Motors

2 (pic of Cara)

Cara's POV:

"Thank you. For what you said. You didn't have to." I mumbled, walking with him to his bike.

"Cara, I wasn't just going to let you throw rocks at your mum's Tesla. Those things are expensive. Plus, if she wants a sane model, she needs to calm her shit. Cause she won't have anyone at the rate she's going." Asher smiled, getting onto his bike. "Get on."

I got on the bike behind him and wrapped my arms tightly around his torso. Man that boy has abs. He started the bike and we rode off. The wind swept through my hair as we gained speed.

"You right?" He asked.

"Yep. It's not the first time I've been on a motorbike." I replied.

"Yeah, right. I forgot."

About ten minutes later we got to the beach. He stopped the bike and I got off.

"Sit in front of me, the others won't be here for a bit." Asher said.

He moved back on the bike and I sat in front of him.

"How about we play a game. One of us asks a question and the other has to answer it." He smiled.

"Okay. What's your favourite colour?" I asked.

"Don't laugh, but it's pink. Favourite pass time?"

"Working on my dads old car. Blonde girls or brunette?"

"Blonde without a doubt." He smiled.

"More specific. Me, the blonde girl, or Halley, the brunette?" I asked, turning to him.

"You." He answered.

"Why me?"

"You're beautiful, tough, smart, popular, cool and just the right amount of bitch." He smiled.

I felt heat creep up my face as I saw him leaning in slightly. But I turned my head forward.

"I'm sorry." I sighed.

"Hey Cara and Asher! Looking badass!" Halley yelled, walking over, with Patrick, Carson, Kynan, Emma, Taylor and Bea following behind. "You two would make a heaps cute couple."

"No! Not happening!" I snapped, getting of the bike and taking my shorts off. "I'm going to the water now. Goodbye."

I ran.

Am I seriously that stupid? Asher basically just said that he likes me and he tried to kiss me and I ran. I wasn't gonna let myself get fucked over again.

When I was deep enough in the water, I dunked my head under, wetting my hair. When I resurfaced I felt a hot tear roll down my cheek.

It's nothing but your fault. You just sat there while he took it from you. You let him rape you. Take your innocence away. It's your fault Cara. You're useless. Everyone thinks so, not just me. And the fact that I think that is astonishing, because I'm your own mother.

As I thought back on all the things my mother said. All the things that happened. The fact that the last time I let someone into my heart, they broke me. I couldn't let that happen again. Even if Asher was different.

"Cara... You okay?" Kynan asked, walking up behind me.

"No."

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"No. I wanna be alone." I said.

After that he walked away. I just stood there in the water. Remembering everything. Not even bothering to hide the tears, letting them roll down my face and become one with the salty sea water.

"Cara... If you're upset over what I said, or me trying to kiss you, I'm really sorry." Asher said, placing his hand gently on my shoulder.

"Everyone I love blames me for what he did to me. Every word he said. Every move he made. They blame me. The people at school don't know about it. Hell, no one that I'm friends with knows about it. Not even Halley."

"Cara... Did someone hurt you?"

"Not just someone. I was sixteen. I met a guy at school, he was in the year above me. We started dating. He... He took advantage of me. He took everything from me. Money, pride, friends, family... Virginity. He stole me. The person everyone but my friends see, isn't me. He took the right for people to see who I am away. He took everything away. He doesn't even care. He graduated last year and no ones seen him since." I cried.

"Shhh... It's okay. Everyone here loves you, none of them would ever blame you. That guy betrayed your trust. I promise you, I and everyone here, will never, ever, betray your trust." He said, pulling me to his chest, holding me tightly.

I just stood and cried into his bare chest as he stroked my hair.

Why couldn't my life just freeze in this moment?

Oh, yeah. Because this is life, not some corny romance movie that some lousy writers and directors have complete control over. This is life. My life.

"Cara, were you ever told, that one day things would get better?" He asked.

"Yes." I replied.

"It's a lie. I've been waiting ten years for things to get better. That's yet to prove true. I can't tell you things will get better, because they don't always. But I can tell you, that no matter what happens in this shitty thing that had been dubbed 'life' you will always be able to rely on me. Okay?"

"Okay."

We just stood there in more silence. But it wasn't awkward silence. It was that kind of silence that you long to have back when it disappears. The kind of silence that is possibly the most welcoming, comfortable thing in the world. Quiet enough to hear the world around you, to hear your own heart beat in your chest. The silence that draws you in and tells you that things will start to look up in your gloomy world. The silence is what we are bound by. A comfortable silence that any overly apprehensive individual would feel calm in. A silence I wish I could stay in forever. The whole time knowing, it would soon draw to a loud, uncomfortable close, the minute a single word is uttered audibly. Back to nothingness.