Mountain River Girl

Chapter 11: Everything Changed

EVERYTHING CHANGED

The world turned brighter, bigger, and better. Everything I had ever wanted was closer than ever imaginable, yet… I had to push it away. I wasn’t ready. My emotions were already off balance, I didn’t need anything else to add to it. With great effort, I pulled back from the kiss and placed my hands flat on Kieran’s chest.

“I’m sor-“ I began to apologize, but I choked on my words as Kieran snapped out of whatever haze he was in. He jumped off the bed, which startled me, and hastily hid his face in his hands after regaining his balance.

“I shouldn’t have done that. Oh crap. I’m sorry.”

I opened my mouth to tell Kieran he wasn’t the one supposed to feel sorry, but I wasn’t fast enough. He beat me to it.

“I promise it won’t happen again. I promise.”

“Kieran, wait!” I said when he turned around. I wanted to talk about what just happened. I wanted a chance to explain to Kieran why I pulled back. But just like that day in the woods, he pretended not to hear me.

“Oh crap, indeed…” I agreed quietly as I let myself fall back on the mattress. “What a way of making things even more complicated.”

Absently, I touched my lips, their swollenness a vivid reminder of how peculiar and utterly ecstatic I had felt but mere minutes ago. Now that Kieran was gone, I couldn’t help but doubt myself. He had left so abruptly and in a hurry that I wondered if he really regretted what happened. Maybe he didn’t think I pulled away because I didn’t want to kiss him, but instead he could have acted out of regret of what he’d started, of kissing me.

Timing was everything, or so it turned out to be. Kieran’s timing had been off, far off. Then, just like that, I had something else to worry about. As if learning about Donovan and the haunting threat of the people from the Hall hadn’t been enough to deal with. Despite the whirlwind of emotions, I decided not to dwell in bed much longer. I had already spent too much time doing just that. Perhaps it was time for me to tell Kieran’s family and Donovan about what I had overheard at that meeting, down at The Hall. It wasn’t fair of me to let myself get tangled up in their lives, only if some dark threat loomed over me. Even if Kieran didn’t want me as more than a friend – if he still wanted to be friends after what just happened – I didn’t want to see him get hurt. Neither did I want to see his family or my newly found one to get hurt because of me.

When I entered the living room, I found Kieran’s parents at the table while Braydon and Lewis were watching something on the television.

“Oh, Seda.” Anna stood up from her seat. “Did you want to talk to Don? He just left, really, no more than a few minutes ago. We can ring him for you if you want.”

I hadn’t expected Donovan to have left by the time I was ready to speak to him.

‘It’s okay,” I shrugged. “I will just have to wait then. You don’t need to bother him right away. Seeing him, I was under the impression he could use some sleep…and a shower.”

Kieran’s dad, Alex, burst out laughing. “You’re right about that.” He stood up from his seat like Anna had, and held his hand out to me. “I’m Alex Whyte, I don’t think I’ve had a chance to properly introduce myself.”

“Seda,” I said as I shook his hand. “Evers, I guess. Formerly known as Seda Winston.”

“For what it’s worth, you look more like an Evers.” Alex smiled and I couldn’t help but return a proud smile of myself.

“Now,” Anna said. “How about I get you some dinner? It’s only mac and cheese but it’s food.”

“That sounds delicious, thank you.”