After football practice ends, we all say goodbye to each other before going our separate ways. I stick with Peter because we usually go to our lockers together before catching the buses. We're at my locker and I'm exchanging my textbooks when we hear someone walk up behind us.

When they get closer, I already know who it'll be. I prepare myself for a fight, since the last thing I said surely made him angry, but instead I feel his arms wrap around me from behind before I even get the chance to turn around.

My body tenses, and he leans in closer to whisper into my ear, "Can I drive you home?"

I'm instantly surprised for two reasons: one, he's never offered to drive me home or pick me up, even when I'm normally focused to walk to school —- and honestly, I don't even think he knows where I live; and two, he isn't mad, or maybe he is and just isn't showing it. What ever his reasoning, it makes me wary and uncomfortable to accept the offer, yet at the same time I'm more afraid to refuse. I don't know what to do . . .

"I-I-I, um, I—-"

"Beau, don't we have a science project we have to work on?" Peter asks.

Oh my god, thank you so much! I internally cheer. I could kiss Peter I'm so grateful for his rescue.

I'm about to nod in agreement and suggest we leave when Garrett suddenly touches my cheek, and sends my entire body numb as he gently turns my face and meets my wide-eyed gaze. "Please, I want to spend time with you," Garrett says sincerely.

"I . . ." I trail off, with out any idea what to say in response. How would I even reply to something like that . . .? Maybe I'm foolish and naive, but despite everything I still find myself wanting to say yes, while telling myself maybe he's changed because he's never offered me a ride home before. Words leave my mouth before I even know what I'm saying, and then Garrett is taking my bag for me and grabbing my hand as he leads me away.

I think I tell Peter bye, but I'm too lost in my haze to know if I actually did or not.

Garrett leads me out of the school to the student parking lot, where his red convertible sits out of place amongst all the older cars owed by students too poor to offord anything new and flashy. Garrett is the type of person who never had to earn anything, for instance his car. When he first showed it off to me, he bragged about his father and all the money he had, so much he was able to afford his son a brand new car with custom made black leather seats.

The car was one of my first indicators that Garrett and I are from two completely separate universes, yet the part of me that thrists for the companionship of another human being, didn't let the differences stand in the way. Garrett had been nice to me, and at the time, he was sweet and caring when no one had been. I fell for his lies, and now I feel too deeply entrapped inside his web to escape.

Garrett unlocks his car and opens my door for me, I smile at the kind and unexcepted act of chivalry, and then I slide inside the car and sigh at the cool comfort of the leather seating. Garrett gets inside a moment after me and starts the car after asking, "Would you like to get something to eat before I take you home?"

What an odd question, he's never offered to take me to dinner. What is going on with him...? I wonder.

"Um, I-I don't know . . ."

"Oh, come on, Beau," Garrett says with a wide grin. "It'll be fun, just say you will, for me?"

"I-I don't know . . ." I mumble.

Maybe I should, he seems to be making the effort to be better, so isn't it up to me to accept his newfound kindness and help to make it grow? Maybe I should make the effort too . . .

I smile and softly reply, "I'd like that, thank you, Garrett."

Garrett smiles too and reaches over, he gently squeezes my thigh —- which is something else he's never done before —- and then he's driving out of the school parking lot and taking me to dinner. As we drive, I can't tell if the nagging in my head is because the offer to be taken out to dinner is so strangely different and nice, or because it's something else and the pin has yet to drop.

I guess, I'll just have to wait and see . . .

Word count: 793

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A/N: *sighs* Oh Beau, you need to be more confident and speak your mind.

Hello, lovelies. How did you like the update? This chapter is a two parter, I'll either post the second part later today or on Saturday. I'll be basing my decision on the feedback and reads this chapter receives. Anyway, thank you for reading, and please, don't forget to vote/comment/share with your friends. Thank you, I wish you all a lovely day/night.

Love from,
BunnyBaekkiee ❤️