I Promise You

(42) I Know I Can Treat You Better

"Puck! Stop it!" I yelled, while I was running after him in the dog park. "You know, when you don't run after him, he will eventually stop running from you. He thinks it's a game" A familiar voice said and I smiled at him "Oh yeah, so you are an dog expert?" I asked, trying to catch my breath, "Had them all ma life" He said in an southern accent. "What's up with the cowboy talk?" I asked him. "I'm a real life cowboy" He said.

"Like the ones in the movies?" I asked and he rolled his eyes "Do you have a cowboy hat and boots?" I continued asking. "Prom" He warned. "What?" I asked innocent. "Don't!" He warned again. "Okay" I said, maybe not as serious as I should have been.

"Just sit down and try to get your dog to come. Try getting him here with some treats" He suggested. "That's an great advice! Just today I forgot them at home" He said, sitting on the floor, petting Lindy with one hand. "Here" He said and gave me some. "Thanks" I said and started to trick Puck into coming over here so I can get him on the leash and take him home.

The next day I wanted to confess my feelings to Jesse. I wanted to tell him that I was ready to be with him. I finally decided to be true to my feelings.

So I was almost running through the hallway, trying to find him until.... my heart stopped beating for a second.

Jesse was kissing someone and it was the worst person he could kiss. It was no other than Lennon. Jesse was kissing Lennon!

I couldn't believe it. My whole world shattered right in front my eyes and I could feel tears forming in my eyes. I turned around and ran off. I ran and didn't look where I was going. I just needed to get out of here. Away from this place.

"Prom?" Keeley asked as I ran passed her, Evie and Ronnie. "Promise?!" Evie yelled after me, but I refused to hear it. I kept running. I ran out of the school and straight to my car and jumped onto the driver's seat, crying my eyes out.

I got ripped out of my thoughts by a knock on the window. "Prom, you okay?" It was Peyton. I unlocked the door and let him open it "No, I'm not. I need to get away from here" I said. "Move over!" He said and I listened. He climbed onto the driver's seat and I looked at him "What are you doing?" "What does it look like? I'm skipping school for you" He said and started the engine and drove off.

During our drive my tears had calmed down and my eyes were just swollen. I wasn't that upset anymore, but I was still hurt. I had finally decided, I was finally ready to stand up to my feelings and he does something like that. "Where are you taking me?" I asked him, looking into his direction. "It's a secret" He said, pressing the button to open up the roof of my convertible. My hair was flying in the wind and I raised my arms and couldn't help but smile. Then I remembered the sunglasses I had somewhere in here. Not a long time later I had found them and put one on and put the one I had from my dad on Peyton.

"Living LA Style in MC?" He asked laughing "In November" "Yeah, why not. I feel like it" I said "Somehow I have to distract myself" I said and laid back in my seat. "Can I ask what caused your breakdown?" He asked and I sighed, before turning his way "What do you think? Boys of course. How can you guys get over feelings that fast?" I asked him.

"Talking about Jesse?" He asked and I groaned "That obvious?" I asked and he laughed again. "I don't know another guy that's deeply in love with you" He said. "Yeah apparently not anymore" I said "Just as I had formed a crush on him" I told him. "But you know how it is with crushes. You can get over them pretty fast when you have the right person with you"

"You mean you?" I asked and he laughed again "Possible" "You're an idiot! Do you know that?" I asked him with that stupid smile on my lips. "All I know that I can treat you better than he can. I never bullied you to get your attention, it just comes natural to me. It's like I have that magnet that attracts girls" He said and I playfully hit him. "Did no one ever tell you not to hit the driver?" He asked. "I don't think there was a lesson on that in Driver's Ed" I said and looked at beautiful scenery.

"Wanna tell me now where you are taking me?" I asked, a lot happier than before. He just shook his head no. "I hate you" I said and crossed my arm like a little kid that didn't get the cookie it wanted. "I hate you too" He laughed and I couldn't help but laugh as well.

I don't know what it was about him, but something about him cheered me up. I don't know if it was just him being present or his personality. Something about him felt good. I wanted to be close to him. He made me feel better and I barely thought about him anymore. I just had to ban Jesse Ashcroft from my brain, my thoughts, my mind and probably my life. He knew how I felt about Lennon and how much I hated that girl, yet he went ahead and was exchanging saliva with her in the schools hallway.

About 15 minutes later, Peyton stopped the car. "What is that?" I asked, looking at him. "Whenever I miss home, I come here" He said and got out of the car. I got out as well and he locked it, after he put the roof back up. "Just follow me" He said and put my car keys into the pocket of his jacket. "You trust me right?" He asked and held his hand out. I nod without hesitation and took his hand. He lead me further and soon I had realized where we were. It was a horse ranch. "Have you ever been on a horse before" He asked and I grinned "Well, I would have loved to, but that was never really an optionfor me" I told him.

"Why so?" He asked curious. "Well, you know how it is with siblings?" I asked and he shook his head no "I like to consider myself an only child, because all my siblings are of age, since I was a baby, so I barely see them and I don't exactly talk to them" He explained, while I nod to show him I was paying attention. "Well, long story short. My brother is allergic to horses, even if I think he might use that as an excuse because he is scared of them" I said and be smiled "I don't think Cale is the kind of person to make up a story like that" He said.

I mean he had met him in the dog park, but was strange about my brother was that other animals are totally fine, only horses are a problem. "So you bring me to a ranch for skipping school?" I asked with an raised eyebrow. "Question is, why wouldn't I bring you to a ranch while skipping school" He said and I couldn't help but laugh.

He lead me over to the stables like he exactly knew were he had to go. He then stopped in front on stall. A dark beige and white paint horse was standing in it. "This is Daisy" He introduced me to the mare. "She's beautiful" I said, petting her neck. "Yeah, she is. Although she almost didn't make it" Peyton said and I looked at him "Why? What happened?" "Her birth was pretty complicated. She was pretty weak at the beginning. Her mom didn't except her, so we raised her with the bottle. I have her since I was a kid. My dad are it my responsibility to keep her alive and that gave us an unbreakable bond. I couldn't leave her in Texas, so I convinced my parents to let me take her with me" He told me proud. I could see in his eyes how much he loved this horse.

"So you are a dog whisperer and a horse whisperer. What else do you got?" I asked him, not taking my hand of the mare's neck. "You wanna learn how to ride?" He suddenly asked me and I looked at him, not really knowing what to answer him. "Girls love horses, so?" He said and I rolled my eyes "I'm not like every girl" I told him. "I know that. So, what do you think?" He asked again and I smiled "Where do I sign up?"