Back to 17, Abandon my EX

7

You don't realise how little attention you pay to your phone when it has no apps, when it only has the ability to call and text, which your phone company is going to charge a small fortune for you to do. I'm starting to wonder why anyone even bothered owning a phone before f*******:, i********: and Snapchat were invented and if I do send a text, I have to fit everything I want to say into 160 characters without the option of emojis. On the plus side, though, the battery life has lasted 3 days without needing to be charged and it was still sitting at half full, which I discovered on Tuesday morning when I dug my phone out of my handbag, where it had been forgotten about since Sunday. I laughed at myself when I saw that it was set to silent mode, a habit that I now live by because I hate the sound of a ringtone.

I saw that I had three text messages, yet had to go searching through the phone to read them, not a simple task when you're used to owning an iPhone but I found them eventually, two from Sam and one from Kate. I decided to read Kate's first, thinking Sam's would most likely be some sort of explanation for his behaviour on Sunday.

Kate: I know it's L8 notice, but Sam offered me a lift this morning, so you don't have to xx

It was only then that I realised that Bridget and I had used to pick Kate up and drive her to school. We'd leave early to grab a takeaway coffee along the way, well, hot chocolate for Bridge because she hated the taste of coffee when she was a teenager. As an adult she can't start her morning without two strong cups. It wasn't that big of a deal, considering she lived not far from his house, but it did seem odd that Sam would offer Kate a lift; they were never really that close. Sam wasn't really close to anyone apart from Lucas.

I sent a quick reply back to Kate, well as quick as I could be without the use of a full keyboard, cursing as I pushed a number too many times and it went past the letter I needed, so I had to hit it another 6 times to get it back to where I wanted it. Now I know why Kate abbreviated 'late'. By the time I hit send, I was frustrated, an emotion that grew stronger once I opened Sam's first message, which I noticed he had sent last night.

Sam: 22 cents for your thoughts

That was it: no explanation for the way he acted on Sunday, no apology for just dumping me back at my car and then speeding off. I could give you my thoughts, Sam, but it would take more than the 160 characters that the Nokia 3310 has allowed me to send in a text. I didn't bother reading his second message, I just deleted it and threw my phone into the front pocket of my school bag, determined not to let Samuel Lions ruin my second first day of the 12th grade.

My father was a carpenter, so he had left for the job site before the sun came up, leaving Bridget and me alone to get ready for school. I had the forethought to pack my lunch the night before, allowing myself more time to get ready that morning. I showered, ate breakfast and got dressed and was ready to go, meanwhile, Bridget was still in her pyjamas, hair not brushed, as she slowly munched on her Cocoa Puffs. I get it, though. Bridget detested going to school. It was hell for her dealing with the bullying. I decided to pack her lunch for the day, to help get her out the door sooner, throwing in an extra rolled oats bar, knowing that she'd be hungry again before recess. By the time she was finally finished getting ready, it was already 745am, and I knew we would be cutting it tight to get coffee and make it to roll call by 830.

I had just finished locking the front door when I saw the shiny black truck pull into our driveway, stereo blasting The Offspring.

"Sorry, we're a little late, Kate insisted we stop for mochas before we got here, said something about you being a bear with a sore head without your caffeine", Sam said, laughing as I looked at him confused. Bridget wasted no time climbing into the back seat behind Kate on the passenger side, who then handed Bridget a cup.

"Why are you here? I have my own car," I ask him, climbing into the seat behind Sam and taking a cup of coffee from Kate. If I'm being honest, though, if coffee wasn't on offer here, I'd be driving in my own car to school. Taking the first sip of my mocha and I feel my body become more alert. Thank you magical wake-up juice, and thank you, Kate, for being my saviour.

"I texted you this morning and told you I'd be picking you up. I texted you last night too and got no reply. Are you not getting my texts?" He asks me, looking in the rearview mirror, his eyes meet mine for a second before I look away. At first, I felt a pang of guilt for ignoring him, but then I realised why I had.

"I got them." I was going to add in that I read one and deleted the other but thought it's best to leave it. I didn't want to make the whole car ride tense. I already knew Bridget was stressed about going back today, and I didn't want to add to it. "Thank you for picking us up, and thank you, Kate, for the mocha."

"Thank Sam, it was his treat. Maybe tomorrow he might let me pick the music." She hints towards Sam, flashing him her sweetest smile and fluttering her eyelashes, but Sam just ignores her pleas and shakes his head.

"Nope, no manufactured, over-hyped boy band who don't even write their own songs will ever be played in my truck", Sam tells Kate firmly, and I can't help but laugh. In the rare times Sam was in my room while he, Lucas and I hung out, he would always make fun of me for my choice in music, stating that real bands write their own music and play instruments.

"Fine, no boy bands, but you know Veronica would love listening to the Spice Girls". Kate tries another angle, dragging me into her argument.

"Fine, I will allow it," Sam says, giving in, and Kate dances enthusiastically in the passenger seat.

"Umm Kate, I have my own car and can drive myself", I point out to her, but she's still too busy dancing to notice.

"I just thought it made more sense if I drove us all. Roni, you were driving over to my street to collect Kate anyway. This way you can sleep a bit longer, plus didn't you tell me that this year is about making changes?" Sam explains, once again looking at me in the rearview mirror as we stop at the traffic lights.

"Fine," I just say, breaking away from his stare, once again and looking out the window.

"Did you do anything fun in your last days of freedom?" Kate asked Bridget and I cheerfully, now that she had won her way against Sam, she was in such an upbeat mood, and it was infectious, bringing even Bridget out of her back-to-school slump.

"I hung out with Amber, watched Cruel Intentions because she just bought it on VHS last week and Veronica played mini-golf with a guy who made a bet that if he won he was going to kiss her, but he bailed on her to get laid" Bridget announced to Kate and I cringed,

She had begged me on Sunday night for details of the time I'd spent alone with Sam, swooning when I told her about how he had won, and he wanted to kiss me, but she became even more annoyed than I was when I told her how Sam had received that phone call and turned cold, leaving me to go get laid. I watch as Sam grips the steering wheel tighter, and he groans.

"Oh my, a new guy already? I thought for sure you'd be back with Lucas before school even started. Wait, it wasn't Puke-as, right?" Kate questions me, using the nickname that she made up for Lucas.

"No, it was just some random guy who I'll never bother going out with again", I tell them confidently.

"Good, remember our pact, no arseholes V" Kate reminds me as Sam parks the car in our school's small parking lot. There's only a few spots allocated for students to park, so he's lucky to have snagged one.

Kate and Bridget start walking towards the school. I go to join them, but I feel Sam tug on my hand gently.

"I'm sorry about Sunday, I didn't mean to hurt you in any way," He says, still holding onto my hand. he looks tormented, like he's battling with himself. "Please give me another chance to prove to you that I'm not a bad guy"

"You sound exactly like Lucas,", I pulled my hand away from him and ran to catch up with Kate and Bridget. "I'll get the bus home," I called back to Sam, without turning around.

I hear the sound of leaves crunching harshly as he chases after me. Clearly, I struck a nerve, comparing him to Lucas. By the time he reaches me, I'm walking in the school gate with Bridget on one side and Kate on the other. He steps in front of us, halting all three of us. We step off the path that leads into the school to let others pass. He looks to Bridget first, his eyes almost pleading with her, and she gives him a nod and pulls Kate towards the school. Kate looks back at Sam and me, piecing the puzzle together. Her eyes are wide as Bridget drags her away, most likely explaining everything.

"You owe me a date, Veronica, you can't just back out of a bet." He's trying to remain confident, but his actions show he's anything but at this point.

"Why not? You did," I challenged him, and he dropped his face shamefully.

"I haven't. I'd still very much like to claim my prize, both prizes actually, and to offer an explanation for what happened because it's not what you're thinking." His voice is small as he once again holds my hand.

"I'm probably going to regret this, but fine, you get one date and if I am satisfied with your explanation of what the hell happened on Sunday, then and only then do you get the privilege of kissing me" I offer, only because I'm curious to what his excuse is for bailing. He looks up at me. His big brown eyes look sad, but his smile is warm.

"Tonight, Roni, I know I said Friday, but I don't want to have to wait that long. You deserve the truth, and I don't want to put this off any longer. Meet me at the fields at 4 pm, I have training this afternoon. I'll drop you home afterwards," He tells me, there's a hint of glee in his tone now.

"Alright," I agreed before walking away from him. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit excited, although this was Sam Lions, a professional womaniser.