The Black Velvet Rose: Ch.4 - A Deadly Secret to Keep

   Kieth and Tristan sat in his backyard around a small campfire. They each held sticks and watched them burn.  "Did I ever tell you Stacy never called me after her party?" Kieth asked, looking a little bummed. Tristan slightly shook his head, "No, but you know how girls like her are..." Kieth nodded, remaining silent. Kayla walked out of the garage and abruptly stopped, staring at Tristan. "Hey." He politely greeted. She didn't say anything. "Kay?" Kieth snapped her out of a daze. Kayla cleared her throat, "What?" "He said hi..." Kieth explained, looking at both of them. "Oh, sorry. Hi." She quickly turned and went inside. Tristan narrowed his eyes and looked at Kieth, "Is she okay?"  Kieth shrugged, "I don't know, she's been acting wierd lately... don't freak out dude, but I think she saw you and that girl making out.. again." "What?" Tristan asked, quickly rising from his chair. "Relax, I explained to her you don't like Vanessa that way... I told her it's probably just a summer thing or a easy lay?"  Kieth explained. "She saw us?" Tristan asked, a sense of worry in his eyes. "Yeah, don't look so heartbroken or I might have to start wondering if you had a thing for my sis..." Kieth laughed. Tristan sighed, "Do you mind if I talk to her?" Kieth shrugged, opening a beer, "Be my guest." Tristan tossed the stick and walked up the back porch steps.

  Kayla turned and gasped when she saw Tristan entering the back door. She tried to quickly walk away but he was already inside. "Hey..." He muttered, "Kayla." Kayla turned, "Tristen." He nodded, "We need to talk... your brother .. he said you saw me and Vanessa?" She laughed, "He said what? Kieth needs to learn when to shut up... all I said was I stopped by to see you and walked in on something I probably shouldn't have."  Tristen could tell she was nervous. "And.. what did you see, exactly?" Tristen asked, feeling a bit faint.  Kayla shrugged, "Nothing out of the ordinary... just two teens making out..." 'Lie. What is with everyone lying to me?' Tristen thought. He glanced at Kieth outside then looked back at her. Tristen sighed, "I think I know what you saw... I can explain.. but you have to promise you wont say anything."  That's when Kayla's eyes started to tear up. "You almost bit me..." She bluntly stated, "But you didn't... why?" Tristen narrowed his eyes, "Is that a retorical question?"  "You can bite Vanessa without a second thought..but you couldn't bite me? Why?" Kayla got defensive. He was taken back by this, where was this coming from? "Ugh... Kayla... yes, I bit Vanessa what does that have to do with what happened at the party?"  He asked. Kayla crossed her arms, "Ever since that night, I couldn't stop thinking about you, did you know that?"  Tristen stared blankly, "No." "I couldn't figure out what was so different about you" Kayla started pacing the floor, "I could never figure it out ... until now." Tristen cleared his throat, "Kayla...." "I won't tell anyone." She answered before he asked. "I wouldn't do that to you." She continued to explain. "But you barely know me...?" Tristen was very flustered. Kayla shrugged, "I apparently know you more than my brother... that has to stand for something." She walked past him and entered the bathroom.  Tristan braced himself against the kitchen counter and looked  at the bathroom door.

   "Hey man, everything alright?" Kieth asked, with glazed-over eyes. Tristan nodded, "Yeah, we were just talking." He heard Kieth softly laugh then shake his head. Tristan eyed the countless beer bottles at Kieth's feet. Clearly, he took too long. "Hey..." Tristan sighed, "You okay?" Kieth shrugged, "As okay as I'm ever going to be..." He looked at Tristan and stared. Tristan cleared his throat, "Why are you looking at me like that?" "How do you do it?" Kieth asked, a solemn expression on his face. "Do what?" Tristan asked, growing a little nervous. "I'm sick of girl chasing..." Kieth sighed, dropping the bottle on the ground, "I'm attractive.... so why am I the one pursuing?" "Wow," Tristan tried not to laugh, "Kieth... am I sensing true heartbreak here? You really liked Stacy Datres?"  Kieth rolled his eyes and sat back, looking up at the night sky, "I dont know...she was really cool..." The back door opened and Kayla walked out, carrying a few blankets. "Here guys." She nicely handed them some hand made quilts. Tristan nodded, "Thanks." She silently nodded then sat across from them, this - was unexpected. "Anyways," He looked back at Kieth, "You and her hung out one night, right? So how would you know if she was cool or not?"  Kieth smiled, taking another drink from a new bottle, "Because... we didn't have sex that night." Tristan stared in shock, Kayla rolled her eyes. "You went up the stairs to her room, I saw you..." He stated. Kieth nodded, "Thats right, but what you didn't see is we were only going through her room to sit on her balcony... away from the noise and the annoying people..." "And you two did what, talked?" Tristan asked, glancing at Kayla who was staring at Kieth. Kieth nodded again, "Yeah.. it was awesome... how many guys get to know her other than the physical stuff? She let me in, she told me stuff she never told anyone... we talked all night... and now... I never hear from her."  Tristan narrowed his eyes, "Thats a bit wierd." Kieth rose, ignoring the blanket as it fell to the ground. Kayla quickly grabbed it before it reached the fire. He walked up the back porch and waved before dissapearing inside. "It's Stacy Datres we're talking about," Kayla sighed, growing annoyed, "She's a sleaze.. she probably fucked someone after her and my brother had their marriage counseling." Tristan sighed, "You seem very angry Kayla... and I have a feeling it's not about your brother or Stacy being a sleaze..." She raised an eyebrow, leaning back, "You're a smart one there Tristan."