Reasons For My Lies

Chapter 6

Nate's POV:

"Wait" I say frantically getting up from the edge of the river and trying to catch up with her. It wasn't like me to run after women, but I needed to know more. "Where are you going?" I question, anger stirring inside as she walks faster towards the light. "I have somewhere to be", she replies annoyed. I speed up and finally catch up to her, "STOP!" I yell letting the anger take over. I grab her arm and swing her around to face me. "You knew I saw you in the carpark...You knew I would follow you...and you led me here, didn't you?" I interrogate her, searching her eyes for answers. She pulls her arm out from my tight grip and steps in closer, leaving us only inches away. "Yes" she replies calmly. "yes" I snap "that's all?" I question further. She raises her hand to my cheek, calming me instantly and says softly "I really do need to go". She turns to leave but stops after taking a step forward. "I'm sorry Nate, maybe some other time". 

I watch as she drives off in the distance, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I start replaying our conversation in my head and more unanswered questions come to mind. *RIIIING* I huff from the sudden distraction of my phone ringing. "WHAT!" I answer, not bothering to check who it was. "Yo Nate, it's Jerem", he replied. Normally now Jeremiah and I would have skipped school and be training for our next fight. He wasn't exactly the best influence, though he was a loyal and trusted friend. "Sorry bro, you caught me off guard" I respond, as I get into my car and start the ignition. "All good...I was just speaking to Rob, can you make it Sunday?" Jeremiah says, slightly out of breath. He must have just finished training. "I'll try, but you know they'll be watching me" I respond with concern. "We will figure something out by the end of the week" and with that, Jeremiah hung up the phone, leaving me to drive home in silence. 

As I return home, I see my father working on cars in the shed. He was this towns best mechanic. I ignore his presence and head straight for my room, as this morning was more than enough words spoken between us. I shower, change into joggers and flop onto my bed, when Henry walks into my room. "someone's here to see you son" he announces. From behind Henry, walks in Charlie. I shoot upright, slightly annoyed my father let him in without my permission. "Tanner, you're back man" he says, "and your ripped" he laughs, as he tenses his biceps. Charlie, my best friend from junior high and my right hand man on the field. I hadn't spoken to him since I left and assumed he had moved, seeing as I did not see him around school today. "Charlie", I began to say, grasping our hands together and pulling him into a quick hug. 

"I didn't see you round school today" I continue, "how are you?". Charlie laughs nervously, "after you left, I quit the team" I raise my eyebrow at him and lean back on the bed. "After the incident, I decided to put my nose into the books and focus on getting out of this shithole". I was impressed and slightly confused. "No?" I reply, questioning his words. "yeah man, I've become one of them" he answers. He always made fun of the people that studied hard, thought it was a waste of time. I laugh, "what? so, your constantly in the library with the other smartarses". He turns back to face me, from looking out the window above my bed "yep" he says proudly". I pause, waiting for his optimistic comment to follow, "and I'm the hottest one!". I laugh, he always had a bright side, kind of attitude. "You were the talk of the school...even us smartarses heard about your arrival", I close my eyes and reply "so I've heard". The mention of the smartarses had me reminded of Ley. Her short brown hair and floral scent. I inhale as if I could smell her around me, reminding myself of her soft lips and smooth skin, from the night we once spent together in secret. I open my eyes and look up at Charlie, continuing our catch up and reminiscing about the days of our popularity.

*DING* Charlie's phone goes off, interrupting our current conversation. He checks the message and gets up from the bean bag, "Uh..I have to go" he says, smiling from ear to ear. I haven't seen him this happy since..."could it be" I wonder to myself. "Chloe?" I ask inquisitively. Charlie's face drops and snaps to my direction. He looked at me with fury in his eyes. I didn't understand and was confused with his sudden response. "I...um...did I say", *DING*, his phone cutting me off. Charlie reply's, loosing the tension in his shoulders and letting out a long breath. He turns back to me and with his voice breaking, says "Ill see you tomorrow at school...I'm glad your back". He walks out of my room, closing the door behind him.

I walk downstairs for a ciggy, desperately needing a break from my thoughts. I lay down on the bonnet of my car, which was now parked to the side of the house, and light up. "You know smoking stunts your growth" I look over to a black silhouette and familiar voice. Hayley climbs onto the bonnet, laying next to me with her hand out. "did you want one...uh?" I say, realizing that I didn't actually know her name. She giggled as she lent over me, reaching for the packet beside me. I could feel her body heat awaking all of my senses as she lit up, still leaning over me. "I don't normally smoke, but todays been a hard day", she replies lying back down. I turn to face her. She was still wearing her school uniform. "Have you only just gotten home?" I ask. Her chest raises as she inhales the smoke, then breathes it out slowly, slightly arching her back, almost as if she wanted me to be aroused. She turns to face me and smiles, "I see Charlie came to visit" she says, changing the subject. I nod. She sits up and draws her last drag. "Just so you know" she says, putting out her cigarette, "Chloe...", I shoot up at from the mention of her name. "She died in the fire".