Authors note:
Please note that this is my first go at trying to fully write a novel. Any positive comments are appreciated. Trigger warning, this story may include scenes of anxiety, panic attacks and depression. Ignore the change in type, from regular to bold this chapter included some scenes of editing and addition to it. This will be the only mixed font part. :)
Lots of love
Carrie
NOW TO THE STORY!
7:35am
I'm standing at the bus stop and I'm freezing my butt off. The bus was supposed to come fifteen minutes ago and I'm about to give up and walk home but I don't think I'll make it all the way especially since I'm already a human Popsicle. I start to turn back up the street and leave the bus stop when a beat up old pickup truck pulls up and he honks his horn. I look up and the worlds cutest guy is sitting there staring at me.
"Excuse me mam, do you need a ride to school?" He asks and runs his finger through his beautiful blonde hair and smiles at me.
"Actually you're just in time. I was about to leave as it seems the bus completely forgot about me."
"We'll come get in." He says as he pats the empty seat closest to me.
"How do I know I can trust you?" My hand on the door knob.
"Here's your proof. It is the same as yours." He says as he flashes me the name on his letterman jacket. Nickolaus Carter, a football patch sewn right below his name. I glance down and remember I'm wearing my letterman jacket too.
"Come on get in I promise you're safe with me. And I can tell you're freezing your butt off" he reaches over and opens the door and I can feel the heat as it exits from the truck.
"Okay why not" I say as I climb inside and roll the window back up (it was only open a tiny bit and this is an old truck without auto window or locks) I buckle up and try to warm my hands as he starts to drive to our high school.
"You know it's not nice to leave a pretty girl standing in the cold." He stopped at a stop sign and glance over at me and began to turn in the direction of our school. My hands are almost thawed when he reaches over and take mine in his. Don't worry he's a a red light and we've been caught in rush hour traffic as we near the school. He's rubbing his hands all over mine and blowing hot breath on to them. I could definitely get used to this. The quarterback of the football team warming my hands.
Then the light turns green and he turns into the bojangles drive thru.
"Hi welcome to bojangles! How may I help you!"
"Yes I would like two hot chocolates and two berry Bo biscuits please."
"Ok you total will be $_4.98_ at the first window." The lady says as he begins to pull through. He pays with cash as a lady hand him his order.
"Thank you!"He shouts to the lady as he pulls away and hands me a hot chocolate. I take the hot chocolate and lift the cup up to my lips, the steam coming out of the drink hole an fogging up my glasses a little bit. I take a sip and the chocolate is just the right temperature, not to hot and not to cold and the chocolate is rich with a little bit of whip cream on top.
"Thank you. This defiantly makes this morning better." I wanted to say but I didn't want to sound weird. The heat from the foam cup continues to warm my hands.
"Here take this." he says as he reaches inside the bag and pulls out a tan container and two sets of utensils. I set my hot chocolate inside the cup holder under the radio and take it from him. He pulls into the student parking lot and into his parking space, slot number twelve, the same number as his football jersey. He puts the truck in park, leaving it on for warmth.
"Oh my goodness they smell delicious." opening up the container this heavenly smell hits me in the face and my stomach growls.
"What is it? You look like you've never had one of these before." He looks at me a quizzical expression on his face.
" You got me red handed. I was never fortunate enough to have one of these in my entire life."
"Well don't just stare at it, take a bite!" I start to unwrap my fork but its out of my hand before I realize what happened.
"Nope! You don't need this! We eat with our fingers here!" He chuckles and grabs one of the biscuits and moves it towards my face. I can't help but chuckle and take a bite.
"mmmm..so..good" I reply with my mouth full. We continue to stuff our faces until there is nothing left of the biscuits but the icing on our fingers.
"Um...okay." I say liking my fingers. "I can't believe I've gone this long and have never eaten one of these before! It's amazing!" I say excitedly. We finish our hot chocolates and he turns the truck off, we wait a few minutes not ready to face the cold.
After we gain the courage, we decide it's time to exit the truck.
"On the count of three we open the doors and make a run for the building. First one there wins. Sound good?" he suggests as we get our backpacks on and lean towards the door.
"Game on!"
"Okay. are you ready?" he asks grabbing the truck handle.
"One." I say as I nod my head.
"Two." we both pull the handles but don't push the door all the way open yet.
"Three!!!" We both yell as we jump out of the truck, quickly shut the doors and make a dash.
As the entrance to the school comes into view my boots catch a piece of ice and I slip, face planting into a pile of snow. I take a deep breath and try to stand back up, a hand coming into view.
"Come on don't give up yet" I look up to find this big cheesy smile looking at me. I grab Nicks hand and he helps pull me up. He grabs my backpack and helps dust the snow off my face.
"Thanks!" I say and take off running to the front door, I reach it almost running into the principal.
"Woah! Slow down kid! Class isn't worth getting hurt!" He says catching me as I almost slip again. Principal Williams is one of the coolest guys ever and definitely one of the best principals I have ever met. He can be very strict but also very cool at the same time.
"No fair you cheated!" Nick is laughing, "You fell on purpose just to test me and see if I would help you and then when I did you got a head start!" That was a very good plan but I actually didn't mean to fall.
We enter the building and head for the commons area. Nick's buddies immediately find him and try to show him something, I take my backpack and tell him thanks for the ride. then I walk to the library, and life returns to normal. I head to class when it's time and continue to live the life of invisibility. That is until lunch rolls around.
***************
I go through the lunch line today's meal is, homemade pizza, it tastes like cardboard with pepperoni on top, fries with way to much seasoning, and sweet tea that taste like dirt the only thing edible is the pudding cup for desert and that's because these lunch ladies didn't make it themselves. Basically we have the crappiest food ever or you get chicken sandwiches everyday or you don't eat. I get free lunch though so I really shouldn't complain. I sit down at my usual spot in the corner of the dining hall and at the empty table. I grab my book out of my backpack, opening up my pudding cup I continue to read from where I left off this morning. Just as I am getting to a good part a bag plops down on the table and butt scoots next to mine. The pudding cup is snatched from my hands and is replaced by half of a sandwich. I look up and Nicks face is very close to mine.
"Hey! I was eating that!!" I slap him playfully on the shoulder.
"You know you didn't really want that." He shoves me with his shoulder and takes a bite of his sandwich.
"Yes I did! I love pudding!" I put my spoon in my mouth and make a pouty face.
"Aww come on don't cry, I gave you half my sandwich!" he says wrapping his arm around me.
"What is this anyways?" I ask scared to take a bite.
"It's a tuna melt sandwich. What is this another first for you? Please tell me you are not the type of person who orders the same meal all the time and doesn't change it up once in a while." We stare at each other for a minute and then the unexpected thing happens, he is pushing my hand with the sandwich up to my face and says "Go on take a bite." but before i can open my mouth to do so, the sandwich smacks me on the lips and i have no choice but to lick the tuna off. Then I take an actual bite.
"See it's good to try new things." and he's right it is.
"This is really good. Did you make this?" I ask as I take another bite.
"Wow i'm not that amazing, and no my mom makes my lunch for me. She's the best" I take another bite as he unpacks the rest of his lunch. Two can of coke, a bag of nacho cheese doritos, a ziplock full of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, along with a side of ranch appear before my very eyes. He opens the cans of coke and slides one towards me. A napkin with chips and veggies also get slid towards me. "Here eat this its good for you." he sticks a carrot in my mouth and I laugh.
"But this you your lunch, that your mom made for you!" I put emphasis on the you part. I feel bad because I can't give him anything in return.
"Well now it's our lunch and you will just have to get over it. I am not letting you eat that garbage." He moves the lunch box and a little note falls out and I instantly reach for it. Almost instantly he realized what it is and tries to grab it back from me. Raising my hand higher I open the note.
"Hope you are having a great day sweetie! Don't forget how much I love you! Love Mom." I read aloud and even shed a little tear.
"Give that back it's not for you!" He snatches it playfully out of my hand and then puts the note up to his lips and gives it a kiss. "I love you too mom." and pockets the note into the front zipper pouch on his backpack. Well somebody has a great mom. I think to myself when I see all the notes he has inside that pouch. I get a little depressed and start to break down a little bit. I didn't think something so small like that would impact me so much.
"Thanks for lunch but I've gotta go now." My voice shakes as I get up, grab my stuff and run to the bathroom, making it into the stall as the flood of tears hit me. I grab some toilet paper and slide down the wall as I continue to sob. Life's not fair and I know that but why does it seem like everyone always has this perfect life when I don't. It freaking sucks. Why is Nick even paying me any attention? I'm not the pretty stick thin brunette cheerleader that is his type. Why did he even stop this morning and pick me up, he could have kept driving and he got breakfast, that was so freaking delicious. He gave me half of his lunch. A knock on the door jolts me out of my own thoughts.
"Are you okay in there?" It's a girls voice and as soon as I am almost calmed down enough to say yes, a hand appears under the door full of tissues.
"Thanks." I say as I sniffle and take the tissues from her hand.
"It's okay you are allowed to let it out." I don't know who this girl is but she is extremely sweet. I finally gain the urge to stand up and unlock the stall.