Can't Afford Mistakes.

Chapter Two

Sadie.

We roll through Arabella's quite neighborhood and within a minute were on the highway. I stare out the window and watch the trees go by. We ride in silence for a long two miles before Arabella turns the radio on.

A sappy country song blares through the speakers. The singer tells the story of him seeking advice about love from an elder man. The elder man advises the singer to love his wife no matter the circumstances, to never be afraid to over use the words I love you, and to do his best everyday. I reach for the dial to turn it off, but the captures me in a trance.

The lyrics seem to evoke some raw emotion from within me because before I'm aware of it, I scream at Arabella.

"Arabella," I exclaim throwing my hand up to my ear and back down smacking the seat, & turning towards her, "can you please turn the station to something good! You know I don't like country music! Just please!"

She gives me a sideways look, drives for a little longer, then touches the screen of the radio, changing the station to the local Pop station. Holla by Max comes through the radio and I sigh in relief. I look out the window again, but I can feel her big, brown, puppy dog eyes boring holes into the side of my head, looking at me, demanding an explanation.

"I know what you're thinking," I whisper as I rest my head even further on the glass of the window, "and I'm seriously so grateful for everything you're doing for me, but Im just stressed out. Okay? This is my last chance, and if I screw up he's lost forever, and I'll never be truly happy. Ever!" I put my hand to my forehead, trying not to mess up the hour's worth of makeup applied to my face.

"I get it Sadie,but have some faith in the universe," Arabella begins before I completely flip my lid.

"I've had faith in the universe Ara! I've gone to like five of these concerts, but I get the same result every single time, nothing!"

Arabella slows for a red light across from the elementary school we both attended before, she looks at me again. Those brown eyes shimmer in the sunlight and reflect the light back at me. They skim my face for a few seconds, then look beyond me, focusing on the woods behind me. I look in the reflection from the window in the drivers side to see if there's anything out of the ordinary, but there's nothing except woods for miles.

Arabella's pupils dilate, and for a second, I promise, her eyes were a bright violet. She meets my gaze directly and she opens her mouth to speak but the light turns green. She puts the truck in gear and pulls off with a sudden jerk of speed. My hands fly forward to the dashboard to balance and brace myself.

"Arabella, what's wrong," I ask worriedly. When she doesn't reply I get really worried. "Arabella. What's the problem?"

She makes a sudden U-turn throwing both the truck's and my balance off center. I'm thrown against the seat belt and the window. All the wind from my chest escapes in a big huff.

"Arabella, are you okay," I ask cautiously.

"God dammit, he's here! Why the hell did he come back," Arabella whispers to herself. She looks out both of the windows and shudders when she sees me as if suddenly remembering I'm here.

"What the hell is going on," I demand!

She doesn't reply, she just makes another sharp turn causing her tires to squeal. She whispers profanities under her breath, driving in the direction her house.

"Arabella! What's happening? Are you in trouble," I ask panicked.

She pauses for a moment before giving me a Curt nod, "I'm fine. I-I forgot something at the house."

"You're gonna get me to the concert, right? You promised," I say in mid hysteria, worry dripping from each word.

She puts her hand to her head, and runs it through her long, black hair. "Yes, of course, you'll be there. Have I ever let you down before," she questions adding a wink.

I inhale deeply and sink back father into my seat as Arabella pushes her truck to its limits. What should've been a 10 minute drive from the elementary school to her road is cut in half. Arabella makes another hard left onto her street, forcing my right shoulder against the window for the second time today.

"Jesus, Ara! Slow down," I exclaim, gripping the handle attached to the roof so hard, that my knuckles turn white. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour and we're going double. Arabella slams on the brakes when a ball fly's across the road. Children run after the ball, and their mothers shoot Arabella a menacing glare before we drive away.

After another left into Arabella's driveway, we come to a complete stop. I reach for the door handle to push it open, when Arabella reaches across me and pulls the door shut. I turn to yell at her, but before I can, I'm cut off.

"Don't even think about yelling, Sadie," she says sternly while unbuckling her seat belt. "Listen to me carefully. There's a lot you don't know, but you're going to have to trust me. I need you to wear this ring, at all times. Especially if I'm not around, got it?"

I start to question what ring, but she plunges her hand into the pocket of her cut off shorts. She unclenches her fist and produces a long, black ring. The base of it is the stem of a flower and it curls intricately up forming a tunnel for the finger. At the top on where it would rest against the top of the finger is a small, delicate flower.

"Wear it on your middle finger. Don't take it off. Unless you're inside my house. Okay? Promise me you wont take it off."

I look at her from my seat. She inhumanly beautiful with long, midnight black hair. Its so fine it flows with her every movement. Her round face and high cheek bones are porcelain smooth. Her brown eyes that are never the same shade, are now medium brown with a golden ring around her pupils. I've never seen her this intense before.

Oh, God. She's angry, I think, this cant be good.

I nod understandingly and fearfully as I take the ring from her hand,

"Alright, good," she sighs, "do not get out of this truck, okay? Not for anything, got it?"

I nod again, but she's already out of the truck and halfway up the stairs to her front door.

I release a heavy sigh as I open my fist to reveal the ring. I twirl it around in my hands for a few moments examining it. The ring is just under the length of my middle finger and is crafted with an abundance of details. I carefully slide it onto my middle finger. I turn my hand over in amazement. The ring is a perfect fit, and the more I focus on it, it feels like the rings is adjusting and contouring to my finger on its own. I stare at the beautiful ring for a moment longer, turning to where Arabella was just seconds ago and whisper, "I promise."

Second chapter in the same day 😱. Idk how many I'll post today honestly lol, but the song I referenced first is "Love like Crazy" by Lee Brice if y'all were wondering {it's country & ik a lot of y'all don't like country music} BUT the second song, "Holla" by Max is great, & I highly recommend his album Hell's Kitchen Angels.

ANYWAYS if you've gotten this far, I love you dearly and you're truly great! ❤