â E I G H T â
My parents were arguing again and I had resided to sitting outside, listening to the rain that had began to pour down around lunch time.
The weather in this town was as unpredictable as my moods, and right now I wasn't in the mood to listen to my parents.
The front light of Chase's and James's house turned on, making me look over. James emerged from the front door, as if he felt eyes on him he turned his head to see me.
He tilted his head slightly. Not wanting him to think I was spying on him, I lowered my eyes and looked away.
The gravel crunched against his feet as he walked to the fence line. He didn't seem to care that he was getting wet by the rain. "Arguing again?" He asked, just loudly enough over the rain.
"Yeah," I replied, sighing.
"I'm going for a drive, this rain sounds good on the roof of my car, would you like to join?" He asked, gesturing to his black car.
Headlights washed across me as a car turned into our street, driving past us.
"Where are you going?" I asked, pulling my hoodie tighter.
"I have absolutely know idea, everywhere and nowhere I guess," he replied.
My parents voices got louder. Turning my head to their voices, I made up my mind. "Yeah, okay," I agreed.
I sent a quick text to my father's phone, saying that I was out driving with James. Of course, he wouldn't get that until he looked at his phone and that was probably going to be in a few hours when they finished arguing.
"Well come on then," he said quickly before unlocking his car and jumping in.
Placing my hoodie over my head, I ran down our stairs and down the driveway. Running up the Mareno's driveway, James opened the car door from the inside and I slid in quickly, slamming it closed before laughing.
James grinned as he turned the car on. I pushed back the hoodie and fluffed back my hair, before grabbing the seatbelt and clicking it in.
Turning to look at me, he opened his mouth to say something but he shut it quickly. "What?" I asked, self consciously.
He still didn't say anything, just turned back to face the front and he was right. The sound of the rain sounded so nice on his roof.
James reversed out of the driveway and began driving. "Can I turn on the heater?" I asked, looking at him.
He nodded.
I honestly didn't know which dial was which so I pressed one and music filled up the car. I knew this song. James chuckled and moved his hand to turn on the heater. Closing my eyes, the sound of this music and the rain was heavenly.
"I'm sorry your parents are fighting the way they are," James said, filling up the conversation silence.
I opened my eyes and looked at him, sliding back into my seat. "I don't even know what they're fighting about anymore," I replied, looking down at my hands.
He turned the corner and suddenly he were on the highway. "If it's any consolation, you can always come chill out with Chase and I when they start again," he suggested, with a small smile.
"Probably not a good idea," I replied.
He frowned but didn't say anything.
Turning my head, I watched the rain splatter the passenger window.
"About toda-" he began but I cut him off.
"I'd really rather not talk about it, James" I said, my fingernails digging into my palm.
He chuckled. "I thought you'd forgotten what my name was, been calling me Lucifer for so long," he said, making me smile.
I turned my head to look at it. "You deserve it," I replied smiling.
He glanced at me. "Please do explain," he said gesturing with his hands.
"James, I remember the party but it seems you do not," I replied, pretending to be mad.
He turned serious for a few seconds. "There's is no way I could forget that party," he replied making me blush.
I rolled my eyes quickly. "Was I your first kiss?" He asked.
I shifted, uncomfortable. "I'm not answering that," I said simply.
"So I was" James replied, his smile widening.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Don't look so smug, it wasn't even that great of a kiss, you're a terrible kisser" I teased back.
He laughed, throwing his head back before focusing on the road again. The mood in the car lightened and for some reason, I never wanted this to end.
"I am a great kisser, thank you very much!" He exclaimed.
I laughed. "Yeah yeah, whatever you say," I said, smirking.
He mock gasped and reached his free hand across to tickle my side. I burst out laughing. "Okay! Stop! Stop!" I called out.
He pulled his hand away. "Don't worry, I'll make you pay for that," he replied, shooting me a wink.
Laughter bubbled inside me and I snorted. He looked at me in shock. "Did you just-" he cut off.
I covered my mouth and soon we were both laughing.
If this was heaven, I wanted to stay.
James, music and the rain.
He's always been the jerk that had secretly always looked out for me. But now, he was just the guy who looked out for me.
I couldn't help but point it out. "You've changed over the summer," I said, looking at him.
His blue eyes met mine. "So have you," he replied, his voice soft.
A moment passed between us and he took a hand off the wheel to reach across and stroke a finger down my cheek slowly. I closed my eyes.
His touch disappeared and I opened my eyes again. "I hope my brother is treating you well or I'll have to kill him," he said, his hands tight on the wheel.
Oh right. I was supposed to be dating his brother.
"He's treating me fine," I replied, turning to face the front.
"You don't seem to be very sure about that,"
"Chase is just a difficult puzzle that needs to be solved," I replied, as James changed lanes.
"You're dating him because you need to solve him?" He asked.
I shook my head. "No, I'm dating him because-" I floundered.
I couldn't even think of an excuse. "I knew it, something wasn't right, is he forcing you?" James asked, firmly.
"No! God no!" I exclaimed.
He relaxed. "Than what is it? Christie, you can tell me" James said quickly.
I faltered. "I want to get Caitlyn back for all the shit she's done to me," I admitted.
He glanced at me. "What's that got to do with you dating my brother?" He asked, pulling into a parking lot.
"We aren't actually dating, we're pretending to date because the way we're going to take her down is by being more popular than her, I know it sounds stupid but she needs to be taught some kind of lesson," I replied, giving up the entire plan.
"If you think I'm going to let you take down Caitlyn, you've got another thing coming," James said firmly.
I knew it would turn out like this.
"At least, you two aren't doing it alone, let me help," James added.
My head shot up and I looked at him in shock. "I hate just as much as you for what she does to you, why do you think I dumped her?" He asked, shrugging one shoulder.
"You dumped her?" I asked, still shocked.
"I got sick of her shit, finally, I'd been her popularity fallback since I met her," he replied.
"And you want to be apart of this plan to take her down?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
He nodded. I glanced around the car, noting that we were parked. "Promise to me that you will not say anything about our plans, to no one but Chase and I," I said seriously.
His eyes softened. "I, James Mareno, swear to you, Cristina Asherton, to never speak a word of your plans to anyone that doesn't already know," he said softly.
I held up my pinky. He gave me a look.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Humour me," I said.
Sighing, he lifted his hand and hooked his pinky around mine. "Good," I said, as I dropped my hand.
The rain still battered the roof and I turned to look out the window. "Where are we?" I asked, confused.
"Put your hoody on," he said before opening his car door.
I flipped it on and followed him out of the car. "Oh wow," I gasped as the city lights filled my eyes.
"Pretty isn't it?" He asked, holding up an umbrella.
He stood next to me and I hid under it. I slid off my hoodie. "How did you find this place?" I asked, looking at him.
"I had an emotional breakdown one day and went driving, I found this and have kept it all to myself until now," he said giving me a smile.
"It's beautiful James," I said, looking back at the view.
His eyes were still on me. "Yeah, I know," he said softly.
James slipped an arm around my waist and I rested my head on his shoulder as we stood there under the umbrella, his car lights streaming off into the trees that sat aside from the drop off.
The city shimmered in the rain.
A/N
Literal tears, writing this.
The song, in my opinion just is their song and the song they need.
Plus the rain, and the mood and how they laugh together.
Oh god. I'm hardcore shipping James and Christie. My own characters!
Gah!
Don't forget to vote and comment!
Tell me what you think!
Lots of tears,
Tavana xoxoxox