An update.
Thursday came and Shane knew he had to go over to Mitchie's house after his shift at Java stop. He didn't understand the way his pulse raced from the idea of driving down the long roads to her mansion. Any home with more than three bedrooms and two bathrooms was a mansion to Shane.
His parents were highschool sweethearts. They found out they were expecting his eldest brother, Jason, two months after graduation. Shane's father deferred his scholarship to his dream school and his mom disappointed her parents by having a child unwed. Even though her parents adored his father, they weren't happy with the decision to keep the baby.
So Shane's dad started working for a brand new construction company, that he manages now and his mom stayed home until they were old enough to take care of themselves then she went to work at the local bank as a teller. She gradually promoted to manager of that branch and now she's her own boss. Shane was proud of his parents. Even though his mom's family was from money, she didn't get a cent from her parents for financial support. They didn't agree with their choices, but loved the boys with all their hearts. Christmas' and birthdays were holidays to look forward to.
Shane knew that he had to rely on his grades for scholarships to get him through school. He knew he couldn't but the financial bargain on his parents for him to go to school. Jason knew that and worked his ass off and got a free ride to his first choice, Nate was already entering in scholarship contests and winning writing contests. He was set for a couple of years.
Shane was always the one who was slower than his other brothers. He wasn't as smart as his siblings and it showed. In his grades, in his notes and all around school experience. He felt like the outcast in his own home. If only his parents gave his musical passion a shot. They were supportive about his hobbies but never understood how passionate he was about music. Not only playing and teaching music, but creating. They just wanted him to have an actual career. A nine to five, guarente checks weekly, etc. More than they had to offer.
Shane drove along the dirt road, stopping at the gate, before pressing the call button. A loud beep shook him back to reality when Mitchie's voice was heard through the small speaker.
"Who's there?" Ah, the tone is back, Shane noted.
"It's the giant." Shane replied, using her nickname for him.
He could hear that distinct laugh of hers as she pressed another button, making the gate open on its own.
Shane took it all in. The nice gravel driveway, making it up to the round entrance. His old truck stuck out like a sore thumb along side the newer model of cars lined up by the garage.
"Wow." Shane gasped at the front of the house.
A wide, Victorian door swung open, her two toned hair peeked through the door as she smiled a small smile. Shane opened his door and it squeaked as it shut. He closed his eyes as he shoved his keys in his pant pocket.
"Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it. No one is home. My parents are out."
"Oh." Shane swallowed his hormones.
"Don't get any ideas." Mitchie teased as she swung the door open wider to let him in.
"Wow, nice house."
"Thanks. It's nothing compared to what we lived in back in Los Angeles, but, I'm not my parents who can settle for homy."
Shane scuffed as he looked at the girl in tight black jeans, a graphic crop top and fuzzy socks. She looked comfortable and in her safety net but the words she was speaking sounded bitchy. Almost like she took what she had for granted.
"You don't sound grateful at all." Shane said in a sarcastic tone, with truthness behind it.
Mitchie rolled her eyes at the gawking boy, "for your information, not that it's your business, I am grateful and know how fortunate I am to have wealth. I don't take it for granted if that's what you're thinking."
"Not at all." Shane mocked.
"Look, if youre going to be a fucking dick, theres the door. You can shut it nice and slow on your way out, Those glass windows are from Spain." Mitchie said taking the stairs two at a time.
Shane stared at Mitchie with his foot still in his mouth, he had gone too far.
"Mitchie, wait. Sorry!" Shane apologized while chasing after her.
His long legs made it easier to catch up with her at the top of the staircase. He gently grabbed her elbow and he could tell how still and stiff she became at the contact.
"Mitchie, really i'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset. I just see people who have it all and envy them. Its a force of habit."
Mitchie looked up and noticed how worried his eyes looked. She sighed as she moved her elbow out of his grasp.
"We can study in the library downstairs."
"You have a library?"
"My parents are big bookworms and i guess it rubbed off on me." Mitchie explained as she stopped in front of double doors. She pushed slightly and the doors opened revealing book cases from top to bottom.
"You have got to be shitting me." Shane said.
"It's pretty neat. This used to be a day room before we moved in. There was so much open room my parents turned it into this and i was not complaining. We're basically a small library."
"It's amazing."
Mitchie's eyes followed Shane's curious ones. It was taking him a long time to get used to it. It was cute at first but now Mitchie was bored of it.
"So, do you want to start studying or do you wanna drool some more?" Mitchie said sitting on one of the chairs with her arms crossed across her chest.
Shane huffed as he took the seat next to her.
With books and notebooks out, Mitchie was taking notes of her own on flash cards, simplifying formulas and equations to help Shane understand it.
"So chemistry is like a composed song?"
"If you think of it that way, yes. You need to make those notes go together to make a chord. Same thing with these formulas. Every different problem requires a different formula."
"If you put it that way, it kind of makes sense."
"Here, I wrote these down as a sort of cheat sheet if you ever get stumped on something. Memorize these and you'll be able to pass with a decent C or even a low B. '' Mitchie said handing him her blush pink cards.
Shane looked down and raised an eyebrow.
Mitchie raised her own, "what? You don't want them because they're pink?"
"No, it's just i've never seen this color?"
"Oh, I order my school stuff online. I don't drive so I have to get everything driven to me."
"How do you get around?"
Mitchie sighed as she backed into her chair. She really didn't want to open up to this guy about her personal life. Shit she didn't want anyone to really know her. Just the basics. She just found out that she had enough credits to graduate a year earlier than her friends. She's been sitting on the idea for a while, and she's leaning on taking it. That way she can get back home or go to New York.
"Usually my mom drives me around. But as you can see, they're never really around. At least not when i need school supplies. It's not like I'm really missing out on anything by not driving." Mitchie shrugged. She doesn't know why she's lying with the idea of letting him in.
Shane looked at the girl who was interestingly enough studying her nails, he couldn't tell then but that was his first chance to be let in.
"I can teach you to drive…" Shane said slowly, not sure where he got the balls to offer that.
Mitchie looked over to him, raised an eyebrow and studied his face. She sensed some hesitation, but he was being sincere. Was she looking at this popular guy all wrong?
Truth be told she was worried that he was going to end up just like the rest of them. Mitchie had a hunch that he wasn't from the first night they met. He snuck her in and took her home the next morning without expecting anything in return. She just didn't know how genuine he was. There was a lot she didn't know about the giant.
"What do you want in return?" Mitchie pressed.
"Nothing. You're doing me a favor by simplifying this chemistry. I can find some time to help you learn to drive."
Mitchie squinted, she saw worry flash his eyes as he explained himself. She pondered for a second before giving him her hand.
Shane looked at the girl, her face unreadable as he reached over the table and shook his hand with hers. The whole time she seemed at ease with how easy school work was for her but behind her concentrated look, he could tell something was off. Her eyes seemed more sunk in, her pale complexion looked dried, and her hair looked unkempt. He never noticed these things with his girlfriends in the past, but this mitchie was completely different from the Mitchie he saw when he first laid his eyes on her.