She had to talk to him, she had to. Not to lie this time. She would tell the truth, the whole truth. She pressed the phone to her ear, trying to formulate the words in her head, but none would come. Sorry wasn't good enough, not this time. She couldn't sink into him, tell him he he was her best friend and her favourite. Not this time. The tone beeped monotonously, for what felt like a lifetime. She began to panic as the message machine kicked in.
"I'm sorry, i'm so sorry, it's not good enough, it can't be. Don't forgive me, i don't deserve it.. I just.. Oh god I do love you.. I love you and it's awful and .."
She swirved the car round the round about, somewhat wildly the phone slipping from her grip as she turned into the side road.
"Crap.." she said under her breath feeling around her feet for the small pink cellphone. "Come on, not now.." she looked down, her hand under her seat, she felt it, yes.
And then... Too fast. The car hit the truck without a screech of brakes, or a scream of fear. No warning.
--
Summer Roberts had never been unpopular. Ever, the only time she'd ever felt vunerable in school was her very first day of kindergarden. Summer had arrived with a large sequinned bag made of turquoise silk in her pink cord dungarees and gone to go finger paint. She sat happily humming to herself, however out of tune she was, when suddenly a boy shoved her out of her seat. She landed on the floor with a large thump and began to cry.
The boy turned to her, his sandy brown hair long, almost touchig the shoulders of his aercrombie t-shirt and laughed.
"No girls in the painting section, go play with the dolls or something." he said pushing her away.
Summer had rubbed her big brown eyes and began to get up when she heard another boys voice.
"Luke, don't be mean to the new kids, or i'll tell your mommy about how you were te one who pinched Amy last week."
Summer looked up, surprised to see a by a little shorter than Luke but taller than her, with dirty blonde hair. His hand was outstretched to her. She held it, helping herself up and brushing dirt off of her dungarees.
"Thanks" said Summer putting one thumb in her mouth while the other twiddled one of her long brown plaits that lay either side of her head. " My names Summer, what's yours?"
"Ryan" said the boy "Don't worry about Luke, he's just annoyed because his Daddy went away again." He smiled at her and yawned.
"Oh, okay.. well i'm going to play in the home corner.." she said before beginning to run away. "Come with me?"
"Why?" asked Ryan putting both hand in his jean pockets and shrugging.
"I'll feel safer with you" she said smiling to reveal her tiny white teeth behind her thumb and running over to the home corner, closely followed by Ryan. And it seemed since then. Ryan had stayed close behind her and as she had known, always known. He would keep her safe.
--
"Atwood!" shouted Summer across the cafeteria before putting her tray down next Ryans.
"Roberts." he replied smilinging at her. "You going to Lukes party tonight?"
"Ya-huh, like i'd miss it, you need a ride?" she asked biting into a french fry.
"Nah Marissas moms out of town so we can all use the limo, it's not like you'd be designated driver tonight anyway.." he said raising his eyebrows at her and flicking a page of his magazine.
"I know that duh, i was waiting for you to say you had your own ride so i could crash it. Whatchya readin'?" she asked nosily, pulling the magazine out of his grasp. "What the hell? Since when did you read Newport living?"
" I don't, Seth left it here when he was reading about Caleb, figured since he's like.. my adopted Granpa... or something... i should read it."
"Hey guys." Came the voice of Marissa, Summers best girl friend. "So you should totally see my dress for tonight.."
Summer rolled her eyes as Marissa continued to rambleon, flicking a french fry at Ryan to which he retaliated by throwing a fish stick at her.
"...gold sequins and a satin trim .Sounds good right Sum?" finished Marissa scooping up the newport living and beginning to read the style section.
"Huh? Oh yeah gorgeous .." said Summer drawing a ketchup smily face on her plate.
"Yo, what is up? Hey babe" said Luke in his usual louder than life voice before throwing his arm around Marissa and embracing her in a lip lock. Ryan rolled his eyes whilst Summer imitated a gagging motion.
"I just remembered i have a huge history report due tomorrow... lots of research to be getting to.. I'll see you guys later" said Ryan getting his bag and escaping as fast as possible..
"Oh wait.. he has my french notes.. be right back.." said Summer catching up with Ryan. "Way to leave with them.." she said nudging him in the ribs. " Any farther down each others throat and they'll be eating each others lunches." she ran a hand through her hair as Ryan recovered from the winding sensation in his chest.
"Oh joy, imagine sharing a limo with them tonight." said Ryan with a slight tone of disgust.
"Right, that sucks. Tell you what, we'll make a deal, i won't drink, if you don't. And then i can drive us. Either of us cave, then it's the limo with those two.." bargained Summer tossing her hair.
"Ok, i'll take that. But you better not cave." he said looking a his watch "Crap, i'm late for Bio, later" he said putting his arms around her small frame in a hug.
"Later.." she replied breathing in his usual Ryan scent. It reminded her of sitting his room with him last summer when he was grounded. Or climbing inside his duvet with him when they were seven, because she was afraid the monsters would get her and he said she'd be safe there with him. He'd keep her safe.
--
Please tell me your opinion on this story so far, it's an AU and it's still blooming into a proper story at the moment. Next chapter up on the 19th April :D
