Chapter Nine:Trying Again
Monday found Ryan in the college library, hoping to find a quiet place to study, since every time he went home, the beach distracted him and he found himself forgetting about studying in exchange for a whole afternoon of surfing and swimming. Oh, and checking out all the girls. There were just too many distractions, but the library was always quiet and he could find some nice sofa to sit down in and just lose himself in his text books for awhile.
He walked past a few book shelves and caught sight of a familiar person sitting in a couch at the end of the row of shelves, her face hidden in her Algebra book, as usual. Of course, today she was dressed in shorts, and with the way her legs were stretched out across the couch and her feet were up on the arm rest, he had a good look at her long legs, for her shorts were pulled up a bit more than usual and she was giving him a delectable view. May as well enjoy it, he smirked to himself as he walked past the bookshelves and then walked past them again, this time very slowly, taking his time to appreciate the view before him.
He moved over to her a few seconds later and then looked over her shoulder, wondering what it would take to get her attention, but Kayla had a headset on and must have been fully engrossed in her studying, for she never noticed he was there. Fine then, he would have to get her attention some other way. He moved over to her legs and picked them up off the couch, throwing her off balance, before he sat down where her legs had been and then put her legs down into his lap. He then opened his history book and studied, humming to himself as though nothing had happened.
Kayla honestly hadn't known that he was there, and she pushed her loose hair out of her eyes and tried to right herself from when he had thrown her off balance. That meant squirming around a bit, and she blushed a bright red as her legs moved over him and she somehow managed to sit up. Her Algebra book fell out of her hands and onto the floor in the process, and she moved to get her legs out of Ryan's lap, so she could get her book, but he put a hand across her legs, preventing her from sliding away from him.
"Ryan," she sighed, taking her headset off and turning off her MP3 player. "Do you mind?"
"Nope. I don't mind at all," he grinned, letting his fingertips trace across her legs, making her jump.
"I need to get my book!"
"You can get it from here. I know you're more flexible than you let on," Ryan said casually, returning to his reading.
"Let go of my legs."
"Nope. I like them right here."
Kayla groaned and twisted her body so that she could stretch out for her book. She nearly fell off the couch as she reached for the book, and she let out a gasp when she finally grabbed it and then scrambled to get back onto the couch before she fell onto her stomach on the floor.
"Ryan, would you please let go? You can have the couch. Just let me go study someplace else."
"I'm comfortable," Ryan shrugged, looking over the rim of his book at her, his eyes dancing. "You're just fine where you are."
"You know," she said easily, "my feet are in an amazing position to give you one good hard kick someplace that Eric didn't manage to hurt you."
"Ooh. Naughty, naughty," Ryan chuckled. "I can't have that happening."
He wrapped one arm around her thighs and then pulled her over so that now she was sitting in his lap, about as red as she could be.
"Ryan!" she hissed. "Somebody's going to walk by any minute now and see this. Please let me go!"
"What will you give me if I do?"
"I'm supposed to give you something? I was minding my own business, and you came along and started causing trouble!" she exclaimed, and he put a finger to his lips and gave her a good: "Shh. Someone will hear you and you're supposed to be quiet in the library."
"I don't need to give you anything!" she whispered harshly.
"Then I don't need to let you go."
"What do you want? And I refuse to kiss you," she pouted, folding her arms across her chest.
"A date."
"A date?" she sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "What kind of date?"
"One that just involves two people, me and you," Ryan grinned. "And it would have to be tonight."
"Where would we go?" she asked, throwing her arms out in exasperation.
"A carnival. You'd be out in public, and I'd come pick you up at 5:00. Of course, you'd have to tell me your address. And I could get you back home, safe and sound, to Nick by 10:30."
"Five and a half hours of being stuck with you? Really?" she asked, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "However would I survive?"
"Oh, you'd have a good time. What do you say?" Ryan grinned. "I'll let you go if you say yes."
"I suppose I have no choice, then. Oh very well. I'll go out with you tonight," Kayla sighed, and she squealed when Ryan picked her up and placed her on the cushion next to him.
"I can also help you with your studying," he offered. "You seem to struggle with Math, and I struggle with English, so we could help each other."
"Ha! And you helping me study would truly be productive, wouldn't it?" Kayla laughed. "I don't think so, but thanks."
"You really don't trust me, do you?"
"Give me a reason why I should," she countered, opening her math book up again. "I'm not so blind that I don't know about your late-night flings and what exactly a 'good time' with a girl entails for you, Ryan. And you've already offended me enough. So why should I think that studying with you, or even going on a date with you, is going to be a great time for me?"
"Because you've never been on a date before," he said simply.
"Oh? I haven't?" Kayla asked.
"No. Or am I wrong?"
"You are right," she said quietly, looking at her math book. "But my version of a good time and your version of a good time are completely different. Besides, why do you want to go out with me? I'm a mother, Ryan. There's no beating around that, no matter how much you try."
"I tell you what. Make a list of all your questions, and I'll answer them tonight. For now, I have to study," Ryan grinned, and she laughed and punched him lightly in the shoulder before getting comfortable on the couch again.
Five o'clock rolled around, and Ryan drove up to Kayla's apartment complex. It wasn't right on the beach, as his was, and it was an older housing model, probably from the late 90s, but he could tell that it was well-cared for, and there were flowers hanging from different porches and placed strategically on different railings, giving it a quaint, comfortable feel. A wind chime was singing somewhere nearby, and in the distance, he could hear the waves breaking against the shore. He was about as relaxed as he could be as he made his way into the building and then walked up a flight of stairs towards Kayla's home.
He found her place, number 23A, and then knocked. The door opened, and he glanced down to see Nick standing there with a grin on his little face.
"I need to talk to you, before you take my mom out," the young man stated. "No making her do anything she doesn't want to do, and have her home on time. Okay?"
"Yes sir," Ryan saluted with a grin.
"That's from me, too!" Becky called out. "Come on in, Ryan. Kay's almost ready to go!"
Ryan stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He found himself looking in a small apartment, but it was one of the most comfortable ones he had ever been in. Flowers and wind chimes decorated the ceilings and counters, and all of the windows were open, letting in a fresh breeze. Something Italian was cooking in the oven, making Ryan's mouth water, and he grinned at Becky as she and Nick got comfortable on the floor, playing a game of Checkers on a small coffee table.
A bedroom door opened, and Kayla stepped out, dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and black Converse, and her long hair was down. She kept pushing it nervously back behind her ear as she spoke, trying to get comfortable with this whole idea of "a date."
"Hello," she greeted Ryan, hurrying into the small kitchenette and pulling a small tray of lasagna out of the oven. "Sorry I'm running a bit behind. I wanted to make something for dinner before we left."
"Take your time. I'm not in a hurry," Ryan smiled, watching as she turned the oven off and then turned to Becky.
"There is soda in the refrigerator, as always, and bedtime, Nick, is at 8:00. You have school tomorrow."
"I can't stay up later, since you're going out?" Nick frowned.
"Well, fine. Eight thirty then, but no later than that," Kayla smiled, moving to him and kissing his forehead before she turned to Ryan. "Are we ready?"
"We are," Ryan nodded, and opened the apartment door for her.
She was absolutely gorgeous tonight, in all her simplicity, and Ryan was beyond pleased that he had managed to convince her to come on a date. It was a huge step for her, he was sure, just to go out with someone, and there wasn't anyone better she could have chosen to go out with, in his humble opinion. Of course, he had blackmailed her into coming, but she wouldn't regret it.
She was fairly quiet as they drove towards the carnival, and then she cleared her throat and spoke as she looked out the window.
"Sorry, Ry. I don't really know what to say."
"That's all right. I've had more than enough women talking my ear off lately. You're just fine."
"You are quite the playboy, aren't you?"
He laughed and rested one arm on the windowsill while he drove with the other.
"Have I touched you this evening or done anything to make you uncomfortable?" he asked.
"No," she sighed. "I'm sorry, I just..."
"Okay, whoa. Stop with all of the 'I'm sorry' stuff. You're just fine. Just relax. I'm not going to bite. Well, I won't unless you want me to. And even if I do, I'll be gentle. You're going out for a good time. That's all. You'll be okay."
Kayla smiled slightly and sat back, a pretty pink blush on her cheeks. Ryan couldn't help but grin at her. She was so innocent, really, she was. She may have done something taboo six years ago, but she really hadn't entirely known what she was doing, and now she was just so sweet and uncertain.
This was going to be fun.
When they got to the carnival, he parked and then the two of them got tickets and went in. Ryan got them some hot dogs and nachos for their dinner and then proceeded to bring Kayla on all the rides, save for the Ferris Wheel. That could wait for later. He then brought her to several of the games, just so he could show off a bit and win her some stuff. He got her to play one of the basketball games, showing her how to throw the basketball appropriately, and when she actually got the ball through the basket on her own, she spun around and threw her arms around him, laughing and jumping up and down.
Ryan had a whole lot more fun with her than he had expected that he would. She may have been innocent, but she sure knew how to have fun, and he was saddened as the hour drew closer to bring her home. The sky was completely dark now, save for the stars ahead and the lights that lit up the carnival grounds, and he brought her to the Ferris Wheel.
Once they were inside and the ride and moving along, Kayla sat back in her seat next to Ryan and let out a contented sigh before she turned to him with a smile.
"Thank you so much for tonight, Ryan. I had a great time," she said happily.
"Hey, the night is still young," he grinned and then yawned, conveniently stretching so that his arm came to rest behind her.
She was stiff at first but then relaxed, going so far as to let her head rest against his shoulder. He wanted to bring her home, wanted to show her some passion that would leave her head spinning, but he knew Kay wasn't like that. She was very different from the others and was putting an amazing amount of trust in him just by resting her head on his shoulder.
Slowly, he moved her hair away from her shoulder and then craned his neck and pressed a kiss to her temple, making her shudder slightly.
"Ry," she spoke softly.
"Shh," he said gently, wrapping his arm more comfortably around her. "I won't hurt you."
She drew in a deep breath and then sat stiffly, and he smiled before he put his fingertips to her chin and turned her face to look at him.
"So beautiful," he whispered before moving his mouth to her neck and kissing her softly. She gasped, her whole body feeling like she was going to try and pull away, but he put a hand through her hair and cupped her cheek reassuringly before moving his lips along her skin. She let her eyes slip shut, shivering and trying to be strong, trying to understand everything that was raging through her. No one had ever made her feel quite this way before, and she put her hands to Ryan's shoulders, suddenly afraid as he moved his mouth to her ear and bit her earlobe gently.
"Ryan," she spoke, ashamed at how strange her voice sounded. "Please stop."
He hummed quietly and pulled back, his eyes gazing steadily into hers, studying her. He didn't say anything, but his gaze made her melt, and she looked away, a gentle breeze rustling her hair back over her shoulder. His gaze made her desire for so many things, made her wish she could go back six years and do things differently, but then she wouldn't have Nick, and Nick was the most important man in her life. She felt wasted, as though she wasn't fit to be touched after what had happened with Stephen, and a lone tear trickled down her cheek as the ride finished and she and Ryan made their way towards his car.
She was quiet on the drive home, and Ryan looked over at her curiously, but she was hiding her face. Occasionally he heard a sniff, and then a hand would go to her face, but she refused to look at him. He parked the Escalade a short distance away from her apartment complex and then put a hand to her shoulder. She turned to look at him, and he could see her mascara dripping down her face. Her lips were trembling, and her eyes were filled with tears.
"Freckles," he crooned, leaning forward and pressing his lips to one of her tears. "It's alright."
"I've done so much wrong," she sniffed, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "I have to go."
"You were never shown how sweet love can be, were you?" Ryan asked, wrapping his arms around her, and she put her hands to his chest, though whether she was trying to push him away or hold him closer, she couldn't tell. "You're allowed to cry."
She didn't waste a second, but buried her face in his shirt and started sobbing.
"Hey there. I'm sorry you've missed so much," he whispered against her ear. "But I'd be happy to have you just the way you are. Why don't I give Becky a call and tell her you'll be home in the morning, that way Nick won't worry, and then you can come back home with me and just relax?"
She hiccuped slightly and shook her head before raising her eyes to meet his. He was so handsome, so tempting, and she could see that he really desired her. Perhaps the look was mirrored in her own eyes, she didn't know, but it wouldn't be right to go home with him, and she opened her mouth to protest, but he didn't give her much of a chance to say anything, for he moved forward, bracing his arms with one on either side of her, and then pressed his open mouth to hers.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she should have been resisting. This was only their first date, but she was hurting from so many years of being alone, and Ryan knew what he was doing. She couldn't remember what a kiss felt like, but Ryan made it feel so good. He wasn't slow in his motions, but moved his mouth firmly and quickly against hers, and she found her hands moving to his forearms as she returned the affection, her motions timid in comparison to his, but he didn't mind. He leaned in closer to her and deepened his kiss, making her close her eyes and wrap her arms around him.
Before she quite knew it, she was pressed back against her door, Ryan's hands running up and down her arms even as his kisses moved down her neck and then back to her mouth. He was humming contentedly even as she gasped, and when he spoke to her next, his voice was deep and alluring.
"You are intoxicating. Come home with me, Kayla," he breathed, his hot breath making her skin tingle before he took her lower lip into his mouth and sucked on it lightly. "We can call Nick. I want you with me."
"Ryan!" she gasped, closing her eyes tightly. "Isn't that how your dates usually go? I don't want to be another statistic."
That got his attention, and he leaned up on his forearms, his dark blue eyes piercing into her.
"You don't miss anything, do you?"
"Not something that obvious."
He sighed and sat back in his own seat.
"I should probably just let you go," he said, and opened his door. Kayla sighed and bit her lip as she also got out of the car and moved into place next to him, walking towards her apartment complex.
"Ryan, I had a great time tonight. I'm sorry to end it so sharply," she said quietly as they stopped at the entrance to the complex. He opened the door to the building for her, and she turned to him with a smile before she put a hand on his cheek. "Thank you for everything. And I want you to know, Ry, that you are worth so much more than you think you are."
She then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek before turning and disappearing into the building.
