New Year's Death Wish

Roadkill

Turning my back to him and pretending as though I couldn't hear him yelling my name, even though I clearly was within earshot of him should help him get the hint: I don't want to talk. Apparently not.

Inches from my car... I was inches from my car. Could this day end yet?

Nate managed to sprint over and hold my car door shut so I couldn't get in and avoid him. Avoid him? No. I wasn't avoiding my problems. I was just hiding from this one.

"It's been a little while, hasn't it, Raven?" I tried not to look at his face, knowing his smug smile overtook it.

I pursed my lips together to create a tight smile and, against my better judgment, made direct eye contact. "Not long enough." My gut couldn't make up its mind because most of it was angry, but the other little bit wanted to let butterflies through because his black eyes were still a contagion. I tried to open the door, but he continued to hold it shut.

"I messed up one time. Why can't you just get over it?" Moment over. Butterflies gone. Urge to shoot myself in the leg morphed to urge to shoot him in the leg. "Didn't we always have fun together?"

Was he trying to get back with me? After a month of dead silence? After him being an idiot guy? Um. No.

"Do you not remember who broke up with who?" I fought an eyeroll in order to maintain eye contact so he knew I was being serious. "Not to mention the skimpy blonde you were with that night?"

This dude had the audacity to chuckle at my recollection of the events. As if he recalled it any differently. In such a case, I wouldn't start dating him again, I would send him to a mental ward because facts are facts. I swear if he tried to pull the "she's my cousin" thing, hands were going to start flying.

"I was young and stupid-" He started.

"This was last month, you idiot." I started to wonder if I should bother with the car or if I should find Callie. She would at least help me. It would be selfish intentions because she doesn't want her night ruined, but at least it would still help me. "I have to go home."

He didn't move.

"That was your cue to leave." I gestured toward the volleyball court, where everyone who had been playing sat in a tight circle for some reason, some of their attention was directed at us. Specifically the girls. He still stood in front of me, his dark eyes never taking a moment to glance away. I rolled my eyes. "Enlighten me, Nate. What is it gonna take to get you back over there with your 'bros?'"

"All I want is an apology."

"And all I want is to run you over with my car. One of our wishes is illegal, the other illogical. Take a guess at which one's which. I'd say it's up for interpretation." I pulled out my phone and started texting Callie to come back. Hopefully she wasn't to... close with her random dude to look at her phone.

Then the most unexpected thing happened.

"Would you leave my girlfriend alone?" A half-familiar voice came from behind me, followed by an arm wrapping around my neck. I raised my eyebrows at the random comment by the one and only: Mr-Tall-Dark-And-Handsome.

Did I miss something?

Last I checked, I was not in a relationship. And I definitely did not jump into a relationship with Kace. And I couldn't make heads or tails of why Nate's best friend came up to me with, what seemed like, intent to save me from this odd interaction.

"You?" Nate chuckled as he pointed at his friend, "And you?" He shifted his finger to me, "Together?"

My mouth opened. I know it did. But nothing came out. The only two things running through my head involved sleep, and a big piece of chocolate cake from my mom's diner. I don't even like celebrating New Years', why did I agree to come?

Kace must have been waiting for me to speak, as he stared at me. I could never read people, but he looked displeased with me. Not that I cared much. I couldn't feel much of anything when I stood in so much confusion.

The look dissipated and he flashed the most charming of smiles at me. "Official as of this morning, yes."

I blinked.

Oh, you mean stealing my journal and reading my private thoughts is you MAKING A MOVE? Men need to learn how to flirt from 1950's movies not modern-day hookup rom-coms because whatever he learned was wrong.

"EMERGENCY!" Callie's voice blared through the beach. She was running at her fastest pace, reminding me why she was my best friend.

I breathed out, I don't know how long it had been since I had taken a breath in. "Oh thank goodness," I mumbled through the breath.

Kace smirked when she appeared at my side, pulling his arm off of me and shoving him into Nate, causing him to finally stop leaning on the driver's side door of my car.

"Goodbye," she huffed before turning to me. "Get in."

Who was I to argue that? In the car, I couldn't get my head out of whatever confusion daze it fell into and accidentally put the car in drive, hit the gas pedal too hard, then all but ran over Kace (who still had his dumb smirk on his face). My brain told me next steps, but I froze once more. Callie was the one who put the car in reverse, which was the little push I needed to get out of there.