Second Chances (3 page)

The rest of the night into
Saturday had gone smooth. Sophia spent most of the day with me at my house
Saturday. We got stuck cooking dinner which was fine because my mom had a
headache and had taking a nap. After we ate we hung out chatting about normal
teenage girl things. She went off to the movie with Evan and I watched movies
in Lily’s room with her where I ended up falling asleep. About midnight my
phone started vibrating with an incoming call. When I looked at the screen I
did not recognize the number. I quickly grabbed whispering hello careful not to
wake Lily. One the other end of the line was definitely not what I expected.

Luke: “Can I ask you something?”

Me: “Luke how did you get my
number?”

Luke: “I stole it out of
Soph’s
phone earlier when we were at the movie”

Me: “What did you need to ask
me?”

There was a long pause and I
almost had asked if he was still there when…

Luke: “Why did you blow me off so
quick last night?”

Me: “Listen Luke I didn’t mean to
be such a bitch. I am just not interested in what you’re looking for and I just
thought I should let you know that up front”

Luke: “How do you know what I’m interested
in?”

Me: “People talk Luke I got
plenty of warning and for you to hit on me and then go to a party where your
girlfriend was waiting confirmed the stories…you’re a player”

Luke: “I don’t have a girlfriend”

Me: “Well see then that just
concerns me more because Whitney must be one of your many toys. I’m not a toy
Luke.”

I heard him take a deep breath
and then another pause…

Luke: “You don’t know me
Zoey
”

Me: “Luke you don’t know me
either and if you did you would know that I don’t need a guy to pay attention
to me to make me feel important. I have you pretty much figured out I know that
you do not like to be told no and the fact that I did only makes this game a
little more exciting for you”

Luke: “Now see that’s what I
figured you’d say ‘Good Night
Zoey
’ “

Then he hung up. I sat there
staring at my phone for a moment before I got a little pissed that he called
and woke me up to then hung up on me when he didn’t like what I had to say.
Hell No!

Texting him

‘What’s wrong don’t like the
truth’

As I sat there and waited a
response never came.

I decided to go back to my room
after that tug of war. I quickly sent
Soph
a Text to
call me tomorrow when she got a chance.

I got up a little after ten when
my phone went off with an incoming call from my fast talking friend. Before I
could even say a word she began “What on earth happened last night, Luke got so
hammered at Evans. Blake and Evan had to tackle him because he said he was
going to go find your house and ask you what the hell he did wrong.” Wow what
was happening. After I explained the whole thing about the phone call and the
text she was speechless and that is so not like her. We talked a little longer
and then I let her go so I could get some laundry done.

I felt a little confused by the
whole thing with Luke I mean really he didn’t know me why was it so important
for me to not think badly of him.

The day flew by and soon Monday
morning had rolled around. Sophia was waiting for me outside of the front doors
I had text her shortly before and told her I was on the way. Neither of us
mentioned Luke but I could tell she was holding back a little she wasn’t as
long winded as usual. The day went on like this and I didn’t push the point. We
hadn’t really talked a lot all day or even that night. Tuesday when I walked up
to meet her I just asked “Did I make you mad or do something wrong?” She looked
at me for a second then the flood gates came down. She started crying “Evan and
I are fighting. Sunday night Luke and Evan stopped by and well, Luke wanted me
to talk to you about him and hopefully change your mind. I refused to because I
just am not going to lie to you. I don’t trust that he won’t hurt you and I
told him that. Luke got defensive, Evan got mad and then I yelled at him for
defending Luke after he has been a witness to the heartbroken girls that Luke
damaged.” I just hugged her and told her I appreciated that she was trying to
protect me but that I can handle myself. I told her she shouldn’t let this
effect Evan and her relationship. I grabbed her phone and found Evan in her
contacts after two rings he picked up. “Listen here Evan I don’t
wanna
date your friend I thought I
made that perfectly clear to him but I guess I wasn’t clear enough. For you to
fight with Sophia over this is completely childish on your part and if you are
half as smart as I thought you were well you wouldn’t continue this bullshit.
You’re
gonna
wake up and realize your letting’ your
whore of a best friend and his need to nail the new girl in town come between
you and the girl who loves you.” I hung the phone up and handed it back to
Sophia before he could even respond. “You’re my Hero!” Sophia said and we
linked arms and walked into school. When I saw Sophia after school she had a
completely new expression on her face not to mention the large vase of flowers
she was carrying. She was so excited Evan had sent her a text to call him
saying he loved her and he was so sorry for acting like a complete jackass. He
sent her flowers to the school to apologize and of course she felt the need to
thank me even though I told her not to worry about it and that he just needed a
little walkup call.

Wednesday came and went and Evan
picked Sophia up from school I had given her a ride that morning so she didn’t
have to beg her mom to bring her. Luke wasn’t with Evan that day which I was
really kind of glad. Thursday after school while we were walking out to leave
Aaron had walked up behind me and asked if we could talk. I agreed and followed
him to a bench next to the trees right out front of the main entrance doors. “I
still feel like a jerk for not checking on you that day when I hit you with the
ball. Truth is you make me nervous”. I smiled and looked away from his big
chocolate brown eyes “How do I make you nervous?” He waited for a minute to
speak like he was running through his head what to say. “You’re really pretty
and different. The girls here are so snotty and conceited. They seem to feel
like I should bow to them or something. They are so dramatic and you…well you
are this country girl that doesn’t take shit from anyone and you’re not afraid
to let someone know they pissed you off. It’s kind of intimidating.” He smiled
big and I just laughed. Aaron sat and talked to me for a while I found out he
also plays football. Sophia hollered bye to me as she crawled into Evans car
and I quickly waved and then went back to talking to Aaron.

Aaron had invited me to go down
the road to a little burger place he’d enjoyed. After texting my mom and finding
that she was able to get Lily from school I followed him and we talked for a
while longer. He seemed harmless for the most part.

*Luke*

I really hadn’t felt much like hanging
out or hooking up since my conversation last Saturday with
Zoey
.
It was really bothering me that she thought so little of me. For the life of me
I couldn’t really understand why the hell I cared but I did. I found out that
Evan had finally swallowed his pride and admitted he was wrong for fighting
with
Soph
after all she was just defending her
friend. He told me that it was
Zoey
who sat him
straight and after hearing what she had said it really just made her a little
more attractive to me. I asked Evan if I could ride along with him to pick up
Sophia I kind of wanted to apologize to
Zoey
for
being such an idiot about everything. I had made up my mind that I wanted to
ask her out I mean on a real date. Take her to dinner and a movie no party or
drinking. It was crazy I knew because I just don’t date but I really wanted to
make an exception to my rules. I hadn’t told Evan about my intentions but I had
to admit to myself I was slightly nervous. We pulled up to the front doors and
I noticed Sophia standing there and
Zoey
next to her.
She looked so cute with her hair all scrunched up in what appeared to be an
attempted bun with a million little wild waves falling out around her face and
down her neck. She had a khaki pair of shorts and a red tight fitting shirt
showing just a small strip of her tanned skin at the waist. I took a deep
breath and reached for the door handle. That’s when I saw Aaron Ross walk up
behind
Zoey
. He said something to her and then they
walked off together. I almost got out and went after her anyway I didn’t like
him but I saw the smile on her face and she looked like she was having fun.
When Sophia climbed in the car she said a quick bye to
Zoey
and I thought for a second when
Zoey
looked this way
maybe she’d notice me in the car and I could wave her over somehow and get her
attention. She glanced so quickly and then back to Aaron there was no way I
could get her away from him. As we pulled away I looked back through the window
as she stayed sitting there talking with him. Anger hit me. How could I have
been so stupid I should have approached her differently from the beginning now
here she was with Aaron? “
Soph
please tell me that
Zoey
is not with that douchebag” I couldn’t contain my
frustration. “Luke really why are you pissed anyway it isn’t like you two are
together or anything she has the right to talk to whomever she pleases and if
it happens to be Aaron the douchebag then so be it” Sophia looked straight
ahead and shook her head. After he thought about it for a second he couldn’t help
the fact that it pissed him off even more, “What the Hell Sophia you made sure
that you warned
Zoey
about me and that she shot me
down even before I made any attempt she had her mind made up about me. You told
her all about me being a player and a joke. How I would hurt her, cheat and use
her but it is okay if she talks to the biggest joke of your senior class. How
many girls did he sweet talked
Soph
and then dumped
like a bad habit the minute he gets laid. He preys on girls that don’t know
better.” I was pissed but really trying to contain it the last thing I wanted
to do was piss of Evan for arguing with his girl.

They drove back to my house to
drop me off and Evan got out to let me out I sat there staring at the floor for
second then I looked up into Sophia face. “Listen I know you think I’m a dick
and that I don’t treat girl’s right which is pretty accurate but for a second I
actually felt maybe I’d met someone that I felt different about someone that made
me want to change.
Zoey
is different but I know you already
know that. She don’t take my shit and that challenges me
Soph
and for the first time I…never mind” I started to climb out but Sophia grabbed
my arm. I looked down at her hand and then at her, “Today was the first time I
have ever seen them talk. She has never said anything about him he just said he
wanted to talk to her…that’s it”. She picked up her phone and dialed bringing
it to her ear… “Hey girl what are you doing?” After a pause “
Zoey
will you do me a favor and be careful he is smoother
than he puts on. He took your cousins virginity last year and drop her the next
day and she isn’t the first one he has done that too” after another pause “Okay
call me later”. Sophia ended the call and then looked up at me again. “They’re
just friends Luke…just friends.” I thanked  her for that even though I
still felt torn I couldn’t figure it out but
Zoey
had
me feeling a lot of things I really wasn’t used to. I just had to find a way to
convince her that I was more than what I have been lately.

*
Zoey
*

When I looked down at my phone I
wasn’t going to answer but saw it was Sophia. I told Aaron to hang on. “Hey
you” pausing to listen to Sophia “I am having at the diner enjoying
a chocolate shake compliments
of Aaron and then I am heading
home why?” After I heard her reply I glanced up at Aaron trying to keep a
straight face and appear unaffected by her concerns “
Soph
no worries believe me it is nothing…nothing at all.” I agreed to call her later
and hung up. I tried to think of a way to end things without making him
suspicious of Sophia saying anything about him. “Wow I hadn’t realized it was
so late I still have to go home my mom will freak out if I’m not in time for
dinner. Mrs. Sellers assigned an essay due Monday and I wanted to get started
on it so I’m not stuck all weekend. I guess I better get going but this was fun
Aaron thanks for the invite.” We gathered our thing and walked out together. After
saying good bye I got into my car and headed home. Once I got home and finished
my dinner I played a game of Go’ Fish with Lily and braided her hair then I
took a quick shower. When I got back to my room I had noticed my phone
blinking. Sophia had tried to call me three times and sent me two texts.

Sophia: “I really hope you are
still not with Aaron!”

Sophia: “Should I call the
Police? Or missing persons…”

I had to giggle at her second
text. I figured I better call her back. After the first ring she picked up
“What the hell
Zoey
…he didn’t try anything did
he
?” Smiling at my new found friend Miss Mother Hen… “No are
you my new bodyguard warning off all dangerous predators…” I laughed and she
laughed. “Hey about that I uh well I was hoping we could talk.” I sat down on
my bed bringing my leg up to rub lotion on “Sure what’s up?”  After a
nervous laugh she then said maybe tomorrow night we can hang out I would rather
talk then instead of on the phone if that’s okay.” I shrugged it off like no
big deal by saying “Sure sounds fun, let me clear it with my mom.” After we got
off the phone I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on with Sophia.