My List of Mistakes

The Start of a Bad Idea

"Son of a bitch!" That's all Elliot could think in the moment that his car was rammed. A simple fender bender, but his old junker car hardly worked now, this surely would put it out of commission for good.
Rolling his eyes and fuming mad, he got out of the car to assess the damage. His hands twined in his hair when he saw that the back half of his fender was torn off.

"Jesus Christ, I am so sorry!" A voice called from the large S.U.V. A boy, about a foot shorter than the six foot, nine inches teen slid out. Elliot recognized him immediately. "Are you okay? I'm sorry... I looked away for a second and... Shit man I'm sorry,"

Elliot swallowed and almost backed up, sure he was taller but the other that stood in front of him was the most popular guy in his school and town. Nathan Acetarium. He dragged a step back and raised his hands up. "It's fine... Forget it okay? It was my fault, I'll just go!"

As he started off, Nathan looked up confused. "Dude don't take the blame for this. I hit you. Let me make a call and pay for your replacement."

He shook his head quickly. "It's okay. Seriously it's fine."

"No it isn't..." He offered a small smile and held out his hand. "I'm Nathan."

"I know who you are." He muttered. "You're a senior at Elk Lake Highschool and your father is the richest man in the state, he owns half of the city...."

Nathan sighed and put his hand down, rubbing the back of his neck. "You almost look scared of me."

The blonde laughed. "I have every reason to be. Your friends are the ones who beat the living shit out of me every other day.... Look forget the car okay? I won't bother you." And with that, Elliot turned on heel, walking to his car to grab his things and leaving a quick note with his phone number inside before starting the long walk home in the bitter cold.
-:-

When he finally made it home, Elliot's hands were practically frozen in clenched fists and his cheeks were bright red.

"Elliot?" His mother called from the kitchen. "Sweetheart is that you?"

"Yeah mom. It's me...."

She came out to the foyer, covered in flour. "What took you so long? You're never home this late!"

He sighed and licked his lips. "Car crash. Old Reliable finally kicked it today, god rest her soul."

The woman gasped and looked him over, standing on her tiptoes to examine him. "Are you alright sweetie? Where's your car?"

"I'm fine. Mom really stop fussing." He fixed his hair. "She's getting towed, they will call me in a few days to assess the damage and all... What happened to you? Did you lose a battle with some cooking supplies or..?"

His mother stepped back. "I've been baking all day. Owning a bake shop is a lot of work and sometimes we get orders that are soo big I need to bake here... When I was getting the flour off the shelf it fell on me. By the way, if you couldn't already tell, you didn't close the bag when you made crepes the other day." She glared playfully and kissed his forehead. "I'm glad you're okay and I'm sorry about your car."

He shrugged and shuffled his feet. "It's whatever.... Thing was too old anyway. It was gonna go soon, better her go quickly then painfully." He teased. That car was his. He'd earned it. He'd paid for it. It took him three years of saving every last dime to buy the old junker.

"Well... Maybe for Christmas you might get a new one? Santa might bring it along?" His mother smiled, her eyes bright and alive.

"Mom. I turned down the first car you tried to buy for me. I'm not gonna let you get me another." Elliot said sternly. Money had been tight at the time he'd bought his car. He didn't want his mother paying for any of it, even now when things were better.

Eve rolled her eyes and wiped her hands. "Not me! Santa! Anyway, who was it that hit you?" She asked, leading him towards the kitchen.

"Nathan Acetariun."

His mother stood straighter, stopping her steps to look back at her son. "Excuse me?"

"Nathan Acetarium." He repeated.

Eve made a disgruntled noise as she turned around. "The boy who's friends do that to you?" She asked, pointing to the dark bruises on his arms.

Elliot looked down and nodded and his mother sat him down on the bar stool, kissing his forehead. "Sweetie, I love you. You know that right? I love you more then anything in my life. It's just you and the bakery... Do you want me to call the principal again?"

"No!" He said quickly, shaking his head and meeting his mother's deep brown eyes with his own. "Mom it just gets worse...." He whispred, bottom lip quivering.

She leaned forward and pulled him into a hug. "Baby boy I'm so sorry....." His mother whispred. "If I could make them all go away I would. They shouldn't treat you like this." She could feel him start to tremble under her and hushed him softly.

"I've got you baby boy.... I've got you..."