Being Neighborly

Chapter 26

I rush out the front door, zipping up my oversized cobalt blue hoodie to shield me from the windy morning. I was running a little late due to spending my entire morning routine obsessively thinking about the night before.

I can't believe Tristan kissed me. I can't believe my reaction to him kissing me was to tell him about how my house was deemed "Mental Murder House" back home. Though as strange as that moment we shared was, it had lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I felt like I could breathe again, knowing someone else out there had a piece of my past with them, too.

I stop in my tracks, halfway down the path, because a black car is blocking my way to the street. Tristan's car? The passenger window rolls down, revealing him sitting in the driver seat holding a travel mug. "Hop in, I'll give you a ride," he says, the sound of the door unlocking following after.

I open the door, put my backpack down of the floor, and slide into the heated seat. Tristan hands me the travel mug and says, "It's black. Clara told me that's how you take your coffee."

"Why would my aunt tell you that?" I question, taking a sip. So bitter, so good. "When did she tell you that?"

Tristan starts driving us to the end of the street. "I told her last night before you guys left that I would give you a ride to school. I asked her what you drink in the morning. I would have assumed it was hot chocolate or some frilly drink from Starbucks." He smiles softly, looking over at me. The stud in his nose sparkles under the dim light of the street lamp.

"Too much sugar," I comment, letting another steaming sip of coffee burn my throat. Then a thought crosses my mind and I freeze with the mug halfway to my mouth. "Wait, are you giving me a ride because you feel bad for me after what I told you? Because I really don't need any pity or-"

"I'm not pitying you," he interrupts me. "I have my car today and I thought it would be nice to give you a ride. Since we're not friends and all," his smile widens to show his teeth. This guy can literally take my breath away. Then another question pops into my waking mind.

"Why do you have your car only, like, thirty percent of the time? It is your car after all."

"My mom starting going back to work as a real estate agent last year, mostly working in our home office and going out when she has showings" he explains, taking a sip from his own travel mug as he turns onto Main Street. "She was going to get her own car, but I told her she can just use mine since I only had a permit back then. Once I got my full license, I just let her use it since I never took my name off the bus schedule. She loves driving this thing and there'e really no point in getting herself a car since I'll be away at college next year. Until then, I get my car whenever she doesn't have a showing and I'm fine with that."

"That's very logical," I say. "And kind of you."

"I'm a great son, what can I say," he chuckles softly. I smile at him, this is a nice side of Tristan. More light-hearted. Open. I could get used to this.

He parks the car in the back of the lot and we both sit inside until we finish our coffee. Once we're done, we both get out and time seems to slow down. Everyone that is in the lot, either getting out from the warmth of their cars or boarding off the school busses, is staring at us. I'm getting serious deja vu from the last time Tristan gave me a ride and dragged me through the school. Every single student had looked at us with the same confusion and curiosity that they display on their faces now.

The two of us walk into the building together and the stares don't stop. "This is kind of weird, right?" I ask him quietly as we make our way to the senior hall.

"What is?" he responds, oblivious to everyone else.

"Nevermind," I mumble and stop in front of my locker. "So, I'm assuming you're giving me a ride back after school?"

"Of course, what are not friends for?" he says, amusement dancing across his lips. God, I want him to kiss me again. He doesn't and leaves to go to his own locker. I sigh and turn to put in my combination, but a jewelry covered hand swats my own away. Nicole has replaced Tristan and is shaking me by the shoulders.

"UM HELLO YOU WALKED INTO SCHOOL WITH TRISTAN FREAKING JOHNSON!" Nicole practically screams, grabbing the attention of the students closest to us. "Move along people! This is a private conversation!"

"How can it be a private conversation when you are announcing it to the whole world!" I laugh, turning back to my locker to grab my books for my first few classes.

"You never texted me back about how dinner went at his house and now you're getting rides to school with him? Girl, what happened last night?" my friend looks a bit betrayed that I hadn't already filled her in on what went down at dinner.

"Nicole, you need to learn how to use your inside voice," Nate appears next to his sister, a gym bag slung over his shoulder. The remnants of sweat from an early morning soccer practice are already drying on his smooth skin. "I could hear you yelling from the other side of the school!"

"I'm just a little upset that MY BEST FRIEND hasn't given me any details about her dinner last night with Tristan or an explanation for why she is now RIDING TO SCHOOL WITH HIM IN HIS CAR!"

"Oh, now I'm pissed, too," Nate teases me.

"Guys, it's not a big deal," I tell the two of them, closing my locker and walking with them to class. We all have different classes first period, but they are all in the same wing of the school. "I went to his house with my aunt and uncle for dinner, we all talked at the table, I went to his room under false pretenses of doing homework, he kissed me, and then we ate pie."

"HE WHAT!" both of my friends stop in their tracks and simultaneously hit both of my arms.

"He ate pie with me," I say, smiling.

"Oh, hell no!" Nicole exclaims. "You are not avoiding this! Leila I have no idea what your middle name is Garner, you are telling us about this kiss RIGHT NOW!"

"My middle name is Elizabeth," I laugh.

"Leila!" Nate jumps in. "Stop teasing us and tell us what the hell happened last night!"

"I just did," I say, full on having a laugh attack in the middle of the hallway. Oh, this is going to be so much fun. "I have to get to class, the late bell is going to ring. See you guys later!" I duck into the health classroom before the two of them can say anything else.

I drop my notebook onto my desk and slid into the hard plastic seat.

"I give you a ride to school, and yet you barely make it to class on time," the deep voice whispers next to me. I almost jump out of my seat in surprise. It seems like Tristan is breaking his back corner desk habit again today.

"Oh my God, Tristan do not sneak up on me like that!" I whisper back.

"I was sitting here first, there is no way I could sneak up on you," he remarks, smirking at me.

I was going to return with a comeback, but our health teacher starts to talk, beginning the lesson on STDs. I sink low into my seat, glancing at Tristan who is softly smiling to himself and taking notes.

But just like yesterday, the notes aren't what the teacher is talking about. Just more numbers.