CHAPTER 4: THE WORST FIRST IMPRESSION
1466 Words
By the time Allison finally stepped out of St. Gabriel Medical Center, she felt like her entire body had forgotten what rest was.
Her feet, shoulders and brain hurt.
And somehow, she still had to find a way to get enough money to keep her apartment.
“Great,” she muttered.
Milo was waiting for her in the back seat of her car, his tail immediately starting to wag when he saw her.
“Hey, buddy.”
She opened the door and Milo stuck his head out.
“You missed me?” His tail wagged harder.
“I missed you too.”
She smiled as she scratched his head.
Then her phone buzzed, she looked at the screen and realized it was a notification.
Just another reminder from the university about an upcoming payment.
Allison sighed. “Of course.”
She tossed the phone into her bag.
“One problem at a time.”
She got into the driver's seat and started the engine.
She was tired.
All she wanted was to get home, feed Milo, take a shower and forget that her life was slowly falling apart.
Unfortunately, someone else had apparently decided that wasn't happening.
---
Liam Ashford walked out of St. Gabriel Medical Center with a phone pressed against his ear.
“No.”
Jackson's voice came through the speaker.
“You haven't even heard what I'm going to say.”
“I don't need to.”
“You do.”
“No.”
“Liam…”
“I said no.”
Jackson sighed.
“Fine. We'll talk when you get back.”
Liam ended the call. He stuffed his phone into his pocket and moved towards the parking lot.
His medical assessment had taken longer than expected.
His shoulder had been bothering him for weeks, and Coach Carter had insisted he get it checked before the next game.
Liam wasn't worried, after all he'd played through worse. He reached his car and got inside.
His mind was still on the team, the sponsors, the scandal and Jackson's ridiculous girlfriend idea.
He started the engine and pulled out of the parking space. He checked the road.
“Alright, seems pretty much clear to me” Liam whistled.
He turned, and then…
CRASH!
Liam slammed on the brakes.
“What the… ”
He looked through the windshield.
A small silver car had stopped a few feet away, his car had hit its rear bumper.
Liam closed his eyes.
Of course.
Just what he needed.
He stepped out, at the same time, the driver of the other car stepped out.
And Liam froze.
There she was; Red hair, Hazel eyes, a simple cream sweater paired with jeans and no makeup that he could see.
She looked exhausted and completely furious.
She marched toward him. “You hit my car!”
Liam blinked. “I know.”
“You hit my car!”
“I heard you the 1st time.” Liam replied cockily.
“Because you don't seem to understand!”
Liam looked at the damage. “It doesn't look that bad.”
Allison stared at him. “Are you being for real, right now?”
Liam glanced at her. “Yes.”
She let out a laugh in disbelief. “Wow.”
“What?”
“You hit my car and you have the nerve to stand there and tell me it doesn't look that bad?”
“It doesn't.”
She pointed toward the bumper. “That's because you can't see properly.”
“huh, last I checked, I had only shoulder pains and nothing about eye problem.” Liam rubbed his jaw pretending to be deep in thoughts.
“Clearly not.”
Liam raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
He stared at her.
People usually didn't talk to him like this, be it strangers or fans.
“I said I'm sorry.” Liam fake yawned.
“You don't sound sorry.” Allison replied sharply.
“I am.”
“Then apologize properly.”
Liam's eyebrows lifted. “You want me to kneel?”
Allison's mouth dropped open.
“No, you're insufferable!”
“Then what is it that you want exactly?”
“I want you to stop acting like you're doing me a favor by admitting you hit me.”
Liam looked at her. For some reason, he almost laughed but thought of what her reaction would be and decided against it.
Instead, he sighed. “Fine. I'm sorry.”
She crossed her arms. “Better.”
Liam looked at her car again. “I'll pay for the damage.”
“You think money solves everything?” She said, narrowing her eyes.
“No.” Liam protest.
“Because it doesn't.”
“I didn't say it did.” Liam said bewildered
“You implied it.”
“How?”
“You're acting like because you can afford it, you don't have to care.”
Liam stared at her. “That is a very big assumption.”
“Says the guy who made a very big mess.”
He glanced at the bumper. “You're really upset about that?”
“Yes,I'm upset because I can't have another problem right now!” Allison cried out in frustration.
The words came out before she could stop them.
Liam's expression changed slightly, he hadn't expected that. Allison looked away, immediately regretting saying it.
She didn't know this lunatic, she certainly didn't owe him an explanation.
“Forget it,” she muttered under her breath and turned towards her car.
Liam stopped her. “Wait.”
She turned around. “What?”
“Let me get your insurance information.”
“Why?”
“So I can pay for the repairs.”
She hesitated. Then she reached into her bag.
“Fine.”
She pulled out her phone, Liam did the same.
Their fingers almost touched as they exchanged information.
Allison looked up. “Done.”
Liam nodded. “Good.”
She turned away and then stopped. “Actually…”
Liam looked at her. “What?”
“You're lucky.”
He frowned. “How?”
She pointed at him.
“Because I'm too tired to argue with you.”
Liam smirked. “I'll keep that in mind Merida.”
Allison rolled her eyes. “Unbelievable.”
She walked back toward her car.
Liam watched her, something about her was strange, not strange in a bad way just, different.
She didn't seem impressed by him, didn't recognize him, didn't even seem remotely interested in who he was or his looks, normally girls would be swooning over him. But she different, she didn't give a f**k.
She simply yelled at him.
And somehow, that was more refreshing than it should have been.
Liam shook his head, he had more important things to worry about and got back into his car.
As he drove away, Allison stood beside her damaged bumper with her arms crossed.
“Wait, did he just call me Merida? Unbelievable.” she muttered again upon realization.
Milo poked his head through the window.
“You agree with me, right?” Milo wagged his tail.
“Exactly.” She got into the car.
“I don't like him.” Milo tilted his head.
“One bit.” She started the engine.
“It would be best if I never see him again.” Rolling her eyes
---
A few parking spaces away, Jackson Paul stood beside Liam's SUV.
He had witnessed the entire exchange.
He looked toward the silver car as it disappeared from the parking lot. Then he looked at Liam's car and back at the empty space where Allison had been standing.
A slow smile appeared on his face. He pulled out his phone.
Liam answered on the third ring. “What?”
Jackson smiled. “Where are you?”
“Leaving the hospital.”
“Who was that woman?”
Liam paused. “Which woman?”
“The redhead.”
Liam paused again. “She was driving the car I hit.”
Jackson's smile widened. “And?”
“And nothing.” Liam cut him off immediately.
“You argued with her.” Jackson smirked.
“She was angry.”
“You were arguing back.”
“She started it.” Liam replied in exasperation.
Jackson laughed. “I think I found her.”
Liam frowned. “Found who?”
“The perfect candidate.”
“Jackson…”
But Jackson had already ended the call.
He looked once more toward the road Allison had taken.
The sweet-looking redhead who had just argued with Liam Ashford without the slightest hesitation.
Unknown, with no celebrity connections and clearly not impressed by him or his looks.
Jackson smiled. “Oh, this is so going to work.”
- Writer
