Second Chances (4 page)

I decided since I knew I wasn’t
going to be able to get much sleep with my curiosity getting the best of me I
would just get a start on my easy due next week. About ten thirty I heard my
phone vibrate when I looked at the screen it read…

“I hope you are having sweet
dreams and one day maybe you can give me a chance to take you out for a shake.
I would like the opportunity to be the guy that brings on your beautiful smile.”
Luke was suffering from Bipolar I swear. I don’t know what came over me but I
took my phone out on the balcony of my room and dialed his number.

I was almost ready to hang up
when I heard him answer “Hello.”

Me: “Why do you play so much?”

Luke: “…
Zoey
I’m not playing”

Me: “You can’t keep doing this
you are giving me whiplash”

His laughed lightly

Luke: “I am sorry this is all new
to me.”

Me: “What is?”

Luke: “Being attracted to
anyone.”

It was my turn to laugh…

Me: “Well you have to be
attracted to someone to crawl into bed with them, or the back seat where ever.”

Luke: “
Zoey
that isn’t about attraction that’s lust it has no meaning”

Me: “That’s harsh I’m sure not
all your conquests have had that same illusion”

Luke: “Okay wait, this is not
going the way I was hoping. I know I am a screw up when it come to the whole
female race. I am not going to lie or try to convince you that I have not made
a lot of wrong choices along the way. What I am asking is a chance to prove
that I can be different. I want to take you out on a date
Zoey
to the movies or to dinner. Whatever you want but no strings just a date. No hidden
agenda.”

I let what he had just said sink
in and marinate a minute then

Me: “I’ll think about it”

Luke: “Fair enough. That is
better than no…Sweet Dreams Z”

And he hung up. No smart ass
comment and cheesy come on lines. I had to say I was a little surprised at where
that conversation had gone.

I fell asleep that night dreaming
of Luke and in a weird way somehow he wasn’t a total ass in the dream either.
It was a welcomed pleasant change.

Friday when I got to school I had
made sure that I filled Sophia in on the conversation between Luke and me. She
didn’t act surprised then spilled the beans about what he had said to her in
the car before her and Evan dropped him off last night. We slowly had our
conversation that we were actually going to save for that evening off and on
through our day. It was last period and the bell had rang I was on my way to my
locker when Ashley walked passed me and under her breath coughed “Whore”. I
spun around quickly and got right up in her face “Excuse me what the hell did
you say?” She just smiled and tried to walk away. I grabbed her arm and pulled
her back “Listen here you stuck up snotty ass little bitch. You have no idea
who I am and you know nothing about of me” I was done with her I had never done
a thing to her she has always been so cruel to me even after my daddy died at
his funeral she snubbed me so many times. I was done with her bullshit. “Well I
do know that you have only been at this school for two weeks and you already
screwed Aaron in the back seat of his car”, she stood there smirking at me like
she had just won a gold medal or something. I felt like I shouldn’t take this
conversation to the level I was about  to go but I had to let her know I
was not going to back down from her I was tired of her making me feel like I was
beneath her. “Well Ashley see I think you’re confused about that…because that
was you and from what I heard it must not have been all that good because the
next day he dropped you on your ass so fast your head was spinning. There is
something you don’t know about me cousin see I am still a virgin so this whole
story you’re trying to create good luck with all of it.” I was done with her
drama I walked off feeling accomplished I heard her holler after me that she
didn’t create the story Aaron was talking about it in Spanish class with one of
his friends. I just kept walking with one goal in mind…find that sorry ass and
set his shit straight.

I stopped at my locker quickly
and grabbed my things slamming it a little harder than I had intended to I
turned to see Sophia standing next to me “Ouch who pissed in your cheerios?”
Even though I found my friends comment extremely comical I had one goal, to
find Aaron the one and only Mr. Suave and make sure he understands that this
cowgirl will never be offering him any free rides. “Just follow me. Believe me
you are going get a kick out of this.” That was all she needed she saw I was
pissed and knew that meant someone was getting an ear full and since it wasn’t
her she was all for the show. I walked out the front doors looking back and
forth for the asshole when I spotted him out by a group of guys behind a truck.
I walked straight for him with Sophia trailing right behind. Evan and Luke were
sitting on the hood of Evans car but I walked right passed then ignoring them
when Evan hollered ‘Hey Blondie’. I Heard Sophia say something to them and soon
they were following behind me but at a distance. Aaron saw me approaching and I
had replaced my pissed expression with a sweet smile. I came around the back of
the truck and I pushed my way through the few guys that were blocking my way
and place my hand in the center of his chest getting up real close. He wrapped
his hand around me gripping my hip with his hand and smiled at me in return.
 
I licked my lips looking up at him I heard him
hold his breath. Not noticing on the other side of the truck Luke and Evan had
a clear view of it all and Sophia had to stop Luke from turning away and
walking off once he saw me with Aaron. Aaron was looking at my mouth as I bit
my lower lip “Hey sexy I just wanted to tell you I had a really good time with
you last night and I was just hoping that you still weren’t upset about the
comment I made. I mean it really doesn’t matter how big or small it is Aaron. I
just didn’t want you to be upset because you feel ashamed.” I heard a few
laughs and coughs around and he looked from me to everyone that was standing
around listening. “What are you talking about my junk is not small” He started
to step away and I grabbed the collar of his shirt “You have no idea what size
it is anyway.” That was all the conformation I needed I brought my knee up straight
into his groin and he dropped to the ground. “That is exactly right asshole I
don’t know anything about your ‘junk’ so the next time you go telling your
friends you nailed some girl in the back seat of your car you make sure it’s
true or at least make sure that the girl you starting rumors about can’t kick
your ass.” I left his sorry ass on the ground crying with his balls in his
hand. I walked off to my car with Sophia running after me laughing so hard I
thought she was going to start hyperventilating. Luke just turned to Evan and
said “Dude I seriously just think I fell in love. That was so hot…hard to see
at first but damn it ended really well.” Luke and Evan rounded the back of my
Escape just as I lost it I was crying from the adrenaline rush of Ashley and
then Aaron.  I had held things in for so long I shut down after my daddy
and became this bottled up spit fire and I felt like I had just gotten tackled
by a four hundred pound Quarterback. I tried to stop when I saw the guys Sophia
had her back to them hugging me and I pulled away turning quickly to try and
hide it all. “Hey are you okay” Luke rushed to me and put his hand on my
shoulder. I kept my back to him and told him that I was fine. He didn’t take my
word for it he spun me around and looked at me seeing that my tears had still
not stopped he pulled me to him and wrapped  me in tightly to him as I
cried and cried he kept me in his arms and he placed a kiss on the top of my
head. I pulled back after the tears slowed and told him I was fine that I just
got overwhelmed. He tilted my head up by placing his finger under my chin and
with his other hand he brushed my hair from my face where it had stuck to my
tear stained cheek. “Are you sure you’re Okay? You don’t have to pretend if
you’re not I won’t judge you…promise.” I smiled at his sincerity but at that
moment I just needed to get away. I sucked it up long enough to get away. I
told Sophia I would call her later so we could get together. I got home and
there was a car I didn’t recognize in the driveway a red convertible I pulled
in behind my mom and walked up the stairs I glanced into the front window right
as I was about to open the door and there stood my mother wrapped in the arms
of some man pushed up against the counter kissing pretty intensely. I flew
through the door so quickly and startled both of them. My mother put her hand
over her mouth in shock. I was beyond controlled. “WHAT THE FUCK.” I screamed
at my mother and she looked from me to the man in our kitchen and then back to
me before she took a step forward…”
Zoey
let me
explain please.” I glared at her and from my side this man this stranger that
just had his hands on my mother and his tongue shoved down her throat
approached me “
Zoey
could we just sit down and
discuss this calmly.” I cut him off quickly “You listen to me I don’t know who
the hell you are or what the hell you’re doing here but I will not be sitting
anywhere with you discussing anything.” I turned back to face my mother who was
now crying heavily waiting for her explanation. “
Zoey
I am so sorry I was going to tell you this weekend. Lily is at dance and you
were going to Sophia’s after school or I never would have allowed Bruce to stop
over.” Bruce so that is the name of this man who thinks he has the right to
tell me I need to discuss things calmly “How long mom?” she didn’t answer so I
again asked the question making her jump “HOW LONG!”  My Mother didn’t
look up as she answered, “Almost a year…” My Knees Buckled and I fell to the
ground what was she saying, a year that means my daddy was alive. She was
cheating on my daddy. Did he know? Oh my god no…NO! She started to come to me
along with her friend Bruce as he reached out to help me up I pulled my arm out
of his grip and got to my feet and in his face “Don’t you ever touch me you
sick bastard. She was married you home wrecker. My daddy was a great man and
you were screwing his wife for the last eight months of his life…You make me
sick.” I turned back to face my mother who was shocked by my outburst “You both
make me sick.” I went to my room and grabbed my things for Sophia’s and I
walked back to the front door passed both of them still standing in the places
I left them. I reached for the handle and without turning around I stated “His
ass better be out of this house before Lily gets home. It’s too early after
daddy.” I turned to face my mother who still held her hand over her mouth. “He
will NEVER take the place of my daddy. He will never be a part of my life. You
both were wrong to do this to him. Daddy was a great amazing man and you know
this was wrong. Don’t you ever expect me to except any of it! Right now I can’t
even look at you. You both disgust me.” I walked out the door closing it behind
me. I barely made it to my car before I lost it. I had to get out of here but I
was afraid to drive since I could hardly see through my tears. I drove down the
road and made it a few blocks before I pulled into the nearest parking lot. I
cried so hard. I cried for my daddy who gave his everything every day to give
my mom the best of the best. I cried for Lily who would soon forget things
about my daddy and be forced to replace those memories with ones of Bruce who
my mom has now thrown into our lives. Then I cried for myself who inside now
felt like I had just lost my daddy all over again and was on the very edge of
losing myself once again. Somehow I was able to dial Sophia’s number and barely
heard her answer between my sobs. “Hey my Bad Ass best friend what’s up?”
Immediately she changed her tone when she heard me crying. “
Zoey
what’s going on…where are you at?” I heard her talking to someone and a little
scuffle then Luke was on the phone. “Tell me where you are. Are you home?” I
tried to slow my crying long enough to tell them. “I’m in… parking…lot…by” I
couldn’t stop the sobs. I could sense the panic in Luke’s voice “
Zoey
, baby you have to tell us where you are. Are you hurt?
Help us find you Z what are you by?” I took some deep breaths and then tried
again “In my c-car by the Quick Mart…a few b-blocks from…m-my house.” I heard a
noise which sounded as if the phone had been dropped and then some shuffling. “
Zoey
stay there we’re on our way. We will be in Luke’s car
a newer red Camaro. Okay did you hear me we will be there is a few minutes.” I
heard her but I felt lost all I kept thinking of was how happy my daddy was
every day to see my mom. How he always picked her up in his arms and spun her
around kissing her and telling her that it was her smile that made every day
worth living. How he took us three to the Mountains this last winter before he
died and gave all three of us our matching necklaces as an early Christmas
present and he told us that he loved being surrounded by his three beautiful
girls and he wouldn’t change it for the world. I just kept thinking and
wondering how she could do this to him to us…how? I was brought back to reality
with the knock on my window and the rattle of my door handle Luke was there
trying to get my attention and Evan and Sophia looked concerned from behind
him. I reached up and unlocked the door looking down as the door came open and
Luke pulled me out looking me over for any sign that someone hurt me. After
finding nothing he pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around my body. Over
his shoulder I whispered to Sophia “She has been cheating on my daddy for the
last year.” She was the only one that I had confided in truly, fully and she
knew exactly what this was doing to me and why.