Collide

Chapter Five

Hours passed by, I'm still out of my mind. I'm still thinking about what Mr. Evans offered me. I don't know; whether to accept it or not. Yes, I like to help Ethan, of course helping is in my core values. The problem is, I don't know how to do this. Yes, before I transfer in this school, I join varieties of contests. But this, this is different. This is one-on-one. I prefer to join contests where many people watched me answer different questions. This one is awkward.

Without even noticing what time is it, the bell rang meaning it's time for us to go home. So, I dialed Jasper's number and press call. I called him 5th times and the voice mail's welcoming me to leave a message.

Jas, I have a problem. But I don't think you can help me now. It's a long story but I forgot my car. I mean, I took a ride with my Dad 'cause I'm too lazy to drive. So I'm hoping that you'd take me home and have a dinner in our place. But seems like you're busy again, so maybe next time. Get home safely, bye.

I didn't told him the truth; that Ethan forced me to go with him to school. I don't know why, so I just lied about that part. Walking down the street, there's a car behind me and made a horn. So I look back and see a back Volvo.......again. I stopped, waiting for that car to pass first. But that car stopped in front of me and opened the window.

"Cassie, I'll give you a ride home. Since I know it's all my fault why you didn't have your car right now and I am sorry for that." he said, sincerely.

"No thanks, but I'd rather walk. Plus, I'm enjoying the fresh air here." I said, gestured my arms wide open.

"Then might as well join you walking."

"Okay, get out of that car and give me your dang key and I'll drive home and you're going to walk. Since about a minute ago you admitted that it's your fault!"

And without any hesitations, he gets out of his car, walk towards me, and give me his car key."Okay. Just park the car in front of our house." he said, smiling a bit.

I get the key and headed towards his car. I put the car into ignition and stepped on the gas pedal. Looking at the rearview mirror, I saw him walking slowly, with his heads down. I feel guilty. I really didn't want to do this. I just did this to avoid my feelings for him. I know, I know I'm falling for him. And I'm fighting it. But I can't resist the way he looks like that, so I stopped the car and wait for him to pass at the car. He just ignored his car where I'm the one who's inside it. I beep and he turned to face the car, I opened the window and offered him to get inside. Just like what he did a while ago.

"No, you should go." he said.

"Stop please! Just come inside! Let's stop this all. All of this. Let this be the last time that we talk to each other." I said, and I remember, that I'm his tutor. Well, shit. This thing won't stop yet. After seconds, he get in the passenger's seat.

"Do you want me to drive?" he offered.

"Nah, can do it. Besides, I missed driving my Ford."

"Okay."

We sat there silent. And I want to kill the awkwardness so I press the button for the radio to turn on.

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginning

Even when I lose I'm winning

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you, oh

And the air gets more awkward. I stopped in front of his house, get my bag and headed out.

"Ethan!" I call.

He look at my direction.

"Thank you for the ride." I said, smiling. He return a smile and nodded.

When I stepped at the front door, my mom calls me quickly.

"Honey, get changed. We'll be having a visitor in a few minutes." She ordered.

"Wait a sec," dad made me halt. "Why you didn't bring your car?" Oh, dang it!

"Uhm." What should I say? "Uhm.. I just wanted to walk. You know, exercise." Great ,I hope dad will believe it.

"That's great honey. You should exercise more often for you to have a healthy body. When I say exercise, the literal exercise. Not just exercising your fingers through tapping on the keyboard." He said sarcastically. " Go on, get changed now. What you waiting for?"

I jogged upstairs, going directly at my en-suite an take a shower. Those incidents this day still filling my mind. When Ethan moved to our class, when Mr. Evans asked me to tutor him, when he offered to drive me home, when I get in his car and let him walk, when I offered him to come with me, that song on the radio, and when I thanked him for giving me a ride home.

Isn't he mad at me? Because his mood suddenly changed. Lately this morning up to offering me to have a ride with him, he's so joyful, you can't take away those smiles on his face. But after that, I haven't seen his smiles anymore. And I think the smile he gave when I thanked him, is fake. And I wonder why.

Ha! And now you're wondering? Stupid girl. You're being mean to him. Of course, he'll think that you don't really like him.

So what should I do? Should I say sorry? Buy him a free lunch? What?

Nothing. Just stop being mean to him. If you don't want him to avoid you, and if you don't want to lose him.

Quite right. You know, this voice in my head is much clever than I am.

After ten minutes, I wear a formal dress, though dinner will only be held here. I curled my hair again and headed downstairs. When I'm about to reach the last step, I heard a familiar voice, laughing with my mom and maybe his mom, too. When I heard his name is called by my mother, I got frozen. I don't know what to do. Dad saw me standing frozen.

"Honey, why don't you come here?" Dad said, stretching his arms as if reaching for me. I walk slowly towards the living room and saw Ethan looking down on his shoes. Maybe he's really avoiding me.

"Hey honey, this is Mrs. Tess Johnson, our neighbor." Mom said, smiling.

"Oh, hi. I'm Cassie." I offered my hands to shake our hands.

After a few minutes, we headed in the dining room. Dad sat at the center, Ethan next to his mom, and I'm next to mom. Mom and his mom are face to face so that they can chat easily. Same as me and Ethan, we're also sat face to face. When I look at him, he's avoiding my gaze, really. I can see him just focusing his eyes on his food.

After eating, I headed quickly at my room, sat behind my window, and thinking why is he really avoiding me and what should I really do. After a few minutes, I heard footsteps and turn my back to look who is it.

Vote/Comment/Fan and contact me through Instagram and Twitter @herschelkplim and through Facebook facebook.com/wattpadcollide