1.7 {Part II}

"No, no! That's NOT how you do it Dillian!" Exasperated Kaylee snatched his homework from in front of him and started to slash through his mistakes. For the past two weeks Dillian had been coming to her for tutoring but he never seemed to LEARN anything! She glanced up as shadow fell over the table.

"Kaylee, I-"

"Just put it on the table Craig and I'll correct it."

He grinned. "You're the best."

"Uh huh, that's why you both pay me so well."

"True, true!" Craig slipped his notebook in front of her. He started to say something else but then he noticed a girl walking by and he quickly followed after her.

"So Kaylee, how come you don't have a boyfriend?" Dillian asked around a mouthful of food.

Kaylee groaned. "Seriously Dillian? Are we gonna have this conversation?"

He shrugged. "It was just a question. I mean...you're kinda hot in a dark, gothy, emo way."

Kaylee groaned, this time even louder, and rubbed her forehead with a fist. She wished it was Dillian's face. She didn't know how she had gotten to the point of hanging out with him. One minute she's eavesdropping on his conversation with Craig and the next he's in front of her asking for help in Calculus.

"So, how come?"

She glared at him. "I guess I haven't met a guy who's been attracted to my dark, gothy, emo ways," she snapped. He opened his mouth and she slid his homework across the table at him.

"If that were you test you would have made a twenty-five. No football for you and academic probation. What is wrong with you?"

Dillian stared down at his homework then shoved a spoonful of spaghetti-o's in his mouth. "You see, there's this girl in my class and she's-"

Kaylee put up her hand. "Wait, wait...let me guess. Kinda hot?" When he nodded his head Kaylee shoved away from the table and walked out of the room. Deciding that she would need a thicker sweater to put on to go outside she went into her room and pulled on another sweater. Then deciding that her jeans didn't go with the outfit she quickly changed those as well before heading out. She milled around outside for awhile before coming to rest under the oak tree in the yard. With a sigh she laid under the shade, the leaves rustling under her back as she shifted. Closing her eyes she listened to the sounds around her.

She could hear music blaring from the rec room, laughter coming from the study hall and a football game going on somewhere in the back. She heard someone shout 'go long' and it didn't register in her mind that the vibrations she was feeling were the pounding of feet until leaves were kicked in her face and she heard a deep, familiar voice say:
"Oh shi-...Kaylee?"



Brushing leaves off her face she opened her eyes to see Ty trying to balance himself before someone slammed into him from behind and sent him flying over her. Sighing, Kaylee sat up. Glancing around she saw Dillian in the background with his hands on his hips and a smile on his face. She fought the urge to flip him off before she turned back to see Ty helping someone up before he turned to her.

"It IS you! When Dillian told me about the hot emo girl, his words not mine, I knew it had to be you."

Kaylee threw her hands up. "I'm NOT emo!!"

Ty looked her up and down and for a moment his eyes seemed glued to her chest before he cleared his throat. "Well, you do dress-"

"Dark clothes are easier to pair," she snapped before she saw him wiping blood off his forearm. With a sigh she grab hold of his wrist and dragged him into dorm. She had every intention of washing his scrap, slapping a band-aid on it and sending him on his way but once Ty entered the building he stopped allowing himself to be dragged. Instead he turned her around and pulled her into his arms.



Kaylee buried her nose in his neck and breathed in his familiar scent. A small smile passed her lips. Somethings never change, she thought before he smile faded and she remembered part of the conversation she had overheard in the gym. And some things do. She pulled away from him.
"I missed you Kaylee."

"Could have fooled me," she muttered crossing her arms over her chest and looking over his shoulder.

He sucked his teeth. "Same old Kaylee. Not willing to give an inch."

That snapped her eyes back to his. "What are you talking about? I-"

"I'm the one that has to call. I'm the one who has to send an email. I'm the one who forced his way into your life. I'm the way who wanted a relationship. I'm the one-"

"Okay, I get it! You had to do everything. I did nothing. Happy now?"

"You're the one who's always closing herself off. I get that you had a hard life Kaylee. I may not know all of it but I know you didn't grow up like I did. But...you could have leaned on me. I would have been there for you. I was your friend...I wanted to be your boyfriend."

She looked away from his piercing gaze as everything he said came home. It was true. She had did everything in her power to push him away and when that didn't work she became his friend but still kept a distance between them.

"I'm sorry," she whispered before turning and walking away. She made it to her room and was just about to shut and lock the door when it was gently pushed open.

"Oh no you don't. Kaylee Bianca Ravensworth, we're going to talk like two adults."

And they did talk. It was as if a dam had broken and once she started to talk Kaylee couldn't stop. Sometimes she rant and rave. Other times she'd cry gut wrenching sobs. And Ty sat there and he listened. There was no condemnation in his eyes only sadness and...pride?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she demanded leaning back against the wall. She felt drained. As if speaking about Janet and everything else had purged her and she was just empty inside. Hollow. Angry and resentment sure did take up a lot of space, she thought in bemusement.

Ty gave her a startled look. "Why am I looking at you like that? For one, I will never understand your bitch of a mother and for two...I will never understand how you turned out to be the most amazing, caring, smart, talented, competent, beautiful woman you are."

"That's a lot of adjectives there Ty," she said with a shy smile.

"There's not enough words to express how I think about you babe."

Babe. Oh dear God! He had a girlfriend. Glancing at the clock on the wall she was stunned to realize she had been blubbering on for over three hours. She fiddled with the edge of her sweater.

"You're girlfriend's probably wondering where you are huh?" Silence met her question and she darted a quick look up to see Ty grinning at her.

"What?" He started to laugh. She frowned. "What?"

"So, you did know it was me that night? And you just ran away."

"What?"

He shrugged and she couldn't help but watch the play of muscles beneath his skin before she snapped her eyes back to his. She felt a blush heat her face at his knowing grin.

"I was with a group of friends that night. You know, a pre-game going out night. Anyways, I saw you walk into the gym. You had that look on your face that let me know that you were thinking hard on something sooo...I followed after you after telling one of my boys to call me in ten minutes."

Kaylee's mouth dropped open. "You dirty rat!" Scrambling off the bed she playfully punched him in the arm. He half heartedly warded her off.

"Hey! Have some pity on me! My boys razzed me for weeks about that babe comment!"

"You deserve it," she exclaimed, punching him again then, unable to resist, she squeezed his bicep. "Geez, steroids much?"

He rolled his eyes then flexed. "That's all gym time baby! How to do something to get you off my mind. And don't think that I don't know you were eavesdropping on my conversation. You left before I got up the nerve to say something to you."

It was her turn to roll her eyes. "You have to get up nerves? From what I've heard about you all the girls at ALT want a piece of that!"

"Yeah, yeah!" He waved his hand dismissively in the air. "They just want to be seen with the star quarterback." His cell phone started to vibrate and Kaylee suddenly realized she was nearly sitting in his lap. She quickly stood up.

"Hey, I have to go. Curfew. Umm...I'll see you tomorrow?"

Kaylee walked him out to the TV area. Usually crowded there wasn't a person in sight. Ty touched her shoulder. Turning she stared up at him. Everything else seemed to recede as she stared up into his hazel eyes. She took a small step forward...and heard his phone go off again.

He cleared his throat. "Kaylee? Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Where at?"

"How about my dorm? Otherwise Dillian is going to want to talk to me ALL night about football. And you and I...we have some catching up to do." Reaching out he brushed the back of his hand against her cheek before turning to leave.

The next day seemed to move slowly. At least for her. She kept giving herself little pep talks and she resolved to give Ty that kiss she's been wanting to give him yesterday. He said she never did anything, she thought to herself as she walked toward his dorm. We'll he'll be in for a surprised. She took a moment to watch the sun set before walking into the dorm. Spotting Ty she started for him.

"Kaylee! You made it! I have a-"

He froze when she slipped her arms around his waist and stepped toward him. "Uh...Kaylee I don't think you want to-"

"I'm going to do what I wanted to yesterday," she said leaning in.

"Kaylee, you-"

"Kaylee! Oh my god girl! Look at you! You're so beautiful!"

Kaylee froze and stared into Ty's laughing eyes. He gave her waist a gentle squeeze before he turned her around. "Surprise! My parent's came for a visit. When I mentioned that I was going to meet up with you they insisted that they had to stay to say hello."

Kaylee swallowed a groan. How embarrassing was it to be caught trying to make out by parents? She hugged his mom and nodded to his father before making an excuse and heading toward the bathroom. She stood in front of the sink, taking several deep breathes before she straightened her shoulders and headed back out.

Ty was just standing there, grinning at his parent's as his dad hummed and twirled his mother around. Kaylee stood in the door and watched as Frances laughed as Mr. Jameson dipped her. Anyone looking at them would see how much they were in love despite, or maybe because of their differences. Not wanting to intrude Kaylee stepped back and decided to explore. She ended up on the roof, staring at the stars.


"What are you doing all the way up here?" She grinned when Ty appeared by her side. She shrugged.

"The stars are beautiful tonight," she murmured.

He grunted before plopping down in the chair next to her.

"So, tell me about your parents," she demanded turning to look at him. He saw the surprise flicker across his face but was quickly followed by understanding. He shrugged his broad shoulders.

"They met in high school. Mom swears up and down she hated him with a passion but my dad always winks and says the passion won out." He chuckled. "They couldn't be more different. Mom is bohemian. She doesn't care what anyone thinks about her but is very protective of her family...and the people she takes under her wing. Dad climbed the corporate ladder to become CEO of his own company before he was twenty-five. He's very good with money. And with his hands mom always says."

Kaylee snorted with laughter.

"Yeah, those two are a pair. With the way those two go at it you'd think they'd would have more than one child. Mom says they stopped after me because she fell completely and utterly in love with me and can't imagine loving another child. Dad says it's because she threaten to kill him if he even thought about knocking her up again. I wasn't a very easy pregnancy for her I guess."

"How long have they been married?"

"Five years."

She turned toward him, startled. "What? But I thought-"

He laughed. "Yeah, dad had been asking her for years and she kept turning him down because she wanted to make sure they were ready for marriage."

"But they've known each other for..."

"Yeah, about twenty some years. Dad says he knew he wanted to marry her the moment he saw her. Mom says she wanted to jump his bones the minute she saw him."

"God, I love your mom," Kaylee said around laughter.

They fell into a companionable silence then Ty cleared his throat. "Soo...are you gonna do what you wanted to since yesterday or what?"

Kaylee reluctantly pulled away when she heard footsteps coming toward them. "Ah," Ty's dad said in his booming voice, "Your mom and I use to spend A LOT of time up here. This is probably where you were conceived."

Kaylee bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing when Ty's eyes slid closed in mortification. She let out a squeak when a large hand landed on her shoulder and drew her away from Ty. "Let me get a look at you girl. Kaylee is your name right? This one" he jerked his head toward Ty, "Used to talk about nothing else but you when he was in high school."

She heard Ty groan behind her and grinned. His dad whistled. "So, there it is."

She stared up at him in confusion. "There what is, sir?"

"Call me Damon. I just saw what my son sees every time he looks at you. You should smile more often Kaylee."

He chucked her under the chin then, before she knew what was happening he drew her into his arms.

If she thought Ty was big he was nothing compared to his father. Damon was twice as big as Ty and smelled just as good. Kaylee closed her eyes and allowed herself to be engulfed in a father's hug. She grinned as he patted her head before he set her away from him.

"If that one gives you any trouble don't hesitate to call me. You understand?"

Kaylee loved Damon's aprubt mannerisms. He reminded her of herself. She nodded her head then watched as Damon walked over to his son and pulled him into a hug. Her heart melted even more when he placed a kiss on Ty's forehead.

"I love you son."

"Love you too dad."

His dad turned to go but his voice drifted back to them. "Now, y'all don't do anything I wouldn't do...which leaves the playing field WIDE open." His deep chuckled lingered in the air as he rounded the corner and disappeared.

"I have an exam in a couple of hours. I better be getting back," Kaylee said into the silence. She glanced over when Ty grunted to see him staring intently at her.

"Don't even think about it."

"What? My dad said-"

"Tyrese Gaberial Jameson! No!" She danced away from his reaching hands and hurried toward the door.

"Kaylee! What are we?"

She turned around but continued to walk. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...are we ever going to get around to dating?"

"Hmm...good question. Whenever you figure it out let me know." She turned and hurried away ignoring him yelling her name.

It felt good having her friend back. This time she was going to be open to the possibilites.