Chapter 22- We All Have Secrets

Chapter 22 - We All Have Secrets

Kim's POV

There must be a cold going around the school or I caught one last night after standing out in the cold for three hours to watch a football game. I'm going to go with caught one last night because I stood outside in the below freezing weather to watch a football game that I barely half understood. I needed to go out and buy some cold medicine, so I left the house, all bundled up in layers. When I roamed the isles of the drug store Spencer called.

"Hey Spence." I greeted cheerfully, looking between two different branded cold medicines.

"Hey babe. What are you up to?" He wonders, greeting me happily as well.

"I'm just at the pharmacy grabbing some cold medicine." I say with a sniffle, "What are you doing?" I ask, grabbing one of the boxes and reading information from the back.

"I'm home. Bored. I thought we could do something today." He tells me.

"I'd love that. Especially after I take some of this medicine." I giggle, walking up to the cashier after grabbing a bag of cough drops. "What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know. It's a cold winter Saturday. How about I turn on the fire place, grab some blankets and throw in a movie? I heard it's the best medicine for the cold." He suggests. That had my heart melting. That's exactly what I've wanted to do all day.

"You know exactly what runs through my mind." I sigh happily, paying the cashier for my things, "What would make that time even better is some hot chocolate. I'll pick up some on the way." I offer, grabbing the bag from the cashier and thanking her.

I looked for my keys as Spencer agrees with me, "What movie should we watch?" He questions.

"Not another one of those western movies. That was boring no offense." I tell him, getting in my car and starting it up.

He laughs, admitting it was a terrible movie, "I know, the trailer looks better than the actual whole movie. So what do you suggest?"

I smirk, thinking of the first movie popping up in my head, "The Art of Getting By."

"I never heard of that one before." He mentions.

"I have it at home if you'd like to watch it." I offer, putting the phone on speaker and placing it in the cup holder with the talking side up and driving the car in reverse.

"Sure if you want to go home and get it. Or we can watch something new. Surprise me when you get here." He suggests, "It's your turn to pick the movie anyways."

"Alright, I'll see you in twenty minutes then. Text me your address by the way. I don't think I've ever been to your house now that I think about it." Weird, you'd think after two months I would have been by already. Maybe even meet his parents after that awkward encounter with my family.

"Huh, now that you mention it I think you're right." He agrees, "OK, I'll see you in a little bit then. Bye."

"Bye." I reply. I drove home, since home is only up the street. My plan was to stop home, grab the movie, stop at the new café near my house and grab some hot chocolates. I've heard they're pretty good, thenI'd go to Spencer house from there.

I turned on the radio even though I was only a few streets away from the address Spencer gave me. What I found weird is that this street looked familiar, like déjà vu. Even his house looked vaguely familiar. It was closer to my house than I expected.

Shrugging at the details I pulled into his drive way and parked the car, rushing quickly to the front door. Legit, déjà vu. The front door opened with Spencer greeting me.

"Hey, come on in its freezing out!" He says, kissing me as he closed the door behind him.

"Yes it is. I think it's going to snow! Can you believe it?" I squeal happily, jumping up and down slightly though I had the two hot chocolates in my hand.

"I know I can tell how trilled you are." He says taking my coat to hang.

"You know I got to admit this house looks strangely familiar. It's like déjà vu or something. But I can't put my finger on it." I mention to him, holding out his hot chocolate to him when he closed the closet door.

"Really? That's strange." He agrees, taking the cup from me. He smiles pulling me into another kiss, "Thank you very much."

"No problem." I smile, standing on my toes and pecking him on the lips once more. "I brought the movie." I say, going back in the closet to grab it out of my purse.

"Awesome. Let's go put it in." He recommends, holding my hand and leading me to his living room. "I'll go grab some blankets from my room later." He mentions as we pass through the hall ways; I had a strange feeling about this. "Not as grand and fancy as your house-"

"Huh? Oh no, it's just, really, his house looks familiar. Maybe it was a dream or something." I comment, taking a seat on his couch.

"You're really fixated on that, aren't you?" He chuckles, crouching down so he could put the movie in the DVD player.

"I'm sure it'll come to me later." I say with a shrug of my shoulders, trying not to think about it anymore.

"Do you want a mug for your hot chocolate?" He offers.

"Sure." I grin, chuckling as he notices how delicately I've been holding my cup of hot coco perched on my knees so I didn't have to touch it. He takes my hot chocolate and walks to the kitchen. I turn on the couch, watching him, "Do you really think Tyler has a crush on Katie?" I wonder, propping my head on my hand, as I talked loud enough for him to hear me a few yards away.

"Last night was pretty convincing to me. Why, you don't think so?" Spencer enquiries, pouring our hot chocolate carefully into two separate Christmas looking mugs.

"I believe Tyler King doesn't have a clue what a relationship even is." I tell him honestly, holding out my hand so when he walked by he could hand me my mug.

"You're worried for Katie?" He says, more of a statement than a question.

"I think Katie is a big girl and can handle herself. I fear, though, that Tyler will continue to be the same way and that will only hurt Katie." I reason, taking a small sip of my hot chocolate and curling up next to Spence on the sofa.

"Who knows, the date could go horribly and Katie never wants anything to do with him again, or Tyler is an astonishingly half decent guy and Katie actually takes interest in him." He shrugs, naming out the good and the bad.

The movie began to play and I didn't even notice it until Spencer was the one paying more attention to it than me. About half way into the movie though, two different laughs echoed through the house. Distinguishingly, one female laugh the other male. My ears perk up, listening to the sound more carefully. I could only imagine that it could be his parents.

"Is someone home?" I whisper to him, carefully setting my empty mug down on the coffee table.

"Shit. He said he wouldn't be here all day." Spencer mumbles irritably throwing his head back, and rubbing his face with the palm of his hand.

"He?" I repeat, wondering who the two supposedly unexpected visitors are.

"I believe that Jesse end up running away from that whole business and actually straightened out his life. That guy went through hell that last season. Besides, he liked that girl with the kid. He probably went after something like that." The female voice spoke. It sounded as if they were still at the front door.

"Hell, no. You make that much money you're not going to turn back. He knows the secret recipe to make the purest blue meth. Of course he's going to keep going. Probably not making it a huge thing but a little side business." The male voice disagrees.

The voices sounded like they were coming closer. "I don't think so. That last season was dark though. Pretty much everyone died." The girl points out. The voices bounced around in the kitchen. Giving a narrowing and confused look to Spencer, I turned around, believing that I think I knew who those voices belonged to.

"Katie!" I shout, throwing the blankets over to Spencer and standing up.

"Kim?" She gasps, facing me so I could clearly see the boy's face she was with.

"Tyler!" I shout next, pointing at him.

"Spencer!" Tyler shouts angrily, slamming his hand on the kitchen counter.

"Chase!" Some screamed from the second floor, interrupting our name calling.

No. Freaking. Way. I thought to what I was clearly seeing.

"Shut up Chase!" Both Tyler and Spencer shout looking up at the ceiling.

"Tyler what's going on?" Katie asked crossing her arms over her chest.

"Spencer?" I question, crossing my arms over my chest and tilting my head to him.

Both boys looked at each other with mixed expressions, "This is all your fault." Spencer mutters to Tyler. Finally sitting up from the couch.

"Me? What did I do?!" Tyler shouts throwing his hands in the air aggravated.

"I said Kim was coming over today and you said, and I quote, 'I don't give a damn I'm taking Kate out.'" Spencer explains reminding Tyler of some conversation we had.

I don't really care right now who had the house and who didn't I just want to know what's going on! Why is Tyler at Spencer's house or why is Spencer at Tyler's house.... Who the hell is Ch- oh... Oh no.

"Are- are you two related?" I choked out while they were still in the middle of arguing.

Both pairs of eyes landed on me. Katie stared in shock looking between the both of them. "Fucking Asher Knight and that fat mouth of his." Tyler cursed, running his hands through his hair.

"Asher didn't tell me anything." I cleared. Then it clicked, "This is the house that..." I trailed off, looking at Tyler. The night that we'd never mentioned because nothing ever happened. "Chase is Tyler's brother." I remember too from the morning after, "Spencer has a room here." I babbled fitting the little pieces I knew together.

"Wait what?!" Katie yells, seeming more confused and shock than I was. Or maybe just denial because all the pieces I just put together made somewhat more sense to what we were getting out of the conversation. "Can someone just fucking explain to us what the hell is going on?" Katie snaps holding her fists by her side. Whoa, I've never seen Katie this angry before.

"Alright, alright. We might as well tell you." Spencer said trying to calm down Katie. He glanced over to me, shoulders slumped back.

Both of the boys took a deep sigh looking at each other, waiting for the other to start to talk. I nudged Spencer with my hip egging him to go on and explain. My mind came up with a theory, but I wouldn't be too sure until Tyler or Spencer confirmed it.

"That's not your secret to share." Tyler warns, pointing to Spencer angrily as he was opening his mouth and about to explain.

"Well it half is. You also kind of have no other choice since two girls are standing right here knowing there's something going on." Spencer argues with him. I was just glad that there's a couch, an island, and some chairs between them preventing a brawl from happening in front of me. I don't think I could stop that. Even with Katie's help.

"I swear to God if you open your damn mouth-" Tyler threatened.

"If he can't tell us then fine. You've got a lot of explaining to do then." Katie demands, facing Tyler. I thought that was gusty of her. I don't think anyone is brave enough to order Tyler King around. Not unless you were looking to be humiliated or feeling like a scummy, clingy, wanna-be girlfriend.

Tyler narrowed his eyes at her, approaching her very slowly and intimidatingly. Here it goes, "Who do you think you fu-"

"One way or another we're going to find out and it's going to come from either you or someone else. Maybe Asher's fat mouth will open up." I threaten him back.

"I don't have to explain myself to anyone of you." He decides after a moment to think about it. He looks at us all one last time before walking away. Where to? I don't know.

Kate looks at me and scoffs, placing her hands on her hips, "I seriously have no words. All I can think of is, he's not getting another chance, we'll never mention this so-called date ever in history, I hate him even more if that's possible, and because this isn't a relationship I don't give two flying shits about what the story is." She declares, "I just want to know two things: One; are you guys brothers or not?"

I wanted to know that too. It's one of the many questions on my mind, "Step-brothers." Spencer corrected, nodding his head slightly.

"Alright. Second, how the hell am I getting home now?"

"I'll bring you home." I offer grabbing my phone off the couch and bringing my mug so I could place it in the sink.

"No, Kim. Please, wait. You can't leave just yet." He argues, following me into the kitchen.

"I think I can after all that." I disagree, walking to the front door with Katie.

"Let me get the chance to explain." He says, following us. "Come on Kim, please. I'll drop you off at home later. Let's just talk about this. Please." He begs again, reaching out for my hand as I try balancing myself to put on shoes.

"I can pick you up in an hour or so if you want to stay Kim." Katie offers, shrugging on her coat.

I lick my lips, thinking about it for a moment. I did want to know and I did want an explanation. It looked in his eyes like he did really want me to stay. Like he was apologetic. "Fine, one hour." I tell Katie, giving her my car keys, "One hour." I tell Spencer, with a stern look.

"That's all I need." He sighs, looking relieved.

"This family needs therapy." Katie says before she leaves. Spencer and I sit back down quietly on the sofa. I crossed my legs looking directly at him, waiting for the explanation of what sounded to be the biggest secret he could have been keeping from me. Who would keep that kind of secret from their girlfriend anyways? Why would you keep it in the first place?

"So six years ago Tyler's mom died in a car accident. No one really talks about it. I didn't think Tyler wants people to know. I don't know why but that's his business. My mom says its denial." He explains quietly and always looking at the corner of his eye checking to see if Tyler would pop in. "Four years ago his dad took a family vacation down to Florida so they could 'bond'. And at that time he met Sarah. My mom." He sighed shaking his head, "They 'fell in love' or it was 'love at first slight'. My mom had just divorced my dad a year before and she decided it was time to move on. So when Tyler and his dad and brother walked into our bakery." He trailed off, letting my imagination fill in the rest.

I nodded my head understanding where they were going with this. They fell in love, Spencer and his mom moved up here, and lived with the King's. Tyler and Spencer are step brothers, and no one even knew. How could people not know?

How did I not know this? How come no one told me? Why didn't Spencer tell me? Why do they keep this a secret? Millions of questions like that were flooding my mind.

I sat there, looking at him in shocked. Not only were they step brothers, but Tyler's mom died six years ago. All that time and I never heard a thing about it. You would think that you'd know something that tragic about the person who you spend at least seven hours with five days out of the week. So you could be there for them and understand their feelings. But it was all kept as a big secret and like Spencer said, it could only be denial. He didn't want to admit it. Sometimes that's what helps you get through it. It may not be right, or healthy, but that's how the brain works in order to help you get through something. It's strange what it'll do to protect you; you're brain, it's a strange thing I swear.

I'm not saying Tyler doesn't believe his mother is dead. But admitting it just makes it more real. It hurts to move on. Not only did I feel bad for Tyler and his family, I felt bad for Spencer. Keeping a secret of who your family is must make you feel ashamed, hurt, or disconnected. It doesn't help either that he left his home, moved to a different stated and started over in a new school.

"I hope you're quiet because you understand." Spencer whispers, fiddling with his thumbs, "It wasn't my idea to keep it a secret. I didn't think he'd keep it a secret for this long." He tells me, shrugging his shoulders.

"I understand." I agree, untwining his hands so I could hold one of them in mine. "That's Tyler's past, not yours." He looks relieved, and I guess you can say I'm surprised myself that I comprehend that. I think my sympathy clouded my knowledge but that's ok.

"I'm so relieved that you're not angry with me." He admits, "You can't tell anyone though, alright? If Tyler finds out that I told you, I don't know what he'll do to me." He smirks, but making sure I knew how serious he is.

"I promise." I agree, nodding my head. "I'm sorry I almost ran out of here without hearing you out. I'm glad I stayed to listen." I mention, bending over to hug him.

"Thank you for letting me explain. Any other girl would have probably ran out and not turned back." He chuckles, rubbing his hands up and down on my back.

"Guess I'm not every other girl." I joke, taking his face between my hands and pecking his lips.

He stared deep into my eyes as I tried pulling away. He held my wrists though, so my hands were kept on his face. A faint smile against his lips, a look of admiration fogging his hazel eyes. They looked more on the green side today, swirled with specks of brown and gold. It was like looking into a beautiful kaleidoscope. "I love you." He whispers, pushing a strand of hair out of my eyes and cupping one of his hands on my cheeks, "I really love you, beautiful, intelligent, bubbly, unique Kimberly Taylor." He lets it all go in one breath, as if he were relieved and a weight was lifted off his shoulders.

I was baffled, I wanted so badly to say it back because I had the same feelings, but it was just caught in my throat. I was speechless, breathless, in a complete daze. I needed to say it back before he thought I didn't feel the same way. But I was like Ariel, my voice was taken away. All I could do was kiss him, and a real, passionate, deep kiss to get my voice back and repeat his words. "I love you." I was able to blurt out when I came up for air. A smile on both of our face, panting breath, and foreheads resting on one another. "Spencer Gray you are the most chivalrous, compassionate, and charming guy I've ever dated; and I really love that about you."

"All C's, huh?" He chuckles, flicking his eyes back down to my lips.

"Didn't even notice." I giggle shaking my head, "Handsome, humorous, and humble. All H's."

"Now you're being a show off." He laughs, pressing him lips again to mine. My hands threaded through his soft hair, pressing him so close to me that I slipped back, laying on the couch and bringing him down with me.

"Klutz, kind and... kooky." He laughs at the last one, me as well, "K is hard, you've got to give me some credit."

I think about it, staring at his lips as one came up, "Kissable?"

"Definitely kissable." He agrees, without hesitation, and leans back down making my insides melt. "So kissable, I could kiss every inch of you."

"I like to see you try." I challenge, tracing a finger from his cheekbone to his lips. I mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes, and a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"What about the movie?" He remembers, looking over to the paused TV screen.

"It's not as interesting as this." I smile, pulling him back down for another passionate kiss.

You see, trust can be very easy to break. It hard to earn, but very easy to lose, and then even harder to earn back. Trust is a two way street and trust, it's like glass. It can only be replaced, if you try to repair it there will always be cracks; and it'll never be the same again.

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