Breaking His Rules

🏈27🏈

"Oh, I remember this.", she says, her voice getting far away. "This is how I met Kayla. She was painting this picture and I came in to take pictures for the...", her coice fades away and a look of realization comes across her face.

"Let me see that", Steph says and she snatches the camera away from Quinn to get a look at the picture.

Her face instantly lights up.

"Kay, you have to see this"

Kayla looks up just as Steph practically shoves the camera into her face.

She gasps.

"Quinn, how do you still have this?"

"That's not important right now", I cut in as Quinn opens her mouth to explain. "Where is the painting?"

I've been looking around the arts class for the painting, but I can't see it anywhere. However, I don't believe Alicia tore it up.

Which leaves one option.

Kayla sniffs a bit. "It's actually back at my house."

My fears have been confirmed. It's at least a twenty-minute drive between Kayla's house and the school.

I look at Kayla, anxiously twisting the ring around her finger, her face devoid of any colour and her eyes beginning to lose hope, and I know that right now I will do anything for her – even go to the very ends of the earth for her.

"Kay, do you trust me,", I ask, kneeling down so that our faces are level.

She hesitates for a second – then she nods.

"Set up for your presentation. Your easel and other stuff. Get ready with the other contestants."

I turn to Quinn. "Get those photos to the judges as evidence."

"And what are you going to do?", Steph asks.

I turn to walk out the door, setting a timer on my watch.

"I'm going to get Kayla's picture."

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I drive like a crazy person. I know where Kayla's house is, and I know that if I can get the picture for her in time, she'll be able to participate in her competition.

Within ten minutes, I am at Kayla's house. I glance at my watch: twenty minutes till judging starts.

I run to the front door and turn the handle.

Locked.

In retrospect, I should have asked Kayla for her house key, but in the heat of the moment I must have forgotten.

I could kick myself in frustration.

Now what am I to do?

I walk around the perimeter of the house, trying every door and window, but they are all locked.

I look up to the window of Kayla's room – I know it is hers from the time I was last here.

And I notice that it is open.

If only I could get up there.

I look at the tree growing beside the window, a branch leading into her room, and I have an idea.

🏈🏈🏈

It is easier to scale the tree than I thought, and soon, I land with a thump in Kayla's room.

Clothes scattered everywhere, papers and paint stains greet me, but I have no time to look at that or even focus on anything but scanning the walls, looking for the picture. There are quite a few paintings, but the moment I see it, I gasp.