Kiss Me

“Shut up. I’m afraid that when Whitney sees him happy, she’ll want him back. I’m not sure I’d stand a chance. We should be worrying about me getting hurt, not him.”

“Ah, Kiki, you know Dallas is always here for you.” Then he says, “Speaking of that. You, me, and Riley tonight at the cave.”

Tuesday, September 6th

Stalking me.

6:27am

I have seven missed calls from Dallas and a couple texts from him and Riley.

Basically the texts are versions of: Where are you? Did you fall asleep? Wake up!!

But the best text of all was from Dawson this morning.

Dawson:  Miss waking up with you. Will be stalking you  :)

I should be horrified by this text. I mean, stalking me! But, I’m not. It seems like a strange twist of fate that I’m happy about being stalked. 

I get ready quickly, but carefully. I want Dawson to think I look amazing today.

I flip open my look book to see today’s look.

It’s not really how I’m feeling, looks very cute, but more preppy. So I flip through the book and try to find the sexiest version.

Look eighteen is what I want. The navy, black, and red plaid skort; red lace bra—and if it happens to show a little under my ski

My hair is full of big curls and my bangs are held back in a poof with a silver barrette. My makeup is soft and natural, except for a black eyeliner swoop and as much mascara as my lashes can hold.

I look like the schoolgirl version of Barbarella.

(In case you’ve never seen Barbarella, it’s an old movie starring Jane Fonda. When it came out in the seventies, it was very risqué. There were no explicit sex scenes, but the whole thing’s all about sex. Like there is one part where this evil dude locks her in this room that plays organ music and makes her feel, um, extreme pleasure. Anyway, I watched part of it until Tommy told me I had to go to bed. I think he was just turned on by Jane and wanted Mom to himself. Anyway, she has big hair and wears tall platform boots in the movie.)

Katie left earlier to get breakfast. I’m hoping to have time to grab at least some coffee before I head to class. I walk out and there, sitting on the brick wall, is Dawson, waiting for me.

I have to say, I love the way the boys here dress. No baggy jeans, no underwear showing. There’s something so sexy about a boy who’s dressed up. Dawson has on his required khaki cargo shorts, a pink and white striped oxford, a pink tie that I'm pretty sure has little blue elephants all over it, the navy school blazer, and Sperrys on his feet.

He looks so hot sitting there I almost want to whistle.

And then I can barely breathe as my mind flashes to his muscular body, naked, on top of me.

Whooh. Sorry.

He sees me, does let out a whistle, and looks me up and down. “Damn, Keatie, you look like some kind of S&M schoolgirl fantasy.

I smile. “So, you’re stalking me?"

“You know I am." He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me in for a kiss. As I lean forward, a bit of red lace peeks out. He stops midway, pushes me back out a little, and looks down. “Red lace. Are you trying to drive me nuts? Speaking of that, I still haven't seen the leopard one yet."

"I think you saw plenty this weekend."

"Yeah, but mostly bikinis. I want to see this bra up close and personal after practice.”

"I don't know. I might have lots of homework,” I tease.

"I'll tutor you, but I want you wearing nothing but that bra. Red panties too?"

“Probably.”

He pulls me in for a sexy kiss.

“Did I see you brought me coffee?”

"Oh, uh yeah, you distracted me. Here. Ski

"How'd you know that?"

"I described you to the coffee shop dude. He told me."

"Thanks. You're very resourceful."

"I'm very horny, actually."

“Down, boy. We have to go to class. And I have to hurry; your brother needs to copy my worksheet."

They’re Gucci.

Lunch

I’m in line to get a salad and I’m watching Whitney. She gives Dawson a little smirk, wraps her arms around Jake’s neck, and gives him a perfunctory kiss on the cheek.

The salad bar is close enough for me to hear their conversation.

Dawson says to Jake and Whitney, "So, did you guys have a good weekend together?"

Jake replies, "Naw, she had to do some family thing."

Whitney proudly proclaims, “The family thing was an amazing weekend at our new home in Palm Beach.”

Dawson ignores her. "Oh, that's too bad. Jake, you should have come up to the Hamptons. We partied, chilled."

Whitney counters with, “The Hamptons are so overrated. Palm Beach is really—”

Ace interrupts her and says to Jake, "And Keatyn taught me to surf. I actually stood up and rode all the way in for the first time ever!"

I see Whitney’s eye get big when she hears I was there. She is already pissed enough that everyone is ignoring her.

Of course, they can’t tell. She looks perfect.

Tyrese says, "Yeah, she's a really good surfer. And looks damn fine in a bikini, dawg." He bumps fists Dawson.

Dawson notices me moving toward the table. "Speaking of damn fine." He stands up, grabs my tray and backpack, and helps me get settled into the seat next to him.

Riley and Dallas walk by, wave, and go sit with some other friends. I glance at Whitney and know that I just moved to the top of her hit list. The telltale crinkle is deepening.

Tyrese says to me, "I'm really digging those boots."

"Thanks, Tyrese. You had a pretty good weekend yourself. Girls surrounding you on the beach, begging for your body."

He puffs his chest out a little and sits up straighter. “Yeah, baby, Tyrese sealed the deal a couple nights, out there in the sand with Dawson's cousin."

Dawson’s eyes get big. Then he's like, "Dude, all my cousins are guys."

“Oh, damn. I'm just playing. It was some girl that was staying up the beach. I don't even remember her name."

"It was Laney,” I say, rolling my eyes.

He snaps. “That’s it. And what about you, Little Miss Kiki? You and Dawes had some fun yourselves."

I know he's trying to bring up my sex life, but I won't comment on that. "We did. The house was gorgeous, the waves were great, and the Kool-Aid was potent."

"Aw, yeah,” Ace says. “The get-drunk-and-screw punch. Heard it worked on you."

I know Dawson didn’t tell. I'm pretty sure he's baiting me. Fishing. Interviewers always try and do that to my mom. Act like they know something they don't. Trying to get her to confirm if the fact that she wore a lose fitting top one day means she's pregnant again.

"You're right, Ace. I did get a little drunk one night."

Tyrese says, "And then snuck off to the bedroom with Dawesy here."

Dawson, who has been pretty quiet through all this, says, "That's enough."

And Tyrese surprisingly complies.

Not only has he been walking me to all my classes, he just stood up for me to his friend. I think I'm in love.

Okay, probably not love. More like very serious lust.

Whitney says, “Remember all the fun times we had in your room at the beach house, Dawes?”

Jake looks at her, like What the hell, and so does Dawson. It was a totally inappropriate comment.

I give Dawson’s hand a little squeeze and say to Whitney, “Someone else was in Dawson’s room this weekend. We stayed in the master bedroom.”