A.N: I apologize from the bottom of my heart for this extremely overdue chapter. *dodges pitchforks*

Some Promises Are Meant to Be Broken

Chapter Five

Of Rainy Days and Drives

Okay. It’s official. My life has become a broken record.

Ever since the bookstore incident, I’ve been following the same routine. Go to school, then go home. Simple as that. No more stop-overs, no more lingering in hallways, no more spending more time in public establishments than I needed to. Some twisted part of me has become slightly paranoid of Chris Maebry showing up wherever I go, and after that really tense bookstore encounter, it’s only gotten worse.

I’ve managed to avoid him well enough. It wasn’t an easy task, though, especially since the boy just did not know the meaning of ‘quit’. Just yesterday, I saw him walking down the hallway before fifth period, and thankfully I got to duck out of sight. And as if things weren’t bad enough already, he’d somehow gotten hold of my cell phone number. How the hell should I know how he got it? He’s practically got ‘stalker’ tattooed on his forehead. He’s left me countless calls and messages—all of which I have left unanswered.

But still. It’s tiring to keep deleting all of them every time.

Thank goodness he hasn’t called the house again, though. With my ‘follow same routine’ plan, with no deviations, I think I might actually be able to survive the next few months.

Yep. My life has become a broken record; always playing the same thing. But you know what? I’d rather have that same tune playing over and over, as opposed to Chris Maebry and the threatening horror music that usually accompanied his presence.

Well…now that I think about it, I have a feeling my broken record of a life is about to change. See, I’ve finally gotten my learner’s permit. Scott is teaching me how to drive, and if this were a perfect world, I would say that he is doing so out of the goodness of his heart and his completely altruistic desire to help his little sister.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect world, and in reality, mom forced him to. He’d kept on protesting that he was busy and such, and didn’t have the time to, and I quote, ‘teach Sam something that will only end up with me in the hospital,’ but when mom threatened to cut off his allowance, he grudgingly agreed.

Sometimes I just love it when mom is on my side.

Speaking of having mom on my side….when I’d brought up the idea of getting my license, she’d told me that she’d be willing to get me a car if I passed. My own, actual car! No sharing with Scott—that’s like a dream come true. Pretty surprising, actually, considering how practical mom was, but hey, who was I to argue with a blessing from above?

My seventeenth birthday was still months away, but since we weren’t able to celebrate my sixteenth properly, what with being in different states at the time and all, and since I was getting such good grades, mom had said that as a belated sweet-sixteen-early-seventeenth-birthday-present, she’d get me my own car if I got my license. Nothing fancy, but a functional one. Scott had choked when he’d heard mom’s words, looking at the both of us with wide eyes.

Wow, I love that memory. It’s nice to know that it’s not only Scott who gets what he wants in this family.

Of course, there was a catch. I’d have to contribute some part of the payment for the car’s insurance. Mom said that dad had called her and offered to pay for both the car and the insurance, but I told her to tell him that he couldn’t buy my forgiveness.

Yeah, harsh thing to say to your dad. But I’m still bitter. Sue me.

I do have some money saved up, but it’s not nearly enough to cover a decent fraction of the payment. And when a teenager is faced with a crisis of needing cash to pay for something they need or want, with the option of begging their way through it out of the question, they have only two other options: Steal, or get a job.

And since I have no intention of getting into jail, I chose…duh: Option two, get a job.

Honestly, though, I don’t mind. There’s a local bookstore not too far from school, and yesterday I saw a Help Wanted sign in their window. Dennison Books is a really neat little place, sort of old-fashioned and cozy, and getting paid to spend hours in the company of books—as well as get an employee discount? It screams ‘dream job’ to my little old bookworm self. I’m planning on heading over there this afternoon as soon as school is over.

It’s still pretty early, though; it wasn’t even lunch yet. I’m currently sitting in AP English, but it’s somewhat hard to concentrate on what Ms. Hellens is saying when you’re in such a good mood. I mean, really: I have sort of successfully managed to avoid Chris Maebry, I’m learning how to drive, I’m getting my own car, and I’m about to get paid (provided I get the job) to be around books. Life is good.

Even today is really pretty. It’s been raining on and off for the past few days, but today the sun was out and shining brightly. It wasn’t too warm or too cold, and if you didn’t know that it was already mid-October, you would’ve thought that it was summertime around here.

“What are you so happy about?” Allie asked me when the bell rang. “You’ve had that grin on your face ever since we entered the school.”

“Nothing,” I said, laughing. “I’m just glad to catch a break, that’s all. This is probably the most normal my life has been since I got here.”

Allie grinned. “But normal is sooo boring!” she exclaimed. “Come on, Sam. Tell me you didn’t feel the least bit excited during that whole confrontation scene at the bookstore.”

I frowned. “Sorry, I was too busy feeling horrified and worried to feel excited. Maybe another person would see the thrill in the whole ‘risking getting caught with someone inappropriate’ situation, but I don’t. I just want quiet. No sneaking around, no secrecy equals no complications.” I smiled again. “That’s all I want. And if it lasts until the end of the year, then I will be happy forever.”

..-*-*-*-*-*-..

Damn. *repeats the word countless times over* I should’ve known this was too good to last.

You know one of those days where everything seems to be extra-fine, then the next second it does a 180 spin and goes back to bite you in the ass? Yeah, this is one of those days. School is over, and because I’d seen that it was such a great day, I didn’t take the bus or let Scott drive me. No, I chose to walk to Dennison Books instead.

Which would’ve been a perfectly fine plan, except for the fact that the moment I decided to leave school, it had decided to rain.

And not just a mere drizzle; no, when it started, the clouds started going black really quick, and the rain was sudden and fierce. And it hasn’t shown any signs of stopping; if anything, it seemed to be getting worse by the minute. To make matters worse, I didn’t have an umbrella with me, and no one to borrow an umbrella or catch a ride from.

“No choice, Sam,” I finally muttered to myself, zipping up the jacket that I’d thankfully left in my locker yesterday. The school was near-empty by now, and seeing no other option, I began to walk.

Stupid rain, I muttered to myself, wrapping my jacket tighter around me. Of all times that it had to pour like cats and dogs, it had to be today. It was getting colder, and not even my hoodie was saving me from getting drenched. My shoes were streaked with mud, and the only thing I could think of was that Fate really loved to piss me off. The downpour continued on, and I shivered as a gust of wind flew by, sarcastically congratulating myself on being such a genius.

I suddenly heard a faint hum coming from behind me, and from the corner of my eye, I could see a black car slowing down on the road, matching my pace. Slightly disturbed at the unknown car that was driving beside me, I made it a point not to look and quickened my pace as best I could.

The window of the car went down—and of course, I should’ve expected this by now. Who else could arrive when I was already feeling like crap?—and Chris Maebry’s face turned to look at me. “Sam, are you crazy? What the hell are you doing?”

“Walking. And after this sentence, ignoring you.” I turned away from him and looked ahead, walking faster.

“Sam, it’s raining hard out there.”

Try as I might to resist, I couldn’t bite back a reply. “Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed. Gee, I guess that’s why my clothes are wet and I looked like a drenched dog!”

I turned a corner, and he followed. Sighing in impatience, he said, “Sam, get in the car. I’ll drive you wherever you need to go.”

“No thanks,” I replied shortly. “Can’t you take a hint, Chris? I just want to be left alone, is that so hard to understand?”

“If this were a normal situation, I would. But it’s raining like hell, and if you don’t get out of the rain soon, you’re going to end up getting sick.”

“How nice of you to be concerned. Unfortunately, I don’t want to talk to you, so I’d rather walk.” I flicked a glance at the car, and damn it, I felt the beginnings of temptation stir. No, Sam, resist. “Besides, I’m just going to get rainwater on your seats. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

“I’d rather have my seats drenched than have you in the hospital with pneumonia,” he shot back evenly. “Sam, I’m being nice here, why don’t you just take advantage of the situation? Stop being so damn stubborn and get in the car!”

“Chris, stop being so damn stubborn and leave me alone,” I snapped at him.

“Sam--” It happened so fast, then, that I barely had time to react or resist. In a span of seconds, he’d managed to stop, get out of the car and –so help me, I really was going to kill this guy—pushed me into the front seat.

“Hey--” As I fell into the seat, he closed the door, and in another few seconds, was behind the wheel once again. Damn.

“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he said as he began to drive once more. Mmm, it felt good to get out of the rain, but I wasn’t about to let him know that. “Sometimes, Samantha, you have to learn that resistance is futile.”

I folded my arms and looked out the window. I hated the way he said my name so condescendingly. “I didn’t have any time to resist, bastard, because you pushed me without any warning! You know, this could be grounds for kidnapping---”

“Of course, Sam, whatever you say,” he replied with the same patronizing tone.

“I hate you.”

“Haven’t you heard yet? Today’s opposite day, so when you say that you hate me, then---”

“Oh, god, this is pointless,” I groaned, sinking into the seat. Why me, why, I ask you?

“So, anyway,” he said after a beat. “Where to?”

I seriously considered telling him to go to hell, but realized that would be pointless. After all, I was already in his car, and I had this sneaky suspicion that even if I did try to get out, he’d follow me anyway. Might as well take him up on the offer. Grr.

“Dennison Books,” I replied shortly, not looking at him.

“Okay,” he shrugged as he turned a corner. “Going there to feed your addiction for the written word again?”

“I’m not speaking to you.”

“You just did,” he pointed out. “So why---”

“Damn it, why are you so curious? I’m going there because I need a job, and they’re hiring. Will you shut up now?” I snapped. Honestly, one more dig, and…

“A job?” he replied, and he sounded genuinely confused. “Why do you need a job?”

“Well, if you must know, I need to come up with some money to help pay for the car insurance for the car my mom’s gonna get me if I pass—okay, wait, why am I telling you this?” I really have to control my urge to ramble.

“Because you subconsciously like talking to me,” he replied with a grin.

I rolled my eyes and looked back out the window, deciding not to rise to the bait. Noticing my silence, no doubt, he spoke again. “You do realize that after this, I’ll know where you work.”

“The point being…?”

“The point being that I know just where to find you after school. And I can see you as much as I want from now on.”

I frowned. “Okay, seriously, quit the whole ‘stalker-vibe’, please, it’s getting creepy.”

“Creepy? And here I thought you enjoyed having my attention. Most people would, you know.” He paused before adding, “Don’t worry though, Sam. When you get the job—not if, but when, because I know you’ll get it anyway—you’ll be seeing a lot more of me. Maybe I could even become Customer of the Month, if there is such a thing.”

Oh God. He may be joking around, but it’s only now that I realize that he’ll barely leave me alone now, if he knows where I work. Oh dear, what have I done? “I can’t believe you! After that idiot stunt you pulled with Scott at the bookstore--”

“Yeah, about that,” he paused as he turned left. Strangely enough, he now looked mildly uncomfortable, and his tone had changed from joking into something slightly more serious. “I’m sorry for what I did.”

Um. What?

Eyes wide, I said stupidly, “What?” Could it be true? Did the arrogant jackass really know how to apologize after all?

“Sorry,” he repeated, and now, he’d switched from mildly uncomfortable to mildly exasperated. “And just so you know, I would never apologize for pissing Scott Keller off…except for the fact that I heard you got in trouble for it after you guys went home.”

“How do you know about that?” I demanded. It was true, though. After the bookstore incident, Scott and I had an argument. I’d told him he was being an idiot, and he accused me of siding with Chris because I stopped my brother from confronting him. See how paranoid Scott is sometimes?

“I heard him talk about it a bit during practice,” he replied, shrugging. “So, yeah. Sorry.”

I’m stunned. He apologized. Chris Maebry apologized. Without a hint of mocking or irony or insincerity behind it. An actual apology.

I’m beginning to wonder if I haven’t been suddenly transported into another parallel universe.

“Uh, okay, um---” (Really Sam, that’s the best reply you could come up with? Honestly.)

He laughed slightly. “You seem surprised. You weren’t expecting that, were you?”

“Uh--” (Oh, god, Samantha, get it together already, what is wrong with you?)

“We’re here,” he suddenly announced, and it was only then that I was jolted back into reality and saw that we had indeed stopped in front of the bookstore. The rain looked like it was slowing down, and the Help Wanted sign was still there, so I took it as a good omen.

“Oh.” I hurriedly fumbled with my seatbelt and grasped my bag. “Yeah. So, I’m just going to go. Thanks for the ride, I guess, even if I didn’t want to get in the car and you practically kidnapped me and all.”

He smiled. (His Genuine Cute Smile, not his Arrogant Smile. Which is good; it makes him more human. Wait a second, I have a name for his smiles? What the hell? I think I need to read up on insanity while I’m at the bookstore.) “You have an odd way of saying thank-you. But hey, look at it this way: Today, you were able to learn something.”

“Like what? That you have stalking and kidnapping tendencies and need to be locked up in a padded cell wearing a straitjacket for the protection of the other inhabitants of this town?” I said mildly.

“No,” he replied but the smile was still there. “You learned that I’m not as heartless as you seem to think I am.”

Uh-huh. Yeah, this is getting weirder by the second. “Whatever,” I said with an eye-roll as I got out of the car. He zoomed away as I entered the bookstore, trying to shake off the fact that he was actually being sort-of nice. I mean, as nice as Chris Maebry can get, anyway. Granted, he was being his usual annoying self today, but apologizing was one thing I did not expect. Either he meant it, or he’s a very good actor.

Is it just me, or does every encounter with Chris Maebry become stranger and stranger every time?