Hearts, Scars & Horseshoes

Chapter 52 - Faith

"I come in peace and baring gifts." I said as I came up behind Tori at her locker.

I held the Starbucks latte toward her. Her brown eyes danced from me to the latte like she was trying to decide if a latte was worth speaking to me again. Turns out a couple hours to cool off was turning into a couple days.

"If it helps I apologized to Luke." I added, nudging my hand a little closer to her.

She blew out a sigh, relieving my hand of the latte. "You're probably right."

"Oh no I am right." I said. "But maybe it wasn't my place to interfere."

She shook her head, a faint smile creeping on her face. It fell just as fast as it came as her eyes settled down the hallway. I followed her gaze to see Luke leaned back against the locker, an underclassman pressed against him. I didn't even try to hide the annoyed groan that slipped out. I linked my arm through Tori's, forcing both of us to venture on.

"You deserve so much better than Luke Roland. Besides don't you know it's the ones that are cute in high school that end up fat and ugly living in their mom's basement when they're older." I announced definitely louder than I needed too.

Tori snorted, some of her latte spraying out in front of us. I smiled triumphantly my eyes meeting Luke's as he watched us from over the brunette head that was pressed against him. I shrugged my shoulders, the sound of Tori's laughter my background music.

"I don't know where all this sass is coming from but I have to say I sort of love it." She told me.

I didn't say it but so did I.

"Come on, let's go kick this last exam in the butt and be rid of school and these horrible uniforms for the summer."

She tipped her latte towards mine. "Deal."

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"Okay so this looks okay?" I asked Tori as I adjusted my phone on my nightstand and stepped back.

"Casual but still very cute and versatile so that whatever you end up doing your outfit won't be a problem." She said sounding way too satisfied with herself. "What are you doing anyway?"

"Toby asked if I wanted to hang out with him and his friend." I answered, ducking my head underneath my bed as I looked for my other shoe.

"Ooh is his friend single?" She asked.

I laughed, swiping my hand blindly underneath my bed before coming up empty.

"I don't know, are you?" I tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear as I righted myself. "What about Chase?"

Tori groaned as I shuffled awkwardly across my floor in search of my other still missing shoe.

"That bad?"

She let out a huff. "He's just so hot and cold. One minute he's there all charming and cute and the next it's like he's a ghost."

"So what are you going to do about then?" I said before sticking my head into my closet, still on my hands and knees.

"You're shoe is under your jean jacket by your door." Tori informed. I wasn't even sure how she knew that. I was pretty certain she couldn't see my door from where my phone sat in my nightstand. "I don't know. Maybe I should just end it, whatever it is."

My knees were not thrilled with my decision to crawl laps around my floor but I ignored them anyway as I made my way over to my jean jacket. I yanked one of the sleeves my flower canvas shoe that I had been searching for rolled across the floor as I did. I shook my head, smiling as I wondered how Tori could notice and then remember such things.

I flopped to my butt ungracefully, yanking my shoe on my foot as I looked up at Tori. "Not that I'm an expert or anything but don't you think if you're with a guy his attention shouldn't change with the weather."

Tori watched me through the phone for a minute, her brown eyes calculating as she thought.

"Well not all of us are lucky enough to have a Tobias." She finally said.

I smiled at the mention of his name. I was lucky. Toby had been nothing short of perfect.

I crawled my way over to my nightstand, my face filling the little rectangle in the corner of the screen. I was still smiling, my heart beating happily in my chest as I thought about in just a few short minutes I'd be with him. Maybe he'd hold my hand. Maybe he'd kiss me. But regardless of that I knew I'd be happy, free at least for a short while from the brokenness that followed me everyday.

"You know, I think everyone deserves a Toby." I told her. "We will find you one."

She scoffed. "I think I'm destined for jerks."

I shook my head. "As your best friend, I can't and won't allow it."

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as we sat there staring at each other. Neither of us said anything. I was glad too because I didn't want to argue. I knew I was right. And somehow I'd make her see that she didn't need to put up with guys like Luke and Chase.

"Maybe Tobias has some hot single friends." Tori said breaking our silence.

I laughed. "Maybe, we'll see."

"Speaking of your dreamboat, when are you leaving?" She asked.

And as if on cue, I heard the loud rumble of his truck pass by my window. My heart raced off as a smile spread across my face.

"Right now. Love you gotta go!" I said as I snatched my phone from my nightstand.

I pocketed it after ending the call, swiping my jean jacket from the floor just in case. I didn't care that was rushing through the house excitedly, he was here and I couldn't wait to see him.

"Going out!" I announced as I dashed through the living room.

"With who?" Simon asked, standing abruptly from the couch.

"Toby."

I had my hand on the door knob when I heard him slam the door to his truck.

"Where are you going? Do mom and dad know?" He asked.

"I'll text them, see you later."

I opened the door, effectively cutting Simon off as I slammed it behind me. Toby's green eyes met mine just as he was about to climb the couple steps up the porch. His mouth tugged into a smile which only made my heart pound harder in my chest.

"Hi." I said, a little breathless from my own excitement.

"Hey, ready?"

I nodded, bounding the couple feet toward him. Maybe I was feeling a little bold from Sunday. Or maybe I was crazy. But as I reached him, I laced his fingers with mine, the warmth of his skin spreading goosebumps up my arm. I felt his long fingers tighten around my hand as I pulled him to his truck. My heart jumped in my chest, a small fiber spreading across the hole that was blown through it.

He pulled the door open for me, allowing me to climb in before he closed it. He lingered in the open window frame, something I noticed he did a lot. He smiled at me, his green eyes dancing between mine.

"What?" I asked, unable to contain my own smile.

He shrugged, a small chuckle escaping him. "Nothing, just glad you're here."

I wasn't sure if my smile could get any bigger but if it could, it did.

"So am I." My words came out on a breath giving away the fact that he was sweeping me off my feet with minimal effort.

And somehow I didn't mind.

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Sorry I've been lame lately. I started reading the story Hey Noah on here and well I had to read it until I was done. So I'm done now. And I'm gonna try and stop being lame.