Chapter 30: Chapter 30

“Kaelyn…. Kaelyn… Kaelyn!”  I was shaken awake by someone whisper-shouting my name. I rolled over in my bed, ignoring them.

“Go away,” I mumbled.

“Kaelyn, wake up. I made mom’s special hot cocoa,” Michael said. I groaned. He knows that that’s my favourite thing in the world. I know he’s not lying either. I can smell the chocolate, that’s in the kitchen, up in my room. I sat up, looking down at my mascara and tear stained pillow.

And then it hit me. What I saw yesterday wasn’t a nightmare, it was real.

I want to start crying again, but Michael is here.

“C’mon.” he ushered me up out of bed. I followed him down the stairs and lazily dragged myself into the kitchen. I sat at one of the bar stools, taking in the scent of the kitchen. It smells like cinnamon and chocolate. Michael handed me a mug and then sat down next to me. “I don’t want to pry into your business… but… what happened last night?”

I gulped. I knew this question was coming. “I um… I-I caught Shane cheating,” a tear slipped out of my eye. I quickly wiped it away.

“Kaelyn… I’m sorry.” Michael shook his head. “I knew this boy was trouble,” he mumbled. I don’t think I was supposed to hear him say that.

“It’s not your fault. I was the one who thought I could change him, but I was just an idiot. He’s not going to change. He can’t even remain faithful to one girl for a week,” I shamefully shook my head.

“Don’t you dare blame yourself. I’m going to tell you something I’ve learned, boys are stupid jerks.” Michael put a hand on my knee.

“I know,” I muttered. “And to think, Monday night was perfect. It was just the two of us.” I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. I blinked back the tears.

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t cry.” Michael pulled me into a hug. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up, and then we can spend today watching old home movies. I found some at grandma’s house this weekend.” He smiled.

“What about school? It’s Wednesday,”

“You’ll be fine, you’re a good student,” he told me. I sniffled and nodded, pushing myself off of the stool. I left my hot chocolate on the counter and paced myself up the stairs. The bathroom light was on, I popped my head in and looked at my reflection in the mirror. Mascara was smeared all over my face, my eyes were bloodshot from crying all night, and my face was puffy, like a puffer fish.

First, I violently scrubbed the black mascara off of my face and then submerged my face in a sink full of cold water. That certainly woke me up. After dabbing my face off with a washcloth, I made my way into my room. I grabbed a pair of sweatpants, a hoodie, and my slippers.

Michael was waiting in the living room, with a box full of old home movies, from when our parents were still alive. I brought my hot chocolate into the living room and sat cross-legged on the couch.

“What about… Kaelyn’s first birthday?” Michael threw the VHS tape at me. I laughed and nodded. I pushed the tape into the slot and pressed play. My mother’s laughter filled my ears. I sunk back into the couch and watched one year old me slap my hand into my slice of birthday cake.

“Was I a bad child?” I chuckled. I watched my young self smear the cake onto the table cloth. In the background you can hear five year old Michael yelling, ‘You’re wasting the cake! You’re wasting it! Stop!’

“You should’ve seen yourself when you hit the ‘terrible twos’,” Michael commented. I laughed and continued watching. My father was video-taping and my mother was trying to clean up the mess I made. She didn’t look angry, she looked happy. I watched my mom kiss my forehead and then she cut a slice of cake for Michael. “You remind me so much of mom… you look just like her.”

“You remind me of dad, you have his sense of humour.” I smiled lightly.

“I miss them…” Michael’s voice trailed off. I took a long drink of my hot chocolate and then looked Michael in the eye.

“I miss them too. Just imagine how proud they would be of us. I mean- you didn’t amount to nothing,” I grinned. Michael rolled his eyes.

“Shut up!” he snapped. I laughed and ruffled my fingers through his dark brown hair.

“We should watch another one,” I started digging through the box of tapes, finding one labeled Michael’s seventeenth birthday. I pulled it out of the box.

“What’s this?” I questioned.

“Shit… that’s not supposed to be in there,” Michael cursed. I raised my eyebrows at him. He tried to snatch the tape out of my hands, but I held it behind my back. “Give it back!”

“No. I’m watching it!” I leaped up off of the couch and switched out the tapes. I put in Michael’s secret tape and then pressed play. Michael was sitting on the couch, his head in his hands.

Loud music and drunk people yelling was all that I heard… and then I saw Michael. He was wasted beyond belief, dancing on the living room table. I burst out laughing. Michael reached for the remote to turn off the video, but I stopped him. I grabbed the remote before he could.

“What the hell?” I clutched my stomach, trying to contain my laughter.

“Don’t talk about it.” Michael crossed his arms over his chest.

“Where did you learn how to dance?”

“I was wasted, I hardly even remember that night to be honest.”

“Wow,” I choked out. I handed Michael the remote and he quickly turned off the TV. “Why didn’t I get a party like that when I turned seventeen?”

“Because, you’re a girl and not a rebellious bad ass.” He said triumphantly.

“Whatever. Girls can be rebellious badasses too,” I snapped and looked through the box of tapes again. I was about to pull out ‘Christmas 2003’, when the doorbell rang. I froze. I glanced at Michael who was already walking to the door. I tried to listen to who he was talking to, but I couldn’t. He was speaking too quietly.

I stood up and tip-toed to the kitchen, where the front door is located. I wanted to drop dead when I saw who was there.

Shane’s POV

Kaelyn texted me last night. I didn't understand the text until I retreated back into my room after playing Call Of Duty for three hours. I was just as shocked as Kaelyn must've been, possibly more. Ali was waiting for me in my room - in only her bra and underwear. I wanted to bash her head into a wall. I want nothing to do with her. I didn't want her to be there, I want Kaelyn. I had no idea that she was that psychotic that she would actually break into my house and do that. Ali had told me, “I’m going to give you a show…” and I threw her out – in the cold, without her clothes. I threw her clothes out the window and then locked all my doors. I tried calling Kaelyn multiple times last night, but she didn't answer any of them.

I drove to Kaelyn’s house after first period. I knew that something was seriously wrong when she didn’t show up. She probably hates me. Things are never going to be right between us.

When I got there, I was hoping it would be Kaelyn who answers the door, but of course, it wasn’t. Michael stood there, in his pajamas, with an angry expression plastered on his face.

“Is um… is Kaelyn home?” I hesitantly asked.

“She is, but I don’t think she wants to speak to you,” he replied.

“Just- I just need to talk to her. I made a mistake… it wasn’t my fault!” I pleaded. Michael shook his head.

“I know what kind of guy you are Shane. I used to be just like you when I was your age. Now, I don’t want you near Kaelyn anymore. She’s been hurt enough.”

“Please,” I begged. “If you were just like me then you would know what kind of position I’m in.”

“No. No I don’t know, because I never cheated on someone.” Michael said sternly.

“I didn’t cheat on her. Ali just showed up at my house!”

“Stop, stop lying. Now, I suggest you go get on with your life because, that’s my baby sister you hurt and-“ Michael was cut off by someone clearing their throat. Kaelyn.

Kaelyn’s POV

I watched Shane try to persuade Michael into letting him in the house. They argued back and forth. I cleared my throat.

“Can you um… give us a minute alone please?” I questioned. Michael gave me a look and then retreated back into the living room. Shane was about to walk in, but I stopped him. “Say what you have to say, and then get lost. I’m done with you.”

“Kaelyn…” Shane looked down at the ground. He reached for my hand. I yanked it away, out of his reach. “Stop.”

“Stop what?” a tear rolled down my cheek.

“Stop crying. I didn’t cheat, I told you Monday that I would never hurt you.”

“You lied. Shane, I got a note yesterday that read, ‘Come to my house at around 6:45 so you can meet my mom and have dinner’. You know what I saw when I got to your house? I fucking saw Ali lying in your bed in her underwear and bra – nothing else. Now, Shane, why don’t you stop telling me to not cry because I’m hurt. Hurt people are allowed to fucking cry!” I screamed the last part. Shane shook his head, he had nothing to say.

“I didn’t know that Ali was there! She just showed up at my house! I didn’t know… Kaelyn, I didn’t fucking know!” Shane screamed out in frustration.

“You couldn’t even remain faithful to one girl for a week!” I yelled. Shane stepped back, I saw a tear slip down his cheek.

“Please, believe me. Kaelyn, I can’t lose you. Please. Remember what we carved into the tree? K+S… forever.” He said.

“Well, you might want to scratch that out because we’re through. And to think, Monday night was pure perfection.” I spat.

“Why won’t you believe me! Kaelyn, I love you. I fucking love you. Not cheesy middle school love, I love you for real. Eight months I spent trying to protect you, and when I finally make you mine, this happens!” He smacked his palm against the door frame.

“I won’t believe you. How can you love me that much? I thought that you weren’t the cheating type! Obviously I was wrong. You don’t love me and you never did. I bet all those things you said about ‘liking me for eight months’ and ‘fighting’ because of me was a lie. Shane, I'm not an idiot. I know you used me.” I wiped away the waterfall of tears that was cascading down my cheeks. Shane did the same.

“Please... I need you Kaelyn. What I told you wasn't a lie. Nothing I've ever told you has been a lie.” Shane’s face was inches away from mine.

He pressed his lips to mine, roughly but passionately. He put his hand on the small of my back and pulled me towards him. I pushed him away.

“Now, you tell me, did that kiss prove to you how much I love you? If it did, you’ll believe me… if it didn’t… then I guess we really are over.

I stared at him, his blue eyes putting me in a daze. I reached for the doorknob.

“I’m sorry… but I just can’t believe you. Goodbye Shane…” My mouth was dry, causing my voice to crack.

Shane’s expression changed into pure anger the moment I shut the door. There was a loud thump and then a few curse words escaped his mouth. I listened as Shane sped away, driving way over the speed-limit. I slid down the door, pulling my knees up to my chest.

I thought I found true love again, but I was wrong. I guess I really do have a tattoo on my forehead that says 'cheat on me'.