Chapter 18 #2
“He won’t. He’s in one of his moods. He almost left school without me.”
“Trystan!” Brock yells as we catch a glimpse of Trystan on his way to the kitchen.
“I’m not taking her!” he yells. “Chad’s on his way over.”
Brock sighs. “I’d take you myself but I’m waiting for a very important call.”
“I can take her.” Shayla walks toward us, holding a pile of clothes. “I’m just getting the dry cleaning and then I’m heading out. I can give her a ride.”
“That’d be great!” I say, thinking it’ll give me a few minutes to talk to Shayla. I really wish we could hang out more. I like her.
Brock’s rubbing his hand over his jaw, like he’s contemplating whether he should allow this. Like just being seen with her could ruin my reputation.
He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet. “Could you pick her up as well?” he asks, handing Shayla two twenty-dollar bills.
“Oh, you don’t have to pay me. I go right by the place on my way to the dry cleaner.”
“Take the money. This is a job,” he says, making it clear this isn’t a social outing. She’s just the help, paid to take me somewhere. “Can you pick her up when she’s done?”
“Yes, Mr. Halliway.” She stuffs the money in her pocket and turns to me. “Ready to go?”
“I just need to drop my backpack in my room. I’ll be right back.”
When I’m in my room, I consider changing clothes but don’t, knowing Shayla is waiting for me. I hurry back to the front door. Brock is gone, but Shayla is there, a huge smile on her face.
“What’s with you?” I say, smiling back.
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
I follow her out to her car.
“Ready for your lesson?” she asks as she pulls out of the driveway.
“Not really. I didn’t think they’d get back to me this soon. They said I had to fill out some paperback before my first lesson. And Brock was supposed to sign something.” I pause. “I didn’t even give him the form yet. I’m not supposed to do this until all the paperwork is in.”
“Maybe they thought they already had it. I wouldn’t worry about it.” She’s still smiling.
“What’s going on with you? Why are you smiling so much?”
“I always smile.”
“Not like that. Are you dating someone?”
“Actually, I am. A guy at school. He’s on the basketball team. We’re going out this weekend.”
“And you’re already smiling like that?”
She laughs. “How about you? Still seeing Jackson?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean?”
I sigh. “We kind of had a fight.”
“So that’s why you look so sad.”
“I don’t look sad.”
“You look like someone just took your puppy.”
“I’ve never had a puppy.”
“I haven’t either, but I’m sure people who do look as sad as you if someone takes it. So what happened?”
“We were talking last night and got into an argument. I got mad and hung up on him.”
“Did he call back?”
“No. I haven’t heard from him. I’m getting worried. I don’t want to lose him over this, but I also don’t want him keeping secrets from me.”
“What secrets?”
“I don’t want to get into it.” I look out the side window. “I really miss him, Shayla, more than I ever missed Axl. Even when I moved here, I didn’t miss Axl as much as I miss Jackson, and it hasn’t even been a whole day yet.”
“Do you love him?” she asks.
“I don’t want to answer that. Admitting it to myself will just make me feel worse.”
“Why?”
“Because that fight we had is probably the end, which is sad because we’re really good together.
I know it doesn’t seem like we would be, but we are.
We understand each other. We have fun together.
I feel better when I’m around him. I was so depressed when I got here, and I still am when I’m alone in that house, but Jackson makes it all better.
I don’t know what I’m going to do without him. ”
“Maybe you won’t have to find out.”
“He’s not going to call me. He hasn’t even texted me all day. That’s enough to tell me it’s over.”
“It’s been less than a day. Give him some more time. He’s got a lot going on.” She slows down and turns.
“Do you know where you’re going?” I ask.
“Yeah. We’re almost there.”
“I didn’t even tell you the name of the place. How do you know where to go?”
“I just assumed it was this one.”
“What one?”
“The one everyone goes to.”
“This is definitely the wrong way. This road takes us to the beach. The Driver’s Ed place is on the other side of town.”
“Is it?” She laughs.
“Shayla, what’s going on?”
“Just hold on. We’re almost there.”
“Almost where? Where are you taking me?”
She pulls into the parking lot for the public beach. She shuts the car off and turns to me.
“So I just have to say that I wasn’t sure about this when he asked.”
“Who? What are you talking about?”
“You know how I feel about him, but I know you really like him and from the speech he gave me and all the work he did to pull this off, he obviously really likes you too, so I agreed to do it.”
“Do what?”
“Just head down there.” She points to the left. “When you pass the last lifeguard stand, you’ll see a blue tent. That’s where you need to go.”
I stare at her. “Okay, seriously, what’s going on?”
“I’m not supposed to say. You know, I’m starting to think this isn’t a good idea. What if he’s just luring you here to—” She stops herself. “But he knows I know. And he knows I’d tell the cops.”
“Shayla, what the hell are you talking about?”
“Nothing. I’m being paranoid. Just go. Text me when you’re ready to leave.”
“You’re telling me to get out of the car, walk down the beach, and go in a blue tent?”
She nods.
“This isn’t some joke you’re playing on me with Trystan and Braden, is it?”
“No! I hate those two.” She covers her mouth with her hand. “Sorry! Don’t tell them I said that.”
“I won’t. I hate them too.”
“Go.” She shoos me away. “He doesn’t have much time.”
“He? So I’m meeting someone here? A guy?”
“Rumor, seriously. Just go.”
“Tell me who it is. I’m not going to go meet some guy I don’t know.”
“You know him. And like him.”
“The only guy I like is Jackson, and he’s at practice right now.”
She smiles. “Is he?”