The Heart of Cars

Chapter 24

This pattern follows through the next few days and I still haven't heard from Sam or Colton. My dad goes back to work and I go driving a lot. We still haven't figured out who the mystery man is and it's putting us all on edge. I can't stop wondering why Colton wouldn't have shown up. I stand up and make my way over to my cell phone. I put it to my ear without looking at caller ID. "Hello?" I say as I fold my clothes into my bag for basic training. "Hey." I drop the piece of clothing that is in my hand as I hear a familiar voice. "I thought you weren't talking to me."
"I thought that was Sam who was giving you the silent treatment. I did talk to you."
"Colton, you said two words to me and walked away." I sigh and sit on my bed. "Well, what was I supposed to say?"
"Maybe explain why you bailed?" I run my hand through my hair and hear him sigh. "I didn't bail exactly."
"Then what would you call it?" I say, starting to get annoyed. "I was busy and I did make it as you were accepting him."
"Well why didn't you stop me? Or the king from finalizing it?"
"You seemed so sure about it. And if you wanted to choose me you wouldn't have accepted him."
"I had to accept him-"
"No you didn't. Girls have the right to say no and you didn't say that." I sighs and says he has to go. I try to explain but he hangs up. I hear a noise behind me and quickly turn worried it might be 'm.s.' but it's Sam. Which might be even worse. He looks pissed. I put my phone back on my bedside table and stand up. "Hey." I say quietly so he doesn't explode. He has anger issues. I can't believe Colton would think I chose Sam when I'm worried about Sam's anger, occasionally. "Colton?" I nod and sit on my bed. We used to be super close and now we can't even talk to each other. He sits next to me and plays with his keys in his hands. "And he wanted?"
"To talk." He gives me a look that says that isn't what he was talking about. "Okay."
"Why did you give me the silent treatment?"
"You lied." My mind goes back to when Colton said the exact same thing to me. "And? I'm not the only one who lied. We both know that you didn't mean what you said."
"We both just repeated what we were told to."
"Yeah but everyone else actually meant it." He nods and looks over at my duffel bag. "So you decided?"
"Yes."
"Without asking or discussing it with me?"
"You weren't talking to me. When would I have the chance to ask?"
"Okay. That makes sense but you could have gotten ahold of me."
"Why would I do that when you were the one who started it?"
"Now you sound like a five-year-old." I groan and go start putting my clothes in the bag. I get finished and close my bag, looking at the time to see I have a few hours left until I leave for basic training. Sam starts saying something but stops when my dad walks in the room. "Hey dad. I'm all packed." He nods and greets me and Sam. Him and Sam have a small conversation as I double check that I have everything. A year before I come back to everything. I wonder what will happen.

*edited*