Created By

tece26

Rate this Story

Embed

1. “Uhm… “
2. Kylie jumped when she heard the voice come from the shadows. She stood up shakily and a bit too quick, her head swam a little and she grabbed the swings chains to steady herself. “H-hello? Who’s there?”
3. “Sorry to scare you. It’s okay I won’t hurt you or anything,” said the voice in the shadows. “I just thought maybe you should know you’re not alone in case, you know, you thought you were.”
4. There was a pause on both sides. The stranger sounded like he knew he had just stated the obvious, and Kylie was embarrassed someone had been witness to her personal problems.
5. “I just, well you seemed, uhm, sad and all and that’s not what I would have guessed from someone who has it all. And now this,” She saw the letter she had thrown catch a bit of light as the stranger held it, “Did you not want to go to New York?”
6. “Excuse me?” Kylie bent over to pick up her purse, ready to make a fast exit. “What do you mean have it all? Have you been following me?” She backed up a few steps before she remembered the letter, it not only had her name on it but her address as well. If he hadn’t been following her he could start now.
7. “No! I-I-I uhm… Damn, no I go to your school Kylie. I promise I’m not a freak.”
8. “Give me the letter back then. Come out into the light.” Her voice was shaking but she was mentally patting herself on the back for not running and keeping her senses to remember small details like the letter.
9. “Can I ask a favor?” He surprised her by asking.
10. “What?” She hesitated. Who in their right mind bargains with a potential nut case? Maybe she shouldn’t be so quick to give herself accolades.
11. “Will you not leave? When you see me I mean, I uhm, I want to talk for a bit.”
12. “That’s it?” Kylie looked as shocked as she felt. “You just want to talk?”
13. “Yeah, no one really talks to me.”
14. “Uhm, okay. Sure.” She had no intention of staying. Once she knew who her so called stalker was, she was out of there and to the police if she wanted.
15. But it was Jake Stevens who stepped out into the light of the street lamp. Kylie was so shocked she forgot to run. This was the person who she had actually been talking to? Who wanted her to stay and talk some more? He took another hesitant shuffled step forward and awkwardly made a move to hand her back the letter. “Here you go.” He held it out and stood there watching her stare at him. “Kylie? Are you okay? Do you want this letter?”
16. “Oh.” She reached out and took the letter, noticing lashes across Jake’s hand. “I guess I should have thrown it in the trash, not the ground.”
17. “Why don’t you want to go?”
18. “Hmmmm… I guess you didn’t read it.” She looked down. “If you had you would know I don’t have everything.”
19. “I did read it,” he sat down on the swing next to her and waited until she fidgeted and sat again, “but I think to have everything doesn’t always mean physical things. I know you don’t think a lot of my family,” he snorted and leaned closer, “neither do I personally, but you still have a good heart. That’s a whole lot right there.”
20. She looked at him incredulously. Was this really Jake Stevens?
21. “You know you’re the only person who even tried to wish my family a merry Christmas this year?” When she continued to  just look at him he continued, “I’m sorry my brother attacked you this morning. I know an apology from me now doesn’t help much, but for what it is worth…” He let his words trail off and started twisting his hands in a nervous gesture.
22. Kylie knew she should say something,  the silence was stretching on. “It’s okay.”
23. “No its not. I never get to talk and if I had well,” he held out his hands, “worse than this would have happened. I just want to tell you while I have the chance, I’m not like them.”
24. Kylie started to shiver as the wind picked up. “I n-never thought about w-what it must be like for you.”
25. “Yeah well, it is what it is. Listen you’re not dressed to be out here. I shouldn’t have asked you to stay, just wanted to apologize.”
26. Kylie took a quick step back until she saw the shadow of a look pass over Jake’s face. She hesitated, then took a step back toward him. “I told you I would stay and talk, and I will.”
27. He looked at her and she saw him smile. A very faint smile that she wished wasn’t so painful to see. He looked like he hadn’t smiled in so long he had forgotten he could. “No, Kylie go home. But,” he looked down, “I uhm… I like to come here at night to be alone. I wouldn’t mind if you would want to maybe talk some more, some other time.”
28. Kylie couldn’t help but smile a little. “I wouldn’t mind either Jake.” She stood up when he finally gave a small smile. 
29. She started to walk back toward her house when he called back. “I would take another look at the letter Kylie.” Then he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
30. She pulled the letter out as she passed the trash can.
31. Dear Miss Dawson,
32. Thank you for applying to our school. Every year we open our doors, and take in the best perspective students into our school. It is never an easy decision and it pains me when we see young people who have a heart for the arts not make it into the school.
33. So it with my greatest pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted into the New York School of the Arts….