by Clark, Bekah
"I'm serious about that salad, Lyss!"
"They aren't even here yet! I'll make it when they arrive. Seriously, do they even want it? Do we even need it?"
"Human girls eat salad!"
"I'll make it when they get here! And knock it off with the 'human' thing. You never know who's around."
Shaking her head, Lexa checked a few things and then decided to change herself. Unlike Lyssa and the flannels, Lexa opted for a loose pair of jeans and a bulky sweater. It was almost cold enough for it now and the girls usually kept the house a little bit more on the colder side. When the bell rang, Lexx dashed down the stairs and opened the door with a grin.
“Come on in!”
Missy bounded in and gave Lexa a big hug. Anna walked in slowly and looked around for a moment before saying softly, “Your house is nice.”
“Thanks! I didn’t pick it though so…”
Grinning, she dragged the two girls into the main part of the house. When they saw Lyssa reading away in her polka dot flannel pants and some vintage video game t-shirt, Missy’s mouth dropped open. Anna actually giggled.
“Please tell me you will never let Kyle see you like that!”
Lyssa glanced up at him and smiled, “Why not?”
“He might realize you are too weird and that will be that.”
Grinning evilly, Lyssa remarked, “Then I hope he does. I can’t shake him. I don’t want a boyfriend. I want to buckle down and finish school.”
Missy’s brows shot up, “Yep, weirdo. You got the hottest guy in school wanting to date you and you’re trying to put him off?”
Lyssa shrugged and got up, “I’m going to make the salad now, Lexa.”
Once Lyssa was out of earshot, Missy said softly, “Your sister is the weirdest girl I have ever met. I have no clue what Kyle sees in her. I mean other than her being pretty. But there are a lot of pretty girls in school.”
“Maybe he likes weirdos,” Anna said softly.
Lexa shrugged, “Come on. I’ll get dinner started. When Lyssa is done with her salad she can help you with your homework.”
While Lexa cooked, Lyssa worked with the girls. It always amazed Lexa the ease and calm in which Lyssa could teach other people. Lexa often fantasized about Lyssa teaching her and then they could have been in the same grade. But, deep down, she knew that was impossible. Lyssa was infinitely patient when it came to other people. When it came to Lexa, Lyss would get frustrated. She couldn’t understand why her sister wasn’t grasping the concepts she was teaching. It wasn’t Lexa’s fault. She just didn’t have a grasp on things that she considered boring as hell and pointless. Were they going to go to college? Have real jobs? What was the point?
So, they had a silent deal. Lyssa and Lexa would never study together unless absolutely necessary and Lexx would maintain average grades in average classes.
After she was finished cooking, the girls put their studies away and started eating. Lexa beamed under the praise and even though the other two didn’t eat as much as Lyssa and Lexa, they ate well. Mostly they ate salad. Lexx gave her sister the eye. Lyssa rolled her own eyes right back at her. She hated being wrong.
Lyssa did the dishes quietly and the girls sat at the side bar and watched her. Missy said softly, “Shouldn’t we be helping her?”
“No,” Lyssa said, “The deal is Lexa cooks, I do dishes. Lexa cleans the house and I do the laundry. I also make salads upon request.”
Lyssa turned with that last remark and winked. Anna got up and started to wander around the room. The exterior of the house was a big Victorian but the inside had been renovated into an open concept. The kitchen and dining area opened into a large living room.
“This TV is massive,” Anna said, “And you have a killer movie collection. But why are there so many old sci-fi movies?”
Lexa hopped off the barstool and walked over, “Lyssa has weird tastes.”
“Stop talking smack about me!” Lyssa called out.
“You do have weird tastes, weirdo!”
As Missy walked over, Lexx could hear Lyssa laughing as she worked. She at least had a sense of humor about herself. The three girls stretched out on the two couches. Anna was scrutinizing everything.
“It all looks so new,” she said softly, “Like nothing has been lived in.”
Leave it to Anna to notice things like that. Lexa smiled, and once again quoted a line she had memorized for three and half years, “When we moved up here our parents decided to go all new furniture. They sold the old with the old house.”
“Huh, you’d think they’d want to keep something.”
At that moment, Lyssa walked in, “Our parents are very nomadic. When I have my own place one day, I’ll stay there and never move.”
Lexa looked up at her. She felt bad lying to her new friends, but Lyssa was right. The truth was dangerous. Moreover, not just to them. It was dangerous to any friends they had. So, Lexa let Lyssa do the skillful lying and she handled the light stuff.
“So are we going to pick this girl an outfit for Saturday or what?” With that question from Missy, they headed on upstairs to work on the new outfit.
Chapter 6
Finding Lyssa’s house had been easy, the directions had been clear. Their house was a big gray Victorian with a well-kept yard. There was a two-car garage. Also, there was a large porch wrapped around the front of the house that ended with a gazebo on either side. One side had a porch swing. Kyle wondered if Lyssa ever sat out there. She’d look cute on it. She’d probably be reading one of those old sci-fi novels she seemed to love.
He had changed their meeting time to ten thirty and he was there right on time. He understood that Lyssa would not appreciate someone being late because she just didn’t seem like the type to tolerate it. They’d arrive at the location around noon and he’d take her to lunch before arriving at their final destination. He just hoped she would enjoy the surprise.
As he was about to knock, the door flew open and there she was. Her long, bone-straight honey gold hair was wound atop her head with a short ponytail sticking out of the middle of the bun. She was wearing a pale pink shirt and a short black skirt that made his heart race. Damn. She was also wearing heels, which looked hot, but he wasn’t sure how she’d navigate.
“Hey, we may be doing a lot of walking and climbing some stairs. You look so beautiful, but I don’t want you in pain from your pretty pink heels.”
He was worried she’d be offended by his suggestion so he was surprised when she blushed and look away to avoid his gaze. Softly she said, “I can handle the heels. Thanks for worrying.”
“Where’s your sister?”
“She’s at Missy’s with Anna. Missy’s parents are out for the day. I think they’re watching movies. Let me grab my purse.”
“If you want to bring your phone, that’s cool but you won’t need your purse. I’m paying for everything.”
Lyssa’s gray-blue eyes widened, “Um. I thought we were going Dutch.”
Kyle grinned, “I’m trying to get you to go on a date two. I am not letting you pay.”
Sighing, Lyssa folded her arms, “Your paying for me this time will not influence me.”
With a soft laugh, he leaned forward until his face was a few inches from hers. His arm above her head on the doorframe, he watched as her pupils widened. Her breath quickened and a flush stained her cheeks. Oh yeah, he was getting a date two.
“Let me spoil you. I want to.”
Her pale skin darkened to a deep red and she tried to turn away, but she just kept staring up at him. It was as if she was caught in his eyes and that was what he wanted. When she finally spoke, it was one word that she barely breathed, “Yes.”
With a grin, he brought her over to his black Beamer and opened the passenger door. His dad always said to open the door for a woman. He was old fashioned that way. However, Kyle’s mother really seemed to like it, so he figured he’d try with Lyssa. Lyssa blushed and got into the car with a little bit of a smile. Score one
for dad’s advice.
As soon as he started down the driveway, Lyssa asked, “Where are we going?”
Kyle kept quiet as he headed towards the highway. Lyssa wasn’t having that and she asked again, “Where are we going?”
“It’s a secret. Tell me something true.”
He could see Lyssa turn to him from the corner of his eye. For a moment, she studied him and then asked, “What?”
“Tell me something true. Just anything about you that is true.”
She frowned, but eventually answered, “I like fast cars.”
Kyle laughed and shook his head, “Something I don’t know!”
She was quiet and stared out the window. Frowning, Kyle wondered if this date was going to work out. If she wouldn’t even answer a question, it would be a long day. They drove on in silence for ten minutes. Great, he thought, this is going to be a long day.
“Vanilla. I like vanilla.”
Smiling, Kyle turned to her, “Vanilla, huh. Why?”
“It goes with everything. Cake, pies, cookies. Plus you can put all kinds of toppings on it.”
“Vanilla,” Kyle smiled. She hadn’t seemed the vanilla type but her reason was funny. It meant she could have a little of everything with it.
“So?”
“So, what?” He asked with a grin.
She let out a frustrated sigh, “What is your favorite flavor?”
“Pistachio.”
She nodded and fell silent again. It was obvious that Lyssa had no experience with guys. Kyle was finding it a little difficult because he wasn’t used to such quiet girls. The girls he had dated in the past always chattered non-stop. However, he wasn’t about to back down from a challenge. “Tell…”
“Tell me something true,” she said. Kyle closed his mouth and glanced over at Lyssa. She was smirking. “Not so easy, is it?”
“Oh, is that how it’s going to be?”
She giggled, “That’s how it’s going to be.”
Kyle smiled smugly. He got her to giggle. Now he had to think of something to tell her. Something better than ice cream flavors. He frowned. She was right. It really was hard. A certain thing in particular that popped into his mind he just wasn’t ready to share yet. Other things were just either too stupid or just plain old too embarrassing to share.
“I know you love science fiction, but I prefer fantasy novels.”
She tilted her head and he could see her studying him out of the corner of his eye. Softly she said, “What’s your favorite?”
“Lord of the Rings.”
“Alright,” she responded, “I’ll read that if you read Dune.”
Kyle grinned, “Deal.”
On they went as they drove up, sharing inane tidbits about their lives with each other. Kyle found that she played things close to the vest. It was as if she was protecting herself or hiding something. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he didn’t want to press either. Not yet. Not until she was comfortable telling him. After all, he was hiding things too.
However, his secrets aside, that was the thing. He wanted her to be comfortable with him. He wanted her to share herself with him. The more he learned about her, the more he was determined there would be a date number two. And more if he could just convince her. Glancing over, he watched her smile as she went on about her favorite TV show. It was old and out of date and he found it cute how she lit up as she expounded on the virtue of her favorite character. Getting her talking was fun and enlightening. But, he was also trying to keep her talking so she wouldn’t notice the signs on the highway.
They pulled into the pizza place he’d eaten at the last time he was in the area just a little after noon. Lyssa leaned forward and looked at the place. She blinked a few times and then glanced at him curiously. Opening her door, she got out of the car and he quickly followed.
“You,” she looked as if she was trying not to laugh, “brought me to Loudon, New Hampshire for pizza? It must be amazing pizza.”
Kyle laughed and smoothly took her hand. She glanced up at him with a blush. However, she didn’t pull away and he was grateful to have made some progress with her. She looked amazingly sexy and he wanted to hold her close, but he didn’t dare. Small steps, those were what was going to win her. One date at a time.
“I didn’t bring you here for the pizza. This is just the lunch part of our date. After we eat, we head to the real part of the date.”
“Which is?”
With a grin, he opened the door, “A secret.”
Her lips twisted into a frown and he took her hand again as they found themselves a seat. He grabbed a few of the menus from the counter and set one in front of her. She arched a brow at him.
“You pick whatever you want to eat and drink. I’ll just get the same.”
She barely glanced at it, “Pizza with sausage, hamburger and pepperoni. Also an orange soda.”
He paused, a little shocked. The last date he had been on the girl had ordered a salad with the dressing on the side and a diet soda. He smiled. Once again, Lyssa was not like any other girl he had dated.
“Not worried about what I’ll think of your food choices?”
“No. Should I?”
“No. It’s just that I’ve never met a girl so unafraid to just eat in front of a guy.”
“Well, I don’t usually date. And, I like to eat what I like to eat. I’m not going to pretend about who I am to impress you.”
Kyle grinned at her, “Sausage, hamburger and pepperoni pizza it is.”
“You know, I can pick up the check. I’m sure you planned on me eating light if that’s how other girls eat.”
“My parents may not be as well off as yours, but I have a pretty good allowance. Plus I work a part-time job for a little extra.”
“Really, what do you do?”
“Hold on.” Kyle walked over to the counter, ordered the pizza and grabbed a coke and an orange soda, as well as a bunch of napkins. Then he slid into the booth, her side. This caused Lyssa to blush brightly.
“Um, there’s another side to the booth.”
“Yeah, but that’s just too far away from you.”
Now she looked like all cute and cherry red. For a moment, he just stared at her. The delicate turn of her nose, the light of her eyes and the sweet smile, which would flutter on her lips, mostly when she thought no one noticed. All of these things drew him in just as surely as her intelligence and the strength that seemed to be deep within her. He wanted to know everything about her. He didn’t think he’d get enough. Reminding himself that this was a first date and it was lust at first sight, not love, he gently grabbed a loose strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear. She frowned and grabbed it, as if angry that her hair did not strictly obey her.
She cleared her throat, “You were going to tell me about your job?”
“Oh yeah, it’s no big deal I just work at a gas station.”
She sipped her orange soda and then nervously started to strip away the label. He leaned forward and gently inhaled. Lyssa started and pulled back just a bit.
“Um, what?”
“You smell really nice. What are you wearing?”
“Just lavender oil. Nothing expensive.”
“I like it. It suits you.” After a moment he asked, “So do you have a part time job?”
A little musical laugh escaped her lips. Her pouty, pink, kissable lips. “You mean besides Lexa?”
“Huh?” Kyle realized he’d been so caught in her laugh and her lips that he completely didn’t hear what she said.
“It’s nothing. No, I don’t have a job. My parents don’t believe in them. My job has always been to look out for Lexa and I will fulfill that duty with my life.”
His eyes rose to meet her wide gray-blue ones. That had been an odd response. Odd phrasing and, more importantly, there had been an odd intensity to it. As if, Lyssa risked her life on a regular basis to save Lexa. He ran his thumb over her cheek and she blushed. At least this time she didn’t pull back.
“What about once you finish school? What are your plans?”
Lyssa looked away and sighed, “I don’t want to talk about that.”
Kyle arched a brow, “Why not?”
“Because so many things can change the future. You think what you want is right around the corner, but what you don’t know could kill you. I like living in the now as much as I can. And right now I just… want to spend time with you.”
Her skin turned several shades of red and she looked away, shy and embarrassed. Now that was real progress. She wanted to spend time with him. Maybe before the day was out he’d get her to commit to date number two. He’d stay a little more local for date two, however.
