Hi everyone! :D Here's another chapter. Tonight I might post chapter 5, if not, it'll be here tomorrow. And to the recent Anon, I agree with you. I'd love more reviews, but it's only the beginning! and our favorite character isn't here yet. Don't worry though. Soon. Very very soon. ; )

Warning: some language

Chapter 4

My fingers went numb and I seized my breath for a few moments. I was angry at myself because I thought I lost this feeling a while ago, but it still came back. My stomach was in a whirl and the butterflies were out of control now just from one measly word. But it wasn't just from the greeting; it was from the person who sent it. The name, Chris, flashed across the top of my screen, a name that I thought was permanently deleted from my brain before I moved to Scotland. I met him through my good friend, Dylan, one weekend during summer almost two years ago. He was mysterious and independent, definitely the stereotypical 'bad boy.' Our hangouts turned into something more and I craved every moment with him. Hours of texting and talking on the phone controlled my life. The things he'd say and do seemed too perfect for the moment, but I fell too hard for a boy who couldn't be trusted. I was stupid to think that we could make a relationship work when we lived more than half an hour away from each other. This was why I was so scared to leave Gregory. I don't want history repeating itself.

*Hey*

I typed quickly *What do you want?*

…

* Your birthday is coming up*

*Yeah it's Wednesday*

…

*I also wanted to say I'm sorry for everything*

*No you're not*

…

*I actually am this time. I've been a complete asshole to you and you don't deserve any of it. You're beautiful and I miss those blue eyes of yours.*

I rolled those blue eyes of mine... Here we go again. This wasn't the first time this has ever happened. I call them 'rebound texts.' He usually sends them when he says he misses me, but what he really needs is another girl to give him attention when the other is fed up with his bullshit. Brittany, don't do it. Don't reply. Just let him go. Stop. No, no, NO! I couldn't help myself.

*How is this time any different from any other time? You've apologized to me before and it goes fine for a little while until you pull the same shit. I don't have much trust in you anymore.*

…

*I know what I've done and I've been thinking a lot. I'm an idiot for doing this to you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm clean now. Please forgive me.*

*I forgave you a long time ago. I'm over it. I'll just never forget what you've done to me.*

…

*I understand. Could we at least try and work things out?*

…

*Maybe if you put in the effort this time. I might consider it*

I threw my phone on my bed and sat up. Tony was sitting on the computer chair looking at the collage of pictures. I was so distracted that I almost forgot that he was here. Moments later Aunt Dottie called for him to get his jacket. They needed to finish unpacking their things so he could be ready to attend school tomorrow.

The next morning I walked to my car through the breezy September air. It was chillier than usual out and I hurried to open the door. When I picked my head up, I noticed a strange mustard yellow truck sitting across the street. What looked like a man, was sitting in the driver's seat as still as a statue, probably hoping that I wouldn't see him. Slightly disturbed, I got into the car and sped to school. It was a surprise that the truck didn't follow me. I scurried past students and into homeroom because I needed to find Savannah. She was the only person that knew the full story between me and Chris. I needed advice, bad. Out of all the days, Savannah had to pick today to not show up. She wasn't answering my texts and I was getting sort of annoyed. Come lunch time, I moped to our table with my lunch box, urging to tell someone about my dilemma.

"Sorry I didn't answer you back last night. My phone is being dumb." Savannah set down her bag and a lunch tray.

"It's the second day of school and you already missed half of it," I giggled. "Where were you?"

"I ad a octor's appoinmen," She mumbled as she spoke with a mouth full of food. "Vat's wong?"

Sixteen years of being her friend and I was a pro at interpreting her words while she chewed massive amounts of food.

"Someone texted me last night."

She swallowed quickly and stared intently. "Who?"

"Chris," I whispered so no one else at the table could hear.

Her eyes grew larger. "What did he say?"

"What doesn't he say? He apologized, again."

"You didn't give him another chance, right?"

"Of course not. If I don't know that he's a pathological liar by now, then I'm really the one who's the idiot."

"I'm guessing he doesn't know about Gregory yet?"

"I didn't tell him. I ignored him after a while like he usually does to me."

"That will drive him nuts, but once he knows you're happy, it'll make him more insane."

"Uh, yeah, but once he finds out that Gregory lives in another country, he's gonna think it's going to be alright for him to talk to me. Chris has no morals. He'll do anything to antagonize me."

"I know him just as well as you do. Maybe it would be harmless to play along. The ball is in your court, yuh know, and as far as I'm concerned, you're the coach. You call the shots."

"That was deep," I laughed.

"Man, that was. I need to write that one down," she giggled.

Miranda appeared from the hall and grabbed a seat next to Addie. "I just came from guidance and I overheard the counselors saying that we're getting a new student."

The topic sparked my interest. "What's their name?"

"I couldn't hear it," she tried to recall.

"Was it Gregory?" I blurted. Everyone at the table stopped what they were doing and glared at me. I must not have realized how loud that was.

She blinked with a blank face. "No. I'm not sure."

"Oh," I sighed.

"Why Gregory?" Miranda asked confused.

"Gregory is her boy toy," Savannah sang.

The girls 'oo-ed' and 'ahh-ed' while Jeremy fell silent. The tension bar rose to a new height as I had to describe my boyfriend to the best of my ability. It made me quite upset after telling them what I could. I missed him even more.

"Here's a picture." I took out my phone and clicked on the most recent photo I had with him.

"Oh my god, he's flawless; definitely your type. Uh, who's Chris?" Miranda wondered aloud.

A puzzled look formed on my face. "What do you mean?"

"You got a text message from him."

A lump formed in my throat that resisted to be swallowed. "What does it say?"

She refused to answer and handed the phone back to me. I tapped my messages and read what he wrote.

*Hey gorgeous*

*You can't call me that*

…

*Why not?*

*Because I'm seeing someone*

Savannah was right. I had to tell him before things got out of hand.

…

*That hasn't stopped you before…*

The phone almost fell from the frail grip of my fingers. I wasn't sure what exactly he was trying to imply, but I didn't like it. Who am I kidding… I knew what he was saying. Unfortunately Chris knows as much about me as I know him. Previous times I'd ditch the guy I would be talking to if Chris texted me one of his apologies. He got so good at manipulating me that it wouldn't take long for me to fall for him all over again. I didn't reply and put the phone in a side pouch of my bag. Otherwise, he wasn't going to stop.

School ended and I eagerly wanted to get home just for the mere pleasure of having the house to myself before my mother got home from work. Before I got out of the car, something caught my eye. In the rear view mirror, was the same truck from this morning parked at the end of the road. It wouldn't have been a big deal if it was parked there regularly and I knew who's it was, but it didn't seem like it moved and the same shadow sat there doing nothing. Curiosity getting the best of me, I got out of the car and strode down the street, roaming near the mysterious industrial truck with a few lamps hanging from it. Something didn't seem right and I picked up my pace as the shadow in the driver seat moved quicker. The truck turned on and sped off out of sight. It happened so fast that I couldn't even get a good look at the license plate. Nothing worries me more than a strange vehicle staking out the neighborhood. I turned for my house and noticed a moving van in the driveway of the house that was opposite where the mysterious truck was. I figured my aunt and uncle were finished with unloading and I thought their house was the next street down. Maybe I misunderstood Aunt Dottie... I wasn't in the mood for investigating any longer so I went straight home.