Disasterology

Chapter 3: I was once possibly maybe perhaps a cowboy king

Thursday went by too fast. Carter spent its entirety with me. He said he wanted to keep me safe. It was sweet. Friday sped by as well. In photography he and I talked about what we were taking pictures of.

“I’m completely stuck, I can’t think of what to do! And its due Monday!” he said.

“You could take pictures of me.” I said jokingly. “Most people find me repulsive, you would get an A plus plus plus!” I started laughing.

“No that wouldn’t work. Although I do think you’re beautiful I’m sure everyone else does too.” He was staring at the ceiling. I blushed and looked down at the table. Beautiful? Me? Not possible. “So what are you doing?”

“bones.” I said. He was clearly confused so I explained. “Umm you know people who are so skinny that you can see their bones so perfectly defined? Well I think that, that’s pretty. I love collar bones that stick out and hip bones and when you can see people’s ribs. Most people think it’s gross though”

“Are you going to use yourself as a model?” He asked.

“What!? No! I’m not. . . I’m not nearly skinny enough!” I blushed again

“Yes you are. I can see your color bones right now, jutting out on your chest and you hip bones protrude way farther then your stomach.” He said defensively.

“How do you know if my hip bones-“

“I had my arm around you waist when I walked you to class yesterday morning. . .” now he was blushing. It was adorable.

“oh.” I said because I couldn’t think of anything better.

                He walked me outside after school and was about to walk away when I saw Clark waiting at the top of the hill. He looked pissed and a little tipsy. Not a good combination.

“Hell no. I’m driving you home.” He said and put his arm around me again.

“Oh on its fine ill just wait for Ryn and Sidnee.” I muttered not sure if that would help at all.

“He- hey guys.” Ryn said from behind. Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear. “Umm are you walking with us Alex?” she looked like she was on the verge of a rage stroke.

“No I’m driving her home.” He said, I guess he had decided for me.

“Oh . . . wonderful. Oohhh that’s why.” She looked up and saw Clark. “Well that makes more sense for a second I thought—never mind. Um but yeah that’s a good thing, carter. She needs someone as sweet as you to protect her.” She put her hand on his shoulder in between my head and his. “You’re such a sweetie.” She said with her most sexy, flirty face. Then she kissed his check. A piece of me wanted to punch her. Instead I looked at my shoes.

“I try.” He said completely unfazed and he led me to his car. I looked back at Ryn who was pouting and being comforted my Sidnee. Sidnee gave me a long distance high- five. Take that Ryn. It was mean but it felt good to think to myself.

                His car looked so clean and still had that new car smell. I was amazed that an 11th grade boy could take such good care of something. He let me choose what songs to play so I played pierce the veil and we both sang along the entire way to my house.

“I didn’t know you could sing. ”He nudged my arm.

“I’m not very good at it.” I blushed.

“Lies and slander! And you play the guitar right?”

“Uhh yeah. . .” my face was burning red.

“Damn girl, you get better every day. He laughed and tossed me his phone. “Put in your number.” I did and tossed the phone back. “Good, is it cool if I call you later?”

“Ye—yeah sure.” I nearly died.

“Alrighty then. Bye Alex.” He pulled me in for a long hug. I never wanted it to end.

                I walked into the house and threw my backpack in my room. I was terribly dehydrated, Singing does that to me.

“Who was that, that dropped you off?” my mom asked. She was lounging on the couch reading a book, my mom loved to read. She was a tall portly woman with long red hair and bright green eyes. She was one of the sweetest people on the planet but she had had a hard life. My father knocked her up and then took off. She raised me completely alone. I just wish I could be a better daughter for her

“A friend.” I said blushing again.

                Carter called me twenty minutes later and we talked for hours. He shared his whole life story with me. He was the youngest of three boys, his mom and dad had been together sense high school. He was born in Salt Lake City and his dad moved a lot because of his job. He’s lived in almost every state on the western side of the country and he had lived in Canada twice. His parents had promised him he could graduate here and he was stoked about it. He has had three girlfriends in his life and had his heart broken by all of them. He was cheated on by his last one and said he had trust issues because of it. I told him everyone had trust issues. After he was satisfied with his story he told me it was my turn. I gave the most basic, bland version of my life as I could. I didn’t want him to know how fucked up I really was so I just told him I had problems. I didn’t want him to know how badly id been hurt so I just said id been through a lot of shit. I didn’t want him to know how lonely I was so I said I didn’t have luck with relationships. I could tell he wanted more details but he wouldn’t have gotten to hear any. We both fell asleep on the phone I dreamt of him again.

                The weekend dragged on. Me and carter texted all day every day. Kendra stayed the night on Saturday and teased me for being so obsessed with a guy I just met. I didn’t care, she was right. I had to keep myself at a distance though. I knew carter was a good guy but I’m not able to trust him. Not just yet. I don’t think I could handle another heart break. I ended Sunday with three conclusions:

1)      Life is hard.

2)      People are stupid.

3)      I might maybe, possibly, perhaps be in love and it is terrifying.