Promises: Don't Push Me

By: ParamoreXO

A/N: I can't thank you guys enough for the fantastic reviews! This is kinda for you amusement…ya know, before all the real action starts? This chapter should lift a little tension off some big fight scenes coming up! It's something I hope you look forward to!

Sometimes, I really hated Kevin's car. Then again, I occasionally find myself thanking it for the countless make out sessions it's provided in the backseat. So, I suppose you could say Kevin's car and I have a love/hate relationship…wow, that sounds so weird. But hey, it's true! Whenever Kevin spends those countless hours fixing up his ride it's hard to get some quality time with him. That's why I hate it; sometimes I feel less important than a stupid, flashy hot rod. Then I find myself being pressed into the slick, spotless leather seats, Kevin pressed into me. We're alone together with no one to interrupt us for once (ahem, like a certain brunette, alien morphing, goofball cousin of mine). Sometimes he plays some sappy, romantic music. Other times it's quiet besides our frantically beating hearts. With his lips against mine, I'm in heaven.

Usually I'm the one in the passenger seat and Kevin's at the wheel. It's the way it's always been, never different. Besides Kevin and I in the back row together, that's as close as Kevin and I can get with him driving. Tonight, however, things were a little different. The instant Kevin unlocked his car and the horn gave a sharp "honk!" my dad was slamming the passenger door in my face.

Standing there, completely stunned, I tried to comprehend what had just happened, "My dad… in shotgun…with Kevin in…the driver's seat….WHAT?" In the distance, just a little ways down the street, the Rustbucket was roaring to life. Its headlights pierced through the inky black veil of night, blurring my vision with the sudden brightness. Grumbling, I turned around and yanked the car door open. Sliding in beside my Uncle Carl, I slammed the door with more force than usual. I watched as my dad's eyebrows shot up with the help of the side view mirror. I wanted to wipe that amused smirk off his face so bad…and why wasn't intense staring at the back of his thinning head burning a smoking hole there?

"Sorry about the mess," Kevin grumbled, twisting his keys to start the car. He wasn't the only one unsatisfied with the seating arrangements, apparently.

"Not a problem," Uncle Carl's voice understood. I'm sure he's had to help Ben clean his own car out for more than enough times. Even though he had recently gotten his license, he was already filling up his car with gross, sticky smoothie cups, soccer equipment, late homework assignments, and a bunch of other crap I didn't bother to take note of.

Gazing angrily out the window, I realized we were in motion, reaching the outskirts of Bellwood fast with Grandpa Max on our tail. For what felt like the millionth time in my life, I caught Kevin's dark eyes staring at me through the rear view mirror as I sat straight forward again. He winked at me when our eyes connected, oddly relaxed at the wheel with my father side glancing at him knowing it would tick me off. And it did. That boy was pushing his luck.

Then I realized Kevin was wearing a seatbelt. Yes, Kevin Levin, the tough guy who purposely broke all principals of safety had the buckle of his seatbelt safely clicked in. It was probably for the first time in his life, too. Well, at least he was trying to lead on a good impression.

"Why didn't you ride with mom and Aunt Sandra?" I asked both my dad and Uncle Carl, trying to ignore the snicker escaping my Uncle's smiling lips while keeping my voice cool and steady. If it did have an icy edge, I didn't care. I was hoping my tone was hurting.

"We couldn't all fit in there."

"There's eight seats, dad."

"Exactly."

…Am I the only one who isn't following my father's logic here?

XOXOXOXO

"So, Kevin… do you play any sports?"

I groaned, hoping my dad would hear, and thumped my head against the car's window. After twenty whole minutes of totally crisp awkward silence, that was the best my dad could come up with? Sports?

"I'm not on any teams, but I'm usually up for anything." I smiled slightly, memories of a certain romantic muddy night splashing into memory. "He's really good at football."

Turning to face him, I felt my heart flutter at Kevin's knowing grin, "Yeah, sure. That's where you got your skills after all."

"Don't I know it," maybe there was a little more dash of flirt added to my words than intended because my father was staring at Kevin's innocent smile real hard, "Football, huh? Interesting…Carl and I should go against you and Gwen sometime. We used to play a whole lot as kids. Ben could join, too."

Oh God, "Maybe."

Uncle Carl was chuckling to himself, his eyes shining on me like spotlights. I could tell he was enjoying himself with the entertainment. Then again, how could I blame him? "Ben's more of a soccer guy. He might be considered for a scholarship, actually."

The weight that had been lying on my chest lifted as my Uncle and father made conversation over sports. Finally, I could breathe properly again…well, better than earlier. Having your father and Uncle sitting in a car with your boyfriend isn't the most comfortable situation. I'm still questioning how I got in it...and why I had to be the one to suffer this. They never did this to Ben and Julie, that's for sure. What ticked me most, though, was that I was the only one being tortured. Kevin was his usual self; all laid back and cocky. What a stud…well, okay, he's my stud. That still makes him a stud, though. Still, I was the only one fuming here.

As my bored gaze shifted towards my feet, I spotted something familiar, "Hey Kevin, aren't you forgetting something?"

Taking note of his curiously raised eyebrow, I put on my best 'dirty little secret' smirk that I used to tease Ben with all the time (and occasionally still do). Hey, it could be pretty funny to see Ben act like a whiny five-year-old wanting to be included in a prestigious little game. Then again, he was getting pretty good at acting like a five-year-old lately. "Like..?" The look on his face held a hint of panic. The confused, gleam in his suddenly wide eyes, perfect teeth nibbling on his lower lip, and rut displayed in the center of his forehead by his raised eyebrows just screamed it. Just what I was hoping for…

"You forgot to give me this back," I held up the item, its thin fabric slipping in my fingers. As I kept it in front of my face for all to see, a whirlwind of gasoline and cheap drugstore soap hit me like a hurricane. It smelled strongly like Kevin's skin…and was a little too much for my knees to handle. Placing a hand on my wobbly knees, I tried to keep them still. He always had that affect on me.

"Oh shhhhhhoot," we were all violently thrown to the right without warning, sending me slamming into the side door. Just as quickly as I had hit the hard surface, Kevin had the car all straightened out again and in the right lane. Lucky for him, the long rugged road was out in the middle of absolutely nowhere. The folds of my lips shot up, smiling so wide it felt like someone was pinching my cheeks. I couldn't help it with Kevin's great save and all. "I…um…er…it's not what it looks like, sir."

"Oh, really now?" Pressing the T-shirt with my prep school's emblem clearly displayed across the chest against my face, I tried to hide my burning smile. Wow, dad looked like he was about to chew poor Kev out. Not to mention Uncle Carl, he looked pretty mortified. Kinda like how Ben gets when he screws up with Julie. I didn't regret anything, though. Not a bit. He deserved a little payback. "Then why exactly is my daughter's shirt in your car?"

Wanting to enjoy that rare as diamonds look on Kevin's face a little longer, I couldn't help but giggle, "Oh, dad, come on! It's no biggie."

If Kevin gripped the steering wheel any harder, I swear his knuckles were going to rip through his whitened flesh. His arms were tense, muscles locked tight, eyes glued to the road. He deserved it, though, he really did…

"Well?" shifting in his seat, my dad faced my boyfriend dead on, ready to pounce. No escaping now.

"Well, I was picking Gwen up after school and…she, er, had to change for our double date with Julie and Ben. So…I let her use the back."

Before my dad could spit a single word out, I cut in, "Don't worry daddy, he wasn't anywhere near the car when I changed," I added one last giggle any typical prep school girl would use when they were hinting at some sort of secret (being sent to that miserable place had its advantages), "I made sure of that." For some reason, my vision was starting to become fuzzy; the desperate look spread smoothly across Kevin's face was harder to see. I was probably just car sick.

Suddenly, my dad did the unexpected. Punching Kevin lightly like he'd seen Ben or Ken do to me millions of times before when they were kidding around, my dad offered a slight grin, "Well, thanks for being honest, boy." Boy…that's the name that had apparently replaced Kevin's in my dad's eyes.

Kevin mumbled something from the front but I didn't catch any of it. The whole world began to fade around me. Cool, crystal colors of the night were losing their taste, seeping away with every outline and edge of an object that was sketch-able. The steady hum of the motor disappeared from all consciousness. I couldn't see the warm, nervous blush run across Kevin's skin anymore. Darkness…that was all there was.

I was alone with no other presence among me. The question was, why? Right now, I had no idea what was going on or why I felt like I was standing on a cloud, practically floating, in the midst of nothingness. For all I knew, I could've been at the bottom of the blackest hole. "Gwen…Please hear me…"

"Grandma Verdona?" Astonished, I tried to grasp the woman's words that echoed all around me. Could it really be her?

"I don't know how long this connection can last, Gwendolyn, since I am so far away. Don't go to Ben. I beg you, please…don't….go…" The last of her words faded away as I felt myself being sucked back into reality. I could faintly feel the cool touch of the leather seats take place of the black, wispy darkness.

"VERDONA! No! Why can't I go to Ben?" Her voice didn't follow my cries, though. The strappy seatbelt was beginning to cut into my skin again.

"Gwen? Hey Gwen! EARTH TO GWEN!"

"Sorry," everything was back into view again, crystal clear as ever. Three concerned faces were poking out in my line of vision. The motor wasn't running anymore. "I was just…thinking."

"You sure?" Kevin asked me. The sweetness that flowed with his words was enough to make my heart beat faster.

"Yeah, keep driving." Contemplating Verdona's words, I tried to think of what she could've possibly meant. Then again, imagination could be worse than reality. I just hoped that old saying was the truth.

A/N: Okay, so I know that didn't seem like much but I promise all the action is coming up SOON! So stick around if you want to read about Gwen and Kevin kicking some major butt!