November 2013

"A therapist. A fucking therapist." Kyle kicked the foot of his bed before dropping on it.

Sam twitched the tiniest bit when Kyle swore. Poor kid was starting to get used to it. Though he had made conscious efforts to stop. Well, fuck that when his mother thought it was a jolly good idea to send him to a therapist.

"Think about it for a second," Sam said reasonably. "You are obviously depressed."

"Am not!" Was too, but the only thing keeping him together was not talking about it.

Sam was the only ray of light in his otherwise miserable existence. Him and school were the only reasons Kyle didn't contemplate throwing himself out the window.

He actually really enjoyed his classes at the academy and college wasn't too bad either, even if he'd switched to IT like his asshole father wanted. And it fortunately reduced his time with his family to twenty percent of the day. And he could sulk in his room for another ten percent. Life was grand.

But the rest of his family drove him crazy. His mother kept babying him, his father scoffed, frowned and disagreed with everything, and Jerry... That stick up his ass was so long, Kyle expected to see it every time he opened his mouth. Jerry only nagged him, anyway. If there was ever a boring nag, it was Jerry.

"You haven't talked to anyone properly since you got home," Sam said.

"I talk to you."

"Yes, but we always talk about me, about my problems. I waited because it must be weird, I'm a stranger, I know, but... Don't you think it's time you told me something about yourself?"

Kyle considered it for a second, opening up to Sam, but there was already so much pressure on him from everyone. He was expected to be perfect, behave, cater to their father's stupid PI agency. Telling Sam about Kay, about how he never wanted to come home in the first place, about how Max had betrayed him, would only hurt Sam, make him feel as powerless as he did. And Kyle would never do that to his baby brother. Strangers nothing. He loved Sam.

"Maybe I'm just spoiled like Dad claims."

Sam huffed. "I've never seen a less spoiled person in my life."

"Right back at you."

Sam smiled and opened his mouth, but was interrupted when Kyle's laptop started ringing. "Who's skyping you?"

"My friends from Texas." Joey and Kelly were the only people calling him and it was the highlight of his week. He bit his lip. "Wanna sit in?"

Sam's face lit up. "Sure."

Kyle opened his laptop and answered the call. Joey and Kelly appeared on the screen, all smiles.

"Greetings from sunny Dallas," Joey said merrily.

"Oh, look, who's that?" Kelly asked excitedly.

"Sam, Joey and Kelly. Joey's my best friend and Kelly's his charming girlfriend who's way too good for him."

"Hey, hey, hey. Standing right here," Joey said feigning offense. "Hey there, Sam. Heard a lot about you. Thanks for keeping this guy alive."

"Joey!" Kelly slapped his shoulder. "Don't say things like that in front of suicidal people."

Kyle laughed, trying to beat down the sorrow rising inside of him. Even if he wasn't suicidal, the sadness still weighed a ton. He missed them so much. "How's school going?"

"Pretty good. But this moving in together..." Kelly shook her head. "Joey keeps leaving the toilet seat up."

"You leave hair all over the place!"

Kyle turned to Sam. "It's going to get really ugly and a lot of strong words will be used."

Sam chuckled. "Got you. Bye guys, nice to meet you."

"Bye Sam," Joey and Kelly said, waving at him.

"You can tell me all about them when you're done," Sam mumbled to Kyle and let himself out.

The moment Sam was out the door, everyone entered business mode.

"Any news?" Kyle asked.

"Nope," Kelly said, looking dejected. "I even talked to Erin."

Kyle raised his eyebrows. "You stooped that low?"

"Yes. She still thinks you two eloped, that dumb twat."

"I have something, but it's not helpful at all. Donnie's family moved, too, the same day Kay's did," Joey said.

"Figures," Kyle mumbled.

"How are you doing?" Kelly asked, her tone smooth and soothing.

"Better, I guess." Kyle took in a deep breath. "I tried that moving on thing you two keep suggesting. Went on a date last week."

"How was it?" Joey asked, though his scrunched nose showed he already knew.

"A fucking disaster. I can't get Kay out of my head. And now I feel super guilty, so yay for me." Disaster was an understatement. He'd known it was a stupid idea, but at this point he'd do anything to feel a tiny bit better. Dating didn't work, so he was done with that.

"You shouldn't feel guilty," Kelly said. "It's been six months and we have no leads. You might never see Kay again."

"Gee, thanks." Great, now he actually felt like jumping out the window.

"We'll keep searching," Joey assured him.

They kept exchanging news, but Kyle's mind was far away. Joey and Kelly always made him feel better, but it wasn't the same. He should've been there with them, maybe, just maybe, living with Kay, way past their five dates. He would've been so happy.

Instead he was stuck here with the family from hell, trying to gather some money from his lousy allowance and make a run for it. It was so weird not having money. Sometimes, he even contemplated going back to Max just to see if his uncle would throw him out. And he seriously thought about transferring and going to live with Joey and Kelly until he found a job or something.

But then he thought about his mother who was so happy to have him home, about Sam who did his best to make his life bearable and he felt like an asshole. He didn't want to hurt them, and it was that more than anything that kept him there.

He took his phone out and looked at his only picture of Kay, the one he'd grabbed off Kelly's phone. She was in her prom dress, smiling. The most beautiful girl in the world, inside and out. His first and only love. How could he forget her?

And even if he didn't look at the picture much anymore, it still tore his soul out every time he did. Because of what could have been. Because if he was completely honest with himself, he still loved her to death. And a part of him was sure he always would.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. He'd break free and find her. If it took his whole life.

🧩🧩🧩

"You look awful."

Kay raised her head from the menu to look at Angie, her oldest friend, balancing a full tray in one hand.

"So not true. I actually put makeup on this morning." To hide the bags under her eyes.

But she was doing pretty well. Focusing on the extremely boring school, taking cooking classes, dancing lessons, going to the gym, and working as a waitress in this very diner with Angie. It kept her active, busy, functional.

"How was your date?" Angie asked.

Kay cringed. Angie had put so much effort into setting her up with what she claimed was a great guy. Smart, hot, charming.

But there was no way that was working. "I didn't go. It was a stupid idea anyway."

Angie dropped the tray on her table and sat opposite. "I know it sucks, Kay. I can see it, can feel it in every breath you take. But he's not worth it."

Kay huffed. "You don't know what you're talking about. He never did anything to hurt me. He's so worth it. If I could just show you a photo..." But she couldn't. She had nothing. Her parents had made sure of that and still did. Donnie practically stalked her. At least he'd stopped trying to get with her after she kicked him in the crotch once.

She at least had the freedom to hang out with Angie. Probably because she was the only human on this planet who didn't own a phone or a computer.

"That hot, huh?" Angie smiled, but she looked tired. She'd worked the graveyard shift and now she had to get to school. She was still in high school and had to work so she could eat.

"Yup. If only..." Kay's jaw dropped and she wondered how she'd never thought of it before. "Your Tom. You said he works as a DJ, right?"

Angie raised her eyebrows. "Yes, Tom works as a DJ three nights a week. Why?"

"Ask him if he could get some songs for me. Anything by Uncaged. And pictures, if he can." God, let this work, let her hear Kyle's voice again.

"Okay. If he won't be too pissed at you for standing his brother up." Angie wrote it down on her notepad. "Which, by the way, is also extremely hot. So I can't picture how Kyle could top him off." She didn't wait for an answer and hurried to finish her shift.

It took a week for Angie to get back to her, but it was worth it. Tom had managed to get a song. Kay was now Tom's biggest fan, and she honestly hoped he really was as into Angie as he seemed, because Angie was head over heels for him, even if she strongly denied it.

That night, Kay cried again, after months of dry eyes. Because hearing Kyle's voice was divine torture. She knew the song, of course she did. She'd heard it live a million times, had seen Kyle singing it, he'd smiled at her during the performance. And she missed him all over again, as if they'd been torn apart only yesterday. Time was officially her biggest enemy.

🧩🧩🧩

May 2014

"Kyle!"

Seriously? Kyle stopped on his way out of the university and squeezed the helmet under his arm. Connie Hamlin hurried towards him, her high heels clicking on the hallway tiles.

The look on her face showed that it was not about school, and he didn't want to get into this again.

They'd had one disastrous date five months ago, and yet she kept asking for seconds. Maybe it was time to lay it on her bluntly and just tell her he was hopelessly in love with someone else. When he'd given his heart to Kay, it had been forever.

Connie reached him and sighed. "Hi."

"Hi." This was as awkward as it got.

"I have tickets for a gallery opening tonight, in case you want to come."

"That's really nice, Connie. But I really don't want to lead you on."

She sighed and ran her hands through her brown locks. "Look. I know our date was a disaster, but I think we can try again. It's been a while and I haven't actually seen you with anyone else."

Disaster was putting it mildly. He'd found Connie so judgemental and simply... Boring. And he'd had the nerve to actually point that out and tell her to lose the attitude. Which rightfully earned him a drink in the face. He didn't think a second date would go any differently.

"There's a reason I'm not going out with you or anyone else."

"I still think we could give it another try."

He fought a grimace. "No, Connie, I think that's a terrible idea. We obviously don't get along..."

"We're getting along right now, aren't we?" she insisted raising an eyebrow.

Kyle sighed deeply. It was time to put an end to this. "There's no point. The date was a mistake. I was just trying to get over someone else."

Connie raised both eyebrows. "I can surely help you with that."

"No, you can't. Because I love her and I want her back." There, he said it. And the truth shall set you free. It felt amazing to say it out loud again. It gave him the hope that he really could find her, bring Kay back into his life where she belonged. And that was exactly what he would do.

He had two weeks of school and exams left. The moment he was done, he was going back to that venomous snake, Max, and pulling every bit of information out of him regarding where Kay could possibly be. He'd find her if it was the last thing he did, and his father could go screw himself if he didn't like it.

Connie seemed to deflate at the news. "Oh. That unexpectedly makes me feel better. Because it's obviously you, not me."

"Exactly. You don't want me. I'm a damn wreck," Kyle answered joyfully.

"Too bad. Cause you're one hot piece of ass," she mumbled.

He laughed and she started giggling, too.

"I guess I'll see you around." And with a wave of her hand, she was off.

Kyle made his way towards the parking lot, his mind already planning every step of his future search. He'd behaved enough for his family. It was time he became himself again, not this apathetic, miserable wreck. The prospect of finding Kay made him feel more alive than he'd felt in months.

He stopped all of a sudden. He could already see his Harley, but someone was following him. To test his theory, he took another few strides. The man in the brown raincoat moved as well.

Kyle swung around. "What do you want?"

The man hopped back in surprise, but met his question with a smile. "You."

Kyle analyzed the guys from his over-shined shoes, to the gangster fedora on his head.  His brown eyes were filled with crazy enthusiasm, as if he were about to pull off an admirable feat. He didn't look dangerous, but there was something about him that rubbed Kyle the wrong way.

"Sorry, but I don't swing that way. Aren't you a little old for me anyway?"

The man shook his head, though he was smiling. "You Grant boys sure have a way with words."

Kyle frowned. Who else had this guy spoken to? Jerry? A weight plunged in his stomach. Sam?

"Let me introduce myself." The man reached out his hand, but Kyle didn't take it, so he lowered it again. "I'm professor Harris and I'm organizing a study camp meant to bring archeology back into the spotlight."

Sam. The guy had Sam. The rest of the man's mumbo jumbo about gathering a team and him making the cut, jungles and temples barley registered. "What do you want me for? I suck at pre-Columbian history." But Sam didn't. He was obsessed with it.

"Oh, we're not only looking for history experts," Lying Sack of Trash Man said joyfully. "We're also looking for survivalists. You're good at that, aren't you?"

Yes, he was. Much better than his baby brother. And it was about time to cut the bullshit. "You got Sam, didn't you?"

Professor Asswipe grinned. "Yes, your little brother agreed to join the expedition."

"Okay, I'm in." He didn't care about the specifics. There was no way in hell he was letting Sam go into a jungle alone.

But Kay. His heart tightened, but it would have to wait. Make sure Sam was safe first, then run away from home. Because Sam had been the only one who made his life bearable for the past year.

"Marvelous," professor Dubious said, pulling a folder out of his briefcase and handing it to him. "We'll talk more soon. Please take your research seriously." And with that, he turned and walked away.

Kyle shoved the folder in his backpack and rushed to his motorcycle. His first impulse was to go knock some sense into Sam, but as he climbed on and put his helmet on, he stopped. This was Sam's dream. He loved history and actually wanted to be an archeologist. Kyle wouldn't stand in his way. Just make sure he'd be safe.

🧩🧩🧩

Kay would kill for a cup of coffee. Or for a new damn schedule. Or for anything that would ensure she got at least a couple of hours of sleep.

She hung up her apron and checked her watch. It was seven a.m. and she had classes in two hours. She considered skipping, but nixed the idea. This job was a whim. Spend time out of the house, keep Angie company.

Because she'd come to despise her mother, the way she sneered at Kay, how she shoved Donnie down her throat. She was blind to the fact that he had lost interest as well. He'd also started doing drugs again, but she didn't give a shit. If his stupid mother couldn't figure it out, it was her problem.

Two weeks. Only two weeks left and she'd be on summer break. Which meant she could finally put her savings to good use and take her trip to Texas. She almost had enough. After nearly a year of impeccable behavior, her parents' watch on her had slackened. She still didn't have a phone, but at least Donnie was no longer checking her browser history. He was too busy getting stoned anyway.

So she would find an out and make her escape. She tried not to think beyond that, about what she'd find, because she'd avoided thinking about her past lately. She was sick and tired of crying.

As Kay left the back room and stepped into the diner, she spotted Angie sitting at a table in the corner with a man. She frowned in concentration, nodding from time to time. Kay tilted her head, wondering who the guy was.

Angie raised her face and spotted her. Still looking slightly worried, she waved Kay over. Curious, she complied. The man turned to her, his black mustache lifting in a smile. He seemed to be in his late fourties and wore a brown tweed suit in the smoldering heat.

"Hi there. My name is professor Harris. You must be Kay Dickens."

"Um, yes." Kay hovered by the table, unsure if she should sit or not.

"I had the pleasure of meeting your brother, William. A very professional man," the professor continued.

Kay's heart tightened at the mention of William. It still hurt whenever she thought about him. "He was. A good man."

The professor's mustache twitched and he turned back to Angie. "I was just telling your friend about an archeological expedition I'm organizing. It's like a lush vacation in the jungle." He smiled at his own very unfunny words. "We're digging for a giant ruby and the pay is very good."

"Pay?" Kay asked confused.

"We're talking five figures, Kay," Angie said excitedly. "I could go to college! And you could go back to Texas and live on your own."

Kay couldn't remember the last time she'd felt excited, but now she actually did. Money would actually solve a lot of her problems. And trekking through a jungle to find hidden treasures? She totally blamed Kyle, but it actually sounded like fun. So she sat down and listened.

🧩🧩🧩

And we get a glimpse of the future. I think this is a much more hopeful ending than the last one, don't you? Because someone is going on an adventure;)

I'm not going to ask what you think will happen, because you've guessed it.

I hope you enjoyed this.

Thanks again so much for sticking with me and this story 😊😘😁