KISS (14 page)

Axel sat in the waiting room while his
father spoke with the charge nurse at the nursing station. He was
asking for updates concerning the operation. He couldn’t believe
Iris was able to help them out. He looked up at the television and
was stunned to see her face plastered all over the screen.
Apparently she was rich and famous. He didn’t know how to feel
about it. She was so down to earth and cool. He couldn’t believe
she was part of an elite group of people. He should have known
something was up when a guy he didn’t know pursued him last night
and warn him to stay away from her.

“
God job son,” his father
said clasping him on the shoulder. Axel didn’t do anything. He
should be thanking Iris. “Is that your classmate?”

“
Yes,” he answered
hesitantly seeing the look that entered his father’s eyes. It
wasn’t a very good look, it was cold and calculating. Whatever he
was planning, he didn’t want anything to do with it.

“
Are you two
dating?”

The kiss flashed briefly through
Axel’s mind. “No, sir. I don’t have time for girls. I need the
football scholarship.”

“
Screw the scholarship.
Date her. Make her fall for you and get her pregnant. You’ll be set
for life.” Axel felt like his body was going to shake apart. The
tremors started and they wouldn’t stop. He liked Iris. She was
nice. And she helped mother. Axel felt as if he was going to break.
His vision went hazy for a brief moment.

Blank.

“
Sorry old man. I got
better things to do.”

“
You! I don’t want you!”
his father said angrily spittle flying everywhere. Jay leaned back
to avoid it.

“
Same here. I’m out of
here.”

“
Sit your ass down boy,” he
threaten.

“
Or you’ll do what?” he
grinned maliciously as his father glanced up at the cameras.
Leaving the old man behind felt pretty damn good. The relief poured
off him in waves as he exited the building. It was time he put
somethings in perspective. And he need her for that.

***

Chester and Iris hung out on the deck
that overlooked the pool. The water was so blue and pristine. It
was peaceful, a sharp contrast to what was happening.
Everything—her life was falling apart, including the guilt eating
at her and reminding her of her betrayal.

“
Iri, I need you to tell me
what’s going on. I’m here for you. I’ve always been here. I feel
like your slipping away.”

Was that what she was doing? Had she
become so elusive? Maybe her spirit was meant to wander. Iris
didn’t even know what she wanted anymore. “I can’t go back,” she
whispered. Cheese placed his arms around her and pulled her
close.

“
It’ll be okay.”

Would it really. Would he still murmur
those sweet words after she told him about her heinous acts? She
kissed him not only once, but multiple times. And the last time she
initiated the kiss.

“
I kissed him,” she stated
quietly.

Nodding his head slowly, he cringed in
dismay. Why would she do such a thing?

“
Why?” he croaked out
fighting the turbulent emotions. “Do you have feelings for him?”
Chester couldn’t help the question that slipped pass his lips. He
had to know.

“
I don’t know.”

It was spoken softly, but it was
enough for him to hear. Fuming he stood.

“
Do you think this is a
game? I thought we had something. I thought you were different?
You’re just like the rest of them!” He yelled. His heart ached. He
felt like a baby bird who’d fallen out of the nest. Pathetic and
broken. Still, he squawked hoping for someone to save him from his
emotional turmoil.

“
I can’t do this,” he said
voice cracking.

“
But I love
you!”

“
Don’t throw the word
around so casually. You can’t have us both.”

Hurt.

Agony.

He couldn’t look into those light
golden eyes, if he did she’d be able to destroy him. She was a
siren, a demon in disguise luring him in so she could steal his
soul.

“
Cheese, please.” She
begged holding onto his sleeve. He couldn’t leave her. She became
frantic. He couldn’t do this to her.

I’m nothing without him.
He’s safe. He’s where I want to be. He’s really going to leave
me!

“
I’ll give you a few days.
You know how to reach me.” Shaking her off Chester left and never
look back. He knew if he stayed any longer he would cave and give
her anything she desired.

18

Shattered

“
You understand if you do
this. You would be destroying everything you’d ever known.” Jay
watched the woman, he could still the disbelief etched in her face,
but it was slowly melting away. She believed him. It felt great to
have someone else who could help and knew his darkest
secret

“
Yes, but she’ll be
free.”

“
Jay, you must understand
the procedure has a fifty percentile success rate.”

“
I get that, but we have
the best doctor in the field performing the operation. It’s gotta
work.” A foreign emotion bloomed in his chest. It was
hope.

When Jay opened the door to leave he
ran into a familiar face. He hadn’t seen little Tasha in a while.
She’d grown. Well, they all had grown.

“
Axel,” she said moving
pass him. He stood there stunned. She’d never mistaken them before.
Had something happen? Why would she mix them up now? He couldn’t
believe it. Those he thought closest to him were falling for
his
lies.

“
Right,” he bit off before
slamming the door on his way out. Running down the hall he rushed
out of the building into the fresh air. Had he been gone so long
the world had forgotten him?!

***

“
Sweetie what’s going on?
Something has been bothering you. You can talk to me.”

“
But mom I don’t want you
psychoanalysis me,” she whined laying on the leather
couch.

“
I won’t. This is simply a
mother wanting to help her baby girl.”

Natasha sighed as her mother got
sentimental. She was so angry this morning and Iris words bothered
her. She told her mother everything.

“
Well honey, was there a
particular reason why you didn’t tell your friend you liked this
boy?” Natasha frowned. It wasn’t that easy. She wanted her friend
to be happy, but she never thought Jay would reveal
himself.

“
Mom it’s
complicated.”

“
Oh honey, is this about
the boy that just left. I know about Jay.”

Natasha sat up startled. How did she
know? When did she figure it out?

“
Honey if you came to me
sooner, we would have been able to help him.”

“
I like Jay! Iris liked
Axel. I didn’t think she would come across Jay too!” she
cried.

Lisa rubbed her eyes. She got up to
sit next to her daughter. She heard all about Iris McDerman from
both Axel and Jay. Jay had warned her Iris may have met another
personality. They were attached to her because she tried to help
them. There were some feelings but they were unsure; which wasn’t
unusual for people with the condition.

“
Honey, I want you to
listen to me very carefully. Loving a person with multiple
personalities can be a difficult.”

“
But I don’t
love—.”

“
Shh, it’s okay sweetie.
Look at me dear.” Natasha stared into her mother’s almond colored
eyes, and relaxed when she took both hands into hers. “I know that
you have feelings for Jay and you were fine with your friend dating
Axel. This is a problem sweetie. You must understand that Jay and
Axel are one and the same. If you’re going to love someone you must
love all of them. You cannot pick and choose.” Shame immediately
followed afterward. Was her love that superficial?

“
Now listen. I understand
that you’re hurt, but you shouldn’t take it out on your friend. She
probably has good reasons for keeping her status under wraps.
Often, people in the spotlight become targets. Her life has already
changed and probably not for the better. Helping Jay has cost her
everything, and I’m sure she could use a friend right now.” Natasha
sighed, she hated when her mom was so reasonable. She felt like the
bad guy. She was so envious of the relationship they had. It made
her sick.

“
Thanks mom.”

“
No problem sweetie. How’s
pizza sound for dinner.”

“
Great!”

“
Hey mom, what was Axel
doing here?”

“
Axel? He wasn’t here and
you know I cannot disclose any client’s information.”

“
But I saw.”

“
No dear. It was
Jay.”

Natasha blood ran cold. She mistakenly
called Jay Axel. It was something she’d never done before. She
promised him that she would never forget him. Oh god. What had she
done?

***

Two days had passed since her blowout
with Chester. She hadn’t returned to school. She hadn’t seen her
mother either. Her father remained holed up in the studio working
on a new painting. Iris peered at her own work. She didn’t know
what to title it. Deep within the smoke and flames there was a
face. An unrecognizable face. The face possessed features of the
three different guys who tormented her daily and had no idea. It
caused her anguish. It was the only thing she could do to keep her
mind of everything. Her show down with the paparazzi was all over
the news. She couldn’t stand hearing about her hot new mystery man.
Iris wanted to disappear.

She went to the kitchen for snack and
smiled when her mother entered. She looked worn, tired, but happy.
“How was it?” she asked waiting anxiously.

“
It was a success. She’s
alive, and in recovery.”

Iris wanted to ask more but could tell
her mom didn’t want to talk. Did that mean something was wrong?
Iris ran through the large house shouting for her dad.

“
Dad! Mom’s
home.”

Iris couldn’t believe how well
everything was turning out. She would give Chester his answer
today. They could work through this.

Chester observed the guy from a
distance. No…he wasn’t a stalker. He simply wanted to know what was
so special about him that it lured his innocent Iris in. The sun
was setting soon. He needed to get back to the studio. Iris should
be making her decision soon. He revved up his bike, and as he
pulled off he saw her.

Iris.

She had made her choice and it wasn’t
him. Vacation over. There was nothing no longer tying him to this
place. He’d leave.

***

“
How’s your mom?” Iris
asked Jay as she leaned against the tree next to him. Night had
fallen and she told Ryan to give her an hour to talk to him. She
wanted to say good bye. She realized it was time to stop running
from herself.

“
She’s doing great. Thanks.
She’s in a comma but the doctors are expecting her to wake up in a
week’s time, while her body recuperates.”

“
I’m glad to hear that.”
The silence between them grew and Iris pulled at the grass blades.
What should she say? How could she phrase it?

“
Look is there something
going on between you and Natasha?” Jay paused. A storm of emotions
overtook him. It cut of his air supply and his breaths came in
short pants.

“
Look you don’t have to
answer. I was just wondering she was very upset with me. She loves
you.” Iris rattled on unaware of the changes affecting
Jay.

Jay couldn’t let him win. But even as
he thought this, he realized he lost.

Run.

Blank.

“
Hey little
girl.”

“
Jay?” Iris questioned
becoming nervous.

“
Wrong. If you can love
those two. I’m sure there’s a little loving left for
me.”

Iris eyes flickered around her, the
park was empty. There wasn’t a single soul in sight. She had maybe
five minutes before Ryan came looking for her. Five minutes was one
minute too many. She had to get away from him. Springing up from
her spot she tried to run away. He grabbed her by her ankle,
causing her to plummet to the ground. Falling on her back knocked
the wind out of her.

“
Now where you running off
to?”

“
Let go of me!” she
shouted. Panic seized her as he began dragging her towards the
trees. Her nails clawed into the ground trying to stop him from
pulling her further away. Out of sight. Out of mind. She kicked
frantically trying to free herself from his clutches but he was so
strong.