Lucille✔️ (Kindle version)

Misunderstanding and jealousy

Nate

Today had been a shit day. I had to deal with some asshole about his car at the repair shop. He thought he knew more than me. I've been working on cars since I was a teen. If it was one thing I knew, it was cars.

I came home as Dad yelled at Cayson about his attitude. Jonas made his comments, causing problems. Ma, well, she added her two cents like she always does.

I left and visited the one person who gave me a break from the bullshit. Plus, talking to her always made me feel better.

I walked over and was about to tap on her window when I overheard voices: Patty and Liz.

"How do you know he would talk to you?" Liz asked.

"He will. We had this moment."

"Enormous deal. Brian looking at you means nothing."

"We also talked."

"Telling someone you're sorry is not talking."

"Liz, you know how much I have liked Brian Holloway."

I felt my heart shatter as hurt flooded me.

"Yeah. You've liked Brian forever."

I said nothing but left. I walked home, and all I could think about were two words, Brian Holloway. It was such bullshit and pissed me off.

*****

Patty

"I don't understand what you see in that idiot," Liz said.

"He's not an idiot."

"Yeah, he is."

"That's your opinion."

"Patty, Brian Holloway is a twit. He thinks he's God's gift to the world. You have a better chance with the Gray boys."

I looked at her like she was crazy.

"We're friends, and they enjoy annoying me as brothers do. Plus, they see me as a little sister."

It was true. With the Gray boys, they view me as a younger sister.

"What about Nate?"

"What about him?"

"You've had a crush on him forever. You even told his mom he was your boyfriend."

"I was four."

"Okay, but he comes over and talks to you all the time."

"Yeah, so?"

"So he likes you."

"No, he doesn't. He needs a friend."

We would never meet eye to eye on this topic, and I'm tired of talking about Nate Gray. Plus, I wasn't the girl Nate dated. Trust me. I've seen the girls he brings home. That guy has no taste in women.

*****

Nate

Recalling what Patty said had pissed me off. Those talks had become a damn waste of time. Why did I even bother?

Brian Holloway, pft. I knew his type. I had gone to school with his older brother. We got into many fights because he likes to run his damn mouth, he and Bob Tilson. I couldn't stand either of them. That burned me.

"Hey! Do you mind?" Cayson asked.

I glared at him.

"What's your problem?" I asked.

"Throwing a wrench at my head is my problem. What the hell has gotten into you?"

"Nothing. Now hand me that 7/16 socket."

I continued working on my car. A car pulled in, and I didn't bother to look like I did. I didn't need to recognize who it was, and I didn't care.

At some point, Jonas and I rode motorbikes when I let my anger get the best and almost caused him to crash. We came to a stop.

He said, "Dude, what is your problem?"

"Nothing."

"Ever since you stopped talking to Patty, you have been in a shit mood."

"Never mention that damn name again."

"What? Patty?"

"Enough, Jonas!"

I started the motorbike and drove back to the house. I didn't need to hear her name. It was bad enough that she lived across the damn street.

One evening, I was home while Ma and Dad had gone out. Jonas was with his friends, and Cayson was doing hell knows what when someone knocked at the door. I answered it to find Patty on the porch.

"Hey, Nate."

She smiled while I didn't.

"Yeah?"

"Is your mom home?"

"No."

"Oh."

"Explain to me why a teenager likes to hang out with someone's mom."

"Because I like Lucille. She's cool."

She tried to be funny.

"How about you go hang out with people your age? That's if they want to hang out with you. Then again, they don't, considering you still need to grow up."

I let the words slip past my lips, showing my anger. Patty's smile faded as hurt flooded her face.

"Fine."

It was all she said. As she walked away, I realized what I had done. I let my anger get the best of me.

When she broke my model car and how angry I got with her, I thought about what she had told me. It wasn't because she broke a model car. This time, she broke something more, my heart.

I did the damage. As of now, whatever was growing between us would not happen.