I sat in the back of Cole's car waiting for Ashley. To say the silent car ride was awkward as an understatement. I scowled at Cold with my arms crossed while he nervously looked at me from the rearview mirror then back out the windshield.
"Screw this. Will you tell me what I screwed up with now?" Cole blurted.
I scoffed. "So now you grow a pair of balls?"
He frowned and turned around in his seat so he was facing me. "What did your father say last night?"
I tapped my fingers against my arm seeing as Cole really had no idea why I was mad I decided to tell him. "After you cowardly ran away last night, very manly by the way, my dad told me the conversation you had. Tell me Cole, why did you not correct my fathers assumption when he asked you if we were sleeping together?"
"I told him we weren't and then he insulted my manhood saying lying is for cowards. I let my ego get the best of me okay Care?"
This little fucker.
"I swear Cole I am going to shred apart that ego of yours!" Before I can lung as him and wrap my arms around his neck Ashley opened the door and stared back and forth at us. "Why does it look like the fourth World War is about to go down?"
"Nothing." We both said at the same time stubbornly pouting. One thing I noticed about guys is their egos. Damn their need to prove they're men!
"Okay... Anyways, how is operation TDD going?" asked Ash.
"TDD?" Cole and I asked at the same time again. It's creepy how often we do it, not Matt and Mason weird but still weird.
"Take Dean Down, duh!" Ash scoffed as if she was saying the sky is blue.
"It's actually going great! He um asked me on a date..." I blushed. I was sort of nervous about it.
Ashley whipped around with a big smile on her face and started squealing. "Oh my god! This is great!"
"No it's not," scoffed Cole. "He's stealing her first date."
Ashley gasped and I winced. Here comes in an earful in 5...4...3...
"Caroline! You can't go!"
"Thank you!" exclaimed Cole.
I rolled my eyes. "It's okay, its not that big of a deal."
Lie. Definitely a lie. I just didn't want anyone telling me I'm wrong, I hate being wrong.
"Not big of deal?" Ashley gasped again. "Oh my god, have you been kissed before? What if he takes your first kiss?"
The car screeched and swerved as honking filled the air around us.
"Jesus Cole! Are you trying to kill us?!" I yelled. He's never been a reckless driver, what on earth is he thinking?
His face was red in anger and he just grunted in response.
"Cole, what is going on with you?" screeched Ashley. Honestly, there's something off about Cole and it's been like that for a while. I've been giving him his space but he still hasn't opened up to me.
"Nothing," he grunted. Great, one worded answers. It's worse then I thought. Ashley and I shared a worried look but kept quiet until we got to school. As soon as Cole parked his car he strutted over to where our squad was. Ashley and I stayed back, I could see she was as worried as I was.
"Has he been off with you too?" I asked.
She nodded and bit her lip. "He looks like he's always debating something in his head and it's tearing him apart."
I couldn't agree more. "He hasn't spoke to you about it either?"
"If he hasn't said anything to you, he sure hasn't said anything to me," she shook her head.
Oh god. I feel like a crap best friend, why doesn't he feel like he could talk to me. Maybe I should as Dylan, maybe it was a guy thing.
A scared look ran across Ash's face. I raised a brow at her asking what's wrong, she just shook her head in response and shrugged her shoulders. Her eyes went behind my shoulder and she scowled. "I'll catch you later."
Before I can ask her what's wrong or where she was going, an arm wrapped around my shoulders.
"Hey babe," said Dean.
I could only roll my eyes in response. "You know we're not actually together right?"
He gave me the legendary Dean smirk. "Not yet."
Here comes eye roll number two. "Well, then don't call me babe until we do get together Little D."
He scowled at me and removed his arm from around me. "Don't call me that Caroline. In exchange for calling you by your name I expect the same in return."
Damn, he has a point. I would much rather be called Caroline then all the other names he's come up with. However, I still don't want him to call me babe.
"Okay then my little pumpkin spice latte, to what do I owe the pleasure of having you bless my morning?" I asked. He scrunched his nose at the nickname I gave him.
"We have our date tonight sugar plum," he put his arm around me again pulling me flush against him.
I tried leaning back to create some distance between us, it wasn't much but it was better then nothing. "Did they contact you bug bug?"
"Bug bug?"
I shrugged, "it was better then marshmallow."
He winced a bit but I didn't miss the little tug of his lips. Aw, I almost made him laugh. "They did, now as hot as you look now the place we're going to needs you to show a bit more... skin."
I tried pushing him away to show that the frown on my face was real, but his grip was firm. What kind of dress code didn't allow skinny jeans?
"Just trust me honey bee, I'm not going to take you somewhere that will hurt you. I have some respect after all."
I could tell from his expression he was serious.
"Come on, ease up. You're going to enjoy it. Now smile before your boy toy comes over here and kills me," he said and I was confused for a moment until I realized what he meant. Catching Cole in the corner of my eye, he brought a whole other meaning to if looks can kill. As soon as we made eye contact I smiled at him and I saw his shoulders tense down.
I turned my attention back to Dean who had a smug look on his face. As if he knew something I didn't. "Where are you taking me then?"
"I can't tell you, come on leave it as a surprise," he urged.
I crossed my arms as best I could with Dean hanging on to me like he was. "I hate surprises Fuzz Butt."
He threw his head back and laughed whole heartedly. I did a little victory dance in my head. I got serious Dean to laugh with me and not at me. "Of course you do. I'll pick you up at seven."
And like that he finally let me go and walked towards his best friend Jake. Would he be there too tonight? It wouldn't be so bad I guess.
I walked back to my squad and I can see all the questioning looks everyone was giving me.
"Is everything alright?" Cole asked. I nodded and gave him a warm smile hoping it would put everyone at ease.
"Dylan, I want to speak to you before class," I turned my attention to him. He furrowed his eyebrows but followed me none the less.
"What's up?" he asked when we were away from the crew.
"Have you noticed Cole's behaviour?" I asked.
His eyes widened before he looked at me quizzically. "Did you find out?"
I raised my eyebrow. "Find out what?"
Dylan cleared his throat and looked the other way. "I guess you'll find out soon."
I groaned and ran my hands through my hair before running them through them again worried that I ruined my hair. "I'm just worried. Is he okay?"
"It depends on what he does," he shrugged.
Why coded messages? "I don't understand."
Dylan shook his head. He looked sort of angry. He looked at me with all seriousness as if he's trying to figure something out. "Do you honestly not see it?"
Okay he's officially confused me.
"See what?"
Dylan threw his hands in the air. "How can you not notice it?"
Okay now I'm mad. How can he expect me to know what the hell he's talking about. "Notice what Dyl?!?"
His expression softened a bit and he let out a loud sigh. "I can't really expect you to notice when he hasn't come to terms with it himself. You know what, forget we had this conversation. If you want to know what's wrong with Cole then ask him yourself, he's the only person that will give you the right answer."
The bell rang before I can even process what happened. Great.
***
The day went on the same. Dean flirting, Cole looking like he can commit murder, my friends trying to find out what's going on. Ash and Thea were coming over after school with a few outfits for me to try on. We decided to go with a mini leather high waisted black skirt and a white shirt with a leather jacket on top. I wore ankle stud covered high heeled boots. I kept my hair down and has a smoky eye makeup with dark red lips. Ash got to do my makeup since Thea chose my outfit, I've never seen two girls fight over giving someone a makeover, I had to say it was entertainment.
As soon as they left, Cole came over looking worried.
"Did he tell you where he's taking you?" he asked.
I shook my head. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll tell you where we are when we get there?"
Cole scowled and swore under his breath. "There's no convincing you not to go is there?"
I laughed and held his hand. "Stop worrying Cole. You're taking away the mood of my first date."
Cole's face turned all sorts of colours and his frown was now deeper. "It's not a date. One day someone is going to take you on a real first date and it'll be amazing."
I couldn't help but smile and my heart warmed. I leaned over and gave him a hug. He tightened his hold around me and sighed into my hair. "Take care of yourself tonight Care."
"I will Cole."
He let me go and gave me a weak smile. He started walking to the door and then stopped and looked back. "You look beautiful by the way."
His ears blushed and my heart skip a beat. He's complimented me before but this one felt different. He smiled once more before leaving. I heard the doorbell ring. That had to be Dean. I looked in the mirror one more time before going downstairs.
"-and you don't get too comfortable..." my dad was giving Dean the pre-date threat but unlike other normal pre-date threats, Cole was there giving him it too.
I cleared my throat taking the attention away from Dean who gave me a grateful look before obviously checking me out.
"Look at you princess, your date is really lucky," said my dad with a twinkle in his eyes. I had to groan at how embarrassed I was. "I was just telling Derek-"
"-Dean," I corrected him.
"To come home at ten max," my father completely ignored my correction. Yeah it doesn't look like he likes him that much. My dad likes everyone so I was sort of nervous.
"Don't worry sir, Caroline will be treated just right," Dean's voice cracked.
"She better," Cole grumbled. My dad looked at him and nodded in agreement. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Men.
Dean glared at Cole, they've hated each other before but they hate each other more now.
"Shall we go?" I asked trying to ease the tension.
Dean nodded, he obviously wanted to get away from here. I kissed my dad and Cole goodbye before following Dean to his car. I stopped in my track. His car was beautiful, and I could tell it's been altered so he must have built it himself. Dean opened my door and waited for me to sit. Once he was in I let go. "I think I'm in love with your car."
I touched the beautiful leather seats and started looking at the gadgets he had inside. I think I have a feeling about his engine.
Dean grunted. "You're suppose to fall in love with me, not my car."
"Yeah, that's not happening," I giggled.
We made small talk for the ride there and I was really liking the fact that Dean and I were actually getting a long. After half an hour of driving we reached a crowd of people drinking and dancing. A bunch of cars were lined up and people were sitting on them. People made space for our car, all greeting Dean and cheering for him. I think I have a clue where we are. As soon as I saw the track I knew for sure. We were at a drag race. An illegal drag race.