Chapter 5
Song: I'm With You by Avril Lavigne
"You coming or what?" Kate asked suddenly, crashing into James' thoughts like a freight train.
'Comin' where Freckles?" James was so busy staring at her, he had completely forgotten that they were sitting in plain view in the school parking lot.
She giggled. "Inside of course. I have some friends I want you to meet, so hurry." She jumped out of the truck while James shook himself out of a daze. He would have to be more careful where she was concerned. Quickly locking his truck, he followed her up the stairs that led to the front door of their school, Oceanic High.
"James, over here!" Kate called as he entered the doors. She was standing off to the right with a tall, lanky guy who looked to be about her age. He had wavy brown hair and eyes that would bore right through you until you thought you would melt. He had quite a reputation, being the only sophomore to have gone out with every girl on the varsity cheerleading squad and the only sophomore on the varsity football team. But his current girlfriend, the one attached to his hip, James noted as he walked up, was Lindsey Marcus. She was the only sophomore on the girl's varsity basketball team. She was slender and average height, but powerful and one of the fastest girls in the state. Her blonde hair that reached almost the middle of her back and blue eyes that were so clear you felt like you could see right through them made her the envy of almost every girl in the school, but unlike most talented people, she didn't really fit in and was seldom asked out, despite being easily the prettiest girl in school. As James approached, Tom gripped Lindsey tightly around the waist. Kate rolled her eyes and introduced them.
"James, this is Tom Brennan and Lindsey Marcus, my cousin."
"Your cousin?" James repeated, glancing at Kate in awe.
Kate frowned as she saw the normal look of awe cross James' face. Scowling, she said a quick goodbye to the couple and dragged James down the hall. As soon as Lindsey was out of his line of vision, he regained his composure and followed Kate as she lost herself in her thoughts.
'Why do all the guys look at her like that? It drives me nuts. If they knew what she was really like--' she stopped suddenly as a realization hit her. She still hadn't had any of her normal feelings for Tom.
"Ummm…hate to break it to you Freckles, but your locker is down there," James pointed to a locker at the far end of the hallway. Kate walked mindlessly towards it and automatically put in the combination.
"You know, your cousin is real pretty," James commented as Kate pulled out her books. He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "But I'd choose you over her any day of the week." And as the warning bell rang, he strolled away whistling, and leaving behind a very red sophomore girl.
The day passed very quickly for Kate. What James had said kept making her blush, causing Lindsey to repeatedly ask if she felt okay. When the last bell finally rang, Kate rushed to her locker, only to find James standing there, grinning.
"Need a ride home Freckles?" he asked Kate as she gathered up her things.
"No, I have to work." She scowled. She hated her job at Darlin' Dharma Doughnuts. Her manager was a major jerk that treated all the employees like something she had stepped in. Her co-workers, Kayla Wilson and Nathan Montgomery, had quickly realized that nothing could be done about Belinda Hawkins, the hated manager, and so Kate was stuck with a boss who would rather sit on her than say hi to her if she wanted to be able to afford her motorcycle in the near future.
"Where do you work?" he asked, his anger slightly flaring up at the fact that a pretty 15 year old girl had to work to survive.
"The doughnut shop over on Main and Second," she replied, slamming her locker shut.
"Well then why don't I give you a ride over there? A pretty girl like you deserves something better than walking." He followed her as she headed towards the front door.
She stopped and turned around. "Would you?" The wistful look in her eyes would have made it impossible to refuse even if he had wanted to.
"Well of course, Sassafras. I'll even come pick you up if you tell me what time your shift ends." The grateful smile she gave him as he said this made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
They walked outside and got in his truck in a comfortable silence. As James started the car, he absently reached over and turned on the radio. Country music blared through the truck's old speakers as they drove down Main Street. James absently hummed along with Big and Rich's "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" while Kate tried to hide a giggle. That song seemed to fit him so well. He pulled into the parking lot and she quickly regained her composure.
"I get off work at eight," she said casually.
"Is that a hint you need a ride home, Sassafras?" He grinned as she rolled her eyes.
"Well you did offer."
"True and a gentleman never goes back on his word." Kate stifled a laugh as he added "But I'm no gentleman, hon. I'm more of a cowboy." He winked and Kate laughed, her cheeks flushing prettily as he pulled the truck away. Still grinning, she gathered her courage and went inside.
"KATE!" a voice screeched suddenly. Kate sighed. Belinda was doing an exceptional job at finding faults in Kate's work today. First Kate hadn't cleaned the counter well enough. Then she had forgotten to refill the cash register's receipt tape. Most recently, Kate was supposed to change the specials and she had put up the normal specials instead of the special specials. Kayla and Nathan cast Kate sympathetic looks as Kate groaned inwardly and looked at the clock. Only twenty minutes to escape this torture chamber. 'She's almost as bad as Wayne!' Kate thought, and then reconsidered, gingerly touching her eye.
"KATE!" Belinda yelled again. "Did I or did I not tell you to clean the display?"
"Ummm…" Kate stalled. "I don't think you did."
"Well I have now! Get it done immediately!" Belinda stormed to the office as Kate sent a glare that would scare a cat after her.
Muttering, Kate grabbed the cleaning supplies and went around the counter. She leaned down and was scrubbing at a stubborn spot when a voice behind her made her jump about a foot in the air.
"Hey Sweetcheeks, I thought employees were supposed to be behind the counter, not staring at the doughnuts in the display case." He grinned as she glared at him and went back behind the counter. She dropped off the supplies and leaned against the counterm sighing.
"What's the matter? Mamacita and Chucky givin' you problems?" he asked, gesturing to the lone customers sitting in the corner of the shop.
"No, it's my boss. She hates me for no reason."
"I think I can fix that problem," James replied as Belinda came back to the front of the building. "Hey Lin, how's life treatin' ya?"
"Hey James, been a while since I've seen you. You here for the doughnuts?" Belinda asked curiously.
"Nope, just waitin' to give my friend a ride home," he answered gesturing to Kate.
"Really?" she asked, her eyes going wide. "Well in that case, Kate go ahead and go. Don't want to keep your ride waiting."
Kate quickly grabbed her things before Belinda could change her mind. She followed James out the door and got into his truck, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"She's my cousin," he said in response to her unasked question. "For some reason, she likes me and I tend to take advantage of that from time to time."
Kate smiled and he started the truck. He just might be a good guy to have as a friend. Country music blared as they drove down Main Street again, this time towards the nightmares they each called home.
