CHAPTER 6
The members ofLIPTON stood there shocked. Especially Jhon.
How can she be engaged to someone like him? Jhon asked himself. He's such an opposite of her. I don't like him.
"Well, I guess I better be going now," Kya said, smiling weakly at Jhon and his friends. "I'll talk to you later, Jhon. Bye."
Kya and Blake left the Virgin Megastore. Jhon watched as they left. They looked like they were arguing.
"What exactly were you doing, Kya?" Blake asked as they walked out of the store.
"I was just having some fun with my friend, Blake," Kya said, defending herself. "It was no big deal."
"You were making a fool of yourself, Kya. Not to mention that you could hurt--" Blake reprimanded.
"I know, Blake. I better hurry now, so I don't keep your mother waiting," Kya stood on her tiptoes and kissed Blake on the cheek, then ran to her truck.
Meanwhile, Jhon had joined his friends.
"So Jhon, who exactly was that? You two seem like best friends," Mikah commented as the younger man walked up to them.
"Well, at one point we were. We were even childhood sweethearts but then she moved away and we lost track of each other. That was over 10 years ago." Jhon said. "What surprises me though is that Kya is going to marry that guy. He doesn't seem right for her."
"He's not," Brendon said, speaking up. "They got engaged about a month or two ago. It was all really quick. Kya had been dating him for a while though. Kya deserves better than him. No one knows why she doesn't leave him."
"It must be true love," JC said, sensibly.
Brendon snorted. "Whatever," he said, walking off. The guys ofLIPTON all left together. Jhon was quiet on the way back to their house. He was worried about his friend.
:ring, ring:
"Hello, Virgin Megastore, Orlando. This is Kya. How may I help you?"
"Hey Peanut Butter, this is Jhon. When are you getting off work?" he asked.
Kya glanced at the clock. "Oh in about 10 minutes. I get to leave at lunch time today." she said.
"Great! We'll be there in 6 minutes. Bye babe." Jhon said, then hung up, without waiting for an answer.
Kya laughed and hung up the phone. Jhon and his group, so far, had been back in Orlando for a week. Kya had already gotten together with them four times. She loved Jhon's friends, they were great, just like big brothers, and she loved having time to spend with Jhon. Kya walked outside just as the guys' van was pulling up. Jhon jumped out, slammed the door shut, and walked over to Kya as the van pulled away and left.
"I said I'd ride with you," Jhon explained. "We're going to meet them there."
"So where are we going?" Kya asked, as they walked to her truck together.
"We're going bowling. Is that ok?" he asked, glancing at Kya. He took Kya's keys from her and helped her into the passenger side of her jeep. He ran around to the driver's side.
"Yeah sure," Kya said.
Jhon looked at Kya. She looked worn out. He was driving along the interstate when he swerved off on to an exit.
"Jhon, the bowling alley isn't this way," Kya said, tiredly.
"I know," he said. "I'll just tell the guys that we're going to be a little late."
Kya shrugged but smiled at Jhon. Jhon drove a few miles away from the interstate and then pulled off on a little road. He drove for a few more minutes before he pulled up in front of an elementary school.
Kya laughed. "We're missing bowling to break into some elementary school? Jhon, have you completely gone off your rocker? You're crazy, boy!"
Jhon smiled and parked the car. He gave a devilishly handsome grin. "Come on." He jumped out of the car and walked over to the jungle gym.
Kya followed him. "Race you to the top," she said, competitively. The two climbed quickly, both trying to get to the top of the semi-sphere first.
Jhon got there first, then stood up and started yelling, "I'm the king of the world! Woo Hoo!" He held his arms over his head.
Kya grabbed his ankles. "Jhon, you freak, sit down before you fall and break your neck!" she said, while giggling.
Jhon sat down next to her. They stayed in the park, Jhon called Chris and told him they wouldn't make it to the bowling alley, for an hour or so. They ran around and climbed bars and acted like 6 year olds. They ended up out of breath on the swingset. They rocked back and forth slowly as the cool air swirled around them.
"So Kya," Jhon started slowly.
"Yeah?"
"Exactly, why are you getting married at an early age?" he asked.
Kya looked up surprised. They had been talking about their most embarassing moments and Kya was surprised when the topic turned towards this.
"Well...I guess because I'm ready. I don't know. You wouldn't understand," Kya said, softly.
"Ok. I can deal with that. As long as I know that you truly love Blake. Do you, Kya?" Jhon looked at her. When she didn't answer, he continued, "When you first wake up in the morning, is he the only thing you can think about? Do you constantly space out in the middle of something to wonder what he's doing? Are you the only one who seems to notice how he smiles or how he gets better looking everyday? Do you, Kya? Do you love him?"
"I respect Blake, Jhon. We --"
"That's great, but do you love him," Jhon asked, tilting her chin so he could look into her eyes.
"Yeah, Jhon. I guess I do."
Jhon nodded and dropped his hand. He didn't realize how much her answer was going to depress him.
But why should it? Jhon thought later as he was driving Kya home. She's only my best friend...right?
