Kay really wished she didn't have to keep lying to her parents and pretend to go to Bible study or other crap like that all the time. But as she checked herself out in Kelly's mirror, she realized it didn't matter that much as long as she still got to do what she wanted. Like going to this wonderful barn dance.

"Are you sure this is not too much?" she asked Kelly, twirling to admire her outfit: grey bootcut jeans, boots and a red and black ceckered shirt.

Kelly wore an identical outfit, except her shirt was blue and black and her jeans blue. She'd also caught her hair into two braids.

"Not even close to too much." Kelly pulled out two Stetson straw hats. "Put this on and we'll be perfect."

Kay stared at her blankly. She'd never worm a cowgirl hat in her life. "Are you sure that's not a bit too much?"

"Kay, we're going to a barn dance without huge belts on. Trust me, we'll be underdressed."

Kay shrugged and put the hat on. Kelly had been to barn dances before, so she was the fashion authority.

"Let's go," Kelly said, checking her phone. "The boys are downstairs, and the less they linger, the better."

No kidding. They just couldn't get a break from any of the parents. Well, except Max, but he wasn't actually a parent.

The girls hurried out, Kelly yelling to her mom that they were going to study at Erin's, and made a beeline for Joey's Camaro. The boys were waiting next to the car, both of them wearing jeans, boots and denim shirts. And cowboy hats. It strangely made them look pretty hot.

"Ha!" Joey said the moment he saw them and turned to point at Kyle with both hands. "I win!"

"What are you talking about?" Kelly asked, already scrambling into the front seat.

Kyle and Kay got in the back while Joey got behind the wheel and drove off.

"We made a bet, and I won. Now he has to sing two karaoke songs, my choice, with a drawl." Joey did a small happy dance before focusing back on his driving.

Kay shook her head and turned to Kyle. "What?"

He shrugged. "Joey said you girls would be dressing up, but I didn't think you'd go all out and put the hat on."

"That's a silly bet."

"It's a silly prize, but let Ashley think he's actually won something for a change."

"Hey." Joey looked at them in the rear view. "I can hear you."

Kyle and Kay threw each other knowing looks and burst into silent laughter. She then spent the rest of the way there making fun of how uncomfortable he felt in the backseat. She seriously doubted he'd been in the backseat since he got his license.

Once they got there, Kay had to admit it looked like fun. The barn was big, wooden and painted red with a white roof and the people... well, Kelly had been right. They would've stood out without the hats.

Once inside, the party started. There was a bar, there were cowboys, booze and straw pallets everywhere. Kay half-expected to see a stray goat or chicken running around. And even if she wasn't a country music fan, by the end of the night, she had to admit that she'd had the time of her life.

She couldn't decide which part was her favorite. Kyle singing supposedly for her (songs chosen by Joey, which were of course love songs - and damn, Kyle with a drawl was sexy) and making a show of it, Joey and Kelly actually fighting over something minor and tossing straw at each other (Kay had then spent half an hour getting the straws out of Kelly's hair), the line dancing (she and Kyle owned that because of their dance classes) or the roudy patrons who weren't afraid to have a good time.

No, this is by far my favorite part.

There was barely any light in the barn, just a lonely bulb above a distant stall. It was the end of the party, and everyone had slumped into corners or gone home. Joey and Kelly sat on two stools next to the bar, practically in each other's laps, making out. She and Kyle were the only ones left on the dance floor, swaying to the tragic country love song playing, Kyle singing along in her ear.

Even if she hadn't had too much to drink, her head and body still buzzed pleasantly, as the words of the song filled the stuffy air.

She don't love you, she's just lonely
She wasn't once upon a time

That was silly, she wasn't lonely. She didn't even get to be lonely, because Kyle was always there.

She used to dance when the band played,
She used to be the trusting kind

Well, she definitely wasn't the trusting kind anymore. She'd actually changed and fairytale endings weren't for her. Not that she needed any. She was happy the way things were now. Her arms tightened around Kyle's neck and she pressed her face deeper into his chest. He tightened his hold on her waist in return. Love was so overrated. Who needed it when friendship could feel this wonderful?

Kelly and Joey were wrong and should mind their own business. She didn't want this to ever change. Didn't ever want it to become what she'd had with Donnie. He'd never made her feel so safe, so strong. All love did was cut your wings off and make you settle for less.

No more settling for less. Her fingers dug into Kyle's shoulders. She couldn't remembered the last time she'd been so happy. It felt like she was floating.

Falling has a different meaning,
To her you're just another guy

Not another guy. Kyle was her best friend.

So forgive her if she's distant,
She can't tell her heart to lie,
You'll never be her one and only,
She don't love you, she's just lonely

A tear snaked down her cheek. She didn't want to be like that. She wanted a one and only.

Kyle's body shook as he chuckled. "Can't hold your liquor for shit, sweetheart."

Kay raised her face from his chest. "Huh?"

"Seriously, don't drink. You're a sad drunk." He wiped her tear off with his thumb.

"I'm not drunk. It's this damn song." She pulled away and wiped her eyes, but it only made them leak more. What the hell, Kay? Pull your shit together.

"Yeah, it's a pretty sad song. We should be getting home anyway. I think it's four in the morning."

"Really?" Kay checked her watch.

It was actually four thirty. Thank God she'd told her parents she was sleeping over at Kelly's or she had no idea what she could've said to explain this. Her head pounded. Ugh, maybe Kyle was right, maybe she was drunk or at least seriously tipsy.

She opened her mouth to demand how come he was so sober, but remembered that he didn't drink. He'd scrunched his nose at the glass of whiskey Joey wanted to give him and threatened to shove it down his throat. Kyle hadn't been kidding. He didn't drink at all and apparently the smell really bothered him.

God, I probably reek. She hadn't had much, just two glasses of whiskey and two shots of tequila, but she didn't usually drink, so they almost floored her. That was probably why she was still hanging to Kyle's shoulders even if they were no longer dancing. And he still had his arm around her waist to hold her up. Shit, was he really holding her up?

"What did you tell your parents you were doing?" he asked, sounding a bit worried.

"Don't worry, I'm supposedly staying at Kelly's place and we told Kelly's mom we're sleeping at Erin's."

Kyle raised his eyebrows. "Erin? Isn't she that drama nozzle who told everyone we were super doing each other?"

Mmmm, super doing Kyle right then sounded like such a good idea. All she had to do was get on the tips of her toes and she could maybe reach him. It had been way too long since they'd kissed.

What the hell? Stupid alcohol! She was never drinking again.

"Yeah. We're actually going to her place right now."

He huffed. "Seriously? You're both hammered."

"I'm not that drunk." He stepped away from her, and she straightened her spine and stood tall. Yup, she could totally pull off standing. "See? I'm just a little buzzed. I'll sober up as soon as I get some air."

"Okay, I believe you." He looked over his shoulder at Kelly and Joey who were practically slumped over each other, no longer even kissing. "But Kelly on the other hand... How are you going to explain that?"

"We'll just bribe Erin to lie for us with some juicy gossip I'll make up." Kay waved her hand. "What's the most scandalous thing that could've happened?"

"Um, I don't know, it's pretty hard to trump your last confession to Erin."

She slapped his arm. "I'll just tell her Jelly broke up and Kelly drowned her sorrows in alcohol. And maybe that I'm super doing you again, then give her a play-by-play. She'd love that."

He let out a laugh. "Honestly, I'd love that. Can you give me a play by play, too?"

She leaned against him, batting her lashes. "Depends what you're going to do to me."

"Wow, Kay." Even if he was still smiling, he didn't look amused anymore.

Yeah, she'd totally gotten too brave and ruined the moment. Alcohol obviously made her dumb as well as sad.

"I'd better take Joey to my place. If his mom sees him like this, she'll flip." Kyle studied Joey and Kelly who were now giggling drunkenly. "Am I missing something?"

"Huh?"

"By not drinking? Why do you do it?"

"I have no idea, especially because it makes you stupid as fuck." She'd just proved it.

He whipped towards her. "Kay, you said fuck."

She giggled. "Stupid and brave. Let's drag the drunkies to the car and call it a night. I had a lot of fun anyway."

"I'm happy to hear that. I had a lot of fun, too." He hesitated a moment. "I'm a little bummed that you're not going home."

"Why?" she asked surprised.

"Because I would've liked to stay with you." He smiled, but it was a little strained, then he headed for their friends.

Kay watched his back, her mind buzzing, trying to clear and make sense of the last ten minutes. Maybe she hadn't been as stupid as she'd thought. She wanted to stay with him so much, preferably all wrapped around him, with him singing in her ear. Her body ached with the need to go to him, turn him around, melt into him.

No. Their friendship was perfect. She didn't want more. She didn't need more. She was just drunk and stupid.

Can't hold your liquor for shit, sweetheart.

Sweetheart. Kyle had called her sweetheart.

🧩🧩🧩

I must admit I hated this chapter when I started off, but ended up loving it by the end. So love? Hate?

I'm curious how you feel about videos inside the text? Do you even listen to the songs? The one above is the one the lyrics are from (I'm not much of a country music fan, but I love that song).

I tried to paint the atmosphere with the lyrics and sort of show how buzzed Kay is (she should definitely stop drinking). Did it work? Also, is all the time jumping getting annoying?

Thanks so much for reading. In case you're curious, I'm posting the two songs Joey made Kyle sing for Kay.

https://youtu.be/56m-t2PeKg8

https://youtu.be/KllQ8e9Ae0w

Yay, I'm using media!

Next chapter title: Spring Break

Thanks so much for reading. Don't forget to vote, comment and share with all your friends 😉