by Marika Ray
My jaw dropped. "Gabe is one of our students. We need to help him and his mother in their time of need!"
He flung his ridiculous hand again, clearly unperturbed by my outburst. "We're not responsible for what happened, Hessa."
I jumped up. "You're missing the point entirely! He needs help. Not being responsible does not absolve us from our obligation to provide assistance."
He smirked as he began pecking away at another blasted email. "You're welcome to help them if you feel so inclined."
I stared at his head, hoping my eyes would drill right into his skull and knock some sense into him. With no such luck, I grabbed my tote bag and huffed my way out of the room, not bothering to shut the door nicely. Mr. Brown's assistant startled at the slamming of the door and gaped at me, never having seen me in a tizzy before.
I used my meditation breaths to calm myself as I walked to my first class of the day. My mind tried to wander off to visions of Kai and his hard body above me, consuming me, but I willed the daydream away. I'd address that mess later. Right now, I had to come up with a plan to help my student.
Mr. Brown looked out at our student body, having given his announcement about 'the unfortunate incident relating to one of our beloved students’. He followed up that farce with the cancellation of the Care Dare program as of next school year. Whispers and shouts of disappointment echoed through the gymnasium as Mr. Brown tried to regain control.
"Now, now..." he said into the microphone, his voice gaining volume as he continued. "We have one more announcement for you and you'll want to hear this one, so settle down. Ms. Woodland?" He turned to me, stepping back from the podium.
I walked from my chair to the microphone, ignoring the pretense of a friendly smile from Mr. Brown as he took his seat behind me.
I looked out over the faces of my students, seeing the gamut of emotions: boredom, concern, anger, and confusion. As I was about to start my hastily prepared speech, the side doors opened and a tall, gorgeous woman walked in, followed by Kai. My heart jumped and quickly plummeted, seeing how quickly he'd moved on. Then my own confusion set in as I wondered what he was doing here. Mr. Brown cleared his throat and I rushed to begin, tracking the pair as they sat in the front row of the bleachers off to the side.
"Students. I'm as sad as you are to cancel our Care Dare tradition. I'm sorry this is the last senior class that gets to hone their interviewing skills. Or dig deep to find the bravery to try something new. Or learn the exultant feeling of accomplishing something you thought was beyond your capabilities. I will be working tirelessly to create a new program our seniors can look forward to each year. In the meantime, I ask that you be vigilant. Guard your social media and remember that no legit dares will be given publicly. If you find yourself dared to do something dangerous online, do the right thing. Tell your parents, tell a teacher. Whatever you do, do not put yourself in danger by accepting an online dare."
I paused to collect my thoughts. This next bit might endanger my job and make me a fool publicly, but it was the right thing to do. I asked my seniors to push beyond their limits. Time I did too.
"Lastly, I'd like to invite you to a night of singing under the stars at an establishment yet to be determined in HB. Your favorite English teacher will be singing to all who gather sometime next month. I'll be releasing the details shortly. I will be collecting a $10 cover charge, 100% of which will go to the medical bills of our student in the hospital. I encourage you all to come watch me make a fool of myself and enjoy a fall night together."
The murmuring started up again with quite a few students shouting their encouragement to me. I smiled but it felt wooden, stiff with fear. My legs were shaking as I made my way back to collapse in my chair.
There. I'd said it. No going back now.
I glanced up and caught Kai's eye. He was staring at me intently. He nodded slowly, recognizing what my announcement meant to me. He of all people knew how terrified I was to sing in public. That simple nod made the disappointed feeling come to the forefront yet again. I rubbed my chest, hoping to sooth the ache that had started up there. I'd had my chance with this wonderful man and I'd pushed him away. Based on the woman next to him, my window of opportunity was closed. So why was he here? Other than to rub my face in how quickly he'd replaced me.
While Mr. Brown dismissed the students, I saw Kai and the woman jump up and make their way through the crowd. Before I could run from the gym, they intercepted me.
"Hessa!" Kai caught my arm, bringing me to a halt, forcing me to acknowledge the woman I hated on sight. She was tall with curly brown hair, artfully tossed up in an up-do, leaving her classically beautiful face on display for all to admire. For cripes sake, she looked like Wonder Woman in a pantsuit, basically, the opposite of everything I was. I felt fatter and frumpier by the second next to this elegant, stunning woman. It didn't help that Kai seemed to know her well, based on his hand on her back as they stood together. As if this day couldn't get any shittier.
I pasted a wide smile on my face, determined not to let my true feelings bleed through and embarrass me entirely. No reason to look like a sad sap. I stuck my hand out, ready to get this introduction out of the way. "Hi, I'm Hessa Woodland."
She grabbed my hand in a firm shake. "Lovely to meet you. I'm Fiona, a reporter for the HB Republic. Mind if we find a more private spot to chat?"
Oh sure, just what I wanted. To hang with her and Kai in a private spot, just the three of us. Like a third wheel. Like an awkward three-legged stool. I could see which one of us was losing in this love triangle.
Instead of turning tail and running away like every fiber of my being wanted to do, I kept that smile going, promising my cheeks some extra ice cream tonight if they just held it together a bit longer. I led us over to the corner of the gym where we wouldn't be interrupted.
I nearly jumped out of my heels when I felt Kai's hand come to rest on my back, just grazing my booty with each step I took. I shot him a look, but he wasn't looking at me, oblivious to my distress.
What was his game? Come with one woman, leave with another? For all I knew, maybe I was the interloper. He may have already been dating Fiona and just kept me a secret this weekend. But before I could come up with any other scenarios to explain his behavior, we'd reached the corner and Fiona pulled a notebook out of her bag.
"I hope you don't mind. Kai called me up and said there was a story here that needed to be covered and I have to agree. Can you first tell me about the Care Dare program?" Fiona didn't waste any time getting down to business, which I appreciated. The sooner I could leave and organize my thoughts in private, the better for all parties present.
I ignored Kai and told her all about the program. Then I told her about the online dares that had been happening, ending with Gabe's accident and the Principal's decision to shut down the program.
"Kai also told me that you were personally dared. Is that right?" Fiona was furiously scribbling on her notepad. I glanced over to Kai, who stood there looking at me with a tender smile, like things weren't awkward between us at all.
Then he quirked an eyebrow and his eyes heated. The exact expression I'd seen right before he climbed between my legs Saturday night took over his face, completely derailing my train of thought. My face began to blush, remembering all that had happened that night.
"Hessa?" Fiona was looking at me like I'd lost the plot. Her pen was hovering over her notebook, waiting for me to answer her questions.
"Pardon?" My voice came out breathless. Damn Kai and his sex looks.
Fiona asked again patiently. "Tell me about your own dare."
I focused on her entirely, pretending Kai wasn't there, and told her the whole story.
"Kai also gave me a quote about the happenings at the beach. Do you mind if I include in my article an invitation to your fundraiser next month?" Fiona asked innocently.
That sounded like my worst nightmare. More people to watch me humiliate myself? Sure, why not? Let's bus 'em in from surrounding
cities while we were at it.
Kai finally spoke up. "Hessa, Fiona thinks this article, along with your fundraiser, will draw a lot of attention to the good things you're doing here with the Care Dare program. I think we may even be able to get it reinstated next year once the public sees it has nothing to do with the online dares." Then he reached out and held my hand, dropping his voice. "I know you're scared to do it, but this could be a really good thing for your program. And think of all the money raised for Gabe."
I sighed. Dammit, he knew how to get me to agree. "Fine. It can go in the paper, but if I have to move cities to escape the humiliation, you're helping me pack up all my things."
Kai chuckled before pulling me in and kissing my forehead. "For you? Anything," he whispered.
Fiona chucked her notebook back in her bag and shook my hand again. "You've got a good one here. His idea to get this in the paper was brilliant. Plus, I get a feel good story. Win-win. See ya' around, Hessa."
I watched her walk off, mouth agape. I spun back to Kai.
"I'm confused. What just happened?"
Kai still had my hand hostage, so he pulled me close and kissed me quickly. "I'm supporting you. Jack called me last night after he talked to your Principal about today's assembly and cancelling the program. I know your students are a priority for you, so I thought publicly highlighting what you're doing here would not only raise more money for Gabe's recovery, but also give you a chance at saving your Care Dare program. If enough people get behind it, they'll complain that it's being cancelled. Your Principal will be forced to bring it back. Fiona wrote an article awhile back about Esa's shop and her stalker. I figured she'd like your story too."
That was brilliant, just like Fiona said. And really damn sweet. It actually seemed exactly like something Kai would do, so I'm not sure why I was surprised. Or why I was pushing him away.
"I gotta get back to work, so I'll call you tonight." Kai kissed me again and walked off, leaving me alone with my scattered thoughts.
14
Hessa
All week, Kai called and texted me, acting like we were together. A couple.
And it was nice.
We talked about everything and nothing, no topic too silly to discuss. I shared a bit about my mom, my sister, and the genre of books I read at night when all my papers were graded. I learned more about his family, the way he grew up, what he did in his spare time. We bonded over the fact that we'd had divorced parents. He hated being separated from his dad for such long periods of time. I believed him when he said he wanted to be around every single day for his kids, when that time came.
We never discussed our relationship or where we stood. It was all about getting to know each other and developing a deeper level of comfort with each other. We'd already been intimate, but I felt closer to him now, knowing who he was underneath all the tan and muscles and gorgeousness.
Friday night came quickly without any further run-ins with my Principal, and I was looking forward to a night of pajamas the moment I walked through my door. In my estimation, a frozen burrito, some light music, and a good book were the ingredients for a perfect night.
I was jammed up, as Esa would say, when my doorbell rang. I groaned, the first bite of burrito taunting me from my untouched plate, fresh out of the microwave. A quick look in the peephole showed my sister standing on my doorstep holding a plant.
I swung open the door and let her in, apologizing for my state of undress. She laughed me off and shoved the pot in my hands.
"Here. A housewarming gift." She breezed into my living room, leaving me to find a spot for my newly acquired plant.
When I made it to the living room, sans plant, I found her wolfing down my burrito.
"Oopth. Thorry, wa da for ou?" she mumbled with her mouth full of bean burrito deliciousness.
"I live alone, Rainna. Who else would it be for?" I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorway. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this fine evening?" A sickly sweet smile split my face as I unleashed my irritation in the form of sarcasm.
She wiped her mouth with the 'Books Are Life' napkin I'd meticulously placed under my plate earlier. "Well, I missed your actual housewarming a few years back, so I thought I'd remedy that now. Hence, the plant."
Okay, that was kind of nice. A lot nice. I dropped the false smile and flopped down on the couch next to her.
"Thank you. That's really thoughtful. I'll probably kill it with my black thumb in a matter of days, but the thought is very nice." I gave her a quick hug. "So what's new with you, sister dearest?" I hopped off the couch and waved at her to follow me into the kitchen. My stomach growled right on cue.
"I don't have a client till ten p.m. so I thought we could just hang out for a bit." She sat on a bar stool and watched me heat another burrito.
"Sounds good to me. I didn't have anything planned except relaxing." My phone buzzed with a new text on the counter. I leaned over and saw it was from Kai. I swiped it open and read it, quickly typing a reply and sending.
Rainna whistled. "Who's got you blushing and smiling like that, huh?" Then she began to sing-song like only an annoying sister could. "Hessa's got a new boyfriend...Hessa's got a new boyfriend."
"Shut it, woman!" I was embarrassed to be caught in the act, like a naughty teenager, but I really wanted to share my excitement with my sister. The microwave dinged, so I took the burrito and went back into the living room, Rainna trailing me.
"Details, give me details."
"Let me eat first and then I'll tell you everything you want to know. Wait. Almost everything."
"Ooooh! Those kind of details, huh? I can't wait." Rainna sat on the floor across from the coffee table and waited not-so-patiently for me to inhale my burrito. Her eyes sparkled and her skin glowed. She looked good, which was nice to finally see.
I took my time with the last bite, making sure to chew it at least one hundred times before swallowing, and then wiping my mouth thoroughly. Rainna glared at me, knowing I was doing it just to annoy her. Then the doorbell rang again and I laughed out loud at her expression.
"Nooooo!" she whined. I hopped up and looked through the peephole again, seeing a crowd on my doorstep.
"Prepare thyself!" I yelled back to Rainna. I swung the door open a second time that night and let in the circus. Also known as the Beach Squad.
After all the introductions were done, I opened the bottles of wine the girls brought and handed out wineglasses. Rainna declined, opting for water instead, which impressed me. I didn't have enough furniture for everyone, so half of us settled on the floor with minimal squabbling.
Bailey leaned over to me while the girls were still shouting over each other about the nuances of white versus red wine and passed me an envelope. "I looked into that thing we talked about. Found some interesting things. But remember, I had nothing to do with the information you have there. Got it?"
I took the envelope, winked my acceptance, and put the envelope on my counter to be opened later when I was alone. I was curious to see what she'd found, but knew there was nothing I could do about it right this minute, anyway. I’d look at it tonight, sleep on it, and then approach Jack with the information if I felt it would help the investigation.
As soon as I sat back down, Esa shushed everyone and all eyes landed on me.
"What?" I asked, bewildered.
"You've got some 'splaining to do, Lucy!" Shasta said with a ridiculous Ricky Ricardo accent.
"That was bad, real bad," Bailey muttered into her wineglass.
"Let me give you some background here. We were all at Chocolate Dreams on Wednesday. So were our favorite lifeguards. Two things stood out for us. One, you announced to the whole world you'd sing in public and didn't tell us...and this was after saying you'd never do it. Two, Kai seems pretty hung up on you and you haven't given us the goods." Brinley brought me up to speed on why they were looking at me expectantly.
"I always thought Kai was pretty damn hot, but it was clear fro
m the way he was talking about you, he's already taken," Autumn admitted shyly. She smiled at me so I knew she didn't hold any grudges. Her words made my tummy flip-flop with excitement. I didn't know for sure if Kai was actually mine, but the idea was starting to appeal to me more than scare me.
Shasta broke it down for me. "Maybe we weren't clear enough, but here in the Squad, we tell each other everything. We lean on each other. If you can't lean on us, then we feel slighted, plain and simple. You haven't taken that opportunity yet, so we've come to you."
My good mood plummeted. I never meant to hurt their feelings. I guess things just happened quickly the last week or so and I didn't think to update them. "I'm so sorry, you guys." That's all I got out before my eyes filled with tears and I jammed my lips together to keep my emotions in check.
Rainna rubbed her hand on my back and spoke for me. "Hessa here has always been the responsible one. She doesn't lean on other people because she's always the one who has to pick up the pieces for everyone else. Maybe you could give her an out, just this once, while she learns how to rely on good friends?"
"Of course we can!" Esa was quick to say. "Listen, we've all gone through rough patches or issues with men, and we've got to be able to rely on each other during those times to stay sane. If you shut us out, we don't know how to help you. And I guarantee you that every woman needs a group of women to back her up in life. We want to be your back up. So spill, woman."
I swallowed through a thick throat and did just that, telling them everything that had happened with my student, the Principal, the reporter, and finally, Kai. I skipped the sexy-time details, feeling like some things were too sacred to go blabbing about, even with the best of friends. When I'd finished unloading, we'd finished two bottles of wine and Bailey was reaching for another.
"Okay, first, let's get the boring stuff out of the way, then we'll get to the juicy details. I can help you with your fundraiser. Do it at Pacific City, in the downstairs courtyard. They have singers out there all the time. I'll set up a hot chocolate station and we'll donate the profits to your student. I can even talk to some other vendors there and see if they'll donate a portion of the night's proceeds to your cause." Esa grabbed a napkin and a pen from her bag and began to write down notes.
