The Keatyn Chronicles: Books 1-3: (Stalk Me, Kiss Me, and Date Me)

by Jillian Dodd

  “He’s also sort of down on love.”

  "That must be why he wants to play the Bad Prince. He'll get to be the cynic."

  Aiden nods. "He is kind of cynical about love.”

  I do not want to talk about love of any kind with Aiden, so I change the subject to something more pleasant. "I think it's funny that Jake is trying out for the part of the Good Prince. He's so not good."

  "He's a Prefect," Aiden counters.

  I remember Jake's first words to me. "Yeah, but he's naughty. I love that about him."

  "You said that so easily."

  "Said what?"

  "That you love him."

  "Well, not in love. That's different."

  “Have you told Dawson you love him yet?"

  I fidget and rub my feet together nervously. "I told him that I'm ready for the key."

  "That's not what I asked."

  "Well, that's all I'm answering because it's none of your business what I say to him."

  Aiden smiles. The four-ton radioactive smile.

  "Stop grinning," I say and swivel back around in my seat. "It's annoying."

  I’m lashing out.

  Dance

  "Okay, ladies," Peyton says. "That’s enough for today. Have a seat. We need to go over what's expected of you for Homecoming week. For those of you who are new this year, Homecoming at Eastbrooke is a time-honored tradition. Alumni will be on campus all week and you are expected to be on your best behavior. We’ll be working on our parade float with the alumni dancers this Sunday afternoon. After that, we’ll be teaming up with the cheerleaders and spirit club to make all the signs and banners that will decorate the halls this week. These are required activities.”

  She looks down at her notebook and continues. “You're expected to go all out on dress-up days. Monday is Groovy 70’s. Peace. Love. Cougars. Think tie-dye and bell-bottoms. Tuesday is Pajama Day. A lot of girls will wear those zip-up onesies. They make your ass look horrible. Like you’re wearing a diaper with a load in it. I don't want to see any dancers in one of those ugly things. Wednesday is Western Day. Think cowboy boots, bandanas, and hats. Thursday is Sports Day. You'll need to borrow a Varsity player's football jersey for that day and pair it with your red sequined skirt. We'll perform at the pep rally, bonfire, and for the JV game. Friday is School Spirit Day. Normally, that's the day we would wear the football jerseys but I'd like to do something different this year. Shake some things up. Anyone have any ideas?”

  Katie whispers to me, “How cute would it be to dress as little cougar kitties? Like all in leopard or something?”

  I whisper back, “Tell her. That’s an awesome idea! Although I’ve never understood why they have leopard print mixed with their school colors when a cougar is different than a leopard.”

  “Probably because leopard print is easier to find?”

  “Oh, yeah, that’s true. So tell her.”

  “No, it’s a stupid.”

  I raise my hand.

  “Yeah, Keatyn?” Peyton says.

  “Katie and I think it would be cute if instead of wearing school colors, we dress as cougar kitties.”

  Peyton’s eyes light up. “That would be cute. We could wear leopard ears and tails. Those would be easy to buy. What about the outfit?”

  “We have those black tanks and flutter skirts that are required for our dance competition. We could wear those.”

  “That’s perfect. Good job, girls. On Saturday, we’ll all be attending the Ladies’ Luncheon. Please dress appropriately. Nothing low cut or too short.” She glances down again. “All right. I think that covers it all. I’m looking forward to a fun week.”

  After practice, Peyton pulls me aside. “Jake really pissed Whitney off at lunch today. It was awesome.”

  “What’s gotten into you lately? Are you mad at her?”

  She shrugs. “I hate how she just assumes that she’ll win Homecoming Queen. Like I don’t even have a chance. It pisses me off. I guess I’m lashing out.”

  “I thought you were best friends.”

  Peyton rolls her eyes. “We have a weird friendship, I guess. Maybe I’m just getting sick of feeling like I’m always supposed to come in second. I’m probably too competitive.” She turns to Katie. “Great idea on the little cougars. We’re going to look hot.”

  My supposed rebound.

  7pm

  Dawson takes me to the cute little Italian restaurant he brought me to on the day we bought my car. I know he's going to ask me out tonight, so I wanted to look extra cute. I straightened my hair but then teased it to look a little messy and sexy. The dress I'm wearing is a multicolored, crocheted Free People dress with a fringy hem. I couldn't decide if I wanted to wear the tall teal suede boots I got to go with it or the strappy purple suede heels. I went with the heels.

  We have a nice dinner, chat pleasantly about Homecoming, about his family coming, but not once about our relationship.

  I hope I didn't waste this adorable outfit on nothing.

  After dinner, he parks his car down by the field house and leads me out onto the big green commons ground, where we played football and he kissed me in the grass.

  My heels are sinking into the damp grass and I'm worrying about ruining the suede when he says, “This is where I first laid eyes on you."

  “No, it’s not. We met at dinner, when you said Riley was a cheap imitation of the real thing.”

  He scrunches up his nose. Kisses me. "You tease me about the worse kiss ever, but you're lucky I even talked to you. You were so mean.”

  I laugh. “You were a jerk, and, besides, I apologized.”

  “Still, this is where I first saw you. When you stole the soccer ball from me.”

  I remember that day so vividly. Like it was a scene out of a movie. I felt free and fearless. I could never have done something like that at my old school.

  I glance over at the goal. The spot where I first saw Aiden.

  I can still feel that instant connection.

  But I’ve learned that instant connections aren’t enough. Sparks aren’t enough.

  My mom always says that life is about the choices you make. And I know that I’ve made the right choice. The smart decision.

  Because I’m here with Dawson.

  “You didn’t have a shirt on that day. I thought you were gorgeous."

  "I thought you were crazy." He laughs and grabs a piece of my hair, twirling it lightly on his finger. "Crazy, but hot. So, Keatie, will you be my girlfriend?" His big brown eyes glitter in the moonlight.

  Our relationship has been all backwards. Bad first impressions. Bad manners. Bad kisses. Sex way too soon. My supposed rebound could have gone horribly wrong in so many ways.

  But it hasn't. It's been better than I could have scripted.

  "I'd love to be your girlfriend, Dawson."

  He undoes the necklace. I turn around and lift my hair up, while he clasps the key to his heart around my neck.

  Of course, once he has it clasped he attacks my neck with his mouth.

  Cool your orange panties.

  11pm

  I'm lying in bed lazily sliding the key back and forth on the chain and thinking about tonight. How Dawson attacked my neck. How he stopped hugging me and started rubbing his hands up and down my sides. How he slid his hand up under my dress and inside my panties. How I stood there in the dark thinking, What if someone can tell what he's doing to me, but not caring enough to stop him. How by the time he was done all I could think about was having him come to my house for a wild playdate. The kind of playdate where the parents aren't home so the kids eat sugar, jump on the beds, and color all over the walls. How I dragged him to the lacrosse field. How the bleachers felt cold on my naked ass and how it contrasted so perfectly with the hotness of him on top of me.

  He texts me at the same time a Facebook notification pops up.

  Dawson Johnson and Kiki Kiki are in a relationship.

  It shows a photo timeline of us together. Kissing on the bench. At
the Hamptons partying. Holding my hand at lunch. Kissing after he asked me to Homecoming. I accept our relationship and change my profile picture to the one of us kissing. You can't really see my face, just how I leapt up into his arms and gave him a kiss worthy of the sexy way he asked me.

  Katie pops up out of her bed. "Keatyn! Dawson asked you out? Why didn't you tell me?"

  "Everyone already thinks we're going out. We just made it official tonight."

  "How did he ask? Was is dreamy?"

  "I'm not sure about dreamy. He was just sweet. We went to dinner, and then he took me down on the soccer field where he first saw me. Asked me there.”

  "Then what?"

  "Then he was being naughty, so I dragged him to the lacrosse field."

  "I want to go to the lacrosse field. I’ve heard it's a nice, private place."

  "I little cold but, yeah, it was."

  "So are you finally going to admit that you and Dawson are having sex?"

  I laugh. "Probably not."

  "But you are, right?"

  I nod my head and laugh. “Probably.”

  She leaps across the room and onto my bed. "Tell me about it, please. Let me live vicariously through you. I don't even have a date for Homecoming and it's only a week away!"

  "I have an idea of someone you could go with. I know you’ve been hanging out with Jordan, but I heard him say that he didn't want a date."

  She slumps her shoulders, picks up one of my pillows, and hugs it. "I was hoping Tyrese would ask me, but he's been seeing that Macy chick."

  "Yeah, he hasn't hung out or partied with us in a while. Dawson says he does that. He gets all into a girl and forgets about his friends."

  "So you have an idea of someone I could go with?"

  "What about Dallas?"

  "He is so cute. Do you think he would want to go with me?"

  “I know he thinks you’re cute."

  Her face brightens. "Ohmigosh, really? He’s adorable. Can you talk to him?"

  "Should I call him now?"

  "Oh, I don't know." She smooths her hair down with her hand. "I look like a mess."

  "He's not going to see you through the phone, silly. I’ll text him.”

  Me: You gonna ask anyone to Homecoming?

  Dallas: Probably go stag.

  Me: What if you had a real date? Like with someone that has been crushing on you since school started.

  Dallas: Katie???!!

  Me: Yes, Katie. She was hanging with Jordan, but he says he doesn't want a date.

  Dallas: Must be gay. Call me. Then make her talk to me.

  Me: Uh, okay. What are you gonna say?

  Dallas: First, I’m gonna ask if she wants to hang out tomorrow night. Then if she puts out, I’ll ask her to HC.

  Me: DALLAS!!!!

  Dallas: Cool your orange panties and call me. I won’t try anything but if she attacks me I will NOT resist.

  I dial Dallas' number and hold the phone out to Katie. Her eyes get big then she sits up straighter and brushes her fingers through her hair. She nods at me and takes the phone.

  She goes, "Uh, huh." Laughs. "Oh!" Giggles. "Well, I'm not wearing any right now." Major blushing and more giggling. "No, you don't have to. Yes, I'd love to."

  She hands me back my phone and screams, "AHHHHH!!!!! I have a date for Homecoming!" Then she stands up and jumps up and down on my bed singing, "I have a date. I have a date!"

  I think about how Gracie used to jump on my bed. It's weird how someone doing the simplest thing can bring tears to my eyes. How it can remind me of home.

  She does one more bounce then lands with a thud.

  "Did you tell him he didn't have to ask you in a cute way?"

  "Yeah, I don't care about that. I just want a date. Plus, he kinda caught me off guard when he asked about my panties. He's really sexy. Like, he has a sexy voice. Had any other guy asked me that, I probably would've hung up on him. But he's just so damn cute. I gotta call Annie and Maggie and tell them!"

  She bounds back over to her bed and calls Maggie.

  Me: She’s screaming in joy.

  Dallas: I’ll have her screaming in ecstasy ;)

  Me: You are SO bad!

  I read Dawson's text.

  Dawson: I think we need to celebrate. Let's get some people together tonight and party.

  Me: I thought our celebration was pretty damn good already but, you know me, I'm always up for a party.

  Dawson: Bryce and Jake are up for it too. Meet me at 1, my sexy, hot, amazing girlfriend.

  Me: Your girlfriend. I like that. <3

  Hearting me.

  1:30am

  I'm sitting in Aiden's room.

  Yes.

  The place I said I was never going back to.

  Lucky thing number one: Aiden is not here.

  I'm happily sitting on Dawson's lap, drinking a Corona, and gabbing with Peyton.

  Lucky thing number two: Whitney's not here.

  I think tonight might just be my lucky night.

  I've gotten lucky twice.

  Well, three times if you count the lacrosse bleachers with Dawson.

  And you most definitely should.

  Jake walks in, grabs a beer, and tries to sit on my lap.

  "My knee?" I half yell at him. I don't need him popping open my stitches. Although, I'm ready to. The things itch like crazy.

  He hops up, picks Peyton's skinny ass up, sits in her chair, and sets her on his knee. "So I asked her," he announces.

  "Asked who what?" Peyton asks.

  "Whitney to Homecoming," Jake says matter-of-factly.

  "But I thought you were doing my airplane idea?"

  "Yeah, great idea. Big expense. Not doing it. So, I got creative. I wrapped a note around a certain body part. Told her she might want to find it."

  "Ohmigawd, Jake! That's a horrible way to ask!" Peyton says as she hits him on the shoulder.

  But I’m thinking just the opposite. A little treasure hunt around the body of a hot guy sounds like fun to me.

  “I’d like a treasure hunt across your body,” I whisper into Dawson’s ear.

  He squeezes me tight. “That sounds like fun.”

  Jake responds to Peyton by tickling her sides. "Wow. You think so highly of me. I wrapped it around my ankle." He grins. "Fortunately, for me, her mind is in the gutter like yours. She didn't look there first."

  "I was gonna guess your bicep," I tell him.

  He gives me a high five. "That's what I like about you, Monroe. You're sweet, even though you're a bad liar. I swear, you can't lie about anything. When you try to fib, it's written all over your face."

  I think about the lies I've told them. How I'm a better liar than anyone knows.

  But I smile and shake my head like I'm a ditz and he has me all figured out.

  "Did she apologize to you yet?" he asks me.

  "No," I scoff.

  "She's not going to," Peyton says.

  "I know. And I was thinking . . ."

  "Uh oh," Jake says. He must have been drinking earlier because he seems kinda tipsy. He puts his fingers into Peyton's sides again, which causes her to squirm around on his lap.

  The look on Jake's face and his own squirming tells me he's enjoying it.

  They seem oddly comfortable touching each other, and I can't help but wonder if they have some kind of history.

  "What I was going to say is that Katie, Maggie, Annie, and me are going to start an underground Vote for Peyton campaign. I found out that 90% of the freshman class voted for me for student council. I want to make sure they all vote for you.”

  "Better not let Whitney hear about that,” Jake says, as he bounces Peyton on his knee and leers at her. "But I agree. Peyton would look gorgeous in a crown. And don't drink too much tonight, Monroe. We have some kissing to do on stage tomorrow." He giggles, sticks out his tongue at Dawson, and then licks up the side of Peyton’s face.

  She lets out a little screech, but Dawson frowns.

  "Stop saying
that! I will not be kissing anyone during tryouts. It's not part of the audition."

  Luckily, Bryce walks in and hands Jake and Dawson a shot of something dark.

  "Where are our shots?” Peyton asks, now totally flirting with Bryce. He rolls his eyes at her, so she says to me, "Keatyn, be a pal. Go across the hall and find us something yummy."

  "Uh, okay," I say.

  I walk across the hall. Bryce's door is slightly ajar and there is a little light glowing. I open the door slowly, hoping not to walk in on someone hooking up.

  As my eyes adjust, I see Aiden's long body sprawled across Bryce's bed. His head is propped up on his arm and there are books spread out in front of him, but his eyes are closed and he appears to be asleep. I walk over, close his French textbook, and move it to the desk. As I do, a sheet of paper floats to the ground. I pick it up and hold it under the light. Random French words and scribbles are written across it like always. It seems to be how he studies. There’s a list of words he can't remember. Some doodles. But just as I set the paper down, a phrase written in English catches my eye.

  Underneath that, written in French is:

  Which translated means: She felt the same way.

  Wow. Looks like his godly tricks have already worked on some other poor unsuspecting girl. The girl probably thinks they have an amazing connection and was thrilled when he asked her to Homecoming. At least I'm assuming he asked. I noticed the little stars aren't on his ceiling anymore.

  I bet this is an old note. He was probably trying to decide if she was worth the hassle of hanging all those stupid little stars. Because what a pain in the ass that must have been.

  I shove the note under his textbook with a little too much force, which causes a container full of pencils to crash onto its side.