Little Miss Nosy

Chapter Nine: Friday Night Fights

-Edited-

Logan is excited that we've made our relationship as a couple official. So excited that when he pulls up in front of my house to take us to the football game, he leans on the horn to announce his arrival. 

I swing the front door open and motion for him to cut the noise, but he grins and continues with the obnoxious honking anyway. He only stops after I take my shoe off and launch it at the passenger side window. 

"Are you trying to get me evicted," I say, balancing on one leg as I put my flat back on. 

"How else could I get your attention?"

"A phone call would suffice," I sigh. I'm shaking despite it being fairly humid out. I pull my cardigan tightly around my body, knowing it won't make a difference in the end because the weather isn't the reason for my bodily reaction. 

Logan notices me wringing my fingers together and envelops both my hands in one of his. "How's my snappy girl doing?" He kisses my forehead and runs his other hand through my hair. The little action soothes me, and despite the dozens of thoughts running through my mind, all of Logan and I's good moments are at the forefront. 

I contemplate lying, but land on the truth instead. "Nervous. What if she gets mad?"

"She will," he responds. I purse my lips disapprovingly. "It's Carmen! I expect nothing less. Look, let's try something." Logan turns down the rap song filtering through the speakers and turns his body towards me.

"What's the worst thing that can happen tonight?"

"Carmen could push me down the bleachers out of anger, and as I tumble down the stairs I break my neck and die," I say flatly.

"Damn, Paige." Logan rubs his neck uncomfortably, taken aback by my pessimism. "Now, what's the best thing that can happen tonight?" 

"She welcomes you back with open arms." The clock reads ten-to-seven. I point at it, a silent motion that means we need to get going or we'll be late. 

Logan puts the car in drive, and my house shrinks in the side view mirror within seconds. The entire ride is quiet. There's a mixture of tension and excitement in the air. Tension because I'm going into this without a clear idea of what will happen, and excitement because I'm sitting next to someone who wants to be with me; knowledge of my past, scars and all. 

I've been happier lately. Everything in my life looks to be headed in a positive direction and once we get over tonight's hurdle, it'll be smooth sailing from here. For once, I'm looking forward to a year at Summers High I won't dread. 

Logan finds a spot farther in the back of the lot. Once we're out, he grabs my hand and kisses it in front of the other teens and parents on their way to the game. I look around like we're doing something that most would frown down upon in public, but no one watches as Logan intertwines our fingers and leads me to the football field. The action so sweet and innocent that it feels like we're kids again with no worries in the world. 

"I don't see Carmen giving me a bear hug anytime soon, but I'd bet on that before the neck break one."

"So you think I should be optimistic?" 

"It might sound crazy-" 

"Impossible," I offer playfully.