10

I got up from the chair, angry. Apparently, he's been led to believe that I belong to him. Good God! I barely know him.

"I'm not yours, Kayler!" I snapped.

Connor turned to him.

"You heard her," he said, hiding a smile at my reaction.

Kayler looked at him furiously, jaw clenched, and out of anger, he smashed his beer glass. And it was glass.

"Don't go near him, Connor, they've got issues," he warned. "You know what I mean."

He gave me one last look, but it wasn't a look of hatred. It was a calm gaze. How can he change his mood so quickly?

Connor came over to me.

"Hey, want to dance?" he whispered in my ear.

I looked at him.

"What did Kayler mean by that? 'You know what I mean'?"

"Connor, I'm not sure if I should..." I began, but he interrupted me.

"Hey, we came here to have fun; don't mind Kayler," he said, taking my hands.

I frowned in his direction.

It feels strange when Connor touches me. It's not the same feeling I have when Kayler does it. Kayler's touch is warm and soothing. But with Connor... it doesn't evoke anything.

Am I really comparing them?

I nodded towards Connor and we walked towards the dance floor. I had my beer in hand, just like Connor. We danced to the music. I don't know how long we were like that, but I got thirsty. My beer glass was empty.

"Let's get a drink!" I shouted to Connor.

He smiled and nodded.

We headed to the bar, because there was one in this house, and Connor ordered vodka. I scanned the room, the lights making it harder to see familiar faces. I hoped to see someone I knew there.

Damn it! I don't know why I have this need to see Kayler.

I must be crazy.

"Here you go," Connor gave me the full glass of vodka. I was so thirsty that I grabbed it and drank it all in one gulp.

Connor raised his eyebrows.

"Easy, Fiera, take it easy," he smiled and took a sip of his drink.

"I want another."

He laughed and nodded.

My gaze fell on the second floor. There were several guys sitting there, something like the lords of this house; and I remember, it's Kayler's gang. I followed my gaze until I stopped at a guy sitting in a bigger chair with a cigarette in hand and a girl sitting on his lap.

Kayler.

My heart started beating faster. He's looking at me while smoking his stupid cigarette. The girl sitting on his lap was whispering things in his ear but obviously he wasn't paying much attention.

Paige.

How long has she been there?

Has she been watching me a lot?

"Another drink here," Connor pulled me out of my thoughts and glanced at the drink.

I can feel my brows furrowed. Am I furious? I take the glass and glance at Kayler. He watched me silently and then, as expected, Paige grabbed Kayler by the nape and gave him a tremendous kiss.

I drank the vodka shot in one go and grabbed Connor's hand, forcing him to go back to the dance floor, again. Slow music was playing; Connor held me by the waist and I put my hands behind his neck. We were very close, I could feel his breath.

He leaned into my ear.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered.

He kissed me on the cheek and stood in front of me, too close for my liking. And then it happened. In the blink of an eye, he kissed me. At first, I didn't quite understand, I was confused but then I let myself go.

We kissed, yes, but suddenly I felt Connor pulling away from me and then I opened my eyes.

Kayler.

He pushed him to the ground and punched him.

"Kayler, stop it!" I shouted.

But he kept hitting him.

The crowd around us stopped whatever they were doing to make a circle around us.

I pulled Kayler's shirt to get him to stop hitting him, but it was useless.

"I told you to stay away from her!" he snapped, giving him another punch.

Connor seemed to react and now he punched him in the cheek, but Kayler didn't flinch.

I couldn't stay there. I've never liked seeing two guys fighting, never.

"Kayler!" I shouted one last time.

I felt powerless. I ran away from there, I didn't want to see blood anymore. I ran into the forest and went into it, I had to get home. Little by little, the noise of the music became more inaudible. The moon was shining. It had a reddish glow. I kept running until I got tired. My breathing was heavy.

I stopped for a moment.

I was feeling a bit dizzy from the alcohol in my body. I was sweating. There were no animals heard in the forest.

Did I say forest?!

Oh God! I went into the forest!

How could I be so unconscious and stupid?!

If I'm lucky, I'll get home safe and sound. I kept walking quickly. The forest wasn't so dark because of the moonlight; there was fog and it was very cold. I put on the hood of my jacket.

I should have waited for Connor.

I feel like a coward for not staying to help him; but he's a man, he'll know how to defend himself. I heard the owl's call. I took my cell phone out of my jacket pocket and checked the time. It was eleven o'clock at night. There was no signal.

Great.

"Carolina!" I heard someone shout behind me.

Kayler.

I turned around immediately. There was no one behind me.

"Kayler!" I shouted.

"Carolina!" I heard again, but it sounded distant.

Suddenly, I felt relieved knowing that I would soon be safe with Kayler. I started running in some direction, not sure where I was going, but I had to find him.

Where could he be?

I kept running until I felt my foot twist and I fell. I felt a strong pain in my ankle. I had twisted it.

And now how am I going to get out of here? I need to get out of here. I tried to stand up but it was useless. It hurt.

"Kayler!" I shouted again. I admit it. I was afraid the wolves would come back.

"Carolina..." a voice was heard near me.

Kayler.

"Get me out of here," I said almost immediately. I could feel my hands trembling.

"Don't worry," he reassured me. "Being with me, nothing will happen to you."

His expression was reassuring. I nodded, trusting him. He carried me in his arms and I clung to his neck; we started walking towards my house. Kayler's perfume invaded my nostrils. God! It's a smell I want to breathe in forever. I felt his skin so warm and warm. A feeling of wanting to always be like this invaded me, and it was as if it was what I had always been waiting for.

What are you doing, Kayler Brown?