I do not own WWE or Cody Rhodes. Thanks to Soccer-bitch for helping me out in my time of need!
After finishing his long first day of school, Cody threw his bag of books and other crap he'd gathered throughout the day into the trunk of the BMW Z9 that his Dad had gotten him for when he got his license. He was just glad to have the day over and done with. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he noticed Katie walking while holding all her books plus more. He honked his horn as he pulled up right behind her, causing her to drop some of her books. He gave her a sheepish smile before calling out, "Need a ride?"
She gave him a stare, wondering if it was a joke. His earnest expression made her decide that it was a decent offer. Katie weighed up her options. The bag was heavy and the books weighed a ton. Yet still she was slightly suspicious. "What's the price?"
He rolled his eyes, before hitting the automatic unlock. "Get in."
Smiling her thanks, she placed her books and bag in the back before sliding in the front seat. "Thanks, Cody, I appreciate it," a little relieved that he didn't ask her for a price.
"Everything comes with a cost," he laughed as the doors locked while she put her seatbelt on. Grinning at her stunned expression, he sped down the street.
She breathed in sharply, her heart pounding. "I take it you're a fast car kinda guy!"
"Slow drivers take too long to get from point A to point B," Cody grinned as he made a sharp turn.
Her hand slammed onto the handle. "I think I need to get used to this style of driving."
"There's no going back," he told her. "Plus I've never had a ticket in my life,"
She gave him a panicked look. "I swear, if you weren't as charming as you were today, I'd beg you to pull over." Shops and people gave way to houses and trees faster than what she could comprehend. Katie swallowed down her fear, nervous and unwilling to let him know his speeding was affecting her more than what she let on.
"I wouldn't pull over," he told her as his cell started to ring. He picked it up, leaving only one hand on the wheel of his car. Her eyes widened and her breath quickened. Swallowing, Katie closed her eyes and prayed that they wouldn't crash. His voice floated over her, soothing her just a little bit with his low confident tones.
After what seemed like forever, he hung up the phone. "What don't like to drive and talk?"
"Have you ever thought about becoming a NASCAR driver?" Katie breathed, her hand clenched tightly on the handle on the door. Cody tossed her an amused and cheeky grin.
"Naw," he said. "The family want me to go pro." Her eyes widened and she stared at him in shock.
Forcing herself to try and relax, Katie found herself starting to enjoy the wind in her hair. Once past the abject terror that his speeding brought out of her, she began to look for a topic of conversation. "I pictured you to be the type to take the cheerleaders home, not the invisible geek."
"What makes you think I can't do both?" The lecherous grin made Katie want to roll her eyes
"The car is a two seater." The dry, obvious tone made Cody's grin even wider.
"You think this is my only car?" he laughed.
She screwed her nose up at him. "Well excuse me of not being used to hanging around rich kids!" she poked her tongue at him and play pouted.
"I'm sure you heard stuff about me all day," he told her. "I got this when I needed a car to drive for my test and then another just because it's the only way my dad knows how to show he cares." Katie looked at him curiously before steering clear of the subject. There were some things that you just didn't touch.
"You're the only one I spoke to all day, excluding teachers. And I don't really like to listen in on conversations. I find it incredibly rude."
"You'll learn to listen when you need to know something," he told her, speaking from experience.
She gave him a smile and nodded. "Thanks for the advice. Any other pearls of wisdom?" she looked at him for a moment. "Oh and before you answer, what position are you in the football team and when's the next game?"
"Quarterback and tomorrow night," he grinned. Her groan of annoyance made him even more amused at her distaste in the sport.
"You'll have to give me directions. After all, attendance is mandatory, right?" she smiled. "So, about those other pearls of wisdom."
"No pearls of wisdom," he said in all honesty. "Go to the main office for directions. I ride the bus with boys and the cheerleaders." Cody was glad that she was actually giving him and the game a chance. He was really starting to like her, even the habit of needing to talk when out of her element. They turned down her street, a little more slowly than the other corners that they had gone around.
"I'll do that tomorrow." she snuggled into the seat. "Did you know that a picture of this model of a car was centrepiece on my poster wall back in San Diego?"
"You don't say," he said as he came to a sudden stop in front of her house.
She grinned at him. "Yeah, and I even know how to mechanically maintain one too." she laughed at his shocked expression. "I adore engines!"
"Then you should sign up for auto shop," he told her not unlocking the door to his car. Glad his dad went with the one that the driver had full control over. What amused him the most was that she turned to face him, not even noticing that he pressed down the locks.
"How many girls are welcome in auto shop?" Katie asked curiously.
"I wouldn't know," he grinned. "I have my own guy for that kind of thing." She stared at him, stunned and horrified. Yet she wasn't confident enough to voice her opinions about a guy not taking care of his own car. Deciding to let it drop, she continued the conversation.
"Surely you know some people that take the class?" He was amazed that she actually paid attention to their conversation and had an active and intelligent part in it. Most of the girls he drove home talked only about fashion, other guys and the latest gossip. Having a girl who knew things about cars was a fascinating and welcome change.
"Yeah," he laughed. "Like half the football team." Cody was stunned at the sudden drop in her expression and mood. Her whole body showed her opinion on that comment.
She bit her lip, suddenly apprehensive. "Maybe I won't sign up for the class then." Flashes of the last time she was in a mechanical class flittered through her mind, sending shivers down her back.
"Don't let that get you down," he told her, impulsively touching her hand. "They have no idea what they are doing; it would be a welcome change to them."
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "That's sweet, Cody, but, ah, at my last school, I joined the class and most of the guys showed me why it wasn't a good idea." The kiss on the cheek shocked him with its innocent intention. His reaction, however, was anything but pure. Cody pushed it to the back of his mind and set out to soothe her fears.
"This isn't your old school, Kate," he told her; giving her a nickname he thought suited her.
She gave him a smile. "Thanks, Cody." She turned her attention to the house. "Would you like to come in for a drink or something?"
"Can't drink before practice," he told her. "Alcohol and sports just don't mix."
She laughed. "I was talking about a soda or a coffee. I don't drink that much if at all."
"But you drink?" he asked her quietly.
I've done it a few times." she admitted. "But only with my brother and Dad. I don't like the pressure of having to get drunk like at all the parties. That's my older brother's job. I just pick him up afterwards."
"I won't touch the stuff," he said in a sombre tone.
She raised an eyebrow before nodding in what she thought was understanding. "Football right? My Dad wanted me to try it so I'd know the huge fuss wasn't really anything big. Just a load of pressure."
"No," he told her, "That's a reason, not the reason." She gave him a quizzical look. Unlocking the doors for her, Cody checked the time. "I need to get home to get my gear for practice. Thanks for the invite, but I'll have to put a raincheck on that one."
Katie turned around and gathered her books and bag. "Alright then, Cody, I'll see you later?"
He couldn't deny her eager expression. She was just too cute to say no to. "Yeah, Kate, don't worry." Giving her a laughing smile. "I'll bet you a night out that you won't be able to guess what number I am tomorrow night."
Giving him a smile in return, she nodded. "You're on, Blue-eyed Boy." She got out of the car and watched him speed out of the driveway and down the street. Walking into her house, Katie called out a greeting to her mother and brother in the kitchen. Not stopping to hear their answers, she continued up to her room. Shutting the door and dropping her books and bag on the desk, Katie flopped on the bed with a huge grin on her face that even the prospect of having to unpack boxes couldn't damper. The cutest guy that she had ever seen had been the first person to talk to her, with the possibility of becoming friends. She couldn't deny the attraction that she held for him, but for now, friends would be desirable. Life was good.
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