Take a moment

Chapter 1 ＊

The day was slow, like most in highschool. The teachers monotone voices sounded through the classroom and laughter filled the halls, nothing out of the ordinary. One thing was different and I couldn't place what it was. Maybe it was just the cold getting to my head. I walked to lunch with my binder pressed against my chest and navigated my way through the crowd. Per usual, I sat at the table closet to the stage in the back and waited for Loren to make her entrance.

This week, Loren walked in with a red head whose hair reached just below their shoulders. I recognized her from physics and rolled my eyes as Loren flirted shamelessly. As they approached, I sat up a little straighter and waved hello to the two girls.

"Cali, this is Fey," Loren introduced and Cali stuck out her hand for me to shake. I wasn't one for physically affection so I awkwardly took her hand and shook it. She smiled at me and turned to talk to Loren again, completely ignoring me. After a few minutes of nauseating flirting, Loren kissed her goodbye and turned to talk to me.

"Hey, sorry. I'm gonna try to bang her by the end of the week," she said as she sat across from me. I had gotten used to the constant girls that she brought in and out of her life and wasn't fazed in the slightest.

"It's fine. My throat sounds gross anyways so it's probably better I don't talk," I replied, clearing my throat and coughing horrendously. Loren threw me a tissue and propped her feet up on the seat next to her.

I examined her appearance and frowned, feeling mediocre in comparison. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and her brown eyes were lined with a perfect winged black eyeliner. Her tan wasn't too prominent or orange and and made her skin look flawless. Her lips were coated with a light red color and it contrasted well with her black floral top. She was tall compared to me at 5'8" and was thin and pulled off skinny jeans far better than I ever could. Needless to say, I was jealous of my best friend and her ability to pull off anything, not even try but still look amazing. She looked over at me and frowned.

"Fey, you're cheeks are red. Are you okay?" She asks furrowing her eyebrows in concern.

"I'm fine. I think I have a fever. I'll call someone to pick me up. Hopefully they will answer." I shrug as I head outside to call my mother and/or father.

I quietly stand there and listen to my moms voice, "You've reached Miranda Stanguard at Scenic and Stanguard law firm. I'm sorry I am not able to get to the phone right now and will call you back as soon as can. Have a nice day." The beep of her voicemail sounds and I end the call, sighing in frustration as I try once again. I kick around some rocks and was sent to voicemail for the second time. This time when I ended the call, I opened my dads contact and called him. On the second ring I heard his gruff voice, "Ryan Stanguard, how may I help you?" I sigh in relief and sniffle before I reply.

"Hey dad, I'm sick and I don't have a ride to get home. I was wondering if you could come get me? It's cold and I already called my mom twice and she didn't answer." I say in between coughs.

I hear him mumble something to another person and sit down on the bench next to where I was standing. I cross my Converse over each other as I listen to his deep voice through the phone.

"You do realize I'm at work right? And you called your mother while she was at work. How selfish can you be? Just deal with it and get a ride from Lola or whatever her name is." He ended the call and my eyes brimmed with tears. Frustrated, I lean my cheek on my palm and close my eyes, letting the tears spill over.

I have enough saved for a car but I can't sign the papers until my parents put it under their insurance plan, like they promised. They never do anything they promise, so I shouldn't be surprised, but it didn't stop me from being more frustrated at them. I look up when I here the scuffing of shoes on the sidewalk and am met with caramel colored hazel eyes. It was the guy from earlier in class and I offered a small smile and embarrassingly wipe away any tear residue. I expected him to say hi or at least smile back but he just sits next to me on the bench and hands me another tissue.

"Thank you again," I say, laughing quietly, as I gratefully take it and blow my nose.

"I'm Fey, well actually I'm Feylinn but nobody calls me that," I say as I tug my leather jacket tighter around my body. I'm met with no reply and awkwardly kick my feet in the air.

"And you are?" I ask, prompting him to reply and laugh to lighten the mood as i realize I said it kinda harshly. I look up at him and am met with silence, not even a smile present on his lips. He shrugs when I suck my bottom lip into my mouth and release it.

The stranger in the leather jacket, rustles next to me and gets up holding his hand out for me get up as well. I ignore it and push myself up, going to head back inside. When I turn to see if he is coming, he has his keys in his hand and dangles them before he starts to walk away; he motions for me to follow. I immediately follow and blush as I jog to meet up with his retreating figure.
He stops in front of a black motorcycle and I shake my head no as he hands me a helmet.

"No way, people die on these," I say as he straps his helmet on and straddles the seat. He starts the engine and hands me the helmet again. This time I take it and awkwardly put it on. I needed to stop being paranoid and stubborn and accept the ride home since I was sick. After I threw my right leg over the bike, I wiggle around and try not to hyperventilate.

Hesitantly, he reaches around and grabs my arms to put around his torso. His hands are cold and I shiver at the frigidness of our leather jackets. He backs up and speeds down the parking lot lane onto the main road. My hair that stuck out under the helmet flew behind me in the wind and the crisp air filled my senses. I had never experienced something quite like this and it was phenomenal and exhilarating. My heart pounded in my ears as he stops at the light and points left and then right. I point to the right and he goes right. We continue this at every stop sign and/or light until we reach my house. From the outside it looks like royalty should live here and not some boring girl with dirty Converse. He puts his kickstand down but doesn't turn off the engine as I wiggle off and catch myself before I fall on my asś. Quickly undoing the clasp on the helmet, I hand him back his black helmet and he takes it putting it inside the seat I was just on. I stand there awkwardly for another minute before finally speaking.

"Thank you. You didn't have to but it was nice of you," I say as I stare down at his grey Converse. Hm, another thing. First the leather Jacket and now the Converse. I fidget around until I finally ask if he wants to come inside. Almost immediately after I ask he shakes his head no and pushes up his kickstand with his heel and speeds off. I look down, slightly disappointed and shocked but shake it off.

I stumble to the front door before realizing it was locked and went over to the garage and entered the combo. The garage door opened and a black Mercedes and white Cadillac come into view as I shut the garage door and walk inside. I kick off my shoes and walk up the stairs, not bothering to check if Ana was here. I knew that neither of my parents were home because I hadn't seen either of their cars, just the usual ones that were always parked in the garage. When I reached the 5th door in the hallway in the east wing, upstairs, I go in and grab my acoustic guitar and walk out to my bedroom, one door down. I plop onto my bed and strum along to "Long Time Coming" by One Night Only and fall asleep shortly after putting my guitar down. My dreams swarm with caramel colored hazel eyes and Harley Davidson motorcycles.