Chapter Two

Why couldn't I get him out of my head?

It was now well into the afternoon, and I was sitting outside trying to clear my thoughts. This was sick, I didn't even know him, and yet I  had spent the whole day thinking about him. I looked down at the piece of paper for the millionth time, it was already weathered from me folding and unfolding it over and over. I didn't know why I bothered keeping it.

 I knew if I called him I would be setting myself up for a huge let down, not to mention Stephanie seemed to already have a claim on him. I really didn't need her as an enemy, but on the other hand I wouldn't be too broken up if she decided not to be my friend either. She wasn't exactly the type of person I would like to spend my time with, but I bet she could make my life hell if I didn't stay invisible, and out of her way.

I couldn't sit outside anymore, it was way too cold. I decided I didn't want to hang around inside my house either. I quickly ran in and grabbed my keys, stuffing my wallet and cell in my jacket. Then I thought for a second and grabbed a book too.

On my way back downstairs my mom stopped me.

"Lace, are you okay?" She frowned taking in my dissheveled appearance. I probably had some major eye baggage from the lack of sleep last night, not to mention that I was already pale.

"Yah mom, I'm just gonna go grab a cup of coffee from that cafe I went to lastnight." I held up my book and added. "I might just sit there and read for a bit."

"Okay sweetheart." She seemed hesitant to let me go, but thought better of it and gave me a quick peck on the cheek before she headed into the kitchen.

I flung the front door open and ran to my car. I knew exactly why I was going there, it was sick and I didn't even want to admit it, but I was hoping I would run into him. 
***

I pulled in to the parking lot, and it was much easier this time to get a spot. In fact it seemed that the place was pretty dead. I got out of my car and locked the door before shutting it.

I made my way inside and ordered a coffee and sat in one of the corner chairs with my book. I instinctively felt for my cell in my pocket, and realized I must have left it in the car. Oh well, it didn't matter. I was just going to sit and try to relax.

After about an hour I had finished my coffee, and read a few chapters out of my book. I sat for a bit longer befored I decided it was time to go. I had waited here long enough, and it was crazy for me to have even come.

It wasn't until I got outside that I realized the real problem, my keys. They weren't in my pocket either, and I knew I didn't have them out when I was inside the cafe.

I groaned as I walked to the car knowing already what I had done. I peered into the driver's side window, and sure enough, there were my keys were on the seat next to my cell.

Lovely.

What was I going to do? I didn't know my house number off the top of my head yet, and I definitely didn't know anyone else's either- at least not anyone that lived around here.

I looked around for a moment, there was a pay phone by the front of the building. I reached in my pocket to see if I had any change, I could try to call AAA. I was pretty sure I had the card in my wallet, but as soon as my hand went in my pocket, it brushed against a piece of paper. I pulled it out and stared at it furtively, he had said if I needed someone to give him a call.

I couldn't believe I was actually considering this.

I dug through the zippered part in my wallet where I kept my change, and made my way over to the pay phone. After punching in the numbers scrawled on the paper, my heart was pounding as it started to ring. I was just about to hang up when his husky voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Um, hi." I said lamely.

"Stephanie?" He sounded impatient.

My heart dropped."Oh, no. I- this is Lacey." I felt like banging my head off the wall I was leaning on, I was being such an idiot.

"Lacey?" He whispered breathlessly

"From lastnight..." I said closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose. I hoped he remembered, I mean maybe he gave tons of girls his number. It wouldn't surprise me in the least considering how handsome he was, and how forward he had been with me.

"I know." He said sounding a little shocked that I was calling, he probably hadn't really wanted me to use the number. "So what's up?" He asked.

"Okay, this is going to sound really lame, but I'm in the parking lot of the cafe right now, and I locked myself out of my car. Which wouldn't be a big deal, but my cell is in the car too. I'm on the pay-phone in the parking lot." I paused waiting for him to say something, and when he didn't I continued. "You see, I just moved here not too long ago and I don't know anyone's number off the top of my head, but I still had that piece of paper you gave me." I fudged a little, it wasn't just that I didn't know anyone's number- It was more like I didn't know anyone at all, therefore I had no numbers, but he didn't need to know that.

"I'll be there in five minutes." He hung up with out another word.

I sighed and hung the phone on the reciever.

I sat down on the curb and opened my book to try and pass the time. It was a fantasy novel, which I usually didn't care for, but Mark recommended it to me last month when we were talking on a daily basis. It was about all these different mythological creatures. I was just starting to get lost in it when I heard a car pull in.

I looked up and saw a black Mustang pull into the spot next to my car. The driver's side door opened and Gauge got out. He looked amazing, he wore jeans and a white t-shirt, his dark tousled hair was a little damp, like he had just gotten out of the shower. I stared at him feeling the wierd gravatational pull again. I tried to stop staring, but failed.

Then I realized he had no jacket or anything, it was freezing!

"What the Hell!? Aren't you cold?" I was shivering just looking at him.

He looked down at himself and laughed. "Nope."

I shrugged and bit my lip. "Look I'm really sorry I had to call you-"

"I gave you my number for a reason, don't feel bad about calling." He smiled at me and his wild eyes were warm with sincerity.

"Kay." I said continuing to bite my lip. He was making me so nervous, no guy had ever made me feel this nervous. I mean forget butterflies, I had full on bats in my stomach.

"So do you have a spare key at home?" He asked still smiling at me.

"Yes, and don't worry I live really close, so I will be out of your hair in no time." I forced a smile, and thought of how badly I would like to run my fingers through his hair.

He looked at me sideways like he was studying me, and then he shook his head and grinned. "Do you always feel like you're burdening people?"

I opened my mouth to answer, when I realized something I had overlooked before."Oh my God! Thats your car?"

He looked over to the black Mustang that had grabbed my attention. "Yeah, you like it?" He asked, one corner of his mouth lifting deviously. When I didn't answer he continued. "I honestly didn't picture you getting into cars." He chuckled as if he found me humorous.

I blushed wildly "No its just, nevermind." I grumbled.

Hopefully he didn't recognize my car and remember the almost accident yesterday afternoon in the student parking lot. I would have just chalked it up to coincidence, but the car had the same dark tint, and shiny rims. I wondered if he didn't go to Londonderry High (and I know he didn't because I would have noticed him) then who was he there picking up?

I didn't have to think long or hard to answer that question. He and Stephanie must definitely be together. I frowned, I didn't know why it was bothering me, I pretty much knew that already. When I looked at him again he looked confused by my crazy mood swing.

"I promise to drive safe." He said, looking at the car and back to me. He must have thought I was frowning out of disapproval.

I just nodded in response and walked over to the passenger side of his car. He stood stuck in place for a minute, and smiled shaking his head. He probably thought I was crazy, oh well at least my house wasn't far.

Once we were seated in his car I started getting antsy. It felt weird to be so close to him in the small interior of the car, and the amazing smell of pine and snow was making my head spin. I wondered how he got that scent, it was probably the most fantastic smell in the world

I looked around the inside of his car now, it was extremely clean except for a few empty bottles that looked like the one he was drinking from last night. I was sitting and pondering this, when I realized how rude I was being. I hadn't said one word to him since we had got in the car.

I looked over at him and again I was struck by his beauty. The sun was slanting through the windsheild, and all I could see were the strong angles of his face. His olive toned skin was smooth, and his hair was shimmering the color of ink in the light.He definitely didn't look like any of the boys our age, he had a certain timeless look to him.

When he turned to look at me, I didn't have time to blush like the fool that I was, even though I was caught again staring at him. Instead his eyes grabbed my attention, all silver and gold in the sunlight.

Before I could even think I blurted "Your eyes are so strange!"

He looked away quickly and stared out the windshield.

Ooops, I was starting to feel the heat in my cheeks now "Well, not strange, beautiful really." I corrected myself now blushing full on. I couldn't have really just said that out loud, something about him made me act like a complete moron.

Now he smiled. "I know what you're thinking." He paused allowing for me to respond, when I didn't he added  "And the answer is no, I'm not wearing colored contacts."

I went to say something when I saw my street coming up much too quickly. "Turn here!" I yelled almost forgetting that he didn't know where I lived. Then I looked at him again. "And I didn't think you were... wearing colored contacts that is."

He seemed to just accept that.

He looked at me for a minute and I thought he was going to say something more, but he just frowned and looked away.

"My house is up here on the right." I could feel my face forming a grimace. My mom's car wasn't there, but Richard's was.

"You okay?" Gauge asked looking confused again by me.

"Yes, I'll be right out." I sighed, and got out of the car.

I ran into my house, and right into the kitchen. My spare key was in a drawer by the phone, I grabbed it and turned around smiling at myself. I was going to get out with out a hitch.

Richard proved me wrong.

"Well well well, and just what are you doing?" He sneered, prowling towards me. He always made me feel uncomfortable. Whenever my mom wasn't home he put on his creep act full force.

I swallowed hard before responding. "I needed my spare key, I locked myself out of my car at the cafe down the street."

He was pretty much on top of me now, my back was arched over the counter. He grabbed my arm and looked down at me, inhaling deeply as he pushed closer to me. The counter was really digging into my back now, but he brought his face closer still.

"So just how did you get here then?" He practically spat the words at me.

I opened my mouth to tell him to take his hands off of me, but before I could form the words someone interrupted clearing their throat.

"She came with me, I drove her." I heard Gauge's husky voice answer.

I peeked over Richard's shoulder, and he dropped my arm quickly.

"Is there a problem sir?" Gauge asked smoothly. The way he spoke to him was all power, and authority.

Richard turned to look at Gauge and smiled his award winning smile."Oh no that's quite alright son, but to save you the trouble, I think you should let me take Lacey back to her car."

Gauge's eyes locked quickly with mine, before settling on Richard and narrowing. "Lacey and I had plans anyways, so we are all set." He spoke condesendingly and smiled before adding. "No need to inconvenience you."

Richard just stood there red-faced while Gauge grabbed my hand and walked me out the front door.

Once we got outside I stared down at our hands intertwined and felt my heart pick up, and then a little thought was poking at the edge of my mind, Stephanie.

He was dating Stephanie!

I needed to remember that, it was nice of him to help me today but I needed to stop with my weird fascination and realize that he could only be a friend, if he was anything at all to me. I frowned, I was always the girl that was a friend, but never the girlfriend.

"You can let go of my hand now." I stated numbly.

"What was with that guy? Is that your dad?" He was fuming.

"No, he's my step-father." I mumbled weakly, I felt horrible.

He held my hand all the way to the car and opened my door for me, waiting for me to get in before slamming it shut.

He started the car, and as it roared to life he hit the gas like a crazy person. Before I knew it we were flying down my street, and away from all of my problems, but I felt no relief. I knew once I got to my car he would have no reason to stay with me.

I didn't want to go back home, but where else would I go? I had nobody around here. I thought about that for a bit, calculating how long it would take me to travel back to my home town in Mass. I could use Mark's advice right about now.

I was so lost in thought that I hadn't realized Gauge was looking over at me.

"That guy was such a creep." He looked disgusted. "I mean, what was he going to do to you?"

I just shrugged and stared out my window bitting my lip. The scary thing was that I hadn't even known what he was going to do. He had never gotten that extreme before, what if it just got worse with time?
***

Before I knew it we were back at the cafe. I started to open the door to get out when he grabbed my hand again. I looked down at his hand around mine, it looked huge. I had to tell him I wasn't going to mess stuff up with him and Stephanie.

I cleared my throat to speak, but he started talking before I could.

"I'm not with Stephanie you know." Funny, he had known exactly what I was going to say.

"She seems to think you are." I mumbled not wanting to listen to him if he was going to lie.

They were very clearly a couple. He picked her up from school, and she had seemed to expect him to pay attention to her last night. Maybe he was a player, maybe he tried to date multiple girls. I stared at him daring him to contradict me.

"Yes, she wants to be together." He looked tired now.

"Well I dont want to become a pawn in your little game." I reached for the handle again, and this time he didn't stop me. I got out of the car and waved goodbye to him.

He didn't wave back, but he did roll down his window to say something. "Hey, keep my number ok? If you need me, don't hesitate to call."

I nodded once in agreement and watched as he drove away.

I had sat there for ten minutes, listening to my car run, as I tried to figure out where to go. I made my decision and started driving towards the highway.

I had been driving for an hour and a half when I finally pulled up to Mark's. I stared at his house feeling homesick.We had spent many evenings talking on the front porch, and I suddenly felt very sad. I was wiping at a couple of tears, when the lamp-post lit up just a couple feet from my car.

I looked up as Mark came out of his house and walked towards my car. He looked just the same, I don't know why I had expected so much to change. He was tall and slender with broad shoulders, his hair was cropped really short as always, and he still had his youthful appearance.

I threw myself out of my car and ran to him with all I had. He grunted when he caught me stopping my mad dash with an awkward hug.

"What are you doin here!?" He sounded surprised, and not nearly as excited enough.

I looked up into his big blue eyes confused by his stand-offish attitude. I was trying to read his expression when I saw a figure on the porch behind him.

Alicia.

I didn't care, I needed my friend right now, so I started to tell him about Richard when he stopped me.

"Listen Lacey, I have a girlfriend now. I can't just be there for you at the drop of a dime. You can't just show up like this, and expect me to be able to fix it. I'm sorry, its just that Alicia isn't too keen on sharing me with you."

"So.." I trailed off, nodding and bitting at my lip.

I couldn't believe he was telling me he basically couldn't be my friend, because Alicia felt threatened. I was about to do more than make her feel threatened, I wanted to hurt her so badly. I couldn't believe she was taking my bestfriend away from me.

"Don't be offended Lace, I mean if you had a boyfriend maybe you would understand."

His words were like a verbal hit, and for some reason they brought an image of Gauge to mind. I shook my head to recover.

What pissed me off the most was, if I were a guy it would be so much easier. I would be allowed to be mad that he had completely blew me off for his girlfriend, but because I was a girl I had no right to be angry. Being an angry boy was acceptable, being an angry girl was considered to be just plain bitchy.

So I did the bitchiest thing I could think of, and slapped him right across the face.

He just stood there dumbfounded as I pushed my way past him and back to my car. I had never hit anyone before, and maybe I would have felt bad if he hadn't been such a jerk.