Kay had to admit that as shallow as it sounded, one of her favorite things about hanging out with Kyle was becoming an Uncaged girl.

The moment word was out that Kyle and Cecily had broken up, Sonia had hurried to congratulate Kay and welcome her as the third and final member of the band girls.

The status came with great perks. For one, she got to attend band rehearsals. It didn't seem so from the outside, seeing as they didn't hang out at school, but the band were a small, loving family. Even Vincent, who'd seemed so weird, was warm and friendly.

Kay had been fascinated to see them at work. She and Kelly would sit on the sideline while the band members argued over their next song. Then Sonia would start to randomly bang the table or her chair or the floor with something and give everyone a rhythm. Then they'd all start chipping in, suggesting different ways it could go. Except for Dustin who just wrote everything down, like a secretary. Or so Kay had thought at first. It turned out Dustin was actually writing his own part of the music, ignoring everyone else.

What shocked Kay most, however, was Kyle. Joey joked and said he had lyric superpower, but that was actually true. After they agreed on the theme and the instrumental part, they'd start playing and Kyle would just churn out lyrics. And not the let's-try-this-and-see-where-it-goes type. The entire-song-at-once type. And someone had to write it down because he couldn't do it twice without seriously altering it. Then, they'd all suggest changes. If they had any. They almost never did.

The other great thing about being an Uncaged girl was front row seats at every concert. And after New Year's, the requests kept pouring in.

Kay suddenly had a ton of wholesome school friends who she went to study with so that her parents wouldn't ground her for spending time with the band. She wasn't sure how long the lie would last, but every time, one concert longer was enough.

Seeing the band play up close was amazing. She loved it when Kyle smiled or winked at her and all the girls in the audience would swoon and claim it was directed at them. But Kay knew the truth. Sure, it wasn't as obvious as Joey's dedications to Kelly or him pulling her on stage occasionally, but there were little things.

Like how when they would sing covers, Kyle would sing her favorite tunes. Or how he'd ask her which of their songs she wanted to hear next. Kay felt like a superstar. And the best part of it was that she could enjoy all this and stay anonymous. She would've been embarrassed in Kelly's stead.

Even now, as she waited for the band to come back on stage, Kay let out a happy sigh. Uncaged's latest gig was in an exclusive bar that looked more like a cabaret than anything. There was no light except from the reddish lamps on every table and the neon contour of the bar, and there were actually high tables and stools. People sat down to listen instead of jumping up and down in front of the stage. That didn't stop the fans. The place was packed even if they had to pay to get in.

"What?" Kelly asked from next to her.

"Nothing. I'm just happy," Kay answered.

Kelly smiled weakly. "I'm really glad to hear that. But I know what would make you even happier."

"What?" Kay asked surprised.

Kelly nodded towards the stage. "Kyle."

Kay fought the impulse to roll her eyes. "He's already a pretty big part of why I'm happy."

"God, why can't you see it?" Kelly slammed her palm on the table, making Kay jump.

"See what? And why are you so angry?"

To Kay's shock, Kelly's eyes filled with tears. "The way he looks at you. Not even Joey looks at me like that. He loves you, Kay. And you're just stupidly being friends when you could be together, truly happy."

A wave of heat smashed into Kay, almost knocking her off the stool. Kelly's words brought a strange thrill, a thrill that shouldn't be there, because she and Kyle were best friends and nothing more. And it was okay. They were both okay.

But now, Kelly's strange mood worried Kay a little more than her words. She moved closer to her friend and squeezed her shoulder. "What's going on?"

Kelly stared at her for a second then covered her face with her hands. "It's almost March, Kay."

"Yeah, so?"

"One month till spring break, then one more month until we take our finals, then there's the prom and in three months, it's our last summer together," Kelly said so quietly, Kay had to struggle to catch her words.

"Oh, Kelly, you're having a future meltdown?" Kay tried not to laugh.

Her friend stared at her, looking slightly offended. "Aren't you? Joey and I aren't going to the same college unless one of us changes their first option. I don't even know where you're going and Kyle... Joey says he has no idea either. Like he might not even go to college."

"That's stupid." Kay waved her hand. "Kyle's really smart. Of course he's going to college."

"Joey is considering not going either and focusing on the band."

Kay's hand froze in midair. After her plans with Donnie had fallen apart, she hadn't even considered making new ones. Not with Kelly, not with Kyle, not with anyone. She hadn't even filed any collage applications and it was getting pretty late. But she didn't even know what she wanted to do and where.

"Gee, thanks for ruining my mood," she mumbled.

"I'm not done." Kelly crossed her arms over her chest. "Let's say that in the next four months you discover something. Like how I'm right and you're actually head over heels for a certain someone. How would you feel when you barely have days to spend together?"

"Kelly, I love you, but get off my back about Kyle, okay? If it's meant to happen, it's going to happen, but not now." She didn't even want to think about it, because she was happy now and any sort of change could bring everything down in flames. Plus, what Kelly was saying was bullshit. Kyle wasn't in love with her.

"Suit yourself," Kelly mumbled, looking away pointedly.

"Hey, girls."

Kelly and Kay both jumped and turned to Joey who had appeared behind them.

"What are you doing here?" Kelly asked. "Aren't you going back up?"

"Nope." Joey pulled up a stool and wiggled between them. "We only have one song left and it's just Dustin and Kyle."

"But how about your big exit?" Kay asked.

"Nope, none of that today, because she's here." Joey nodded somewhere behind him.

Kay squinted in the semi-darkness, but had no idea what Joey was talking about. Nor did she have the chance to ask, because the lights on the stage turned on again, and it was indeed just Kyle and Dustin. Once Kyle started singing, she completely forgot about everything else.

The band didn't really have ballads, so it was a rare treat to hear one. And it gave her goosebumps. Kyle's voice was so warm and soothing and the light made his skin shine. Her eyes roamed to his right wrist to where he wore the leather band she'd given him for Christmas.

Even if he wasn't one for jewlery, she'd thought this would match the band of his watch and make him look like he was wearing a form of bracers which fit his warrior attitude.

She'd studded it with silver which looked like bullet shells. Just to make sure he always remembered who gave it to him, she also stitched a K right next to the clasp. When it was time to give it to him, however, she'd felt like a total idiot. But he'd liked it, had worn it since, and told her to keep the iPod.

The song ended, Kyle bowed and the crowd went wild. The lights turned off again and most of the patrons shuffled towards the exit. Kay didn't leave her seat, waiting for Kyle to come to them. Joey and Kelly waited too, though they were busy whispering and kissing.

Finally, Kay spotted Kyle coming out from backstage. She hopped off her stool, but froze when she noticed he wasn't heading for them, but for a table further back and to the right. That's where she spotted Max. He was accompanied by a beautiful, blonde woman who seemed to be in her early thirties or late twenties. She wore a casual dress and high heels and watched Kyle approaching them with a loving smile.

Kay's stomach suddenly turned over. What was this cougar doing there and why was she with Max? The look on Kyle's face made Kay's blood freeze in her veins. She'd never seen him looking at anyone with so much adoration. The stupid rumors at school suddenly started making sense. Was this older woman Kyle's secret girlfriend?

"Aw, isn't that adorable," Joey said from behind Kay, making her jump.

"Is it?" she asked, trying to sound innocent.

"Yeah. About time she showed up. Kyle missed her like crazy." Joey shook his head and sighed. "We should go. He's staying with her."

Kay let Joey lead her and Kelly out, her stomach in an uncomfortable knot. She knew she should let it go, but she couldn't, not like that.

"He really seems to love her," she said quietly.

"He adores her. Though heaven knows she doesn't deserve it." Joey sounded spiteful and she looked at him curiously. Apparently Joey had a problem with all of Kyle's girlfriends, though this time, it was understandable.

"I never thought Kyle had a Mrs. Robinson thing."

"A Mrs..." Joey frowned at her. Then stopped. Then started laughing. And laughing. And laughing.

Kelly looked from him to Kay, a confused frown on her face, obviously not understanding what was going on. Kay couldn't blame her. She couldn't understand either.

"Mrs. Robinson? God, Kay, that's Kyle's mother, not his secret girlfriend."

"What?" Kay looked over her shoulder even if it was useless since they were already outside. She wished she'd gotten a better look at the woman, though it had been so dark in the pub.

"Yeah. She only comes like a couple times a year to see him and doesn't stay more than a few days." Joey laughed some more as he led the girls to his car. "Wait until I tell him this one."

"Oh, please don't." Kay's cheeks caught fire and she stopped outside the Camaro. "It's hella embarrassing."

"Yes it is. That's why it'll give him a huge laugh."

Even if Kay spent the ride home trying to bribe Joey not to tell Kyle how silly she'd been, her mind traveled to the beautiful, young woman, how adoringly she'd looked at her son. How could she go back home, to her other children, and leave him here? Would Kay even get the chance to meet her?

Over the next few days, the answer became obvious. No. Kyle only texted her once to apologize for not saying goodbye, and even if Kay tried to subtly engage him in conversation, it didn't work. So she was extremely surprised when, while she was daydreaming at her desk, three days after the concert, a pebble hit her window.

She went over and opened it to see Kyle outside, waving at her.

"What are you doing here?" she whisper-yelled. "If my parents see you, we're both in trouble."

"They won't. Can I come up?"

Kay blinked. "Um, sure."

Kyle grabbed on to the edge of the garage's roof and hoisted himself on the tin tiles. He scrambled to her, but stopped outside her window, an expectant look on his face. And Kay understood that he wasn't coming in. Which was probably for the best since it would be weird and her parents would kill them both if they found out. So, instead, she climbed out and sat next to him on the garage.

It was actually a really good idea. Her window was the only one facing that side of the house and they were far enough from the entrance to not be seen.

"Sorry about the radio silence," he said. "I had a busy couple of days."

"I know. Joey told me about your mom."

Kyle nodded and looked at the starry sky, thoughtfully. "She doesn't come over much, so I try to spend as much time with her as possible when she does."

"I understand." What she didn't understand was why Kyle hadn't introduced her to his mother. She would've loved to know her. Why was she different from Sophie?

They sat in silence for a while, watching the sky.

"You're probably wondering why I didn't introduce you to her," he suddenly said.

Kay wanted to deny it, but changed her mind and kept quiet instead.

"The thing is," Kyle started. "It's a bit of a petty revenge move from my part."

She turned to him, stunned. "Revenge?"

"Yeah. She's supposed to be here. Know my friends. She doesn't even know Joey because I've always refused to introduce her to the important people in my life. I'd keep her away from Max if he weren't her twin brother. I don't feel like she deserves to know you."

Kay bit her lip, turning his words over. She'd always thought Kyle was remarkably well balanced for a kid growing up without his parents, but he apparently had some baggage. Of course he did, he was human. And somehow, knowing she was important enough for him to keep her away from his mother made her feel better about the whole thing.

"I understand. It makes sense," she finally said.

"She wants me to go to Chicago for college."

The air between them seemed to freeze. Kay's chest tightened as she looked at him. Chicago. It was crazy far away. Could as well be the moon. And it was weird that her first thought was if she could go there, too.

She cleared her throat. "So, are you?"

"No," Kyle said bluntly. "I'm not even sure I'm going to college yet."

"Just let me know when you decide."

He smiled weakly. "Sure. Anyway, if my mom ever decides she wants to be a bigger part of my life, I promise I'll introduce you to her."

Kay smiled back and leaned her head on his shoulder. "That sounds like a plan."

"Speaking of plans, when's the last time we did anything new for your bucket list?"

"I don't know. My schedule is pretty full with all the old stuff."

"Let's go to a barn dance."

Kay raised her head off his shoulder to stare at him. "A barn dance? Seriously?"

He shrugged. "What? It's something new. I've never been to one."

"Me neither, because it sounds dorky as hell."

"Come on, it could be fun. We can get dressed up as cowboys and everything. There'll be line dancing and karaoke and apparently a lot of straw. And it's in an honest to God barn."

"How do you even know about this?"

"Someone left a flyer on my car." He stuffed his hand in his back pocket and handed her a rumpled green flyer. "It's next week."

Kay studied the flyer and was overcome by a desire to laugh. It sounded so silly. But it was something new and it had the potential to be really fun. "Do you think we'll be able to drag Kelly and Joey with us?"

Kyle huffed. "Of course. I'll make sure to force it on them."

"And can we laugh at all the drunken cowboys?"

"Hell, yeah!"

She grinned. "Then I'm in." She pocketed the flyer and leaned her head against Kyle's shoulder again. "You should come more often."

"Wow, Kay, that sounded really dirty."

Heat rose to her cheeks, but she didn't move. "No, it didn't. Get your mind out of the gutter."

"I didn't know you were so worried about how often I come."

"Kyle!" She slapped his shoulder, but couldn't hold in the laughter.

"Alright, alright, sorry." He kissed her hair and pulled away. "I'd better go before we wake your parents up with all this coming and going."

Kay bit her fist to stop herself from laughing because he had a point about her parents hearing them. She waved her hand to shoo him away. "See you tomorrow. And visit more often."

"Oh, I intend to." He winked at her, climbed off the garage, and disappeared into the night.

🧩🧩🧩

Yay, we have chapter.

This was a bit of a break before we go full throttle towards the end.

So, what did you think? Did you have fun with this? What do you think about Kyle's attitude towards his mother?

Song: the band ballad

Next chapter title: The Barn Dance

Read, vote, comment, thank you! Add to reading lists! Much love ❤️