Coming Home (Complete)

Kevin

Throughout their sophomore year, they were inseparable. She went to his football games and he went to her volleyball games. He also went to her art shows, where she won awards for her pieces. He couldn’t be prouder of his best friend.

What she didn’t know was what he was doing behind her back. Guys on the team wanted to ask her out, but he always stopped them in some shape, way, or form. He would tell them that she wasn’t allowed to date, or that she had a boyfriend or any excuse that he could think of. He even went as far as telling them he was dating her. He tried his hardest to keep her to himself, without telling her how he felt.

These feelings kept developing the more time they spent with each other. Every time they hung out at the mall or went to dinner, when they would go to the arcade or the movies, walking along the trails or playing in the snow, he couldn't stop thinking of her. When they would drive to the beach and blast music in the car, he was mesmerized by her voice. When they would just hang out at her house on the porch swing at night, looking at the stars and just talk, he couldn't stop looking at her. He was falling for her, and he was falling hard, but he would never tell her that because he did not want to ruin their friendship.

What he didn’t know was that she had fallen in love with him all over again. Through their teasing and quips, she couldn’t help but look at him and have her heart burst from her chest. At any mention of his name from her family or friends, she blushed. She always thought that he looked at her as a friend, a sister, so she never said anything to anyone.

That summer, they were inseparable. They spent every day with each other, he even passed on football camp to spend more time with her, catching up like old times, rebuilding their lost friendship.

The beginning of their junior year started differently. The first hint of jealously came from Josh and she didn’t know how to handle it. That year, he was on the varsity football team. She would go to his practices and watch and wait until they were done, and they always got food after.

One day, she was running late due to an appointment. She drove into the parking lot and rushed out of her car and started running towards the stands where others were watching until she bumped into something that was hard, almost like a wall.

Kevin.

She ran into Kevin, a receiver, a senior. He turned around and smiled as he looked down.

“Hey…you okay?” he said while holding out his hand. She took it, embarrassed as to what had just happened. When she grabbed his hand, she couldn’t help but notice that his hands were soft and gentle. His smile was welcoming and the biggest blush formed on her face.

“Yeah, sorry, I really should be careful where I’m going.” She laughed to herself, trying to hide her embarrassment.

“Hey it’s okay.” They started to walk towards the field and stands together. “If you didn’t run into me then I wouldn’t have the chance to finally talk to you.” He smiled her way. She couldn’t help but see a glimmer in his blue eyes.

“Finally?” They were at the gate where they would separate from one another.

“Yeah. How about we meet after this and get something to eat? I would really like to get to know you Lindsey.” She smiled and nodded. A blush started forming on her face. Was this a date? Why was she nervous?

“Yeah, I would like that, a lot actually.” Kevin was a popular guy. He was friends with everyone and had a lot of different girlfriends throughout the years. He was the kind of guy that everyone wanted to be friends with, the guys wanted to be him and the girls wanted to be with him, so the idea that he wanted to talk to her and take her out for food made her stomach flip with joy.

After practice, Josh came running to her and that is where she broke the news to him that she was going to get food with Kevin.

“Lindsey!” he exclaimed. You can hear the aggravation building in his voice. “We always get food! Why would you want to go with him?”

“Josh please! It’s Kevin! I really want to see what happens.”

“I hear things about him…bad things.”

“You know me, I will always be careful, I promise. You will always be my number one guy; you know that, right?”

He huffed. He knew she shouldn’t go with him. He was not as nice of a guy everyone thinks he was. He hurt girls, but he would never admit to it and the girls would never say anything. He was mean in the locker room and deadly on the field. He would make “accidents” happen.

She turned around from him and met Kevin by her car and he couldn’t help but be worried about his best friend.

He waited for her that night at her house on the swing. Kevin walked her to the door and turned to see Josh.

“Hey man,” Kevin greeted.

“Hey, how did it go?” he said as he turned to her.

“Great! We are going to go out this weekend!” she smiled at him.

“I gotta get going, but I will see you later.” He smiled at her and kissed her cheek. Josh turned away, trying not to let his anger show.

He walked back to his car and sped away and she turned to him. “Why didn’t you tell me that he was so amazing!” she sighed as she sat next to him on the swing.

“Lindsey please, I am literally begging you…don’t do this.” He said and looked at her with pleading eyes.

“Why? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t?” She was hoping that he would admit something, anything, that would give her a glimmer of hope that something could happen between them.

“He’s not a nice guy, Lindsey! He hurts girls! He uses and abuses them!” he exclaimed. The frustration was starting to build up.

“It's funny you should mention that because he said you would say something like that! When were you planning on telling me that other guys on the team wanted to ask me out, but you basically threatened them that if they did you would hurt them!?” she started yelling. Kevin told her while they were out that Josh would threaten them whenever one of them showed any interest in her. She was the one that would always get away, the quiet beautiful girl that was intriguing to everyone.

“You seriously cannot believe him!” he yelled right back.

“So, you’re telling me that he’s a liar?”

“Yes…I mean no, yes like, not exactly! Let me explain.”

“You literally have 2 minutes, Josh, before I walk into my house and lock the door.” She crossed her arms in anger.

“I was doing it to protect you!”

“You had NO right Josh, none! I'm old enough to make these decisions for myself.” And with that she walked into the house and slammed her door. He looked defeated. He knew that she would forgive him, and until then, he would continue to watch for her.