“Nej!” she said, firmly removing the hand.
“Oh, please, I just want to have some fun!”
“Peter. If you respect me, then you stop this, now!”
Somehow, her words permeated the slightly alcohol fogged brain, and he felt ashamed of himself, the booze amplifying his emotions.
“Oh shit! I’m sorry, Kayla. I just can’t help it. You are so gorgeous!”
She remained slightly cool towards him all the way home. Sally parked outside Ingrid’s house, allowing the boys to get out. Pete had parked his car there.
“Shit, Sal, I’m too pissed to drive home. Can you drop me off at home and I’ll pick the car up tomorrow?”
“Your mum will be thrilled about that, won’t she?”
“If I get nicked, or crash the fucking thing, she’ll be even more pissed off!”
They looked at Kayla.
“I am not allowed to drive in this country,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll drop you off, and you can jolly well come and collect it tomorrow,” Sally said.
Pete looked sheepishly at Kayla.
“Goodnight. I’m sorry I behaved like an idiot.”
“God natt! Vi ses snart. Goodnight, see you soon,” Kayla said, kissing him on the cheek.
Sally shook her head and started her car again, letting the guys clamber in.
“Don’t go to bed yet, we need to chat!” she said to Kayla as she drove off.
Kayla smiled and walked indoors.
“Well?”
“It was fun.”
“Did he kiss you?”
“Yes. It was nice, but he started getting a bit serious. I stopped him.”
“Good girl. If you take control at the start, they are easy to manage.”
“Sally’s coming back. We’re going to have a chat.”
“That’s fine. I am going to bed. Lock up will you?”
Ingrid gave Kayla a hug, more relieved than she could ever admit. For the first time, she sincerely believed that this could work. She went up to bed, allowing Kayla to have the freedom to talk to her friend in peace.
The two girls chatted late into the night. More than anything else, Sally wanted Kayla to declare her feelings. Kayla was experiencing so much confusion that Sally felt it important that she try to get her friend to have a clear idea who she was and what she wanted.
“So, in your mind, are you a girl yet?” Sally asked.
“I think so. Life makes more sense as a girl. It’ll be better when the doctor gives his verdict after the day surgery.”
“Did you feel being kissed was right or wrong?”
“That’s a hard one. Right, I think. I know I liked it and could feel myself almost getting carried away. The problem is I’m still in that in-between place, so it spoilt things.”
“If it’s any consolation, I didn’t ever think of you as Kyle, more’s the pity! You’re Kayla to me and I still love you, but in a different way.”
They had a hug and Sally went home. Kayla took ages getting to sleep. She couldn’t forget the feelings she had as Pete kissed her.
She had a lazy Sunday; doing some washing in the morning, lunch with her parents, followed by some assignment work for her A levels in the afternoon. She was wearing jeans and a tee shirt, but still wore her breast forms in her bra. Her own breasts were sensitive but still small, far too small to go without enhancement.
At about four o’clock, her mobile rang. She thought it might be Sally, but didn’t recognise the number,
“Hej?” she said, in Swedish.
“Kayla, it’s Pete.”
“ Hej, Pete.”
“I adore your accent. Look, I hope you don’t mind me calling, but I felt I ought to apologise for last night.”
“Why, what did you do?”
“I think I came on a bit strong, and I did drink a little too much. I was afraid I’d upset you”
“You didn’t upset me. You were a little too fast for me, but I liked it, I think.”
“I’m glad. The last thing I’d ever want to do is upset you.” The relief was tangible in his voice.
There was a silence for a moment.
“Um, Kayla?”
“Ja, I’m still here.”
“I just wanted to thank you, for going out with me.”
“That’s okay. It was fun.”
“Is it okay if I come over and collect the car?”
She’d forgotten he’d left the car parked outside.
“Why should I mind?”
“Okay. Would you like to go out for a while?”
“And do what?”
“We could take the dog a walk.”
“I don’t have a dog...”
“I do. A Labrador, do you fancy walking down by the river?”
She looked out of the window at the rain.
“It’s raining.”
“Have you got a coat?”
“Ja, of course.”
“Then, please come?”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be over in a few minutes, as my dad has to drop me off.”
“Okay, adjö´så lä´nge!” she said. (Pronounced ‘Ayeur so-len-ger’= Bye for now.)
He was right, for fifteen minutes later the doorbell rang. Kayla had taken the opportunity to apply her makeup.
Kayla answered the door and saw Pete standing there. His father was standing a little behind him.
On an impulse, she kissed Pete on the cheek.
“Hej Peter!”
“Hej, Kayla,” he said with a grin. His father started chuckling.
“How is it, that in ten years of schooling, we could never get him interested in languages, yet already he’s started speaking Swedish? You must be Kayla? Pete’s said very little about anything else over the last couple of weeks. Now I can see why!”
“Hello, Mr Groves. It is nice to meet you,” Kayla said, laying on her accent a little thicker.
“Please, call me Martin. It’s nice to meet you too. Any girl who can reduce my son to a gibbering wreck must be very special!”
Kayla smiled delightfully and Martin Groves could see instantly what Peter saw in her.
“Well, enjoy your walk, don’t get too wet!” he said, turning and leaving them alone.
“You come in a minute?” she asked.
“Yeah, if you’d like me to.”
She smiled.
“Of course, come!”
She opened the door and he walked into the hall. Ingrid came out of the kitchen.
“Is this your boyfriend?” she asked Kayla.
“I suppose so. Yes.”
“This is Peter Groves. Pete this is my grandmother, Ingrid Clarke.”
“Mrs Clarke, pleased to meet you,” Pete said, shaking her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Peter. Now, be good Kayla, and don’t break him!” Ingrid said, leaving them alone.
“So, what did she ask you?” Pete asked, when she’d gone.
“She ask me if you’re my boyfriend.”
“And?”
“I said, I suppose so, yes,” she replied with a smile.
He returned the smile, kissing her.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, enjoying holding her close to him. She felt warm and fuzzy feelings.
“That’s silly, you only saw me yesterday.”
“I’d like to be with you every moment of every day,” he said, looking very serious for a moment. She felt a flush rising, so turning away; she went to find her coat.
Just up the road was a large expanse of park adjoining some woodland, so they took Percy, the exuberant black Labrador, for a long walk.
They had been walking for a few minutes when, almost tentatively, he took her by the hand. Immediately her pulse quickened, so she squeezed his hand reassuringly. He squeezed her back and she felt slightly light-headed. She was seventeen and had never held anyone’s hand since being a small child. She imagined the experience as a boy, and then yearned for it as something she never thought she’d be; the girl she was fast becoming.