Chapter 5: Night Talks
1718 Words
Blythe's P.O.V.
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~ Flashback, age 13 ~
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"My mom is going to kill you if she finds out you were sneaking over here in the middle of the night," I said when I heard other footsteps on the roof.
A moment later, Kylian was sitting next to me. I had my knees pulled up to my chest with my arms wrapped around them. My chin sat on my knees as silent tears fell from my eyes. I haven't been able to stop crying since this morning.
"She won't find out," was all Kylian said.
Silence fell over us as I looked out at the other houses. Mom and I don't live in a big house. It's just a simple one-story, two-bedroom home. There's a lattice attached to the house right outside my bedroom window, and that's strong enough to let us climb up to the roof. For now at least. I come out here a lot to think.
Kylian almost always seems to find me when I do too. I have no idea how. I mean, he lives on the club's property near the clubhouse. It's not far from here, maybe a 20-minute walk, but he can't see my house from his. I never asked him how he always knew where I was either. I didn't want to risk him not showing up anymore.
I hate being alone. Even if it's at night while I'm supposed to be sleeping. I can never sleep much anyway. I've always been like that. I've never understood how people needed a moment to breathe, or wanted five minutes of space, or anything like that. Ever since meeting these five guys, I've hated every second I've spent alone.
I sniffled and wiped my nose on the back of my hand.
"He promised he'd write to you and text you all the time when we get you a phone." Kylian said softly as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. "He'll come back to visit too. They're still part of the club. This isn't forever."
Hearing Kylian's slight Scottish accent sent shivers through me, but I don't think he noticed. Thank god, because I really can't handle him teasing me about it right now. Not that Kylian is ever mean, but... he flusters me and I just... Not right now.
"It feels like it," I muttered, sniffling again. "Ozias won't be around all the time anymore... I... I can't picture life without him. No more jokes, or watching him train at the gym, or that infectious smile..."
Kylian wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him. My body went limp, my legs falling as he pushed my head to his chest. I gripped his shirt, clinging to him as more tears poured out of me.
"You're going to make me jealous if you keep crying over him like this," Kylian tried to tease me.
Any other time, I'd laugh. Kylian wasn't the joking type. In fact, he rarely ever spoke. He was one of those people who could communicate everything with just a look. I was the only person he ever joked with or said more than five words at a time to. Well, and our other friends I suppose.
However, I just couldn't this time. I know Ozias promised to never lose contact with me, but I feel like this was the end, like this was the last time I'd ever get to see him. I didn't have a phone because we couldn't afford it. We had a computer, and I was allowed to have soicals, but my time was limited.
Ozias promised to write to me until Kylian could get me a phone though. He said he'd call the guys when I was with them so we could still talk. He promised to come back for summers and holidays.
For some reason, I don't believe it.
"Ozias wouldn't want you to be upset like this, Spark," Kylian said, practically begging me to stop crying.
I released a long breath and tried to get myself under control. I focused on Kylian's hand running up and down my back. Eventually, my sobbing ceased, but tears were still falling from my eyes. Kylian and I just stayed like that. With my head tucked into his chest and his arms around me.
"You still have us, Spark," he said softly, and I relished that cute nickname he has for me. "You aren't alone."
"I know," I replied, my voice hoarse from all my crying. "But it still makes me feel... devastated."
"What can I do to make this better?" he asked.
I wanted to tell him to bring Ozias back, but I knew that he couldn't. I knew it was tearing him up inside to see me this upset too. That is why I saved most of my blubbering for now. I cried, but I didn't want to make Ozias feel worse than he already did, and I didn't want the rest of our friends to worry about me.
"Tell me something nice," I said. "Tell me about your future plans with the club. You still want to take over for your dad as prez?"
I pulled away just enough to turn my body. I rested my head on Kylian's shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around me. Then he leaned back, taking me with him until we were snuggled up together, staring at the stars in the clear sky.
"Well, since we're club kids, we get to start prospecting at 16," he started. "We can either become members at 18 or they might make us wait until 20 like most of the guys."
I do know that most guys prospect for two years. Some patch in before that, if they show enough loyalty during a run or something. Whatever that means. Others sometimes prospect for longer, but never more than four years. I remember Tusk telling me all about that when he took me, Evander, and Everly out for ice cream a couple of months ago. I was very curious about club life.
"I think that my dad's gonna send us on a run when we're all 18 though. I'll be 19 by then and so will Ozias," Kylian continued. "I think Ozias will come back and be part of the club here though. The five of us can go on a run together."
"You five do make a really good team," I told him, turning my head to give him a smile.
Kylian turned his head to look at me. Our faces were only inches apart. He reached a hand up to cup my cheek, brushing his thumb across my skin. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips and made mine spread. Kylian rarely smiles or shows emotion. I love it when he does.
"I think we're all mostly excited about getting our road names," he said softly.
I beamed at him, making him chuckle.
"Go on, say it," he added.
"I cannot wait to hear what kind of cool names you guys get! I bet they're going to be the coolest!" I blabbered. "I bet they'll call Chayton Psycho or something like that. I already hear everyone around the club call him that when he gets into trouble. I bet Ozias will be Dragon. I have no idea about the rest of you, but I can't wait!"
I squealed at the end, a little more excited than I should be. Kylian laughed, dropping his hand from my cheek. The smile on his face is bigger now, and I'm reminded of how much I love spending time alone with him.
"You named Ozias Dragon, you do know that, right?" he teased me.
"No, I named him the Silver Dragon," I corrected him. "It's his stage name."
"Stage name," Kylian grumbled. "What if he goes pro and actually goes by that name?"
I shrugged as I looked back up at the stars.
"If that's what he wants, then..." I trailed off as I blew out a breath. "I just want him to be happy. All of you, actually."
"You make us happy," he replied.
I turned to give him a smile.
"Do you promise to be my best friend forever?" I asked.
Kylian's face suddenly fell, and his eyes went hard.
"No," he replied before looking away from me.
My chest ached and I was confused.
"Oh..." was all I could manage as I looked down.
Kylian put his finger under my chin and raised my eyes to meet his.
"One day, we are going to be more than that," he told me.
More? How? In what way? What does that even mean?
I didn't dare ask though. I was way too afraid of the answer. Too afraid to get my hopes up.
Looking back now, I'm glad I never did.
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~ Present, age 25 ~
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"Hey, are you alright?" Mary asked when she followed me to the back, near Jason's office. "I saw you and that hot-as-hell biker guy staring at each other. I thought you two were going to go at it in the middle of the diner."
I could barely hear her words, my heart was thumping in my chest.
Are the others here? What are they doing here? They live in California. Are they here for me? No, that can't be. Kylian didn't even recognize me.
This is fine. It's all going to be fine. He didn't recognize me. It's been years. He probably forgot all about me.
"Bly... are you alright? You're crying," Mary said, swiping a tear that escaped down my cheek.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I'll finish my shift as long as he continues not to recognize me. Then I'll go back to my apartment, get Butter ready, and we'll dip. All my stuff is mostly packed already. This will be the first time I'll travel with a pet, but we can do it. I hope.
"Mary, can you please take that table for me?" I asked.
"Sure sweetie," she replied, clearly concerned.
I took another deep breath before going back to work. I just have to make it through a couple more hours. Then I'm gone, leaving behind another town.
I will not let my freedom be taken away again.
- Writer
