Do you love me, James?

Ground Rules Part 2

(Sophie)

Stupid Taylor, He actually yelled at me. For who? Turner? That b***h. He must be out of his damned mind. You know what I don't care what he does with that bimbo. It's just his problem when he finds her in bed with another man. I wonder how his prideful little heart would handle that.

"Sophie darling, are you okay?" My mom asked

"Huh? Yeah Mom I'm fine. Why you ask?" I asked

"Because you've been brushing that side of your hair for thirty minutes," my mom said

"Oh," I said dropping the brush

"You seem a bit distracted Darling, is everything okay?" Mom asked

"Yeah Mom, I'm fine," I said

"Are you sure? Did something happen between you and Liberty? You two didn't seem to be getting along yesterday" Mom said

"We're fine we just had a little argument," I said before she got a text

"Oh well, I'm sure you two will work it out. I should be heading to work" she said

"Um, actually would you mind giving me a lift? I could really use one today" I asked

"Isn't Nicholas coming to pick you up today?" She asked

"No, we've decided to not see each other for awhile" I said

"So you broke up?"

"No, we're just not seeing each other for awhile," I insisted

"I'm sorry to hear that but I can't stop today I have to head straight to work now; there's something of the utmost importance that needs my attention as well as a management meeting I have to attend" she said

"Alright," I said faking a smile

"Maybe you can have James drive you. I mean you're going to the same place. But honestly Darling, I still can't fathom why you don't just get a car" she said before she left

Because until now I didn't need one. Taylor huh? I'm not really on the best of terms with him right now either.

I have talked to neither him nor Liberty since yesterday meanwhile Nick has been blowing up my phone ever since I got home.

In fact, he's calling me right now and like all the other times I let it go to voicemail

{Sophie it's me. I know you said you wanted space but I just can't. Let's meet up and talk this out. I know you're there. I've literally called a hundred times can we please just talk}

"Talk this out," I mocked rolling my eyes as I take up my bag and go downstairs.

Mister Taylor was walking angrily to his car before he stopped. He looked towards my house and his scowl brighten into a smile as he waved then got in his car and driving off. I sat on my porch looking over to his house for like fifteen minutes before he finally walked out

"Hey Taylor," I said walking over to him

"Um...Sophie?" he said

"Hey" I said awkwardly

"Do you...need something?"

"I...I need...to ask a favor" I said

"Sure?" he said cautiously

"Can you give me a ride to school?" I blurted out

"No problem," he said before he opened the door allowing me to get in before driving off. We drove down the empty morning streets not even saying anything to each other. Until he suddenly spoke

"I understand why Nick's not driving you but couldn't you have asked Liberty for a ride?"

"We're actually in the middle an argument right now" I admitted

"Wow Sophie, aren't you cutting off ties a little too early. We aren't even to college yet? You're arguing with everyone recently" he chuckled

"It's not like I wanted to fight with her she was just talking nonsense" I said

"Like what?"

"It's too silly to even repeat" I scoffed

"Really what could have been so ridiculous?" he asked

"While we're on the topic of arguments, yesterday," I said changing the topic

"What about it yesterday?" He sighed

"I'm sorry."

"About what?" he asked

"The underwear thing, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that and I might have slightly overreacted" I apologized

"Slightly?" he said sarcastically before I glared at him

"Okay okay apology accepted" He chuckled

"So we cool now?" I asked

"Yeah you've mended one bridge. To be fair I wasn't really all that angry at you anyway. I was just upset about Betty-Ann" he said before I felt something turn in my stomach

"What happened with her?" I asked

"A lot," he said

"Does that mean she won't be hanging around much" I smiled

"I'm not so sure," he said

"So mind telling me the real reason her underwear was in your car," I asked curiously

"We went to the beach and spontaneously decided to play in the water. She didn't want to go back in wet underwear so she took them off." He said

"So you sneak a peek?" I asked fearing an answer

"No" he lied before noticing I was staring disbelievingly at him

"Well maybe I got a glimpse," he said cutely hiding a blush which made me blush just looking at his face

"Honestly, I don't get why you were so upset about that anyway," he said looking back on the road

"I wasn't." I lied before he gave a disbelieving "huh-uh"

"Fine. I was a little upset because I thought you slept with her." I said before he started coughing

"You okay?" I asked

"I'm fine, you said you were worried I slept with Betty-Ann?"

"Yeah"

"Would that really be a bad thing though? I mean we aren't exactly together or anything"

"Um I know it's just.....you know"

"Know what?" He asked

"The two of us never"

"Never what?" he asked

"You're gonna make me say it aren't you," I glared but he just stared at me

"We never had...sex. So the thought of you two doing it, with Betty-Ann Turner of all people, made me feel like you just didn't want to with me. It might have hurt my pride a little" I said looking away from him

"I wanted to. I've always wanted to." He said

"So why did you freak out when I offered that time?" I said turning towards him

"I...I just wanted it to be special" he said looking me in my eyes

"And it would have been if it was with you," I said before we went silent just staring into each other's eyes the distance between us once again closing however before our lips could actually touch a car honked at us causing Taylor to look on the road just in time to turn the wheel

"Crap!" I said as we just barely dodged the car

"You okay?" Taylor asked

"Yeah," I said

"Good. I think I should probably pay attention to the road" he said

"That's a good idea," I said as he continued driving

The rest of the ride was as it started in awkward silence. Once we arrived he got out of the car gentlemanly opened the door for me

"Thanks," I said stepping out of the car

"No problem," he said with a smile which brought one to my face too

"Um I have to get to class," I said

"Yeah I should too," he said

"Well see ya," we said before we both stepped off in the same direction remembering we had the same class

"I guess I'll be walking you to class," he said before I smiled and we walked.

(James)

We had just entered the class and were semi-greeted by Mrs. Jones

"Glad you two could grace us with your presence," she said before the first bell rang

"Sorry. We almost met in a car accident"

"No excuses Mister Taylor just take a seat. You too Miss Vanderbilt"

"Yes Mrs. Jones," we both said going to our table

"Okay, Class I hope you all enjoyed your little break yesterday because you won't be getting another one. Today, you are expected to finish today's as well as yesterday's workload. This means you have homework which is due tomorrow and the day after that. Which I'm sure you all know means one today and the other tomorrow" she said before everyone in the class let out a collective groan.

"You've got to be kidding."

"Then what was the work we did yesterday?" some random student asked

"You think this is a joke? Okay I'll tell another one, you will also be getting a test during the last fifteen minutes of class. A hundred-question multiple choice paper. Anyone that gets less than seventy right will have detention for a whole month" she said.

Everyone once again groaned before she started the class.

When the class was over the other students seemed like they were about to pull out their hair or they had just returned from war. Unlike them I was confident I got all of them and Sophie, from what I had seen, seemed to have done fine along with one other girl. Everyone else, though looked like they had taken the hardest test known to man

"Hey, Sophie how do you feel you did?" I asked

"Meh probably got eighty. How about you?" She asked

"Pretty good I guess"

"Is that Taylor for I got all answers right?" She added only getting a smile as a reply before Liberty came up to me

"James can I talk with you? In private"

"Um...sure." I said looking at Sophie before Liberty walked away and I followed. Liberty hadn't even spared Sophie a passing glance the entire conversation

"So what's up?" I asked

"What happened last night with you and Betty-Ann?" She asked