Love's Destiny (Love Trilogy #2) (7 page)

I didn’t get to see much of Uncle Charlie because he worked all the time. I could tell that was hard on Tyler. When they had lived in San Diego I remembered Uncle Charlie always playing with us when we were little kids. Rolling around on the ground, rough housing and giving us piggy back rides. He and Tyler had been very close. Now it seemed they hardly spoke. It made me sad to see how distant they had all become. Back in San Diego I remembered them being a very happy close family. Now they each lived in their own little bubble. It just didn’t seem right. Their family seemed broken, and I wished I knew how to fix it.

All in all it was still one of the best summers of my life. I loved playing in the symphony orchestra. Performing was what I had been born for.

The summer came to an end all too quickly. Tyler was my best friend again. I felt so comfortable with him, except when I would catch him looking at me in that way that made my stomach flip flop. I wasn’t sure why I felt that way around him sometimes.

He had changed a lot in the last few years and there was something strong in his eyes, something I hadn’t seen as children. Sometimes when he looked at me his dark eyes seemed so penetrating that it made me nervous. I couldn’t really explain or understand why. Tyler had never made me nervous before. Even still I loved spending time with him and I was sad to know that I would be going home soon and might not see him again for a while.

“Next year I’ll have my driver’s license.” He told me as we sat by the pool. “I’ll drive down to San Diego to see you.”

“Do you think your mom will let you?” I asked.

I already had my driver’s license but I knew there was no way my mom would ever let me drive all the way to L.A. by myself.

“She can deal with it.” He said sulking.

He had started sulking again this last week. I knew it was because I was leaving soon. I felt so sad to leave, not just because I was worried about leaving him but also because I was really going to miss him. I kicked my feet in the pool as I dangled them over the edge and watched how the rippling water reflected the moonlight.

“I’m going to miss you.” I said softly still looking down at the moonlit water.

“You too.” He whispered and reached over to take my hand.

It was not unusual for us to hold hands. We had done it as children and had done it many times this summer, but this time it made my heart beat faster. I could feel butterflies in my stomach and was suddenly nervous. Slowly I turned my head to face him. He was already looking at me so our faces were only inches apart.

He was staring at me with that deep penetrating gaze that took my breath away. I studied his face; his dark eyes, defined cheekbones, strong jaw. He really didn’t look like a kid anymore. Especially this close, especially at night. I could feel my heart racing. This was all so strange, so new.

Tyler leaned in slowly, still looking into my eyes. I was mesmerized. Part of me knew what was about to happen but I was powerless to move, and not sure if I wanted to. I felt his lips press against mine softly. I closed my eyes. His lips were full and soft and warm. My heartbeat was pounding in my ears. He pressed his lips harder against mine and I felt him reach around and place his hand on the back of my neck. His hand was hot against my skin. I leaned my head back as he cradled it in his hand. My head was spinning. I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t believe this was happening. This was my first kiss. Then suddenly a voice in my head screamed at me: You’re kissing Tyler!

I pulled away abruptly. I wasn’t sure what I was doing. Why was I kissing Tyler? How could Tyler be my first kiss? I stared down at the pool as I tried to sort through what had just happened. Slowly I turned to face him and my heart broke when I saw the pain on his face. He looked so rejected, so sad, so much like a child now.

“Tyler, I can’t… you’re just a kid.”

It was mean, I knew it was, but I didn’t know what else to say. What else to think. I stood up and walked away from him leaving him at the edge of the pool.

“I’m 15.” I heard him say behind me as I practically ran away.

I went straight to my room, his room. More than ever before I was very aware that this was his room, and more than ever before I felt like I was intruding.

I didn’t know why I ran away from him. I didn’t know why I’d kissed him. I didn’t know anything. I was so confused. I had never thought of Tyler as anything other than a friend, a kid I’d grown up with. But down there at the pool he felt like something more and that scared me, confused me. Maybe it was because I was so isolated from my life back home. I’d spent the whole summer here with him. My perspective was off. I had to admit he had grown into a handsome boy. But he was still a boy, I reminded myself. Almost two whole years younger than me. He was 15, I was 17. What was I thinking?

I stayed locked in the bedroom all night. There were only a few days left until my last performance, until I would be going back home. I wasn’t sure how I was going to face him in the morning. Would it be awkward? How could it not be? I couldn’t sleep all night, worried about how I would face him again.

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, I didn’t have to. He was already gone when I woke the next morning. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, relieved and disappointed at the same time. I wondered where he could have gone. He hadn’t gone anywhere without me all summer, but I didn’t ask.

Wherever he went he stayed there all day. I heard him come home late that night, but he didn’t come knock on my door and I didn’t go out to see him. The next day was the same and so on. I knew he was avoiding me. I knew I had hurt him with what I said, but I didn’t know how to fix it.

Finally the day came for my final performance. To my surprise Tyler was gone that day too. I thought surely he’d be there to see me off. That he just needed a few days to get over the embarrassment of the other night. But I didn’t see him that morning as I got ready.

My parents and brother had come up and so had Aunt Amy, Uncle Dan and the girls. Everyone had come for the final performance and so the small apartment was crowded and overflowing with excitement. I tried not to focus on my disappointment at Tyler’s continued absence.

I heard my mom ask Aunt Claire about Tyler but couldn’t hear the answer over the hum of everyone else talking. I did however hear my Uncle Charlie say: “I told you this would happen.” And I wondered what that meant.

Backstage before the performance my nerves were working in high gear. My palms were sweating, my pulse racing. Strangely it reminded me of how I felt after Tyler kissed me. I quickly tried to push that memory out of my mind and focus on the piece I was about to play. I took my seat and looked out into the audience.

There in the front row were my Mom, Dad and Chance, Aunt Amy, Uncle Dan and the girls, Aunt Claire and even Uncle Charlie who hadn’t been to any of my other performances, but Tyler wasn’t there. I scanned the front row again, sure that I had just missed him.

He had to be there, he was my good luck charm! He had helped me practice this piece all summer. He wouldn’t miss my last performance, he just wouldn’t! I looked again, but still no Tyler. I felt panicked suddenly. How could he not come? Had I hurt him that badly?

My heart sunk as I finally accepted that he would not be here. I wanted to cry, but then the music started and it was time to perform. I closed my eyes and allowed the music to take over.

I stole one stupid car and they shipped me off to military school. I wasn’t even the one to technically steal it. I had just gone along for the ride. But they weren’t interested in technicalities.

My dad couldn’t have me jeopardizing his career, especially not now that he was being considered for the promotion to head coach. Like I gave a damn.

Ever since we’d moved to L.A. his job was all he’d cared about. He should have just come by himself and left me and Mom back in San Diego with people who actually cared about us.

Mom tried to stand up for me. I heard them arguing about it the night Dad had to bail me out.

“Charlie, he just got mixed up with the wrong crowd.” my mom had said.

“Well then this program is going to straighten him back out!” my dad hollered back.

“He’s just a boy.” Mom pleaded “That place is for delinquents.”

“He’s 16 Claire, he’s not a baby anymore. He’s old enough to know the difference between right and wrong and what he did was wrong, now he needs to face the consequences. You baby him too much. That’s part of the problem.”

“Well if you were around more…” Mom practically whispered it, but I was proud of her for saying it.

“I’m trying to make a living!” he shouted back at her “What do you want me to do?”

They had never fought when we lived in San Diego. I ignored the fact that I was the cause of this particular argument. The majority of the blame could still be placed on him. It was his fault for making us move here. Everything had been fine before we’d moved.

I stopped listening after that. I knew the battle was lost before it begun, but I appreciated Mom going to bat for me. I would miss her, wherever I was going. I slipped my headphones on to drown out the sound of their fighting.

I listened to the classical CD that Destiny had picked out for me last summer. I closed my eyes and thought about her. We hadn’t spoken since she’d left. I felt bad for not attending her final performance, but my feelings had been hurt and I didn’t know how to face her.

I had completely misread everything. She still thought of me as a little kid, she was just trying to be nice and cheer me up and stupid me I thought she was actually interested in me. I was wrong. I thought it was pretty ironic that all this trouble actually started because she had come here.

Some guys had seen me hanging out with Destiny that summer and when school started they asked me about her. They were seniors and I thought it was cool that they were even talking to me, so of course I went along with whatever they said. They thought it was cool that I had such a hot girlfriend, I didn’t correct them.

I had finally made some friends. Isn’t that what my parents had wanted? The guys weren’t so bad. They were just bored and sometimes did things that might not be considered so good. Like stealing a car for instance. It was just for fun. A joy ride. I didn’t even know that’s what we were doing that night until we were doing it, and at that point what was I supposed to do?

Anyway what’s done was done now and apparently I was headed off to military school. Oh well, couldn’t be worse than L.A.

“You can call me if you need to.” Mom whispered for the third time.

She was crying and acting like we’d never see each other again. I wasn’t that worried about it. It was only a summer program. I’d be back in the solitary confinement of our apartment in L.A. in no time.

“Don’t get into any trouble.” My dad instructed.

I was surprised he’d taken the day off to drive me here. I hugged my mom and nodded at my dad. I turned away from them to face the officer who was approaching us.

“Fall into line, son.” He ordered and I did without another word to my parents.

First stop was the barber. I didn’t say a word as they shaved my head. Next we were given our sleeping assignments. My bed was the last at the end of the barracks. There were 5 uniforms hanging in the locker next to the bed. I started to unpack my bag when another officer approached me.

“What’s your name boy?” the officer asked.

“Tyler Stone.” I replied.

“Well Mr. Stone, let’s get a few things clear. You’re not here for summer break, I’m not your friend, and you won’t need that.” He said as he snatched my bag.

“You will call me Sergeant. Those uniforms are all you will wear. You will keep them clean and pressed. You’ll have no need for any personal items, so I’ll just keep these for you.” He said holding up my bag.

I just nodded.

“Yes, sir?” he coaxed.

“Yes, sir.” I replied.

He nodded seeming pleased with my response and walked over to harass the kid next to me.

I had just enough time to change into one of the provided uniforms when a loud horn blew.

“You will hear that horn every morning when it is time to get your sorry butts out of bed.” Sergeant was addressing the whole room now.

“You will have exactly 10 minutes to dress and report to the mess hall for breakfast. 15 minutes to eat and then you will receive your work assignments for the day. You will work until you hear that horn blow again and you will have exactly 5 minutes to report back to the mess hall for lunch. If you’re late, you don’t eat. After lunch you will complete your work assignments. If you finish before the dinner bell you are allowed free time. We work hard here, so don’t count on it. Showers after dinner. I will not tolerate horse play. Lights out after showers. Any questions?” no one dared to ask one.

“Good. Follow me.” Sergeant ordered and we all followed him out single file for a tour of the grounds. We were shown where the mess hall was located and the work supply buildings, the showers and finally back to the barracks.

“This will be your only tour, so I hope you were paying attention. Do not ask for directions, and do not be late.” With that final order Sergeant turned and left us all to wonder what the hell we’d gotten ourselves into.