The ride home was silent. As he got into my driveway I didn't wait for him to open the door for me, I just stalked inside and of course Jamie was hot on my heels.
"Kay" he called after me but I didn't respond I was almost in my room when he pulled me to look at him.
"I know I messed up today but that punk had it coming" he seethed.
"Had it coming how? He only asked to talk to me " I yelled at him.
"He is bad news Kay, I didn't want him anywhere close to you" he tried to reason as he brought his hand forward to stroke my hair. I swatted his hand away and took a step back.
"Just leave Jamie, I am not in the mood for this" I said calmly and tried to get into my room again but he pulled me back and slammed me into the wall and boy did it hurt like Bitch.
" why the hell are you mad at me? He was totally going to make moves on you yet you still wanted to go talk to him" he yelled and I flinched a bit. But did I back down? Not a chance.
"How the hell do you know that?" I yelled back and shoved him. "How can you claim to love me yet you don't trust me, I am not skipping off into the sunset with ever boy I talk to. Why the hell do you have to be so damn possessive" I yelled again and shoved him.
"I trust you, it's the boys I don't trust " he said softly and stared at me. He had bruises all over his face and a busted lip. Tyler surely did a number on him.
" I am so sorry Kay, I just feel the constant need to protect you because i fear someone might steal you away from me" He said with his voice wavering. He leaned on the wall and looked down. He looked so helpless. I just wanted to hold him and tell him it was all okay but that would be me giving in too easily. I couldn't however leave him with a busted lip. "Let's get you cleaned up " I said and entered my room. Jamie sat on the closed toilet seat in my bathroom and I knelt in front of him cleaning his wound. His eyes never left my face which made the work a bit hard. He just kept staring at me like he's never seen my face before. "Take a picture it lasts longer" I sassed and got up. "A Picture is nothing compared to you sweetheart" he said and grinned. I didn't indulge him though. "Goodnight Jamie. You're welcome to stay but you'll be sleeping in Mary's room" I said as I kicked off my shoes and crawled into bed. I just wanted the night to end. "Goodnight princess" Jamie said as he left my room.
***********************************************
I sighed as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I haven't been getting any sleep because of late night reading. My eyes were so tired I could fell the viens in them about to pop. Jamie and I are okay, after stalling our reconciliation for two days, I finally gave in. I missed him too much. I applied concealer to cover the bags under my eyes. I really needed my beauty sleep. As I got ready, my phone chimed. It was a text from Tyler. We agreed to meet at a cafe so he'll finally tell me what he wanted to say before the brawl at the party. The boy vehemently refused to tell me over the phone so I decided to meet up with him and just get over with it.
I wanted to tell Jamie but he'd insist on coming with me and Tyler really wanted to talk to me in private.
I wore a T-shirt, my denim Bermuda shorts with slides and drove to the cafe. I didn't have a car yet so I used Mary's car. She'd kill me for sure when she'll realize her car is gone. I enjoyed the silent ride before my phone started ringing, it was Jamie.
"Hey Babe" I greeted as I put my Bluetooth on. "Hey Princess" he greeted back. The name princess was now his favorite name for me and I liked it too. "I'm dying here, wanna hang out? " he asked I just almost shit myself. I thought he hd football practice. "No practice?" I asked. "Nah, coach got the flu" he said casually. Why of all days did the coach have to be sick today. "I'd love to hang out with you but I'm running some errands now" I lied. I felt so bad, I didn't want to lie but he left me no choice. "Oh ok, text me when you're done" His response was mingled with a bit of sadness. "Jamie don't sound like that, the minute I'm done I'll call you okay. I love you " I spoke cautiously. "Love you too Princess" he said and hung up. Phew! that was hard. I suck at lying and lying to Jamie made me feel all sorts of terrible.
I arrived at the cafe and spotted Tyler immediately. He was sitting by the window with head phones plugged in. I sat across from him and he removed his head phones immediately he saw me.
"Thanks for coming" was the first thing he said. "Yea so what's up " I asked calmly. "So you see" he started, his hands went to the back of his neck as he looked at the table. He was nervous I could tell. "Tyler I don't have all day" I said getting impatient. He quickly looked at me but then looked down again. He placed both hands on the table and played with his fingers "I don't know how to say this" he said more to himself but I heard him. That certainly piqued my interest. Whatever he wants to tell me must be serious then. I softly touched his hand which made him look at me with grateful eyes. I didn't know why but I felt sorry for him. "what's wrong? " I asked more concerned now.
"I am uhhm.., I am HIV positive" he said and waited for my reaction. Of course I was shocked, like out of the world shocked but I didn't recoil from him. That would crush him.
"Oh my goodness Tyler i'm so sorry" I sympathized and grabbed both his hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze. " you might be wondering why I told you, it's just that, I need a doctor and I know both your parents are doctors and I am too ashamed to walk into a hospital and ask for HIV meds. My parent's don't even know" he was beginning to blab and it would have been funny in another scenario but now it was just sad. The poor boy was confused and I just wanted to hug him. I changed seats and sat by him." I understand Tyler, I will talk to my mom but you need to tell your parents" I told him and he just broke down in tears. I gave him my shoulder to cry on. " I don't know how to, my mom would be so disappointed and my dad will disown me for sure" he said as he cried silently on my shoulder.
"It's not going to be easy know that but you owe them that much. They need to know and you need all the support you can get both emotionally and otherwise" I reasoned with him. After a few more tears, Tyler finally stopped crying and we were ready to leave.
Then Jamie appeared. He looked as pissed as hell and for some reason it scared me. "Errands huh" he said sarcastically as he looked at me with eyes that could kill. " I can explain that " I said softly.
I didn't want him to create a scene. "Explain what Kayla? Explain how you told me you were running an errand then I find you here in his arms" he yelled at me. "Fucking explain that Kayla I'd love to hear this one " he said menacingly. "Thomas calm the Fuck down, she didn't do anything wrong " Tyler defended me. I really wish he didn't. "I wasn't talking to you Tyler" Jamie said calmly but there was still a hint of threat in his voice. "Jamie let's not do this here, we'll talk at home" I begged as I moved closer to him.
*Slap*
There were rounds of gasps in the cafe. I couldn't wrap my head around it yet. Jamie just slapped me. Tears stung my eyes as I stared at him. "What the fuck bruh" Tyler yelled as he shoved Jamie so hard. Jamie himself seemed to be in shock at what he'd done. Tyler punched the leaving day light out of him repeatedly but he never took his eyes off me. He didn't even fight back.
I just held my cheek and stared back at him. Tears ran freely from my eyes as I stood completely numb. Tyler finally left Jamie and led me outside. "You OK? " he asked but I couldn't respond. I couldn't react. Jamie actually slapped me. Tyler seemed to get the hint I wasn't in the mood to talk so he drove me off in his car. He didn't take me home though, he took me to his place. Probably because he doesn't know where I live and I wasn't in the mood to talk.
We sat silently in the car. I stared at my thighs as thoughts of Jamie flodded my head. How could he do that to me.
