On Our Own

Chapter 6

"Jess had to go to the hospital to fill out some paperwork for Carter, can you take the minivan and get all the kids to school?"

I looked up at Monica from my cereal. "Sure."

Maybe I should have told her that I felt sick to my stomach and that I was on the edge of exploding with rage over Carter. It was so unfair and there was nothing I could do. Nothing but go to school. I decided against speaking up. I could tell just from her tone that Monica was already stressed out. Her normally cheerful voice was solemn and quiet today, even she was impacted by Carter. Monica tossed me the keys and after I tossed her back the keys to the car I usually drove, the kids and I all piled into the car for school.

Molly, Nina, and Casey went in the far back and Jack, Matt, and Anna sat in the middle and James and I sat up front. I was in no mood to drive, and I felt bad for James. So, after making sure Monica wasn't looking I offered to let James drive. I thought it might cheer him up after our little blow up earlier this morning but I was wrong. He gladly got in the driver's seat, but refused to speak to me or even acknowledge my presence.

I sighed and when we got to school I tried again to apologize but James was in no mood to hear it.

"Save it, Leah," he said sharply. "No one will tell me what's wrong, all I know is the most important person in my life is stuck in a hospital somewhere and I have no idea what's wrong or how to help him."

I pressed my lips into a line, this was killing me. I got out of the car and tried to take even breaths. I felt like throwing up. I noticed on the other side of the car a bunch of guys were surrounding James. Boys from the football team and Ethan was one of them.

"Hey James, you got your license?" Kyle asked him.

"Not yet. I just have my permit but I didn't get caught," he said with a wink.

I was astounded by his ability to switch his demeanor from being so angry and upset about Carter to relaxed around his friends. When we were no longer fighting, I would have to ask how he managed to do that.

"I would just blame it on Leah here anyway," James continued.

I just rolled my eyes as Ethan looked over at me.

"You do know he can't drive unless he's with someone over the age of twenty-five right?"

"I'm well aware," I muttered.

I snatched the keys from James so he didn't try anything and then started walking towards the school, that's when I noticed Ethan was walking beside me.

"What do you want?" I asked as I continued to walk.

"You look awful."

"Thanks," I said in a monotone voice.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Why do you care?" I snapped.

He looked surprised by my tone. I thought it would have been enough to scare him off but he shrugged it off and continued walking by my side to the library.

When he wasn't looking I glanced over at him. He was wearing jeans and a hoodie and that's when I realized something. The reason I always spotted him among all of his friends was because they all wore their letterman jackets with such pride. All of them thought they were so tough because they were on the football team, even James. However, I had yet to see Ethan wear his, ever.

It also helped that he was really attractive, that was probably what really made him more noticeable to me. Not just his charming physical features, but more so in the other traits I saw in him. He wasn't easily spooked by my abrasive behavior. He never tried to ask me about my personal life, and if I was being quite honest, the only times I seemed to be smiling these days was when I was around him.