Taste for Trouble

Chaper 6

Hey, I apologize about the lack of detail in this chapter. What makes the vividness in the others is the amount of times I've edited it, while I was in different moods and so on. But because this book has been moved from so many different computers, the formatting is all messed up and stuff. So it somehow deleted this chapter. That's why the last one ended so abruptly. Thanks for understanding. COMMENT PLEASE and vote. but I really want some comments.

Let's just say, it is not my week. I don't even know where to start, first I get attacked by I-don't-know-what, then my boyfriend thinks I cheated on him, I'm the biggest gossip item of the school, and now I'm suspended. I sat outside the rest of the day, seeing as I was not an official member of the school now. I cradled a bruised elbow and a headache; but it was nothing on what I did to Judith. When her parents arrived, I wouldn't have doubted it if they would have shot me. They would have too, if they had brought a gun.

I glared at a truck that I could have sworn drove by two minutes ago the other way. The windows were tinted, but I could tell there were at least three people in it. Looked like a man and two women, but I couldn't be sure. They didn't seem to notice me, but were looking for something. I looked away after a second, not wanting to draw attention to myself.

They only drove by once more before the school bell rang. I stood immediately and scanned the crowd as people passed by in a herd. I saw a few people looking at me, but it didn't seem like everyone had heard about the fight yet. I saw Jess and Liz walk by, see me, then walk faster away. Some friends.

Then I saw him. I stomped right up to him, making sure to shove a few people angrily out of my way.

"You have to drive me to your house so I can get my cell phone." I said, with only a little sass.

"I can bring it tomorrow." He said, not looking at me. His hair was in a ponytail on his neck now, hanging down to the middle of his shoulders.

"I won't be here tomorrow. I'm suspended." I said blankly and that caused him to meet my eyes in shock. "I'm surprised you haven't heard. It was kinda over you." He raised an eyebrow in response. "She threw a punch because she use to like you. I kicked her ass."

"God, Claire. What has happened to you, first...Tuesday, now this?" He said in exasperation.

"Nothing happened on Tuesday! Nothing at all! I tripped and fell and got a little scraped up. A guy saw and he pulled over to give me a ride home." Damn, this story changes every time. I looked him right in the eyes though, as the stream of people began to thin.

He looked at me, looking for any fault in the story. There was none. It got more realistic every time I told it and tweaked it.

"It's just a lot of change in such a small amount of time." I mean, who could blame the dude, usually the only excitement he got was when the football coach surprised them with an extra lap.

"I understand, and I'm sorry that it all had to happen in the same week, hun, I really am." I said, trying with all my might to hold back tears. "But please, please don't let a few accidents and rumors ruin us."

He seemed like his logic had been telling him all day to just dump me, but his feelings were also very strongly at play here. It showed in his eyes and on his face.

"But whatever you choose, I do need my phone today." I said, thinking that it would remind him of all the fun times we had had, going to his house and watching movies, or me helping his mother with her faulty cooking skills.

He looked down. "Come on." It wasn't exactly a promise for marriage, but I wasn't going to hesitate, I followed him to his truck and jumped in shotgun.

We drove in silence to the gas station and he jumped out to pay. I sighed and slouched against the seat. He was a great person, but he could be really thick sometimes. I admired everything about him, but it baffled me that he would so easily buy into stupid high school bullshit.

I watched as people drove by on the road, and I suddenly had the urge to tell someone, anyone, about what happened a few short nights ago. My entire body felt compressed with the weight of it, the overwhelming urge for someone to hold me and tell me I wasn't crazy.

Eric began to fill up the tank but I hardly noticed. The tears brimmed my eyes, the emptiness and aloneness of my situation hadn't hit me until now.

He got back into the car and started the engine, not seeming to notice me. We drive again, me letting the tears fall down my cheeks silently in anger. In myself, in him, in stupid traumatic experiences.

When we arrive to his house, he left the car on and ran in to grab my phone. I wiped the trail of tears and looked at his happy little house. I had a few too many memories here...I focused on my hands until he returned.

He handed me my phone and went to shift the truck but I grabbed his hand atop the clutch. He looked at me, not surprised at my notion.

"You know I would never cheat on you." I said, putting all my emotion in my voice and my eyes as I said it.

He seemed to focus on his words before he spoke, legitimately considering all of my words. He finally nodded and looked away. "I know." he finally muttered. "I...I don't know what came over me...ever since I started hanging out with those kids from Spokane I guess," He had recently gained a few friends I had never met from Spokane, I had never met them, nor had a problem with them...until now. "First all the questions they were asking about you...then when I told them that you missed a few days of school and I was worried because you never do that...I don't know, I guess their suggestions, matched with the rumors, was too much at once. I'm sorry, Claire, I've been an ass."

Now I felt bad for him, dammit. "No, it's not your fault. You had all reasons to doubt me. I disappear and don't provide a solid reason? I'd be pissed at me too."

He grabbed me then, kissing me lightly."That's why I love you. You can put aside your feelings and see things from every angle." He said, his hands resting on my cheeks and my neck. It wasn't possessive, but a kind caress. He looked at me with fondness and happiness now,not accusations and sadness.

I smiled in response and he kissed me again, this time not letting go. I wrapped one hand in his long hair and the other grabbed the material on his back.

We stayed like that for a moment more when he backed away and looked at me, suddenly disappointed.

"What!?" I asked, afraid I had somehow failed at kissing.

"You're suspended!" When I didn't respond and just looked at him with a what's-your-point look he continued, "You can't come to our post season game!"

I honestly didn't see the point of doing a football game so out of season, but for some reason it was important to him.

"I...I'll find a way to sneak in." I said with faked confidence. It was important to him, so I would try to go.

"But you might get into more trouble!" He said, as if that would be the most horrible thing in the world.

"Oh well." I said with a shrug, leaning in to kiss him again.

We made out for a while when my newly retrieved phone rang.

"Hey mom." I said. Hoping she wouldn't hear my heavy breathing.

"Hey Claire. I won't be home tonight. I'm going out. Your dad shouldn't show up for a while. He's working late. Just letting you know. Love you Hun. Bye." she said then hung up.

"Hm...Wanna come over?" I said, looking at Eric.

"Urgh. I can't. I'm babysitting. Sorry honey." he said as he began to pull out of his driveway.