A Second Chance (6 page)

“Do you need anything?” He asks me.

“No, I’ll be fine.”

Tate brushes his lips against mine and heads out of my balcony doors.

I drag myself out of bed and took a hot shower. Resting my head on the wall, letting the water hit my back. I felt like more tears need to come out, but none would come. I turned off the shower and throw my hair up wrapped in one towel, and wrapping another around my body. I grab a black shirt and sweat pants from my dresser and pull them on.

I walk down stairs, hoping that my parents were not at home and that I could have some more time to myself. But as I turn the corner to the kitchen, everyone is sitting at the bar. I can tell, by the look on my brothers face’s that my parents told them. They didn’t seem too upset, I guess more shocked. I walk over to my mom and dad giving them both a hug.

My mom leans into me and hugs me tighter, she doesn’t have to say a word for me to know that she was worried about me yesterday and still is. I did the one thing that they asked me not to do. But they knew telling me something like that would make me shut down.

My dad clears his throat. “Rayleigh, I have to go make the funeral arrangements. Would you like to go with me and help?’ With my dad asking me that, I knew that is what Cindy would have wanted, after all the help she has giving me. I plan to make her funeral special.

“Yeah I will.”

“Okay, we leave tonight. Your mom has already called your school and explained to them what is going on, so they expect you to be out for a couple of weeks.”

I nod my head, “Okay. Well I guess I will start getting my things together. Do you want me to help John and Jacob gather theirs?”

“Your mom already did that.”

I was hoping to help them to keep my mind busy, the only thing I can do now is punch on my bag.

I go up to my room and put my bag together. I pack for a couple of weeks, even though we shouldn’t be gone no more than a week. After I pack, I change my shirt to a sport bra and head to the garage.

I don’t know how long I was in the garage for, I remember coming too when I felt Tate’s hand on my shoulder and this time I didn’t try to hit him.

“Are you okay?” Tate asks me, looking straight into my eyes like he can read my soul.

“I will be. We leave tonight. I don’t know how long we will be gone. But if you don’t mind, will you feed Tiny for me?”

“Yes, I told Lily about your Aunt. She said to call her when you can.”

I nod my head.

Tate stayed with me until we had to leave. I told him I would call him as soon as I get to a phone considering that my parents won’t let me have a cell phone right now either.  But then again I never wanted one.

Tate and I kiss and hug each other good-bye. As my dad pulls off I stare out my window like a love sick puppy.

I arrived home late last night, after being gone for a week to deal with Aunt Cindy’s funeral and her house. So I didn’t get to see Tate. We called each other each night while I was gone. Tate isn’t around tomorrow, because he has a game, but I am planning on hanging out with Lily.

I’m up and dressed and lounging in my living room, when I hear Lily pull up. I get to the door before she does and run to give her a big hug once she comes into view.

“Hey, how has everything been?” I ask her.

“Well, it’s been good for me. But you should know that Tate has been hanging out with Courtney at school every day.” I freeze when she says that.

“What?”

“Um, yeah. And she saying that they are still together, Tate’s just with you to try something different.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I say. “That’s a lie, I heard him break up with her.”

“I don’t know, but Tate didn’t deny any of the rumors.”

“I thought you weren’t one for the rumor mill.” I fold my arms in front of me and raise my eye brow at her.

“I’m not, but he didn’t deny nor confirm them, maybe you need to talk to him.”

“Yeah, I think I need to. Be right back.”

I go and grab the house phone from my room. I dial Tate’s number right away. It goes to voicemail. “So, I just heard you’ve been hanging out with Courtney the whole time I’ve been gone? After what I just went through, and I thought you would have more respect for me then not too hang out with her while I was away. Thanks a lot! We’re done!” I hang up my phone and stomp back down the stairs.

“Alright, no more talk of Tate; let’s watch a movie or something.”

I go over to the TV stand and grab Easy A. “Have you seen this?” I ask Lily.

“No, but I’ve been wanting to.”

“Oh, you’ll love it, its epic.”

We settle in and watch the movie. When the movie is over, there is a knock on my door. “Ray, open up!” It’s Tate. I look at Lily. She gets up and goes to the door. “Let me in Lily, or I’ll knock you over to get in.”

I don’t hear what Lily says but suddenly Tate is in the room, in front of me. “We’re not over!” He says.

My eye brows shoot up, “Yeah, pretty sure I just called you and told you we were. Now can you go, so Lily and I can finish hanging out.” I tell him casually, as if nothing has happened.

“Nope. I’m staying right here, we’re gonna talk. Yes, I’ve been hanging out with Courtney, we’re friends. That’s it. “

“Ok, cool, so I’m gonna call up Ben and see if he wants to hang out this week. Sound good?” I say with a smile.

The muscle in his jaw ticks. “No, Ben wants you; you aren’t hanging out with him.”

“Funny, Courtney has warned me away from you since day one, pretty sure she wants you too. So how would you feel if I said you can’t hang out with her?”

“You can’t tell me who I can and can’t hang out with!”

“Really, because it sounds like that you’re doing the same thing to me. Tate, you have known from day one that Courtney doesn’t like me. I did nothing to her, and she acts like a queen bitch to me each time she sees me.”

Tate doesn’t say anything for a moment. Lily on the other hand, is standing in the door way surprised at both of us.

“Will you to listen two yourselves! Ben wants you, Courtney wants Tate. Rayleigh you’re the hot new girl in town, so Ben will try to go after you any chance he gets. Courtney is going to try to rip your relationship apart, and look, she basically already has! Both of you stop being so fucking immature and get over it!!” Lily says to both of us, then stomps out of the house slamming the front door behind her.

“Thanks, not only have you pissed me off and made me break up with you, but you also made my best friend mad at me! Thanks for that, by the way!” I say as I slump back down to the couch.

“Okay, first of all, that was NOT my fault. Second, WE are NOT over. Third, she is right.” Tate says the last statement quietly.

“What is happening?”

“Ray, we are a couple, we are going to fight. It’s just up to us to decide what is worth fighting about.”

“I just don’t like her.”

“I didn’t say you have to like her, she isn’t easy to like. But please, for both of our sakes just be nice.”

I make an ugly face at him, “Do I have to!?”

“For me?”

“Whatever, what about those rumors, Lily said you neither confirmed nor denied them.”

Tate laughs. “I never confirmed nor denied them because; the only person that needs to know is you. You heard us that night. It’s over between Courtney and me. She can say whatever she wants, but in the end, you and I both know none of it is true.”

He sure does know what to say, when a girl is mad at him. I look up and smile at Tate. I should have known better.

I wake up to my alarm clock screeching. I reach over and smack it to shut it off. Ugh, Monday. Tate and I hung out all day yesterday, and I spent almost all evening talking to Lily on the phone. Before we got to talking, she asked me if Tate and I sorted our shit. Once I said yes, she was cool, and we started talking about assignments due this week. I roll out of bed and walk to the bathroom.  I check the mirror after my shower and notice a big flippin’ hickey on my neck. Tate! Re-thinking my outfit for the day, because now I need to find something to hide this stupid mark.

I glance at the clock and quickly grab my bag, and make my way outside. Tate is already by his car, waiting for me. “Morning babe.” He says as I get close, and wraps me in a hug.

I smile at him. “Morning.” He gives me a quick kiss and tells me to hop in the car. On the way to school, I decided to tell him I would be getting some payback for the mark he left me. He looked surprised when he saw the giant hickey on my neck.

“I sucked a little babe, but I didn’t suck that hard.”

I shrug my shoulders.

Tate takes a peek at me then looks back at the road, “What?”

“I’ve never done it before.” I admit to him shyly.

We arrive at the school a few minutes later, and Tate parks by Lily. Who is standing by her car, waiting for me.  As Tate and I get out of the car, I don’t notice the look on Lily’s face until Courtney comes bouncing up and wraps her arms around Tate. Tate gives her a pat on the back, and moves away from her. He comes over to me and wraps his arms around my waist. I notice the glare Courtney is giving me. But I just don’t care.

“Tate, honey, are we still hanging out after school?” Courtney asks in her sweetest voice, as my body went still.

Tate notices this, and gives me a reassuring squeeze. “Yeah, we’ll do your thing and then I’ll drop you off, I’m taking my girl out tonight.” He says it loud enough that anyone nearby can hear him. Courtney’s face goes blank. “Oh, and Ben said he was helping too. You’ll both meet here after school.”

Tate and I start walking to the school with Lily following behind. I fall insteps with Lily and let Tate walk ahead of us. We haven’t talked much in person since the other night.

“Do you have any idea what that is about?” I ask Lily, while peaking at Tate making sure he didn’t hear me.

“I already told you, there are some things that need to be said by them. It’s not fair to them if rumors start flying.”

I glare at her, considering what happened yesterday. Does she not remember?

We walk into the school while Tate follows me to my locker and Lily heads to class. I open my locker, take out the books I need then slamming my locker in Tate’s face.

“Okay, Tiger. What’s wrong?” He asks.

“What is going on with you and Courtney?” I ask him bluntly.

“Nothing.” He states.

Nothing?? Did he just say nothing? Right, nothing is something.

“I’m going to class, Tate. Why don’t you eat lunch with Courtney and let Courtney be the one to cuddle with you tonight!” I yell at him then stomp off to class, with Tate behind me calling after me.

I get into class and take my seat.

“Rayleigh? Are you okay?” I hear someone ask me.

I look up. “Oh, hey Ben. Yeah I’m fine.” I tell him, trying to put a smile on. I look at the door and see Tate standing there with a mad look on his face.

I debated for a minute to ask Ben what is going on with Tate and Courtney. He must know, he is going with them tonight.

“Hey Ben, do you know what is going on with Tate and Courtney?” I sweet talk him.

“Uh. No. He just asked me to go with him to take care of something for Courtney.”

“Ben, you wouldn’t lie to me right?” I bat my eyelashes at him and pout my baby blue eyes at him.

I know that it’s wrong for me to do it, but I want answers, damn it!

Ben adjusts his self in his seat. “Rayleigh, really if I knew what was going on; I would tell you in a heartbeat.” He squeaks at the end.

I heard someone behind gasp. I turn around and see Lily behind me. I totally forgot she got transferred into this class after she proved that regular history was just too easy for her. 

I feel my face go hot. My only friend just witnessed me try to get information out of my boyfriend’s best friend by flirting with him.

OH. Hell. This is going to be a long day.

Lunch period rolls around, and I stop at my locker to put my books away. Lily and I are going to her parents’ restaurant for lunch today. I slam my locker shut, and head out to Lily’s car.  She’s already there. I hop in, and she starts it up, before we can take off, Tate is banging on my window. I roll it down, just enough so we don’t have to yell through it.  “Ray, where are you going?”

“Out for lunch. I’m sure Courtney is waiting for you, so you should probably go.” I roll the window back up.  “We can go now Lily.”  She rolls her eyes and peels out of the parking lot.  I look back, and see Tate still standing where we left him, watching us drive away. He doesn’t want to tell me what’s up, wants to lie to me, and wants to be friends with Courtney; well he can just go jump off a cliff!

We pull up at the homely restaurant, I love coming to this place. The food is amazing and Lily’s parents are nuts! Lily hasn’t even turned the car off yet and I am starving.

“What are you doing?” I ask her.

“I want to know what just happened back there with Tate and I want to know what you were trying to pull with Ben.” Lily says looking out the window. I’ve learned that when Lily won’t look at you while talking that means she is pissed!

“I told Tate this morning after you went to class, that he can sit with Courtney at lunch and have her snuggle with him tonight, since he doesn’t want to tell me what is going on. It’s not fair I’m his girlfriend!” I know I sound like I’m whining, but it’s true.

“And you think it’s right that you sat right there in front of me, and flirted with Ben to get information, which he doesn’t even have.’’

“I know that was horrible of me, but you won’t even tell me what is going on, so I should be mad at you also.”

“Rayleigh, I won’t tell you because I don’t even know the facts, I don’t even know what I know is the truth! And you know I’m not the one to start rumors!”

“I know, I’m sorry. I know you like Ben and I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No you shouldn’t have. But you know once Tate gets wind that you flirted with Ben he is going to be pissed!”

“Yeah I know. How about no more boy talk and we actually enjoy lunch.” I smile at her.

Lily agrees as we get out of her car and walk into the restaurant. We enjoyed our lunch as we laughed and joked with Lily’s family, before we had to head back to school and me having no idea how I will deal with the situation with Tate.