AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No.” She laughs. “It’s just that guys never let me drive their car. Troy would kill me if I even touched the steering wheel.”
“I’m not Troy.” I take her hand and place the keys in them, trying to ignore the spark I felt when our hands touched.
From the way Tara’s looking at me, I think she felt it too.
“I’ll just, um, get in the car,” she says, backing away.
“Yeah,” I mutter, my heart still beating fast.
What’s going on with me? I just broke up with my girlfriend. I shouldn’t be feeling things for Tara, or any girl. I’m still in love with Haley. And Tara’s dating Troy.
I’m sure it’s the vodka. I’m not used to drinking the hard stuff. It’s probably messing with me, making me feel things I normally wouldn’t.
6
JAKE
“This is a really nice car,”Tara says as she drives down the street. She smiles and does this nervous laugh that’s kind of adorable. “I haven’t driven in almost a year. I used to share a car with my aunt, but she took it when she moved so I’ve been taking the bus.”
“Your aunt moved?”
“It’s just temporary. Her boss left and they haven’t found a replacement so she’s been filling in for him. In Florida.” She glances at me. “Nice, huh? A year in warm weather?”
“I’ve been living in Dallas so I’m used to warm weather.”
“You left Dallas for here?” she asks, sounding surprised.
“I got a scholarship for school. For free tuition I can handle the cold.”
“Wow.” She smiles at me. “You’re in college. That’s great. And you got a scholarship. That’s amazing.”
“Thanks.”
None of the guys even asked me about school. They should be happy I’m going to college and doing well, but it doesn’t work that way. They want me to be like them, and I get it. It’s hard tosee someone moving forward with their life when you feel stuck and like things will never get better.
“What’s your major?” Tara asks as we wait at a stop light.
“Video game programming with a minor in computer science.”
“That’s a real major?” she asks as the light turns green. “Making video games?”
“Programming them. Designing them. There’s a lot you can do. I’m really into programming so I chose that, along with a computer science degree as a backup in case I can’t get a job making video games.”
“Wow, Jake.” She smiles at me. “You’ve really matured.”
“Since you knew me in fifth grade?” I laugh. “I hope so.”
“I didn’t say that right. What I meant is you’re really mature for someone your age. You know what you want to do in life and you’re actually making it happen.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I say, thinking of the other plans I had for my life. The ones that won’t be happening.
“Did I say something wrong?” Tara asks, sensing my change in mood. She was always good at picking up on stuff like that. Any time someone was sad or upset at school, Tara was right there, comforting them.
“No, I was just thinking about something.”
“What is it?” she asks, slowing down as the traffic gets heavier. “Or do you not want to tell me?”
“My girlfriend broke up with me today.”
