|Chapter: 51|
"I asked her first so its me."
"Who cares bruh? Let her decide." Mason rolled his eyes.
"Tell him its me not him", Jason tried again looking at me with his puppy eyes and I almost fell for it. They were fighting and the reason is as stupid as it sounds. Finally we are going back today. Jason asked me if he could ride with me since Salvor decided to go with the boys instead of me. I saw it coming all the way and it honestly hurts. Out of nowhere, Mason thought he is a better company to be with.
"Use that fucking puppy eyeballs with referee dude." Mason pushed him. Thanks to Mason! They were really hypnotising and actually working I must say.
"Alright. What's your problem big guy?" Jason pushed him back.
"Both of you stop. My car has a thing call backseat", I shouted to knock some sense inside their thick skulls.
"SHOTGUN!"
All three of our heads turn to the voice. Ian was standing near my car with a smirk on his face. Jason and Mason groaned at the same time while I smiled at him.
"I already have my things packed in. Plus, Jason you have a van to drive and Mason you need permission from Black which I have", Ian said and got inside the car swiftly teasing them.
"Sneaky son of a bitch", Mason scoffed and walk away.
"Next time beautiful", Jason winked. He was acting like I was desperate to ride with him. I just rolled my eyes at him. He laughed and went towards his van. I never thought one day all the jocks from soccer team of Fallon High would be this fun to be with. I was wrong all these years, they are friendly and... good people.
"I still think I should let Stella drive my car and I can drive yours", Nick said as he walked down the porch jiggling his keys.
"No you're not. You brought her so you're taking her back. We already discussed about this last night", I sighed. I don't want to come between their friendship and make Stella hate me even more than she already does. And she needs him as a friend of course.
He shook his head closing his eyes tightly. Something he always do to stop himself from dragging a matter.
"But listen if anything you call me. Ian can drive for you", he suggested, while buttoning down my cardigan.
"No, I'm not letting him drive my grandad's beloved mustang", I said pouting. He laughed now adjusting the scarf around my neck, properly.
"Then why do you let me?"
"You are a special case", I said out loud without thinking and mentally face palmed after I realised. He smiled instead of smirking.
"I love you", he whispered with his dark orbs staring back into my blue ones. I felt my cheeks burn from his intense gaze and nothing came out of my dry throat. I nodded looking away.
"Uh.. we should.."
"Have you changed your mind already?", he asked with hurt clearly evident in his voice. Cupping my face, he turned me to face him again.
"No!"
"Then say it", he begged.
"I love you Nick." I'm still new to this. Its not like I don't love him. I really do but whenever he says that he takes my breathe away and my throat gets all dry.
The frown on his face didn't go away. I know he was thinking I didn't mean it but I don't know the way to tell him how much more it means to me than I can ever put into words.
Slowly, I stood on my tip toes and pulled him down to my height before pecking his lips and then smiled at him. "I really love you."
He rested his forehead on mine closing his eyes. "Always say that you love me and remind me I wasn't dreaming when you said the last time."
"I will", I promised.
"Nicky, are you planning to keep me all day waiting here?", Stella's stern voice made us pull away from our warm embrace. She was throwing deadly glares at me with anger and hatred in her eyes clearly visible. And that actually scared me.
I cleared my throat bringing my eyes back on Nick. "We should get going."
He gave me a nod with his lips tightly sealed together. He was still holding back the urge to drive my car.
"Ian, don't fuck my trust up and take her home safely", Nick ordered him. In return Ian smirked and saluted, "Yes boss."
I laughed. "I'm the one taking him home. Now go."
He hesitantly turned around to walk to his car. Few steps away from me and I already miss his presence. Shaking my head for just standing there stupidly and looking at his back, I turned around to leave too.
"Rena wait!"
I turned my head so fast 'causing a whiplash. Shit! That hurts. He was already in front of me. He took his beanie off his head, brushed his messy blonde behind before placing the beanie on my head.
"Don't take this off", he ordered pulling it down properly and then kissed my forehead.
"But you..."
"No but. Now you go and I'll meet you after I drop Stella." He pushed me to the direction of my car. With a smile on my face I went.
"I'm so sorry for making you wait", I apologised to Ian getting inside the driver seat.
"Make me your bacon sandwich and I'll forgive you." He beamed at me.
I started the car. "Sure."
"Can you imagine us years from today, sharing a park bench quietly. How terribly strange to be seventy", I sang along with the song playing inside my car. I didn't even realise I was doing that.
"Thats cool", Ian said smirking. I gave him an awkward shy smile.
"My grandad's playlist. He used to play this song while driving me to school. Old friends by Paul Simon never gets old", I explained.
"Old man had a good taste in music huh", he sounded amused.
"Yes he did", I agreed. I smiled remembering the moments we spent together. His collection of songs by Simon and Garfunkel and his blue mustang was his last gift to me. Three years after I shifted in Lockswood, he started to get seriously ill and then he passed away followed by my grandmother leaving mom and me all alone.
"You really are something." I was pulled out of my trance.
"Huh?"
"I can see why Black is so whipped by you. I mean, even Jason and Mason were fighting while ago." He chuckled rubbing the back if his neck. "You're different, not pretentious and you change the bad into good. I've never seen Black this happy and laughing before but like suddenly you filled his empty jar with little balls of happiness and he found his light through the dark", he blurted out.
I didn't know what to say to that. No one ever complimented me in that way. What do people even say in this situation?
"Thank you... I guess", I said sheepishly.
Then we fell into a comfortable silence. 'I am a rock' started to play. My fingers were tapping on the steering wheel with the beats of the song. I love the part where it says,
I have my books
And my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me
I am a rock
I am an island
And a rock feels no pain
And an island never cries....
"Man these are really good. Can I get the names of the songs?", Ian asked.
"Yes why not", I replied happily. "But honestly I never thought you'd like this kind of songs. No offense but you look more like Jazz genre person."
"Don't judge a book by its cover. You're hurting me." He made a fake hurt face. I rolled my eyes playfully at him. "You're right. I never thought this kind of taste of music in me even existed until today."
"Yeah. We always think we don't like something without even trying it once. Its not the thing we don't like but the idea of the thing. I mean for example you must've thought they are probably old and boring. But now when you listen to it, you have a different opinion, the real opinion but not some random assumptions. Maybe thats why, everything deserves a chance just like the song deserved your attention", I ranted on without even thinking. "I'm sorry I.. I know I talk a lot."
He shook his head laughing. "No you're actually good. I can listen to you rant all day."
"You don't mean that?"
"I do. I have an experience of listening girls' ranting about fashion, diet whenever I took them out for dates but you talking about life and old songs is something new and refreshing." He smiled. Ian was a charmer for sure and better than all the jocks. He respected girls and never participated in bullying. May be that is why, he is so easy to talk with.
I didn't say anything in return. Its not like I had any idea what to say also. The silence was comforting as we pass the vast greenlands on the sides of the long narrow road. Few trees here and there, the song was slow and relaxing and what more could you wish, was the last thought in my mind.
"Do you love him?"
Now that sudden question threw me over the edge from enjoying the peace. Why was he interested in knowing anyway? But remember, Ian is easy to talk with.
"Yes." Simple and perfect which also means 'I don't want to further go into this matter'. He didn't seem to understand.
"What do you see in him?"
"A person with hard cover with no emotion on the outside but in the inside he just want to be loved. But I'm scared to be the one to love him", I truly replied shaking my head. I had no clue why was I even telling him all these and somehow, it didn't feel wrong.
"What are you scared of?"
"From the heights he throw me is scary. What if he's not standing down there to catch me and I'd break myself apart. That thought alone can scare me to death."
"I'm sorry for asking you all these questions. Last one, what if he really breaks you would you let someone else mend it for you?"
I look at him. He was waiting with hope in his eyes and emotions I found hard to point my finger to. I brought my eyes back on the road. I never thought about that before but now I do.
"Loving someone with the pieces will be hard but I guess.... not impossible."
"Not impossible", he repeated mostly to himself and like he felt satisfied with my answer, he smiled. Weird.
The rest of the ride was silent again. From my side eye I saw Ian taking a nap. I smiled looking at his sleeping self.
After finally the two hours ride we entered Lockswood garden. I tapped on his shoulder to wake him up.
"Ian wake up. I need you to tell me your address", I called.
He yawned stretching his arms and then open his eyes. "We are here already. For how long did I sleep?"
"Well for more than an hour."
After another ten minutes ride, we reached his residence. He unpacked his things from my car.
"Thanks for the ride and don't forget my bacon sandwich", he said resting his arms on the passenger window.
"No worries", I said rolling my eyes.
"See ya", he waved and turn to walk to his house. I turn on the engine of my car.
"Serena?", he look behind again.
"Yea." I prepared to drive away.
"Black is really lucky and it will be his biggest mistake if he ever breaks you 'cause there are other people waiting in a line just to mend you." Then he retreated back inisde his house closing his front door. For some moments, I just kept staring on his door thinking what was he trying to say.
Pulling myself out of my thoughts as well as the car out of his driveway I headed to my house. Hot shower is what I need right now.
But one thought never left my mind, will I really be able to love someone else with the pieces?
I carried my duffle bag on my shoulder as I walk up the porch. Unlocking the door, I swiftly get in. My footsteps froze when I saw the figure sitting near the counter table with a glass of what looks like whiskey in her hand.
"Mom?"
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