Chapter 2 The Journal!

Kai just stood there, completely still, completely blank, for a moment. The journal was still in his hands, and his eyes were moving across the pages at this moment. I wasn't sure they were, because they were just wide open and he wasn't flipping them anymore. He just stared intently. Stared intently at the journal this moment. I honestly wanted the floor to swallow me whole. I wasn't joking about it. This was worse than any nightmare. The boy I had fantasized about for years, the one who had secretly been my safe space through my parents' divorce and my dad's death, had suddenly found out my secrets. He was already reading my private, explicit thoughts, and wildly they were about him. A slow, stunned smile suddenly tugged at his lips at the moment like he could not even process it. Then he started reading out loud once again. His deep voice was filling the room.

“I dream about Kai pinning me against the wall, his hands sliding up my thighs while he whispers that I am his...”

“ Kai, stop, " I said while heat was flooding my face. I then lunged forwards, grabbing his arm and trying desperately to snatch the journal back. My body pressed against his bare chest as I struggled, but he held it high, gazing at me intently, easily dodging my frenetic reaches. Wild images were flipping. More words were spilling out like he was teasing me. Detailed fantasies of him taking my virginity. Bending me over the couch in the common room, making me moan his name until I forgot the pain of losing Dad and Mom's emotional absence.

I fought harder, with tears of pure embarrassment stinging in my eyes.

“Kai, please give it back.” My hands were pushing at his shoulders. Our bodies were tangling in the struggle, and for the moment, I was so close that I could smell his fresh soap and feel the heat of his skin.

He was solid, overwhelming, and far too real. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of torment, he closed the journal and handed it to me. Silence crashed down between us, thick and heavy. I took it. I held the notebook to my chest, still breathing heavily, unable to meet his eyes like I was shy. He then stepped closer to me, backing me against the wall.

His presence was overwhelming and suffocating in the best and worst way. One hand came up behind, beside my head, caging me in.

“You're a bad girl, Allison,” he murmured. His voice was low and dangerously seductive. His gaze dropped to my lips for a second. “Writing all these filthy things about me. Do you know how dangerous that is?” My heart started pounding wildly. I could not even speak.

“We cannot do anything together,” he continued, almost like he was reminding himself. “I have a girlfriend, and Brian would kill me. Actually kill me if he found out. You're supposed to be like my little sister or something. Nothing more.”

“ I do not want to be your little sister,” I whispered. My voice was shaky but honest.

“I never have.”

He then made a sharp exhale, with his jaw clenching, his eyes were still dark. I could feel the tension radiating off from him.

“We can't have anything to do with each other. You're Bryan's sister. I don't want to ruin you, to wreck you. You have to stay a good girl for me, Allison. For yourself. For your brother's sake.”

His words said restraints, but the way his body leaned into mine, like he wanted more. The hunger was flickering in his eyes, telling a completely different story. After a long, charged moment, he pushed off from the wall, withdrawing, and left my room without another word, leaving me flushed, aching, and more confused than ever.

The next morning, Kai insisted on driving me to school. The ride was tense and silent. The air was still heavy from last night. When we pulled into the parking lot, curious stares followed us everywhere. Whispers were spreading like wildfire.

Who was the new girl arriving with Kai Rivera?

Rita Voss and her cheer squad spotted us immediately. The tall, blonde-haired cheerleader approached with a group of perfectly polished girls, her sharp smile fake.

“Hi there, I'm Rita, captain of the cheer squad, and you are?”

“ Allison. Allison Storm,” I said, trying to sound confident. It was my first day. I had to make it work.

“I'd really love to join the cheer team. I was a cheerleader at my old school, and I'm willing to work really hard.”

Rita's eyes suddenly flickered between me and Kai, calculating even after he had left.

“You'll need to pass a little test first. You have to go down to the hallway, turn left, and find the captain of the football team. If he approves of you, you're in.”

Excitement immediately rushed right through me.

“I'm ready. I'll do whatever it takes.”

Following her directions, I pushed open the door and walked straight into the boys' locker room. Steam was filling the air. Half-naked athletes turned to stare. Before I could retreat, Rita and her girls slipped in behind me and locked the door with a loud click. I didn't even know that I was here. I didn't know how I got here. After all, this was my first day in school.

“Mr. Williams,” Rita shouted immediately. “A girl just trespassed into the boys' locker room. Can you imagine that? What a slut and a pervert. You have to teach her a lesson, Mr. Williams.”

Panic immediately exploded in my chest. This was a setup. Mr. Williams, the head coach and her uncle, started banging on the door, demanding it to be opened. Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me into a private shower stall.

It was Kai.

He pulled the curtain shut and pressed a finger gently to my lips.

“Be quiet,” he whispered urgently.

“ Thank you,” I breathed hard. My heart was definitely racing at the moment.

“What are you doing here?”

“ What are ‘you’ doing in the men's locker room?” He said softly. His body was close to mine in the tight space.

“Rita sent me looking for the team captain for my cheer tryouts.” Kai immediately tightened his jaw.

“That would be me. I am the captain, and Rita is my girlfriend. She's extremely possessive and obsessive. Stay away from Allison. Don't poke the bear.”

The revelation hit me like ice-cold water. Kai had a girlfriend, and it was her?

“Why are you dating someone like Rita?” I asked, unable to hold back. “She's rude, manipulative, and posh in the worst way. You could have done better.”

“ It's none of your business,” he said sharply, with a low voice, still whispering. “Figure out how to save yourself next time.”

When Mr. Williams finally entered the locker room, Kai stepped out casually.

“It's just me in here, coach. No one else.”

The coach turned and yelled at Rita and her girls harshly, telling them to leave. They protested, swearing they had seen the new girl enter, but he didn't believe them. Rita shot one last suspicious glare towards the shower before she stormed out with her squad. Just then, I mistakenly hit my hand on the wall.

“Ow!” I yelped. Rita and the girls, as well as Mr. Williams suddenly turned back.

“Who was there? Who was that?” he asked. “I

heard a girl's voice.”

I didn't know what to do now.

Oh my god!... have I finally been exposed?