Knocking On Your Heart // ongoing

5

 The next morning, I ask Oliver the neighbor for a ride to school, it's more of manners because he gave me a ride every single morning since last spring. Maybe because I'm too chicken out to drive in my own car, but Oliver is nice enough to still offers rides, he's a senior at our school, for someone that knew each other for 2 years, I'd say we're not at all close.

This morning is different somehow. Because Oliver needs to go run some errands for his parents out of town.

I'd been waiting on my porch for the past 15 minutes, but Oliver is nowhere in sight.

I hop up from the wooden porch and straight to Oliver's house next door, his mom Greta greets me.

"Good morning Margaret, do you need something?" Greta asks softly, like she just woke up from a long sleep, which she probably was.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but is Oliver's up? Cause you know he usually gives me rides to school.." I trail off as I peek inside the house. It's dark. No sight of Oliver.

Suddenly, I know something is wrong because Greta is now alarmed and her eyes go big.

"Oh my god Margaret, he went out to run some errands for me. Didn't he tell you? He should, that boy." She says shaking her head.

"It's fine Greta, sorry for bothering at this time, have a good day!" I wave at her as I quickly ran off the porch, through the bushes, and to my own home.

I'm late I'm late I'm late.

My dad already went to work, my sister already catches the bus to her elementary school. It's just me.

But then, some thought lurks into my mind.

I turn on my phone and call the latest caller.

"Hey Colin, if you're still around the neighborhood, would you mind come picking me up? There's some unfortunate 'turbulence' this morning." I rush my words out. Not knowing if he'll agree and come get me. Or is he already at school. But from what I know, Colin and his friends are not the early bird in the morning, so there's still some hopes left.

I heard his car engine in the background before he says: "um sorry Maggie, but I'm actually picking someone up right now..."

What in the world?

"Is it far away? I can sit in the back." I carefully placing my words.

My house is not that far away from Colin's, maybe two streets away.

"It's a two-seaters. Maggie I'm so so sorry." He apologise, at least he sounds like he's sincere.

The problem is, how will I get to school.

"It's fine Colin, thanks, though."

Honestly, it's not his fault, at all. He shouldn't be apologizing. I should be apologizing, I never mention this beforehand.

"I can come back to get you, it's only a few minutes drive from the school to your house if I can remember." He suggests.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to be late." I knew he doesn't care about lateness, but, manners first right?

"Yea, of course, sent me the location and I'll be there in 15."

"Thanks, Colin." I mean it.

This is the first official day that we 'date' but I've already bothered him so much. I want to be independent and someone who can depend on oneself, but I'm not that person today. I let myself down.

About 18 minutes later, his black Audi is in front of my house. It's unbelievable, not that he have a beautiful matte black convertible, but the fact that Colin Karsten car is in front of Maggie Davine's house is. I never noticed this before, but Colin is the boyfriend material girls been talking about in my high school.

Once we're warm in the car, I thank and apologize to him again, in which he reply:

"Actually, we should do this everyday, better for the act, and save the energy by using one car."

I nodded along.

"Hey CK?"

He raises his eyebrows at this. "We're on names basic now?"

I rolled my eyes. Wow Maggie, bad manners. "Or you prefer Calvin Klein?"

"That's better." His eyes are out on the road.

I laugh out loud. Bad manners, third times strikes today.

"Hey, I've always wondered why you stopped hanging out with us?" He asks.

"I guess we just naturally grew apart." Lies.

"Hm" He drums his fingers on the steering wheel.

Then silence consumes the space between us. Awkwardness surrounding in the air and I can hear his breathing, as he can probably hear mines.

"So, who'd you picked up." I don't wanna know, but I just want to make conversation.

He hesitates for a second.

"Ally."

What?

"What the hell? You were just ranting to me about her having you under her claw, how ironic."

"It's urgent, she called me crying and she needs my help."

"Oh honey, she does have you under her claw all along, no offense but if you're doing this just to get back at her for dumping you then you're lame as fuck."

He pulls to the gas station nearby and stops the engine.

"Why are you being such a bitch about this?"

"Honestly, I don't care, but it's such an excruciating pain to see her using you over and over again, really all I feel is empathy for you." I give him a little smile. Maybe I'm PMSing, but what I said is true. And honesty is all that matters.

"Fine, but just know that I have my own reason."

"I never wanted to start fake dating you, its first day in and we're already in an argument, nobody would even believe us."

"You owe this to me, Davine. And don't worry, we have the history together, chemistry will come next." he winks.

I didn't answer.

We stayed silence for that whole ride. 

A/N

Hey, guys! I'm currently in the state of really wanting to change my book cover :/ so this is an open invitation, send me book covers and I'll feature them in the book! Thank you so much for you kindness,  *here's a cupcake*

xoxo