The Promise by Mahlatse Mokone (best ebook reader ubuntu txt) 📖

“—bothers me.” he added and I swallowed hard. Realizing that he cares for me more than I thought, and that my taking off probably reminds him of his mother’s abandonment. I sighed, I couldn’t promise not to run, that’s what I do when shit hits the fan, it’s my defense mechanism. But I did promise myself that I’d show him that one could care for him unconditionally. I leaned my head against his shoulder, hoping that would give him some extent of reassurance.

“Ignore Rhiannon and the others.” He said, “I’m crazy about you, no one else.” He said quietly reassuring me too. Then he raised our entwined hands and kissed the back of mine and I grinned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 12

 

Brandon let me keep his hoodie when everyone turned in for the night; I lay awake in my sleeping bag hugging it close to me, still marveling its scent. I looked towards Tess, who looked blissfully asleep. I couldn’t sleep much because Brandon’s words still rang loud in my head I’m crazy about you, no one else.

I missed him already, how crazy is that? I want to see him and I wondered if he’s asleep or if he’d appreciate an impromptu visit. Then I cursed inwardly as I remembered that we’re not allowed to cross over to the boys’ side of camp and visa versa.

Do I dare try? I know that I want to see him, badly for some odd reason. If I get caught I’ll be in a heap of trouble, but what if I don’t? I thought. With that I slowly and quietly got up.

“What are you doing?” My head snapped to Tess who was regarding me suspiciously. I blushed, “I’m going to visit Brandon.” I said and her eyes widened.

“Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?” She said with mock disapproval and I smiled “So I’m guessing you’re not going to stop me?” I said and she chuckled “Stop you? Girl I’m giving you my full support, just don’t get caught.” She said and I chuckled too. Tess was always up for mischief and rule breaking, in fact she used to complain I was too uptight. I opened my tent and peeked out, the coast was clear.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She whispered and I rolled my eyes at her then put on the hoodie and stepped out into the night. I quietly made my way across to the group of tents belonging to the guys. I had no problem identifying Brandon’s tent on the far right.

I carefully opened it and stepped inside, I was glad to see Brandon was not sharing with anyone. Brandon looked up at me; too alert for someone who just woke up. I was glad to see that I didn’t exactly disturb his slumber “Katelyn?” he asked, almost as if he weren’t sure he was seeing right.

“Hi.” I said self-consciously, I’ve never done anything this bold before, and I’m unsure of weather or not I’m welcome. “Hey.” He replied with an incredulous chuckle and he sat up and pulled back his blanket “Get in here, aren’t you cold?” he asked and I scooted next to him getting underneath the fluffy blanket.

“Comfortable?” he asked and I nodded smiling and he grinned, “What are you doing here?” he asked and I looked at my hands “I came to visit you.” I said and he eyed me “You’re just full of surprises aren’t you?” he said and I chuckled “Good ones?” I asked and he nodded “Always.”

He continued to eye me long enough for me to feel my cheeks heat up; his close proximity was not helping. “Why don’t you tell me the real reason why you’re here princess?” He said softly and my heart rate spiked up. I met his warm gaze and opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. He raised an eyebrow,

“Well I couldn’t sleep, and I was thinking about what you said…about how you felt about me,” I said, God why was I so shy?

“D-Did you mean that?” I asked and his brows furrowed slightly. “Of course I did Katelyn, why would you think otherwise?” he said and I shrugged. “And?” he probed and I cursed inwardly, I was hoping he’d stop questioning right there.

“I wanted to see you.” I whispered, “I missed you.” I added reluctantly meeting his gaze. A strange emotion passed in his eyes before his gaze shifted “Hmm and what can I do to right that wrong?” He said touching his chin and I chuckled “I don’t know, surprise me.” I said and he smiled cupping my cheek and kissing me. I let him slowly ease me back down on top of the sleeping bag, not breaking his sweet kiss, which he kicked into high gear. And like in that empty classroom I responded involuntarily.

My hands raked through his silky hair as I kissed him back, he pulled away and began trailing his kiss down my jaw and neck. I tried to steady my out of control breathing and heartbeat. He unzipped his hoodie on me and pushed it aside as he resumed kissing me. I was way out of my league here and I knew it, but my head was too clouded. With his scent, with his kisses, with this scorching hot feeling running through my whole body.

With these foreign feelings that were both scary and enthralling…but they felt so good. His warm hand went to the small of my back underneath my sweat top, and the contact made me gasp, the feel of his hand on my skin was amazing. His arm went all around my waist to pull me up against his warm body and he kissed my shoulder. From somewhere deep inside me, panic bubbled up

“Wait.” I breathed and he froze then looked up “We can’t do this…I can’t—” I struggled with words and he sat up, bringing me with him.

“I know.” He said tenderly and I met his gaze “You do?” I asked a little confused. He nodded “I wasn’t going to…I’m sorry, I wasn’t intending on taking it that far Katelyn.” He said sincerely, and when I looked into his eyes they were apologetic and a little sheepish. I paused taken aback by his reaction and words; I thought he wanted this. I felt myself smile

“Well what do you know, Brandon Carter can be a gentleman.” I teased hoping to lighten the heady atmosphere in the tent. He smiled warily

“I wasn’t going to take advantage of you princess.” He said cupping my cheek “I’m sorry I made you think I would.” He added and I looked down, he really does care. I chuckled incredulously “Good, because my Mom would kill me and my Dad would kill you, I doubt I’d like that, I’ve grown quite fond of this bad boy.” I said and he grinned “Have you now?” he said and I nodded. He zipped up his hoodie again and kissed my forehead, I eyed him the whole time.

“I thought you wanted to.” I said, still shy. The last time I felt this uncomfortable was when Mom had ‘that talk’ with me years ago.

He met my gaze and chuckled without humor “I’d be crazy not to, but not now. For you, a guy should get on one knee first.” He said and my eyebrows shot up. Did he really believe that? Did I? I never really thought about it before.

“You would do that?” I asked and he smiled pausing for a minute “Yes, if I had a ring with me,” he said and I punched his shoulder playfully “Very funny.” I said sarcastically. “Who said I was kidding?” he teased but there was a serious undercurrent to his tone. “If that’s your way of asking me if I’d wait for you Katelyn, the answer is yes.” He said when he sobered up.

I kissed his cheek and he gave me his patented megawatt smile “Thank you.” I said, I don’t know why his words mean so much, but they do.

“You could thank me by going to the dance with me,” he said and I rolled my eyes “But I wasn’t planning on going.” I said and he cocked his head to the side.

“Well now you are, with me.” he said and his tone challenged me to say otherwise, I groaned “Have you always been this pushy?” I asked. “Is that a yes?” he asked and I smiled in spite of myself “Yes, yes. We’ll go to the stupid dance.” I said and he smiled “Perfect.” He said then sighed “As much as I’d love to keep you here, I don’t want you getting into trouble.” He said giving my hand a squeeze. I got out of his warm blanket with exaggerated slowness, making his smile broaden.

“See you later alligator.” I said starting for the tent door and he grabbed my arm pulling on me so I fell onto his lap. He kissed me briefly and sweetly “In a little while princess.” He whispered and I grinned blushing. I got up and walked out. Tess was wide-awake when I returned back to my tent and got into my sleeping bag.

“I thought I was going to have to drag you back.” She said and I chuckled, “So, how was your visit?” she asked and I paused a little “It was…interesting.” I said, it nearly got too interesting and I fought back a blush as images came flooding into my head. Geez, no more skating on thin ice when it comes to that boy.

Tess eyed me suspiciously but I closed my eyes, after a minute she sighed and closed hers too.

 

The following day was more hiking, and we had teamwork challenges and games, where it was the boys versus girls or we got mixed. I genuinely had fun, except when I was forced to work with the cheerleaders from hell. Brea pushed me into the rocky pond we were supposed to cross and claimed it was a mistake. I used my hands to cushion my fall so I ended up scrapping them. She and the rest of her mean friends had a good giggle, which was silenced by Brandon’s menacing glare as he got in to help me.

He scooped me up easily, on any other occasion I would’ve stopped him but because I knew it would piss off the bubbleheads I let him carry me. I knew it was petty to make them jealous but they deliberately tried to humiliate me and I wasn’t feeling too mature about it.

Another person who wasn’t too pleased was JT but I couldn’t be sure if it was because I got pushed or that I was in Brandon’s arms. Someone he has warned me off before. He knows I’m seeing him now, hell everyone does, but he hasn’t said anything about it since that day.

You’re a smart girl his words ran through my mind, Be careful.

I’m trying, but weather or not I stood a chance at ‘keeping him at arm’s length’ I have no idea. He also showed me a good time during this camp, he’d sneaked us out to go show me more sights and we talked and had a great time. Whenever we weren’t together, I’d watch him and he’d watch me. We’d both smile when we did that at the same time. It seemed liked we grew much closer since our encounter in his tent, and it scared me a little. I shouldn’t like him this much, this soon, should I? Or was I the only one falling here? That thought upset me even more.

I was bummed out when we prepared to leave the site Sunday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 13

 

Tess was beside herself with excitement when I told her I was going to the dance after all, she even set up a time and date for dress shopping.

“We have to go look for really nice ones tomorrow afternoon.” She said as we went to science class. I smiled “Yeah, it’ll be fun.” I said hoping I sounded just as enthusiastic. I