Up With The Birds

Chapter 3

The rest of the day goes by in a blur. But no matter what I do, I can't get my mind off of Ash. I've never been good at making friends, but I thought that maybe I could change that. I have one class with her, and we sit uncomfortably close. She doesn't look back at me once. She doesn't apologize. Ash doesn't even acknowledge that I'm near her. 

But I do. My eyes flicker to her frequently, and each look makes me wonder why she pretended to be so nice to me. Why couldn't she have just blown me off the first day we met?

When the last bell rings, it takes my mind off of her. I rush to the bike racks and hop onto my bike. Students are milling out of the building and turning on their cars. Part of me feels a little bit jealous. I really, really want to drive a car to and from school. While I'm grateful to get the exercise from my bike,   the 3 mile journey to school doesn't leave me looking my best.

A grey car pulls up beside me. "Need a ride?" a familiar voice says. To my surprise, it's none other than Guy Berryman. 

 I look at him, a little shocked. "Thanks, but I have this nifty bike right here." I knock the kickstand up.

Guy looks at me, piteously. "You can't be serious. It's supposed to rain soon, you know." For the first time, I notice the dark clouds above me. I glance at the bicycle, and then at the car. It could probably fit in the backseat if I put it in right. 

"Fine," I mutter begrudgingly. Guy helps me shove the bike into the back seat, and he opens my door for me. The car has comfortable leather seats. His stereo is playing "Sugar", by System of A Down. My jaw drops.

"You listen to System of A Down?" I ask, dumbfounded. Guy stares at me quizzically. 

"How do you even know this band exists?" He questions. I glare at him. 

"How wouldn't I? I may not like much heavy metal, but I at least have musical taste." Guy tries to hide a smile. It ends up looking like a strange grimace. 

"I'm now under the assumption that your cute girly looks are to hide the fact that you deal and do drugs." With a straight face, I look out the windows quickly. I turn to Guy.

"If you have the cash on you, I have some connections who can hook you up with the good stuff. As long as you keep it down low." His eyes grow wide. 

"Okay, if you're a drug-dealer I really want you out of my car now." Guy stops the car. I bust out into laughter. 

"I'm not really a drug-dealer, Guy." Tears of laughter fill my eyes. "I'm just messing around with you." Relieved, he leans back and pulls his foot of the brake. 

"Well thank God," he sighs. "I thought I was going to have to call the cops on you." 

I catch my breathe slowly. Guy smiles beside me. I've decided he's a really great dude. Even though his first impression to me came off as rude, he's certainly changed my view of him. "So Guy," I start, "Why are you being so nice to me? Early you gave me the cold shoulder, and now we're joking about me being a drug dealer." He thinks for a moment.

"I think after you sat with me and the guys at lunch, I realized that you were pretty cool. I mean, when Chris brings a girl to the table you know she must be pretty amazing. And you seem pretty chill right now." I chuckle quietly. 

"Well, I hope you still feel that way about me within two weeks or so. Apparently, I seem to drive people away pretty quickly." My eyes move to the scenery outside the window. I didn't mean to bring up what happened with Ash earlier. It shouldn't even bother me; I've known her for a day. But all the same, her turning me away makes me feel like I'm just incompatible.

Guy's face grows sour. "Oh, stop bringing yourself down over that stupid girl. You just met her yesterday. People always seem to be fake at this school. Screw her. You're too cool for people like her. You're actually true to yourself. Ash can go hang out with her friends, but if she comes crawling back to you, don't even try to be nice to her. She had her chance." 

I didn't expect him to rant like that. 

"I've got your back, Lana," Guy reassures me. We don't say anything for a while - there isn't really anything to say. We finally stop at my house. 

"Here we are," Guy says as he pulls the car to a stop. 

"Hey Guy?" I ask.

"Yeah?" he replies.

"I just wanted to thank you for...this. Thanks for the talk and the ride. It means a lot to me."

"No problem," Guy says. "Anytime you need someone, just call me up." I give him a salute and head towards my house. My dad is sitting at the kitchen, looking stressed. I try to sneak up the stairs quietly so I don't bother him, but his third parenting-eye catches me.

"Who was that dropping you off?" He asks, raising an eyebrow at me. I blush slightly.

"Oh, that was just Guy. He's a kid from school." This is about to get awkward. My dad is going to think I have a crush on Guy.

"I'm sorry, did you happen to say he?" He lifts his head from the paper he's looking at. 

"Yes, yes I did, Dad. He's just a friend." With that, I hustle upstairs. I don't want to have a boyfriend conversation with my dad. Especially about Guy. Thankfully, my dad doesn't pursue me any further. I close the door behind me gently. 

Things may not be as bad as I thought they would be.