Generations 2.7 kindle (41 page)

“I can’t wait to go … with you. Although it will be hard to beat this night. We might just have to stay here forever—so we don’t have to feel that letdown. When we have to go back to real life.”

“I’m all for that.” His voice sounded wistful. Low. Seductive.

She had better get back on the subject. “So are we going to go with a group, or just the two of us?” she asked. Then she had to add, “To prom,” because he seemed confused.

“Oh. I don’t know. Whatever you want. It’s your school. Your friends.” Then he chuckled. “Do you think Jack would go … with that girl from the roller rink?” He laughed again.

Ben hadn’t seen that girl close up. So he didn’t know that she was majorly old. So Kat had to tell Ben about that little confrontation with Jack and what’s her name? “She looked like she was the governor of Goochland.”

“Whoa. Weird. That’s totally out-of-character for Jack. What gives?”

“I don’t know.” Kat thought about it for the first time since they’d left Dudley’s. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought that Jack was jealous or something. But that just didn’t make any sense.

“You think he’s jealous of us?” Ben asked. Mind reader.

“I can’t imagine that he would be. I mean …”

“I know. He’s your stepbrother. So he shouldn’t be jealous. But I can see that it’s complicated. Especially since you’re not even technically related.”

Oh boy. Here it was. Golden opportunity. Kat could feel the acid in her stomach, but she knew she needed to do it. “You know Ben, about that: Jackson and I.” Um … how to say it? Just blurt it out or tell the entire story? “We’re not. It’s not like you think. Jackson’s really …”

Ben interrupted her. “No, it’s okay Kat. I don’t need to know about it. It doesn’t matter what happened between you guys.”

“Um … what do you mean?”

 
“The time you guys kissed. You told me. Remember? That day on the pier. I didn’t want the details then; and I still don’t. You don’t need to feel like you’re keeping something from me. It’s between you and Jack. I’m fine with it.”

“Um. Kay. Thanks. But …” here goes, “he’s not really …”

Ben interrupted again. “You know what, Kat? I haven’t even given it a second thought. I don’t think its weird or anything. Plus, you said you guys were really young. We all do stupid things when our hormones are wigging out.”

“Yeah.” He got that right. It was totally stupid. She could blame it on her hormones. She was just twelve after all. Undergoing all those changes. But. It had seemed like so much more at the time.

There had never been a question in her mind—up until that point four years ago—that she was going to spend her life with Jack. He was her soul mate. She was sure of it. She’d planned on marrying him ever since she could remember. So when they’d gone roller skating and found themselves alone in a dark corner, it had just seemed natural. That kiss had sent so much electricity through her body that she thought her socks had caught on fire.

But then the aftermath.

Jack had shunned her. Full-on ignored her for months to follow. Hadn’t said a word to her about it. It crushed her. Left her feeling insecure. Worthless. And confused.

Then one day their freshman year, he seemed to have decided that they could be friends again. Without so much as an explanation, he’d started hanging out with her again. Acted like they were BFF’s.

It took Kat a while to re-grow her trust. Kay, not that long. She never had been one who could hold a grudge. But it had changed. They really were just friends. She never had another thought about him being her soul mate. Because that was about the time that Ben’s second album was released. She’d set her sights higher than just plain old Jackson Scott—the boy she’d played with since her infancy. The boy she knew everything about.

“So now I need to answer your question.” He leaned forward on his elbow, his face looking eager and serene.

“What question?”

 
“The one from the pier. You’re willing to talk about it—my question. Even though it’s uncomfortable and embarrassing. So now I think it’s time that I answer yours.”

She was lost. What
was
he talking about?

Oh. The “I Have Never” game.

His challenge had to do with her kissing her nonexistent stepbrother. He thought that was why she had brought up Jackson just then. So the question Ben hadn’t answered that day on the pier? Oh boy. She felt goose bumps prick across her body.

“The answer is no. No, I have never been in love.”

Um, ouch? Thanks for nothing, Ben. But then he continued.

“At least up until that point. I was right that I didn’t know what love was. But I do now. Now that I know you.”

Kat’s stomach jumped. It felt like it was suspended in mid-air, unattached to the rest of her body.

Ben leaned within inches of her face and grabbed a strand of her hair. He wound it around his finger. “Being away from you cemented my … my feelings. It made me realize how lost I am without you. It makes me entirely restless. Like a part of my soul is missing. You complete me. You soothe me. You inspire me. I am completely, irrevocably, in love with you.”

Kat couldn’t get to Ben fast enough. The few inches that separated their bodies was too much. She wanted to feel his lips on hers. She wanted the vibrancy of his embrace. Soon she realized she wasn’t sitting in her recliner anymore. More or less, she was sitting on his. And partially on Ben as well. She kissed him with every emotion contained in her soul. She wanted him to know—without words, especially since her words would never be as symphonic, as charming as his—that she loved him, from the very tip of her curly hair, down to the bottom of her manicured toenail.
 

……

T
his is Juliet Hamblin with your HTV Weekend Report: Breaking news: we have confirmation of Benja-trina folks! According to our sources, Ben Wilder showed up at Dudley’s Roller Rink earlier this evening and performed for a small, unsuspecting crowd—serenading one person in particular: Katrina Hayes. This serenade was Ben’s clever way of asking Katrina to her spring formal.

Oh! That is so sweet! He’s taking her to prom?

She accepted, so it looks like Ben will be attending the Waldren High Prom at the end of the month. And this looks like more than just a prom date: some of the lucky patrons at the skating rink have sent in videos: it looks like there’s a lotta love goin’ on between those two, doesn’t it, Eve?

They sure aren’t holding back. So your suspicions were right, Juliet. Ben and Katrina are obviously more than friends. Ha … and it appears that Ben doesn’t skate as well as he sings, does he?

He certainly could benefit from some skating lessons. Looks like Katrina could teach him.

Yeah: she’s pretty good. Graceful, even. Gotta love those cell-phone videos. Those kids down at the roller rink did a great job getting this footage: it’s priceless.

What a memory, huh? Having Ben Wilder fall down two feet in front of you. It’s certainly a side of Ben we don’t see very often.

And he’s not just falling on skates: it definitely looks like he’s fallen for Katrina Hayes.
 

Lucky girl.

Also, more news from the Wilder camp: it was released that Dan Wilder’s drummer, a man by the name of Emmet Halgren, was found dead in his New York City apartment this morning. Emmet played on Dan’s first three albums, and accompanied Dan on tour for those albums as well. You might remember his face from some of those early music videos.

I do … I remember him. He was a good-looking man, and a talented drummer. Did the reports state the cause of death?

Cause of death has been listed as a drug overdose. According to Emmet’s family, he had been struggling with a heroin addiction for several years. In a statement issued by Emmet’s mother, she says that, “While we are deeply saddened at this loss, we are grateful that Emmet is finally at rest and will no longer be tormented by this dreadful disease.”Also, a statement was issued by the Wilders, saying, “We wish to give condolences to the family of Emmet Halgren. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones at this painful time.”

The Wilders certainly know the pain the Halgren’s are feeling.

Mmm, they sure do. It’s interesting to note that Emmet was the last surviving member of Dan’s band. It certainly marks the end of the Dan Wilder era.

What a relief that Dan has Ben to carry on the legacy.

About the Author …..

Lori Folkman
has been creating stories since her childhood, back when she would play hooky from school to continue the drama that was unfolding in Barbieland (aka Lori’s bedroom). Her Donny Osmond Doll typically played the romantic lead. Besides playing with her imaginary friends, Lori also enjoys reading, watching movies, exploring Montana’s back roads, and spending summers at the lake. She lives in Northwest Montana with her husband and five children.

Generations
is the first book in the Wilder Times series.

Visit her website: lorifolkman.com