Second Chances - Unraveling Part 18

"You mean, did Holden and I have s.e.x? s.e.x, Jared. Say the word, it won't kill you."

"Did you and Holden have s.e.x?" Jared stared Karlie down.

Dan and I watched the siblings, speechless.

"No, we didn't," Karlie, said evenly. "I'm a virgin, Jared, so stop being all uptight. I was just joking."

"That's not something to joke about, Karlie," Jared seethed. The veins in his neck and arms stood out against his tan skin.

"Jeez, calm down, Jared," Karlie held her hands up and took a step back.

"Are you lying, Karlie? Did he have s.e.x with you and that's why he's acting so weird?" Jared pointed at his sister, a vein pulsing in his forehead. He looked like he was close to losing it.

Karlie snorted. "I would not have s.e.x with 'Marky Sharky' if my life depended on it," color stained her cheeks. "I don't know what his problem is."

Jared began to calm down. "Don't make jokes like that, ever again," he warned.

"I won't, promise," she said.

"Good," he took a deep breath. "And don't ever get me that worked up before a match ever again."

Karlie rolled her eyes. "Pull that stick out of your b.u.t.t, Jare."

"Just go sit down," Jared pointed to the bleachers. "You're getting on my nerves."

"Good luck," I told him.

He flashed me a small smile. "Sorry about freaking out. I just can't stand the thought of someone hurting my sister. Let alone my best friend." He ran a hand through his short dark hair.

"I completely understand, really." I put my hands in my back jeans pockets. "I'll be over there with your sister, cheering you on."

His smile widened. "Nothing would please me more."

I was tempted to stretch up on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek, but I was afraid of what might happen if I did.

It would be really awkward, if all I did was kiss his cheek and I'd end up running away.

No, my lips would be staying away from his cheek.

"Good luck," I said again and took the seat beside Karlie. "So," I said, "Did you call Holden, Marky Sharky?"

She laughed, shaking her hair in her face. "That's what everyone in the gym calls him, since his last name is Marks. He hates it."

"You like him," I stated.

She looked up at me, her large brown eyes, blinking owlishly at me. They were a lighter shade than her brothers, but no less stunning. "Is it that obvious?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "I just notice things more than other people do."

"Please don't say anything," she begged. "I hate being a cliche, crushing on my older brother's friend," she bowed her head. "It would never work anyway, I mean, he's eight years older than me."

"You never know," I said with a shrug.

She snorted. "It doesn't matter anyway, he's an a.s.s-hat."

"What about Rodney?" I questioned.

Karlie looked down at her beat up pair of Converse. "I don't know. He's my dance partner. I don't want to complicate our working relationship with a romantic one. Besides, I'm only sixteen."

"You've definitely got your head on better than most sixteen year olds," I told her.

She smiled widely. "I have Dan and Patsy to thank for that," she paused, "and my brother."

"What happened to your parents?" I asked.

She looked up at me with a sad smile. "That's not my story to tell, it's Jared's."

I looked across the room at Jared. He was talking to Dan but his eyes caught mine and he grinned.

From beside me, Karlie said, "I don't know if you're dating my brother, or not, but I've never seen him happier."

"Really?" I asked.

"Really," she nodded, with a smile. "He smiles and laughs more. I've never seen him happier and I just want to say thank you and..."

"And what?" I asked, when she didn't continue.

Shimmery brown eyes met mine, "Please, don't break his heart."

I didn't tell her, that she shouldn't be worried about Jared's heart; it was mine that would be shattered if something happened.

"I won't," was what I said, instead.

"He's a great guy," she said. "I've never seen him in a relationship before, so it's nice to see him sticking with one girl that he actually cares about."

"Has he uh- been with a lot of girls?" I asked.

"Honestly? Not really. Jared's too busy, being Jared, to waste his time with a girl, even a one-night stand. I'm not saying he's a saint, because I know he's not, but he doesn't sleep around, if that's what you're wondering. That's just not him. Now Holden, on the other hand, has slept with practically every woman under the age of thirty in a ten mile radius."

"That really bothers you, doesn't it?" I asked.

She shrugged. "It shouldn't, he's not my boyfriend or anything, it's really just the point of it. I don't think it's right to sleep around like that. I'm not saying you have to wait for marriage or anything, but I think you should wait for that one special person. The person that leaves you breathless when they walk into a room, the person you miss the minute they're gone. I think you should be in love, not l.u.s.t. If that means I'll be a virgin the rest of my life, so be it. But I'm not giving it up just because some guy thinks with the wrong head."

I laughed loudly, and Jared looked over at us with a funny look.

"Well said," I told her. "I agree completely with you."

She smiled. "I really like you, Katy. I don't have many friends, but I think we could be."

"I think we could be too," I said. I didn't think Piper would mind, so I asked Karlie if she'd like to join us at the mall.

"Yes!" she squealed. "Jared never wants to take me shopping!"

"What are you screaming about?" Jared asked, appearing in front of us. "I can't be distracted my entire match by you two."

"Katy, invited me to go shopping tomorrow with her and her friend," Karlie explained.

"Really?" Jared looked at me with a raised brow.

"It will be a girls day," I shrugged.

Jared grinned. "That sounds like an awesome idea. What time are you going? I can drop Karls off at the mall."

"No, no," I waved my hand back and forth, "I'll pick her up."

"You sure?" he asked, putting his hands on his hips.

"Positive, there's no point in you having to drive out of your way. I can pick her up," I a.s.sured him.

His smile grew. "I'll text you my address," he winked and walked back over to Dan.

"I'm so excited now!" Karlie squirmed on the bleachers. "Tomorrow is going to be so much fun."

"It is," I smiled. "So, how come you live with Jared and not Dan and Patsy?"

Karlie sighed. "I love Dan and Patsy, but Jared is my brother. When he got his own place, he asked if I wanted to move in and I said yes. Dan and Patsy didn't mind; they know Jared will take care of me. He always has."

"You and Jared are very close," I commented.

"We are," she said, pushing her long hair back, away from her face. "Most siblings aren't, especially ones eight years apart, but Jared's always been there for me."

"That's good," I said, starting to freak out a bit as the people began to trickle in, trying to get the best seat.

Holden was among them, Patsy trailing behind him.

Holden took the s.p.a.ce next to me, and Patsy took the empty place next to Karlie. I could feel Karlie tensing, beside me, but I didn't know how to comfort her.

"Hey Holden," I said.

"Hey," he replied, looking down at the floor.

Okay, then.

Dan climbed into the middle of the ring, and spoke to the crowd.

I didn't hear a thing he said, because I was too busy watching Jared.

Jared danced from foot to foot, shaking out his arms, with his eyes closed. I saw his lips moving silently, and wondered if he was praying. He looked imposing, dangerous even, as he stood there.

Dan said something and Jared bound into the ring, under the ropes.

The other guy soon followed. He was a little shorter than Jared, but bulkier. They were definitely on even footing.

I was so lost as to what was happening that I jumped when the other guy threw a punch at Jared.

I jumped straight up out of my seat and screamed, "Jared! Get him!"

I swear I could hear Jared chuckle.

Jared ducked out of the way of the guy's flailing fist and sunk his own fist into the guy's side. The guy -what did Dan say his name was? Joe? Josh? Jake? I'm pretty sure Dan said his name was Jake- grunted from the impact, throwing a kick at Jared.

Jared seemed to glide around the ring. A few times, I was sure his feet weren't touching the ground. His body glistened with a sheen of sweat, but he didn't seem to be breathing heavily.

He was incredible, the only way to adequately describe him was, a beast.

Jared completely dominated in the ring. The other guy never stood a chance.

The fight was over in a matter of minutes. Jake fell down and stayed down.

Dan came back into the ring and declared Jared the winner.

Jared didn't smile, when Dan raised his arm in the air. Instead, he looked solemnly at Jake. I could tell Jared felt bad, but what else was he supposed to do.

Jared climbed out of the ring and Dan tossed him a towel. He wiped his face, chest, and arms, clean of sweat and then made his way towards us.

"I'm gonna go shower quick, and I'll be right back. Don't run," he pointed at me.

"I won't," I laughed.

"Good," he said and made his way out of the gym, causing quite a few females to turn his way. I honestly couldn't blame them.

Holden stood and pulled his shirt off. He grinned at Karlie and said, "Are you going to root for me, kiddo?"

"Not likely, Sharky," she snorted.

"Aww, I'm hurt," he put his hand over his heart and grinned c.o.c.kily. "How will I ever win my fight without you on my side?"

"I'm sure you'll manage," she sneered.

"Lighten up, kiddo," Holden said.

"Call me kiddo again and I'll kick you in the b.a.l.l.s," she said, vehemently.

Holden rolled his eyes. "I doubt that."

"Wanna make a bet?" She challenged.

"No," he squeaked.