DAISY

"Kiss me," he commands.

"I have a mouthful of ice cream right now," Riley pouts at her boyfriend before sticking her tongue out.

About the mouthful, that's a literal truth. When I have a full cone of ice cream, Riley and Kay are almost done with the single piece they decided to share.

Yes, I know, how cute, right?

We are seated by a water fountain in the middle of a massive mall.

I've agreed to join Riley for window shopping, but of course, she's not single like me. Kay insists on driving his girlfriend just to make me feel uncomfortable, reminding me I'm the unwanted third wheel.

"I don't care, I would take all of you in," he protests and attaches his lips to hers.

Something he's never done with me. Not that I want him to. I don't want to kiss him anyway. He is Riley's, not mine. I shouldn't even think like that. His mouth doesn't belong to me and it shouldn't.

He slowly nips her lips. I have to drop my eyes to my barely touched ice cream.

"KC, we're in public." She giggles shyly into his mouth when their little kisses start getting intense.

My eyes meet Kaiser's. His chilly gaze drills into me while he uses words to slit my heart open.
"I cannot get enough of you. You're the best, no one can compete with you. When they taste average, you taste like nothing I've ever had."

With those words, he successfully rips a part that leaves a hole in me, causing the ache to spread.

"I don't want you to get enough of me."

"I can't. I wouldn't last long without you," he whispers into her mouth, his eyes containing satisfaction. I can only blink and look away. "Do you love me?" he asks her.

I'm sure there's reason why he's doing all this. It has to be to mess with my head.

"With all my heart," Riley responds sweetly.

I clear my throat, attracting Riley's attention.
"I will go check on some socks," I say immediately.

I doubt I can survive any longer with all this weird treatment Kay is giving me.

"I'm sorry, Daisy. KC can be so..." She stops and purses her lips, smothering a smile.

"Persistently in love?" he interjects, directing a smirk at me.

"Somehow." She agrees with a laugh, having no idea Kay was deliberately acting sweet to her so he could wound me emotionally, and he'd succeeded. "But as promised, Daisy and I made a pact to have some girl time in the mall. Babe, I'll have to leave you here. We'll see you in a while," she tells him and begins packing her handbag.

"Why can't I follow you?" he frowns at her.

"You can check out those television collections," she motions to an LG Electronics store and leaves a departing peck on his chin before scooting over to me.

I keep telling her it's okay, she can go back to her boyfriend, but Riley insists on not leaving me on my own.

For once, she respects my decision and agrees not to spend any money on me. Instead, we benefit from free sample snacks, and makeovers, and even try on some lotion that we have to wash off our suddenly sweaty skin in the bathroom afterward.

Riley and I continued with window shopping, playing crazy games around the crowded mall, which resulted in Riley dancing behind some oblivious older couple.

She pulls out some sort of optical disc and claims, "I think Kay would love this."

"What's it?" I ask, intrigued as it's a miniature compared to the ordinary disc I know.

"A video game, Daisy," she says with quizzical eyes.

"What's it about?"

"It's rated eighteen for violence. It would get him dumping his anger on the control pad instead of somewhere wrong, you know." Her explanation makes me fidget uneasily, though I mumble, "Cool," hoping I don't look suspicious.

"I know because he can hurt others easily. One wouldn't know until he's done with them." Her words made me struggle with my nerves, and realization downing in me that what she said was what is presently happening to me. "Come, let's check that shopping store." She grins and pulls me along.

Having fun and being with Riley gives me a surprising comfort and confidence I've never felt. I find myself trying different things on, from sunglasses, hats, and scarves to funny outfits Riley picks for me.

We play a runway show, changing outfits in the dressing room and displaying our looks to each other after trying something new.

While I am inside the small cubicle, getting set, the changing room door is pushed open.

My eyes widen at the person suddenly joining me in the confined dressing room.
"KC, what are you doing here? Riley is right outside," I whisper, panicked.

It can't be playing all these risky games with me.

"Why were you looking at me that way earlier?" His eyes linger on me, his lip folded between his teeth.

Is it me, or are his blazing eyes flickering iridescence?
"What way?"

"You know what I mean."

I breathe out and press my lips into an anxious thin line.
"Please leave. Riley could come in."

My hands involuntarily ball into fists to control the nervous trembles I can't stop.

"But what if she doesn't? Don't you want to relive the suspense of the possibility of getting caught by the friend you've been backstabbing and then the pleasure of getting what you're struggling so hard to deny?"

Those words are like a crushing blow from above, cracking open the pain I've attempted to conceal. He's such a narcissist.

"Why are you doing this?" It's barely audible with the lump in my throat.

"Answer me," he presses, his eyes devouring my lips. I can barely take in enough air.

"I don't have any words for you," I insist defiantly, even though we both know I do.

"I saw you earlier. I saw you biting your cheeks. I know you were jealous when I kissed Riley. Are you going to keep lying, or for once, will you admit the truth?" His voice is low yet deep and seductive.

Is that why he keeps punishing me? What did I do to deserve Kay's hatred?
"I don't care what you do or who you do it with. I have never lied to you about anything. Please leave, KC. I can't have Riley finding us," I plead.

"I told you this isn't an us situation. It's yours. You always throw yourself at me, always clinging and desperate for my mouth on your pus..."

My lips tremble from his cruel words. Without thinking, I do the unthinkable and slam his cheek with my palm for the second time, leaving a visible mark I instantly regret.

However, the world stops when he gives me the opposite of my expectations and melds his lips against mine in return for the slap.

Like a piece of clothing in water, I relax instantly. Yes, of course, I have those unremarkable butterflies in my stomach and a heart that might break through my chest.

Kay kissed me. He was kissing me

It's not eager or intense; it's slow and gentle. Even knowing it's wrong, I succumb to him and relish the moment of having something I've never experienced, of having Kay all to myself. There's a relief I can't define. All I know is it feels good.

I savor his taste, hoping this moment never ends.

But it does because he pulls away, giving me no glimpse of his reflection as he stomps out of the small dressing room without explanation or even a glance back.

***

After what happened in the dressing room, I lose the entire vibe, and all I crave is a locked room with a pillow to muffle my cries.

"Can we call it a day?" I suggest after I come out of the room in my dress.

"But I thought we would stay until dark," Riley's shoulders slump.

"I'm exhausted. I have a headache," I lie.

"Oh, are you okay? We should get going then. There's some Advil in the cabinet. Hopper is waiting outside," she says, her demeanor suddenly changing to concern.

"What about KC?" I instinctively ask.

"Something urgent came up, and he had to leave," Riley explains.

Wow! So he left. Of course, he must regret kissing me. I should too.

"Oh."

Riley smiles and hooks our arms.
"Did you have a flamboyant adventure?" she asks as we head for the exit.

"It was a good day," I reply with a smile.

If I'm being fair with myself, I know I'm right. I know what's happening between Kay and me will be considered stupid and reckless in many ways. Even in my mind, it is. Only after that kiss, did I have this emotion I don't know how to control. It was my first kiss, and I've never wanted to kiss anyone, but right now, I want more of Kay.

What is happening to me? I shouldn't feel something for someone meant for my friend.