Bent. Not Broken (On Hold)

Chapter 17

Six o'clock sharp and there's a knock on the front door. I do the finishing touches to my hair before running down the hall. "I got it!"

I stop in front of the door and smooth down my skirt before pulling it open. Remy's face looks as shocked as I feel. His eyes scan me over as his mouth hangs open.

"I'm really underdressed." He mutters to himself. Where I was wearing a black skirt and white blouse, he was in jeans with a hole in one knee and a flannel shirt.

My mind was running a mile a minute. What did I jut get myself into? Before I had time to speak Tanner pulls up to the curb and gets out of his car.

Remy turns to look over his shoulder and his body instantly tenses up. "Nat, What's he doing here?" He asks as he turns back to face me.

I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and chew on it. After lunch I had ran into Tanner. He wouldn't let me be until I heard him out. I eventually gave in and let him say whatever he needed to say. He told me he had nothing to do with the pictures, even apologized for it, and somehow I ended up agreeing to go to dinner with him tonight. In all that unexpected craziness, I had forgotten about my plans with Remy.

"Remy I'm-"

"What are you doing here?" Tanner asks flatly as he walks up next to Remy.

"I should be asking you the same thing." Remy replies and the two boys stare each other down for a moment.

I reach out and grab Remy's arm. "Can I talk to you for a second? Tanner I'll be right back." I say before dragging Remy inside and closing the door.

"What the hèll Nat?" Remy demands.

I shift nervously on my feet. "He says he wants to talk and to explain things." My voice came out quieter than intended.

It was easy to tell Remy didn't like the idea by the way he ran his hands though his hair and the frown he wore. "And you agreed?"

"Well yeah, we did date for two years. I owe him that much." I snap, suddenly feeling very angry at his reluctance. He wasn't in charge of who I could and couldn't talk to.

Remy looks at me then shakes his head. He lets out a sigh before stepping forward. "Don't let him give you some half-assed explanation. You deserve the truth. Okay?"

My anger subsided as I register his words. "I won't." I say with a nod of my head.

"Call me I you need me to pick you up." Remy adds before stepping aside.

"Thank you." I give him a smile before stepping out of the door.

Tanner was leaning against the railing, just like he'd done so many times before. "You good?" He asks as I step outside.

I nod head. "Yep. Already."

Tanner offers me his hand and I was about to take it when I realized we weren't actually together anymore. Pulling back my hand I walk down the steps and towards his car.

"You look good." Tanner says as he rushes forward and pulls open my door.

"T-thanks. You look nice as well." I say before slipping into the seat. He always looked good, or least that's what I used to think. Now I couldn't help but notice how last minute his outfit seemed. His shirt was all wrinkled and one of the buttons were off and his jeans had a whole in one leg. He hated holes in his jeans, said he didn't pay that much money for his jeans to be ripped.

Tanner gets into the drivers seat and starts the car. He turns in the music and a country song starts to play as he pulls onto the street. I was never a fan of country music. It wasn't that I hated it, it's just all the songs sounded the same. You hear one song about beer and a girl in right jeans you've heard them all. I put up with the music for Tanner. He hated the kind of music I listened to, alternative. Said they were trying too hard to be cool. I completely disagreed.

"So where are we going?" I manage to ask when we get to the end of my street.

Tanner looks over at me and flashes his signature dimpled smile. That smile used to melt my heart. Now I couldn't help but see how fake it looked. "You'll see."

"You know I don't like surprises." I say and look up at him with wide eyes.

"I know, but I want it to be a surprise." Tanner says casually.

My smile falls from my lips. I actually did like surprises. A lot. I've always dreamed of someone throwing me a surprise party. He must have forgotten. Forgot.

I stay silent for the rest of the car ride, no longer in the mood to talk. Thankfully Tanner didn't make any effort to start a conversation.

*****

Pic of Tanner in the media. 👆🏻