A few wrong ones couldn't hurt every once in a while. Her movement woke him.
Flynn blinked a few times to adjust his vision to remember where he was. His gaze fell on Kate, who snuggled on his shoulder. He smiled as he could watch her for hours. With his free arm, he lifted to reach his phone that was on the coffee table. He muttered to himself, not to disturb her.
Shit … he thought to himself. He didn't think it was that late. “Kate,” he whispered and tried to wake her up to no avail. “Kate,” he said a little louder, but it was no use. So, instead, he sits up to adjust his arms in a cradle position. He bends down to scoop her into his arms and carries her upstairs as he felt her wrap her arms around his neck. He climbed upstairs and entered his bedroom. Caden was fast asleep in his bed. Flynn placed her into his bed, covered her up. Before he slept on the floor.
The next morning Kate woke up due to the sun which beamed on her face as she looked around the familiar room and took a second to remember everything. She recalls studying with Flynn last night until she passed out. Yet she didn’t sleep on Caden's bed, so this must be Flynn's. She hoped to sneak out before he came back. Kate got ready to leave and fell on something hard. That something groaned in pain.
“Sorry,” Kate climbed off him and rose to her feet before she helped him up.
Flynn dusted himself off and looked for his shirt. “Not that I'm complaining about the view,”
Kate's cheeks blushed. “We fell asleep again, didn't we?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, I tried waking you—” His sentence got cut off by an interruption at the door.
“Kate?” Caden's voice broke the conversation.
“Yeah, man, what do you want?” Flynn asked.
“Kate, your mom called after you didn't come home last night.”
She mumbled under her breath as she recalled a pack, she broke to her mother. Call if you're going to be late. “Thanks, Caden I'll call her a bit.”
Way to kill the mood, little brother. Flynn mumbled under his breath.
“Guess our sleepover is over, huh?” She said in a sad tone. Her eyes darted the sadness in his eyes. Kate smiles as part of her didn't want it to end herself.
“It doesn't have to?” Flynn suggested something out of the blue to her. She gave him a confused look. “Go out with me,” he blurted out.
She laughed and assumed it was a joke. “You're joking right?”
He shook his head. In fact, he was dead serious about this. “One date with me. I'll show you I'm not a bad guy. I'll even have you home by eight, scouts honor.”
He had nothing to lose here if she turned him down.
“I can leave anytime I want? No questions asked?”
A wide smile appeared on his face. Was that a yes? Flynn nods his head in agreement.
“So? Do we have a deal?” He puts his hand out.
She was going to regret this, but it wasn't like she had anything else to do today as it was the weekend. She shook hands with him. “You got yourself a deal,”
Flynn contained his excitement so hard right now. “Ladies first ...”
They left the room and headed to Kate’s who wanted to change before this date of his first.
《***》
“So, going to tell me where you're taking me?” She got buckled up in the passenger seat.
He started the engine to let it warm up, he gave her a cocky smirk in the rear-view mirror. “Do you trust me?”
Kate scoffs he saw her eyes roll. “I hardly know you well enough to trust you.” That was true even if she sneered about it.
He puts the car in drive as they take off. After an hour, she recognized where he pulled up to.
“You're taking me to a carnival?” She laughed as he turned the engine off. They stepped out of the car. She never assumed he was into this sorta thing.
“Surprised?” He walked up next to her.
“Yeah, never thought you were the spontaneous type,” she teased him. This became a rare one on one opportunity to hang out with him.
“What can I say I'm full of surprises,” he walks next to her as they waited in line to get inside. “See, I'm not so bad so far,” Flynn admitted.
Kate shrugged her shoulders. Still, unsure what the verdict is with him. “I'll give you that. You've impressed me this far.”
《***》
OMG, Tiffani, you'll never guess who is here ... Claybourne here with some chick!
The mystery girl texted.
Tiffani, who was at her Victorian home, inside her princess bedroom. Sitting down by her vanity table. Doing what she does best. Plotting, and scheming horrible ways to embarrass Kate and Flynn. She gasped, glowering at the two of them. The sight was making her sick to her stomach.
Tiffani: Think you can keep an eye on them?
Maybe cause some trouble along the way?
She needed to know what they were doing ASAP. No matter how disgusting it made her feel. The woman ducked behind one of the empty booths, so she wouldn't be seen. A wide grin upon her face, after reading the text and replied.
I'll see what I can come up with … gtg
Tiffani lets out a vexation groan. “So that's the way this is going down, huh?” Tiffani tapped her fingers on the desk. Her gnash, spiteful reflection staring back at her. “You won't outsmart me, Katie. I always win.” Tiffani banged her fist on the table. Whatever her plan will be, her retaliation needs to make them pay for their betrayal.
《***》
“See, I'm not so bad so far,” Flynn admitted. After standing in line for a snack.
Kate laughs shrugging her shoulders. Still, unsure what the verdict is with him. “I'll give you that. You've impressed me this far.” He won some brownie points today as she took a bite of her popcorn. “Haven't been to one since I was a little girl actually,” she revealed something personal about herself. The last time was when they first moved here. Her father left them. Her mom thought it was going to be fun. She was right after all. Not paying attention per usual, Flynn put his hand in the bag at the same time as Kate did.
They both blushed after brushing each other's hand. Flynn pulls away the first seconds later. Noises distracted them nearby from talking about it. Kate was smirking at the bumper car's area.
Flynn saw that evil look in the corner of her eye. “Oh, you think you can out drive me?” Flynn knew she was way out of her league. It was a challenge that will be accepted. The thing about Kate she never fails at anything put in her path. Waiting their turn until finally being able to ride. Flynn followed behind Kate. “You're going down, sweetheart,” Flynn yelled.
Kate grinned at his cockiness just before they started moving. Kate held her own right up until the end.
“Got to admit you're not a bad driver,” they left, catching their breaths.
“Thanks, I would have won if my wheel didn't get stuck.”
Flynn laughs, knowing he won fair and square. “Whatever you say,” he slowly butts bumps into her.
She grins, grabbing their belongings, roaming the carnival to figure out what else to do today. Something in the corner of his eye. He noticed Kate sauntered off without saying anything.
《***》
They see me, it's showtime.
She texted Tiffani, which was round two of this plan. The minion was dressed like a scary old gypsy hag.
“Hello, dearies, something I can help you with?”
Kate pleading with him knowing it's a waste of time. “No, sorry to disturb you,” Kate wasn't gonna lie. She was a tad creeped out by her presence. Demanding to leave, but Flynn wasn't going to budge.
“Actually, we would like our fortune read.”
The old woman smiles, politely at him.
Face palming herself again. You're just messing with me now. Folding her arms across her chest.
“Ah, excellent. Who wants to go first?”
His head as he was leering at Kate's direction, she shook her h
ead in a firm determined absolutely no expression on her face.
“It's alright dear I don't bite,”
Kate was never gonna let him hear the end of this. Debating on doing so, she caved and put her palm out, looking at it.
“Hmm, very interesting,”
Flynn sparked an interest in what she sees, but Kate doesn't.
The gypsy begins staring at it lost in thought.
Kate already had an uneasy feeling about this. She never believed in these sorta childish things. Today was not one of those days to start. “You know what this was a mistake.” Kate pulled her hand away before the gypsy had time to examine her fate. Jumping up from her seat.
“Kate come on—” He had the same apprehensive thought she did. Unlike her, however, he was willing to give it a chance. Flynn pleaded with her to stay until the gypsy spoke. Obviously, she'll make up some mumbo-jumbo crap.
“You've suffered a lot of heartbreak, my child. Putting up walls around your heart so it won't shatter anymore, becoming fragile to those around you. Like you're scared to show your true self to others.” The Gypsy can clearly see the astonished look on her face. It was working. This was Tiffani's way in.
Flynn remained puzzled. Wondering if that was true. Kate remained silent, scrutinizing her.
“Your petrified of trusting another soul. Someone betrayed you once before? You don't believe in happily ever after because—”
Kate had enough of this foolishness. This gypsy knows nothing about her private life. She's a con artist. Kate rolled her vexed eyes. How could people buy this nonsense?! “Because it doesn't exist. This is a waste of time!”
Rising from her seat. The Gypsy needed to keep it going. “Dearie, if you stay on this dark road, it's going to haunt you for the rest of your life. You wouldn't be able to have a successful relationship.”
Kate snorts, fighting back her laughter. “Fine by me!” Turning, Kate turned her back away from the old woman.
The gypsy had a smirk on her face while they talked without an earshot.
Flynn held her back, wanting to see what was troubling her. “Kate—” Flynn said in a whispered voice.
She needed some air. Releasing his grip, she ignored him, storming away. “As for you, son,” the gypsy called him over.
Flynn let out a frustrated sigh sitting down where Kate was. Humoring her for a few minutes.
She gazed into his palm before telling him what she knows. “I see you're a sucker for anything that moves. There's a reason why you have a rebellious soul, young man. This game you are playing will have a big consequence if you keep hurting those around you.”
Flynn's face remained to harden for a few minutes. Pondering everything she said by heart. One thing was first. He wanted to check in on Kate. “Thank you for the help Ms ...” He rose to his feet. About to sprint off.
The Gypsy stopped him, offering him one final piece of advice. “If you don't change the error of your ways soon, trouble will transpire. I'm afraid not even you can stop them.”
He saunters away. Shaking the troubling feeling, she might be right.
《***》
The minion revealed her true self after they vanished. Luckily the location she stopped at not too many people even noticed her stand. Running a hand through her hair, she had a wicked grin upon her face. Grabbing her phone to text Tiffani, who was getting all dolled up.
Think they bought it … good luck with whatever happens next.
The fortune-teller texted Tiffani, who read the reply. She giggles, gazing at the smoking reflection staring back in the mirror.
Oh, don't worry Yasmine, I intend to get what I want after tonight. Putting the final touches on her lips.
《***》
Flynn, who finally found Kate in the parking lot would be leaning on the hood.
Kate knew she had to answer herself for what transpired moments ago. Readied herself for his disappointment. “I know, before you blow a gasket, I'm sorry, I just had to get out of there.”
He understood. Blaming himself for this disastrous day. “You alright?” He already regretted that question. How could she be in the first place? Everything backfired. Nothing went according to plan. Wishing he could have a do-over.
Kate saw he was beating himself up inside his head. It was a sweet gesture for a weekend adventure. “Other than being wet and hungry.” Since it rained a bit earlier. Kate replied in a smart-ass response to lighten the mood.
“Come on, let go get something to eat. At least I know I can do that before this date becomes totally worthless.” He opens the passenger side door for her, as he gets back in the car, driving them off to the last destination for the night before it becomes completely ruined. Inside his mind, he kept racking his brain on who could ever betray Kate. He made a promise never to do that either.
Kate noticed they arrived at the local diner, where the students hangout. “We aren't exactly going inside, are we?” She eyed the hangout. Seeing how packed it became. Her heart beating faster.
“That's kind of the idea, princess why? Too fancy for ya?” He teased her as she looked at their drenched bodies.
“No, but everybody's going to ask questions why we look like this.” They didn't exactly change from the carnival. Kate tried to ring the water out of her damp hair.
He gets out of the car, muttering under his breath. Like he gives a damn about what others think about him in the first place? “My jacket's in the back seat it's yours if you want it.” He knew winning wars with girls would never work. Just ask Torrie.
Kate thought about it. It would hide her damp look. However, it would cause some gossip if they saw her wearing it. “Won't everybody assume we're an item if I wear it?”
Flynn was freezing, drenched, and starving. He lowers his head in frustration. “You're killing me here you know that?”
Kate heard his reply. Reaching in the back seat, grabbing his jacket and exits out of the car. “I know,” she toyed with him as he put the warm leather jacket on.
He laughs, arriving at the diner entrance.
Chapter 15
“So, how's operation Kasper and Torrie going?” A laid-back Travis Bentley asked.
Kelli, who since found out their affection transpired for one another. She has been conning up scenarios and brainstorming ideas to tear them apart. Nothing seemed to work in her favor. Kelli groans out her frustration.
“That bad, huh?” Travis teased.
Kelli ignored him.
Travis began to eat his lunch and had an idea. “Why don't you give her a chance? She could be a nice girl.” He gave her a suggestion.
Kelli wasn't very liked in high school. Go figure, huh: she pretty much used her greedy power to achieve what she desires. “Everything I say or do it backfires on me. He doesn't trust me. He assumed I'm out to get him.”
Travis chortled as he choked on his water. “Because he's not stupid, Kel. Look, I know with midterms right around the corner, everybody is on edge. But, if you want to play mind-games, you need to be nice.”
An astonished look upon her said it all. Yeah, she had a lot to stress over. With Tiffani trying to earn her opportunity to steal her spot and Torrie driving her brother away. Maybe trusting Travis this one time could work? Kelli pondered his idea for a moment. “Alright, then how do you suppose I should do this?” Kelli figured he had a better solution.
Travis whispers to Kelli what he had in mind.
Kelli's eyes widen bewilderment. “You sure this will work?” She sounded fearful about his plan.
Travis nodded as it was foolproof.
《***》
Kelli took a deep breath and after lunch found the nerve to saunter towards where Torrie was by her locker.
Kasper lurked nearby to wonder what fresh hell this was. Torrie felt a tap on her shoulder, as she turned her head before Kasper rushed over.
He wasn't intimidated by her, nor was Torrie. “Kelli whatever you're—”
Kelli shuts him up for a moment.
Torrie had her arms folded. It felt like the entire room quieted down. “You got something to say?” Their eyes never moved from the moment Kelli arrived.
True Love:Follow Your Heart Page 9
