True Love:Follow Your Heart

by Melissa Heagerty

  He ponders. Her words echoed inside his head.

  “I'm not saying playboys can't be tamed once in a while. But, I know you. What if you do get bored with her after a few weeks? Will you dump her as you do with the rest?”

  He felt his head drop on the steering wheel. Flynn couldn't clarify that with a straight answer. “All I know is I'll be in a no-win situation,” Flynn added which was the truth. Figuring out the pros and cons inside his head. “If I tell Kate how I feel, it'll cost my relationship with Caden.” Flynn banged his forehead on the wheel. Hearing her grunt in pain tilting his direction at Torrie. “What's up with you? Obviously, you're still in pain from something.” He tried to take the distractions off him for a minute.

  She wasn't ready to talk about her love life yet. Not that she had one in the first place. Torrie wasn't in the mood to gossip about her drama. Yet here we were. “I got into a fight or the middle I would say. Kasper was fighting Avery at Kelli's party. Guess I ended up in smack dab in the middle and fell off the balcony.”

  Flynn glared at her out of concern. Seeing she was telling the truth. “Damn you sure you're alright?”

  Torrie nods as she scrutinized his face seeing a bruise form on Flynn's face. “Wish I could say the same about you though.”

  Flynn lifted his head up to the mirror checking out the bruised eye. “I deserved much worse for what I did. The thing is none of us can take it back.”

  Torrie was proud of him for being a man. Going after what he desires. Wishing she could do the same. He leaned back against the seat.

  Torrie began doubting her own messed up relationship. Knowing he wasn't alone, it did help. “Doing what we do best huh? Screwing everything up, hurting people we care about.” Torrie nods accepting defeat.

  "I don't think we're complete screw-ups, Flynn,” Torrie added, breaking the regrets. “Yeah, we're all chasing something that can't be caught. That's the thrill of the game right? Seeking who has whatever it takes to hold us down for the long game? Forcing us to stay until we find the right piece, we're scattered all over the place.”

  Flynn lifted his brow seeing she started to ramble a bit. “Thinking about that boy of yours huh? Guess the great master has been tamed after all?” Teasing her a bit.

  She grins which turned into a blush. “Says the one who has butterflies thinking about a nerd?”

  Flynn laughs as she got him with that one. “Okay, okay … but it sounds to me we both found our matches.”

  Maybe he's right after all? Have they both found the one? What would they do about it? Nobody taught them how to stay. All they know is the adventure of getting caught, the chase seeking their true love. It might be idiotic to say but are they ready to love someone back?

  《***》

  “Michael isn't Ethan you do know that right? You have a choice; unlike I did to tell him how you feel. I can't compete with my brother. No matter what, Kate won't see me in the same way she does as Flynn.” Eileen felt Caden rest her head on her shoulder. Hating that he beats himself up when he's depressed. “I'm a screw-up Eileen, Flynn's right. I'm always going to be alone, and if I screw things up with Kate—” Eileen had enough of him doubting himself.

  “If you screw things up with Kate, then she doesn't deserve you. You deserve to be with someone special. Don't listen to what Flynn or anybody tells you, Caden. There is someone out there for all of us. It might take a while to find that special someone. If it's not Kate, someone else will come along and snatch you up. Give it time okay.” Eileen stood up giving Caden a hug.

  He nods taking everything in. “Thanks, Eileen, you'll always be there for me?” As they release the hold.

  She giggles nodding. “Until our last dying breath Caden. We'll be there for each other no matter what happens. That's what you said to me right? When I thought everybody gave up on me.”

  Caden was surprised she remembered that part. He told her that during her slumber. “You remembered?”

  She may have been weak, but she heard Caden's every word of what he said that night. “You helped me at my lowest point, and I'm going to do the same for you. We're family no matter what anyone says.”

  Caden was very glad to have her back right now. He wouldn't know how to survive this if she hadn't been here.

  Chapter 35

  A few days later after everything died down a bit. Kelli has been a nervous wreck since that night. She's been hiding at Travis's beach house since they kissed as she needed a desperate break from the nightmares in her head.

  A voice snapped her out of her trans. “Kelli? What are you doing here?” Asked an exhausted Wyatt coming from the coffee shop. He arrived back at the beach house to clean again. It was the least he could do. He's been texting Kandace after their incident. He wasn’t really surprised she's been ignoring his calls or messages. Observing the looks of Kelli's body language, she was dead tired as he was. Since that kiss the two barely made any contact with each other. Wyatt tried to get Travis released from jail. The only dilemma was the lawyer was on vacation. “Did you even go home after I left you?”

  Kelli shook her head. She'd stayed behind trying to clean up most of the empty beer bottles and empty cups. She still had the back and broken glass to pick up.

  “Kelli ...” Wyatt noticed her red puffy eyes; she's been crying non-stop since Kandace saw them last. The horrid looks on Travis's face when he finds out she betrayed him. With his brother no less. Wyatt stumbles over the garbage bags to where she was standing. He tries to guide her, but she pushes him out of the way. Not wanting another reminder of the party. “You need to sleep, okay. Come on, let's relax on the couch.” Wyatt guided her again as she sat down.

  She was still fretting over what transpired. Deep down, he was too. All that kiss was, is a freak one-time accident.

  “How can I sleep after what I've done? I deserve to be behind bars, not Travis. I mucked Avery into coming to the party. Forced Torrie and Kasper to come, all, so I could break them up, everything I do backfires on me! I don't even know why you're still here with me, you didn't screw up your relationship with Kandace, I did.”

  There was something neither Kandace nor Wyatt told anybody. Wyatt lowered his head.

  “What?” A baffle Kelli felt as she missed something.

  “Kandace and I were fighting for a while now.” Wyatt started to say much to Kelli's surprise. Out of all the couples she thought, they would make it. “It pained me to say, and I've been trying to find a way to break the relationship, I'm juggling a lot on my plate lately and I felt like I let her down. But when we kissed.”

  Kelli put the pieces together now as she swallowed hard. “That became the tip of the iceberg, huh?”

  Wyatt felt a tad better things were out in the open now. Despite how he wanted it to go. Wyatt felt culpable for his actions. “I'm sorry if I put you in the middle. I didn't mean too.”

  Kelli nods understanding his situation. He wasn't the only one neglecting his duties to being loyal. Kelli's been ignoring her sisterly duty needs too. “I certainly haven't been a very good sister to Kandace these past few months have I?"

  Wyatt chortles. “I made a complete clutter of things.” Wyatt lets out a cheerless sigh. “Kandace has been ignoring my calls ever since that night. I'm the one who she hates. I brought you into this. You should be pissed at me.” Wyatt slanted his head in her direction, noticing she wasn't saying anything. He chuckles to himself, as he lets her sleep on the couch. He tried not to disturb her, while he finished cleaning up the condo. A thought crept into his mind, what would Travis do if he found out about their kiss?

  《***》

  Travis has been still in jail a few days, now knowing what Kasper went through for once in his life. Before calming his nerves as he tried to drift off to sleep. He didn't dare call his parents for using his one phone call, as Travis rarely had a few trustworthy people in his life. None of them could help him in his hour of need. Footsteps approached the cell where he was sleeping
. The noise of keys jingling woke him from his slumber.

  “Bentley! You're free to go, someone paid your bail!” One of the cops shouted opening the cell door.

  A confused Travis obeyed not wanting to overstay his welcome and follows. Who the hell would have done that? Thinking about who it could've been. Maybe Kelli knew where he was and asked Katrina for the money? Nah, then Katrina would have ratted his father. He does not want to deal with him right now. So, if it wasn't her ...?

  Maybe if he asked the guard nicely? He waits for his stuff, so he can leave, once he was gone, believe him he had no pleasure in coming back. “Can I ask who bailed me out?” Travis asked getting his stuff back. From the corner of his eye a blonde woman walking out of the precinct. “H-hey!” Quickly stuffing everything into his pocket. He grabbed the mystery woman by the arm wrenching her around to gawk in surprise. “K-Kandace?” A puzzled Travis stood there. How did she know? From his recollection, he didn't see her at the party. “Did Wyatt tell you I was here?” Travis noticed her lower lip quivering.

  Kandace released the grip of Travis's and left him in the station. Not wanting to deal with her drama.

  “Kandace, wait up,” he exclaimed, trying to catch up to her. They were a block down the street when he finally got her to slow down.

  Catching her breath. She wasn't expecting to be chased today. Luckily she wasn't wearing heels. “What?” She wanted to get away from him.

  He saw she was wearing her black sunglasses. Girls only wear those for two reasons. She was crying. Kasper told her what happened to Travis after the party.

  Kandace knew Wyatt didn't have the money to bail him out. “I-I'm glad you're out of jail—” Kandace mumbled a full sentence before turning around back away.

  Travis wanted to figure this out. “H-hey give me two seconds, okay? I need to get my phone but please stay?” Travis pleaded with her as she nodded. Heading back outside noticing she vanished without a trace. “Dammit ...” Travis thought about where she would go when she gets upset. He had an idea of where to go. Something he recalled in a past encounter with her. He hopes he isn't too late. Found her! Travis caught his breath nearly stumbling almost all over town for her. The one place he knew off hand. It was a special place for the four of them over the years. Including for two in particular. “Out of all the places you pick this joint?” It was the country club that nobody goes too anymore.

  Kandace felt free here as she gazed out into the sunset. With the wind, and the warm sun beaming on her body. “I had a hunch you'd find me,”

  He chuckles walking up next to her. There was enough for two people. Sitting down on the cliff. He gazed at the water below whistling.

  “Relax I'm not going to do anything.” Kandace can tell the look of concern on his face.

  He breathes out a sigh of relief. With her emotions out of whack, he wasn't sure. She was tempted to. No boy was worth ending their life over.

  “So? Want to tell me what has you upset?” Travis wanted to get to the bottom of this.

  She shook her head. “Not really, but you won't rest until you get something right?”

  He nods scooting over closer to her. She was emotionally drained. No more tears to cry over Wyatt. Travis nor Kelli even know what's been going on.

  Travis knew her and why she was shutting him out. “It's me Kandy, you know we've had our fair share of secrets over the years. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you.” He meant every word. As he brushed some hair from her face.

  She nods debating on telling him. Biting her lower lip. “I don't know how you'll react to it all.”

  He scoffs rolling his eyes. He survived jail, there was nothing he couldn't handle. “I've dealt with enough crap over the years. What's making you upset? What did Wyatt do?” He knew his idiot brother screwed this up somehow.

  “W-we uh,” not wanting to expose her sister in the process yet. She clears her throat, as she didn't think it would be this hard to reveal.

  Travis can see it's something personal. Otherwise, she wouldn't be stalling. “Whatever it is, it's not that bad. I can't help you if I don't know.” Travis rubbed her back to soothe her.

  Kandace took a deep breath and exposed part of the issue. “Wyatt and I broke up,” Kandace said in a choked whisper.

  He muttered something under his breath for her to hear. She laid her head on his shoulder. As he wrapped his arm around her. Dammit, Wyatt! Enraged at his idiot brother for screwing up the best thing possible for him. “Did something happen at the party?” He figured it must've been after the arrest.

  “I-I uh,” she bit her lower lip taking a deep breath.

  “It's okay Kandi, take your time,” Travis knew he didn't mean to push.

  “I saw him kissing another girl at the party. She was drunk.”

  “Damn, Kandi I'm sorry,” Travis wished there was something he could do to help her. “My brother is an idiot for doing that. I'm going to—”

  Kandace stops him from finishing that statement. She appreciated the gesture. “I'll deal with him when I'm ready. Right now, I can't face him.” Or Kelli for that matter as she was hoping he understood, which he does, as they gaze out into the sunset. “Come on, let me take you home huh?”

  She nods as they get up leaving the beach. Kandace was glad to have Travis in her life. A lot of people criticized him but didn't take the time to know him. All they hear are rumors about the person and judge them by what they hear.

  “You know I'm going to pay you back for bailing me out right?” Travis added as they reached Kandace's house.

  She shook her head giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Don't worry about it, Travis. It's okay.” Kandace walked inside as he waited for her to enter inside.

  Oh, my stupid idiot brother … you better hope I don't find you right now. Thinking to himself as he heads back to the condo. To check on the damage left behind.

  《***》

  “You okay?” Wyatt asked with Kelli nodding who was still a bit shaken up.

  “Y—yeah just a bad dream.” Kelli looked around taking a deep breath to make sure.

  “Something going on here I need to know about?”

  A voice agitated both Wyatt and Kelli.

  “T—Travis,” Wyatt stumbled away from her.

  Travis observed a ill at ease glance between the two. “Relax I know you two wouldn't do anything,” Travis joked.

  Kelli sat there restless.

  “You okay?” He looked at Kelli who nods swallowing hard. Barely making eye contact like Kandace did earlier today.

  “H-had a bad dream.”

  Travis shook off the suspicion; maybe something more happened between them?

  “How'd you uh?” Wyatt started to wonder how he made bail.

  “Kandace helped bail me out.” With the assistance of his uncle who was their lawyer. Travis glared at Wyatt who looked faded.

  Kelli started to have a nauseous feeling in her stomach.

  “W-what? She told me what happened between you two.”

  Kelli raised her brow in Wyatt's direction. He shrugs not drawing to conclusions. Kelli started digging her nails into Wyatt's arm.

  “How could you be that stupid man? Kissing another girl at the party?”

  Kelli breathed a sigh of relief, releasing her grip as Wyatt moved from the couch. “D-did she says who it was?” Kelli asked a random odd question.

  Travis shook his head. He didn't hear a name. “It didn't come up. Why? Should I need to know?”

  Kelli lowered her head, remaining silent, praying he doesn't ask any more questions. “N-no, I'm just glad you're okay.” Kelli changed the subject. She hugs him as he felt her shaking.

  “It's okay, nothing's going to happen,” Travis reassured her that everything would be fine unless his parents find out. And according to his uncle he won't blab his secret. He rubbed her back and tried to sooth her.

  Her gaze stared at Wyatt for a brief second.

  “I'm go
ing to get going. Most of the stuff is already cleaned up. Just need to worry about the broken glass and the barricade.” Wyatt added.

  Kelli released the hold. “I'm going to go home, too, even though I'm going to regret it.” She needed to make a small appearance before her mother came home. “I'll call you later?”

  Travis nods, giving her a kiss. Wyatt turned his head away when they did to give her privacy. Once Kelli said her goodbyes, Wyatt pulled her towards the side away from the door. Breathing a bit better.