar like I usually planned. I cursed my laziness and began to jog. This morning my legs felt heavy. What had I eaten last night? I struggled to think, and then realized I had forgotten to eat since I had been so busy. No wonder. I always had to eat since I am like a caloric incinerator. I waited for my smoothie to take effect and give me that boost as I jogged past the third p
ost. I let my iPod shuffle through random songs. As I sang in my head, I felt myself losing that fog, and my legs felt lighter. I picked up some speed as I passed the tenth post before I turned around. I paced myself at a run instead of a jog now. I needed to make up for my lagging today. It felt good to go faster. Once I passed the ninth post on the way back, I opened my stride up even more, and my breathing sounded over my music in my ears along with my heartbeat. I turned my music up some more to cover it as I sprinted at my full speed, passing several people who were simply jogging, including both Jase and Keane. I pretended not to notice them and just flew.
As the course got closer I could see that there were several men there already. They were all sweaty, shirtless, tan, and yummy! I saw a few bikinis standing around gawking openly. There was one woman working out, the body builder type. Not very attractive unless you’re into that kind of thing. Way too tan, fake boobs to cover for the fact that she had completely lost hers with all the weight lifting, too buff to really be considered feminine in any capacity. She was going to make a dang fool out of me, but I pressed forward with my routine, determined to do my fourteen minutes as I jogged through those tires and propelled up that rope almost effortlessly. I flew through those monkey bars and even pushed myself to five pull ups!! Whoop, whoop! New record! Fist pump!
I had to slow down and change my music before climbing the net. I stood by so the men, and the woman, could clamber past me. I put it back onto my hard rock playlist, tucked it back into my bra, and climbed up the crowded net that swayed all over the place, forcing my core to work very hard. I propelled over the wall and landed soundly on the ground. I did the course two more times and was very pleased as I made my way over that wall the last time and clocked my time at thirteen minutes and fifty-six seconds. Hey, it may have seemed miniscule, but I would take any kind of besting myself I could get.
I was glad the muscle lady was using the real pull up bar so I could hang off the girly bar. My breasts fell forward heavily as I curled up. I tried to ignore them and any looks they were getting while I pushed myself to do thirty curl ups this time. I had been at this for over two weeks now, I should be able to go further. I passed my thirty and kept going until my core screamed. Sweet! Forty-two! Also a new best! For having started my day off messed up, I was having a pretty amazing day!
I climbed back off the bar and ran my arm across my forehead to get the sweat out of my eyes. Now I wished for my sweatshirt to dry myself off. My entire torso was drenched. I walked over to the water fountain and chugged until I was water-logged. Even still, I felt like jogging again already. I was so pumped. I turned around toward the water where I saw Jase and Keane watching me from where they sat, all sweaty and nasty in the best way. They were at one of the picnic tables, facing outward, their elbows perched on the table as they talked together. They both smiled at me and made no move to hide the fact that they were liking this look on me. I bet…
My shorts were barely there as they only served to pretty much cover my private areas, and my bra was soaked, so it was plastered to my breasts instead of just supporting them. I was so glad it was pink. I still had my iPod going, and Seether’s “Breakdown” was in my ears, lending to my pumped feeling, if not making me a little extra attracted to Jase since he does a fantastic Shaun Morgan. I pointed to the beach as I walked past them and waved for them to join me, though I never took my earbuds out. They eagerly jogged after me as I began to jog my path on the beach again. They each fell into step on either side of me. I smiled, and we simply jogged. I saw both of them turn on their own music, keeping up as I led. I looked over at them and smiled wickedly. I pulled ahead of them and made them pick up their pace. I saw Jase smile back at me, like I had at him, shaking his head, pushing himself to keep up with me. Keane elbowed me in the ribs blithely as he ran. The two of them looked at each other over my head, so I ran even faster and eventually left them in my dust, or sand, wink, wink. They fell into step with each other as I sprinted full blast again. When I passed the fourth stand, I began to slow down and came to a walk while I let my breath calm down. I had to retie my hair as it was loose again. Deciding against it, I pulled it down and shook it out, not caring that it must have looked insane. I finger combed it a little and paced in front of the water while the guys caught their breath behind me. I walked over to the stand and took off my shoes and socks and put my key and iPod inside them. I pulled my hair back up into an ugly bun on top of my head. That’s the name I’ve dubbed the crazy loose bun you see some girls walking around with. Not necessarily ugly, but by no means is it put together.
The guys followed suit and left their shoes beside mine while I walked over to the cold water and dipped my toes into it, walking deep enough that it was pins and needles all over beneath my knees. I winced and looked at both of the guys. Jase didn’t seem to mind the frigid temperature. He was already wearing a swim suit, and he actually walked in further and grabbed me around the waist to pull me with him. He picked me up high, carrying me over his head like I was weightless. I screamed happily, foolishly telling him to put me down, so he let me drop, but caught me quickly before I actually hit the water. He cradled me against his chest, and I had to calm my breathing all over again so I would look casually unaffected. He was scorching! Keane sat on the sand and let his toes play in the water while he watched and laughed, urging Jase to throw me in. I would have to pay him back later.
“You aren’t going to throw me in, are you?” I asked Jase, biting my lip, my eyes wide with the thought. He shook his head as he looked down at me, but it wasn’t a denial, it was as though I’d affected him. Score! He was still walking, and I jerked as the cold water bit into my bottom and soaked my shorts, and I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck to lift my bottom out of the water as best I could. He smiled knowingly.
“Aw, man, did I get you wet? Guess there’s no turning back now, is there, Baby?” he grinned mischievously. He lifted me and threw me into the water!
I came up laughing and dove for him. “Jase! I cannot believe you just did that to ‘Sweet Kins’ who has always been super sweet to you!” I pulled myself up onto his shoulders, hoisting myself to push his head down, and he went willingly. The water was so painful, but he didn’t seem to care. He came up and pushed the water out of his face and smoothed his hair back, smiling happily. He reached for me, but I ran against the waves and struggled out of his grasp. He dove and caught me, bringing me back under, pulling us both up together.
“You may be able to run from me on land, but this is my element, Baby. You cannot escape here,” he told me and splashed me. Yum! I think I was being innocently seduced. I was onto him.
“You are such a player. You think I am going to fall for this? You have to try harder than that, sir!” I splashed him and dove under the water to swim through his legs, coming up behind him.
He turned and scooped me up. “Why, Sweet Kins, I have no idea what you speak of…” he said charmingly, the most adorable look of innocence on his face making me laugh. He cradled me against his chest once more as he brought his face close to mine and looked like he wanted to kiss me, but kept his position. I tensed and really thought he was going to, my breathing stopping momentarily. “Oh, come on, admit it, it’s working just a little,” he said seductively.
I grabbed his chin, and I shook his face as I shook my head and smiled. “Afraid not, sir. I must be immune to your charms,” I teased. Psh! Immune? May I shake the hand of the woman who would be, please?
“You mean you’re going to force me to use my super powers? In public? Kinsley, I only like to pull those out for crime fighting, Baby, but I guess if it’s for you…” his voice ran off. He looked at me seriously, the smile gone from his face. He brought his face to mine, and I expected him to kiss me this time, so I gasped. He didn’t, though. Instead, he rubbed his nose against mine. He ran it up, then slowly back down. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard. My damn heartbeat sounded in my ears again, since it was pounding so hard. He let his f
orehead touch mine, and I heard him inhale sharply, restraining himself. Yay! Apparently he was affected in some way by me! Me! He pulled his face away from mine, and I opened my eyes, smiling shyly at him. He gave me a triumphant one.
“Alright, maybe we should keep those strictly for crime fighting from now on,” I told him bashfully. I had definitely been affected, and I was glad I was in ice cold water to keep me from giving in or attacking him outright. I think he was probably glad for the cold water, too.
“Yeah, I usually only pull them out in emergencies, so keep that in mind for next time, you hear?” He threw me back into the water.
CHAPTER 4
An hour later I was driving back to my house with one of his towels that he kept in his truck. I grinned like an idiot, and couldn’t pull it off of my face. Oh, Kins, what are you going to do? I found that I was very much looking forward to this next week of work because he was on the schedule tomorrow and Thursday again. Not to mention the fact that they both worked out almost every morning. Crushing on that high school heart throb like that stupid little freshman again…
I would get myself together tomorrow. For today I allowed myself to enjoy my thoughts as I replayed my morning over and over while I cleaned my apartment from top to bottom, then went to dinner with some friends from school. When I got home I did some of my homework before I needed to, and I attempted to study, but soon I was doodling on my book while I was supposed to be reading for materials for my upcoming finals. I sighed. I hadn’t asked him about the lyrics because they’d left my head in all that was Jase’s everything being fired my way. Jase’s smile flashed through my mind. His nose against mine, his mouth so near to mine… “Ugh! Stop it, Kinsley! Get a damn grip on yourself!” I went into my bathroom and splashed some cool water on my face and neck to try and clear my head. I walked back into my room and slammed my book shut and put it back on my shelf. I grabbed my phone and laid across my bed on my stomach and dialed Chelsea.
Don't Close Your Eyes Page 6
