Coded

by Kayla Bainbridge

  “I want to know what really happened,” Cole demanded, walking over to her.

  Kennedy could see the door fidgeting and figured it would only take a couple seconds longer before Dustin and Taylor would be inside.

  “You are right. I’m sorry, I should’ve told you earlier,” Kennedy said, sticking to her story.

  “You are on that man like glue...you’re never alone,” Cole said, obviously ignoring the door.

  Kennedy stayed silent, not sure how to respond.

  “Are you really okay? Why are you so tired? Is he hurting you?”

  “It is college, everyone is tired. Of course, he isn’t abusing me.”

  The door swung open and both Taylor and Dustin walked in with their guns raised.

  “Turn around,” Taylor said to Cole.

  Kennedy pulled back at the sight of their guns. Luckily, they instantly lowered them down when they recognized Cole.

  “What is this? Your bodyguards?” Cole asked.

  “It's time to go Kennedy,” Taylor said, as he held his hand out to her.

  “You can’t tell her what to do!” Cole replied, stepping between the two of them.

  Dustin’s six-foot figure stepped next to Cole’s five four height and whispered, “Don’t ever touch her.”

  Kennedy spoke up, “Dustin, Taylor give us a minute.”

  Walking slowly to the door, she pushed them out. A wave of exhaustion hit her, and she stood at the door for a second. Taking a deep breath, she took a few steps back towards Cole and fell in a chair.

  “Kennedy!” Cole reacted. “What is wrong with you?”

  “I'm very tired Cole. I know you need an explanation.”

  “Why are you so tired?”

  Kennedy shook her head, “I'm under a lot of stress right now, but please let me say what I need to say.”

  Cole didn't reply.

  “Cole, I had a wonderful time with you. I realize now that what we had wasn't love, at least not for me. You fell for me, and I went along for the ride. I didn't, and don't feel the same way you feel about me. Over the summer I realized that. I'm sorry that I didn't contact you. That was wrong. Also, I want to apologize for what happened in the store. That wasn’t right. I wasn’t ready to confront you yet, to admit the truth. But now you know. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

  Cole waited a moment, “Are you happy with him?”

  “Yes, although, I'm not sure if he feels the same way,” Kennedy admitted before she realized that Taylor was outside, probably listening to everything they said.

  “But why is he always around? I've been trying to get a second with you and it has been impossible.”

  “We have the same classes, and live close together.”

  “There's more,” Cole pushed.

  “Please, drop it. We are over. You need to move on. Go find someone who will love you like you deserve.”

  “I can't forget,” Cole said sadly.

  “I won't forget either. Now I must go, please don't follow me anymore.”

  “Thank you for explaining something,” Cole said as Kennedy struggled to stand up. “Let me help you.”

  “Thank you,” Kennedy said getting up and opening the door.

  Kennedy walked next to Taylor and greedily leaned into his figure. At this point, Kennedy mostly relied on him to support her, which he did without question. The two of them walked out the door but Dustin remained behind.

  “If you ever touch her again, I’ll personally take care of you,” Dustin said, walking out behind Taylor and Kennedy.

  “I’m going to find out what this is all about,” Cole threatened.

  Dustin didn’t respond.

  “Was that necessary,” Kennedy asked.

  “Yes,” Dustin said, still smiling.

  “That was a nice thing you did,” Taylor said as they reached the front of the library.

  “Thanks, I just hope it was enough closure for him.”

  “I can’t believe he pulled that off. You have to give him props for that,” Dustin said laughing, interrupting Kennedy’s thoughts.

  “Did you mean what you said back there?” Kennedy asked Dustin.

  “Of course!” Dustin said.

  Kennedy continued to cling to Taylor, as they all quickly walked back to the apartment.

  Dustin waved his goodnight as he went to the men’s apartment. Once at Kennedy’s apartment, Taylor escorted her to her bedroom door.

  “Hey guys!” Penny said walking out of her bedroom.

  “Hey Penny, sorry I never see you. I’m off to bed.”

  “No worries, I can keep myself busy,” she said walking into the living room.

  “Goodnight,” Taylor and Kennedy said to her.

  “She needs to get out of here,” Kennedy told Taylor.

  Taylor nodded in agreement, “I’ll see what I can do. She can always be our third set of eyes.”

  Then Taylor enveloped her in a hug, “It's all going to work out you know.”

  “Yes, but when, is the part that scares me.”

  He grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips. Gently he kissed her hand.

  “I care about you too,” he whispered holding her hand to his cheek.

  She stared into his eyes; he did care for her. The kiss had sent fireworks up her arm. She wanted to kiss him, but she held still. Instead she kept her hand on his face and smiled.

  He then wrapped his arms around her again, burying his face in her hair.

  “This is nice,” Taylor said.

  She felt like she could melt in joy. Her grip loosened as another wave of exhaustion hit and Taylor released her, thinking the moment was over.

  “Wait,” Kennedy pleaded, almost collapsing.

  “Kennedy,” Taylor said worriedly, as he instantly grabbed her again.

  “Do you have that effect on all women?” she asked, smiling.

  Taylor smiled, “Let me help you.”

  “Thank you,” Kennedy said.

  Taylor opened the door and helped her walk to her bed. He softly took off her shoes and pulled a blanket up to her chin.

  “Goodnight,” Taylor said walking out of the room and closing the door.

  Kennedy closed her eyes smiling.

  ∆∆∆

  “Is she okay?” Dustin asked as Taylor walked back into their apartment.

  “Yes, I think she conquered a daemon today.”

  “How many more do you think she has?”

  “At least one, Jordan. I was afraid that we had lost her tonight. Jordan had gotten through to her.”

  “You and me both. How embarrassing to have our security detail obtained by Cole?”

  Taylor laughed, “I agree, let's not report this one.”

  Dustin steered the conversation away from that detail, “Did you see the look on his face after I left?”

  “Poor kid!”

  Dustin turned serious, “Do you think he would really go after a government agency?”

  Taylor nodded, “If only Kennedy didn’t have classes, homework, and all this other stuff.”

  “What other stuff? She literally has no social life. Remember, without Kennedy it would’ve taken days or weeks to decipher these codes. Regardless, despite having other obligations, I would never ask her to decode, sleep, decode sleep. That would be no life at all.”

  Taylor hadn’t thought about it like that. Everything Dustin said was true. She never got to see any of her friends, she only had a week with her family, and she was behind in most of her classes. All of this was to help them. Maybe when this whole Jordan thing was over, she could just decipher occasionally. Taylor wished for the true college experience that he never had. Make lifelong friends, do something rebellious, stay up through the night.

  “Surprise, surprise, Jennifer has a new batch of codes for Kennedy to work through,” Dustin said.

  “I see,” was all Taylor said. This was getting far more complicated than he realized.

  “So, what if she falls behind in her classes? This is na
tional security?”

  “It isn’t just that, she has intertwined school with her happiness. If we take that away, I just don’t know what will happen.”

  Dustin nodded. “I can be the one to tell her tomorrow. Keep you in the spotlight.”

  Taylor accepted Dustin’s gesture. He put his hands through his hair and walked around.

  “If we keep up our current regiment it will take weeks for Kennedy to decipher these codes. If we push her, she could crack.”

  “It’s up to you, you are the lead,” Dustin said.

  “Ok,” Taylor said, accepting his fate. “Also, Kennedy wants Penny to be more involved. I think she is right. Keeping her in the apartment all day has to get old.”

  Dustin nodded, “I agree. We can have her keep her distance yet be useful out there.”

  “Want to go over the codes again?” Taylor asked sitting on the couch next to Dustin.

  “Let’s do it,” Dustin said cracking his knuckles.

  The rest of the night they went over all the deciphered codes, trying to see what they were missing.

  ∆∆∆

  Over the last few days, Kennedy tried to work through the stack of codes Jennifer had sent over.

  Today they were in the library. Taylor sat next to her, Dustin at the next table over, and Penny was running the perimeter, out of earshot. Despite her thoroughness, Kennedy couldn't seem to find anything important.

  “Rooster sitting in the oven makes dinner. The ball bounced in a line. Holding a tub over a cake could be hard.”

  Sentence after sentence, Kennedy continued to decode uselessness.

  “Taylor, I can’t find anything pertaining to the attack. Sifting through all of this is taking a lot of energy,” Kennedy said, sitting back in her chair.

  After not responding for a moment Taylor leaned forward, “Maybe you should go back to the music. Didn’t Jennifer send some more of that?”

  “You’re right,” Kennedy said annoyed.

  “Take your time, don't get frustrated,” Taylor prompted.

  “Ok,” Kennedy said, pulling her ear buds back out.

  Kennedy listened to several of the songs. During one of the songs Kennedy reached for paper and jotted down the first level of code, she then wrote something else. She then resumed listening to the song. After the song ended, she put down the ear buds and handed Taylor the paper.

  Looking down Taylor read, “I am coming for you Kennedy, Love Jordan.” Taylor looked back up at Kennedy. “Is this what you deciphered?”

  “It’s a message from Jordan,” Kennedy started solemnly. “All this nonsense is just to keep me busy, and from deciphering his other codes. He is starting to get to me.”

  She hadn’t wanted Taylor to find out but holding all the fear inside of her was not healthy. Did Taylor think she was weak for being scared?

  “I am calling this one in,” Taylor said.

  “Jennifer and Brett know,” Kennedy replied.

  “You sent it over already?” Taylor asked confused.

  “He has sent me similar messages since we arrived.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Dustin said looking at the message.

  “It didn’t seem important.”

  “Of course, it is important,” Taylor said. “He is trying to manipulate you. I’m calling Jennifer.”

  As soon as Taylor left the area Dustin moved closer.

  “It must be hard…” Dustin began to say, but Kennedy stood up.

  Kennedy pushed her feelings aside and said, “I can handle it.”

  “You know what? I think that you need a break. Do you want to do something fun?” Dustin asked.

  Even though Dustin played a more backseat bodyguard roll, Kennedy had enjoyed getting to know him over the last couple of weeks. Unlike Taylor, Dustin was more relaxed, and went with the flow. That helped Kennedy feel more comfortable.

  “I have a lot to do,” Kennedy said. “But a short break does sound nice. Glancing down the hall, she could hear Taylor talking to Jennifer, but couldn’t make out exact words.

  “What would you like to do?” Dustin asked, trying to keep her distracted from Taylor’s conversation.

  “Anything,” Kennedy said, desperate to get out of the routine.

  “Do you like to play mini golf?” Dustin asked.

  “Sure, we could go play mini golf.”

  Taylor walked into the room, “It is time to get you to bed.”

  “Taylor, I think it is time for Kennedy to live a college life and have fun,” Dustin suggested. “We were thinking about mini golf, want to come?”

  Taylor looked from Dustin and back to Kennedy. “It’s pretty late.”

  “Come on, Taylor,” Kennedy begged. “I need to get out of here.”

  “Very well,” Taylor relented.

  “Thank you!” Kennedy said jumping up and hugging Taylor and Dustin.

  “I told you,” Dustin whispered into her ear.

  “Of course, you suggested mini golf,” Taylor said rolling his eyes.

  Dustin laughed.

  “I think I’m missing something,” Kennedy suggested.

  “Oh, you’ll see,” Taylor said vaguely.

  Although the fun center was packed with students, mini golf was pretty empty. In the end, they had played three times, Dustin had won all of them.

  “Is that why you suggested mini golf?” Kennedy asked Dustin on their walk home.

  “I haven’t played in years,” he claimed smiling.

  “Sure,” Taylor said, grabbing Kennedy’s hand.

  Taylor’s gesture caught Kennedy off guard, normally she was the one who grabbed for his hand. She welcomed it warmly.

  Dustin went to their house, while Taylor walked Kennedy across the street to her apartment.

  “I had a great time, thank you for the break,” Kennedy said pausing outside the door.

  “I’m sorry Dustin had to persuade me. You have been working really hard.”

  “Any college life is better than living at the NSA. Thanks for coming so I can do this,” Kennedy replied, opening the door. “Good-night.”

  “Goodnight,” Taylor said, before he turned around and walked across the street.

  “You look like you had a good time,” Lacey said once Kennedy had closed the door.

  “And it is past ten o’clock!” Kelsey said.

  The two of them were sitting on the couch with Penny watching a movie but didn’t mind focusing their attention to Kennedy.

  “I know,” Kennedy said, suddenly realizing her exhaustion.

  “What is the special occasion?” Lacey asked.

  “Nothing special, we just played mini golf.”

  “Was it busy?” Penny asked.

  “Oddly no,” Kennedy said thinking back at that fact.

  Kelsey and Lacey looked at each other, “and?” they both said.

  “Dustin was there, nothing happened,” Kennedy said, getting water from the refrigerator.

  “Alright,” Melanie said, turning back to the television.

  “There is always next time,” Kelsey said.

  “Want to watch the movie with us?” Penny offered.

  “I’m up late enough, I’ll catch you guys later,” Kennedy said. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight,” Kelsey said.

  That night of deciphering had taken its toll. Kennedy decided to take the weekend off to catch up with her classwork.

  On Monday, well rested and caught up, Kennedy was eager to get back to deciphering. The amount of deciphering they were asking her to work on was overwhelming, but she just focused on one at a time. She couldn’t worry about the rest, or the giant list that was waiting for her in the inbox.

  Once she felt the exhaustion, she would decipher one more and then go to bed. Without hitting complete exhaustion, it helped her to build some confidence and endurance. Maybe she really could do this.

  Thursday morning Kennedy got up early. She wanted to go running to help clear her head. After putting her shoes on she
went into the living room. It was still dark. Should she wake Taylor? She went to his apartment door.

  “Taylor?” she asked quietly.

  The door opened and Dustin came out.

  “He’s still asleep, what can I do for you?”

  “I wanted to go running and print off a paper.”

  “Let me grab some shoes and I’ll go with you.”

  “Ok,” Kennedy said backing up.

  Dustin was only a few minutes; despite the fact he clearly had just woken up. Kennedy led them outside and set a slow jogging pace. Dustin fell behind her a few paces giving her some space. She appreciated that.

  The cold air felt good. It entered her lungs and rejuvenated her. She chose a route through some woods and only passed a handful of other students. After two miles, Kennedy went through campus to print off a report at the library.

  “Taylor is worried about you,” Dustin said once they walked inside.

  “I know,” Kennedy said, putting the paper in her binder and then into her backpack. “Dustin, I like Taylor. All this pressure, it makes everything more difficult.”

  Dustin said smiling. “He likes you too.”

  Kennedy blushed and turned her back to him. “Why wasn’t he alerted to my heart rate or whatever?”

  Dustin held up his watch, “You mean the monitor connected to his watch? I convinced him to let me take a shift every few days.”

  Kennedy nodded, that made sense, “Let’s go back to the apartment so I can shower before class.”

  “Sounds good,” Dustin replied, walking behind her.

  Taylor didn’t show up till after her second class. Kennedy was studying in the library.

  “Where have you been?” Kennedy asked as Dustin walked back into the shadows.

  “I had to do some book work,” Taylor said sitting next to her in the library.

  “I missed you,” Kennedy said, not looking him in the eye.

  Taylor didn’t say anything for a moment, “Jennifer sent more for you to work on.”

  “What else is new? I’m finishing something up, and then I’ll focus on that,” Kennedy said.

  “Now that's what I want to hear,” Taylor said, changing the mood to a more hopeful one.