Scooter

(You have your Nikki stories, and i have my Freddie stories.)

Kayla threw the dirty, wet sponge in the bucket of water beside her when she heard the phone ring in her bedroom. She tiptoed over the newly clean bathroom floor so as not to smudge it.

She grabbed the phone off the receiver and brought it up to her ear. "Hello?"

"It's your favorite person in the world."

Kayla smiled, clutching the phone harder. "Fred. Hi."

"So, what are you doing?"

"Well, i just finished cleaning the bathroom floor."

"Are you serious?"

"Very."

"That doesn't sound like fun."

Kayla sat on the edge of her bed and brought her legs up, crossing them Indian-style. "It's not, but someone has to do it."

"I guess. So, listen, what are you doing after you clean the bathroom floor?"

"Not sure yet. I should maybe vacuum."

"Uh, no. You should get out of the house and go to a movie with me."

It'd been a few weeks since Kayla and Fred had their kiss at the park. They hadn't kissed since then, mainly because she didn't want her friends finding out about Fred yet. Part of her worried that Cheyenne would see Kayla and Fred together as a direct violation of the girl rule in this house.

"Come on," Fred said, "say yes."

What were the chances that she'd see one of her friends at the theater? Robin was working late at the studio and Cheyenne was probably shopping.

"What would we go see?" Kayla asked. Besides, even if she did see someone, she'd tell the truth: that she and Fred were just friends. He hadn't officially asked her to be his girlfriend.

Yeah, that's exactly what Cheyenne said about her and Eric. Kayla groaned at her internal critic. This was different.

"We'll see whatever you want." Fred said.

"What about Kiss and Tell?"

There was a long pause, then, "Well, if that's what you're into..."

"I'm kidding!"

Fred let out a prolonged sigh. "Thank God. I wasn't going to say anything, but i really didn't want to see that movie."

♥♥♥♥♥

As she and Fred walked out, people recapped their favorite scenes, repeating the funniest snippets of dialogue. On the sidewalk, the amber glow of streetlights lit the way as they headed for the car they'd parked on a side street.

"I had fun," Fred said, bumping shoulders with her.

"Me, too."

He grabbed her hand, threading his fingers with hers. A smile graced her face as Fred's thumb ran up and down the side of her hand. How was a gesture so small so thrilling?

When they reached Fred's car, he unlocked the passenger door first and held it open as Kayla climbed inside, out of the cool breeze. Hands trembling with excitement, she folded them into her lap, not wanting Fred to see. He'd probably think she was an inexperienced dork. Did he take out a lot of girls?

Engine now running, the heat blasted out of the vents, warming Kayla's face. She turned to Fred and caught him staring at her, the car still in park.

"What?"

"I like you," he said, and Kayla almost laughed. He caught this and the smile on his face turned nervous.

"I'm sorry, Fred. I like you, too." She let her smile disappear.

"So if you like me, and i like you, why aren't we officially together?" He grinned.

Kayla's smile crept across her face and she felt her cheeks flush.

"Say something," he coaxed, reaching across the center console to take her hand again.

"I'm just surprised."

"Is that good or bad?"

"I...uh..." She looked over to Fred in the driver's seat. "Okay."

"Okay what?" Fred asked, looking diffident.

"I mean, not okay. I..." Kayla couldn't give Fred an answer because she felt like something was wrong. Nothing was wrong with Fred, but maybe it was something to do with her being there, in his car, holding his hand, ending their second date. She wasn't sure if she wanted a boyfriend at the moment, exspecially since the last man she was with decided to bail on her when someone better came along. Kayla knew Fred was not that type of guy, but she wanted to know him better.