Chapter 3

Nate arrived in front of the house. The party was still going on. A bunch of kids were drunk and running around the yard, acting crazy. Typical, Nate thought. He has never been into the party scene. He liked to keep to himself. He went inside the house.

“My, my if it isn’t Nate Wolf. Did you finally change your mind and accept my invitations?” a girl’s voice asked, making Nate turn around.

It was Ginny Walker, one of the popular kids in his school. She looked like a model who stepped right out of the cover of a magazine.

“I’ve been trying to get you to come to these for years. What changed?” she asked.

“I’m not here for your stupid party. Where’s Amelia?” Nate was already annoyed.

“Who?” Confusion flickered in Ginny’s eyes.

“Amelia Martinez, long brown hair, big brown eyes, always have this big irritating smile on her face?” Nate said.

“Oh, the new chick? Yeah, I know her. She is pretty cool.” Ginny said thoughtfully. “She was just here hanging out with a group of kids. Why what happened?”

“Fuck if I know?” Nate shrugged.

“Try looking by the pool. I saw some kids getting drunk over there. Say Nate…what do you say we go out sometimes? I think we would be very cute and….” Ginny started to say, but Nate turned around.

“Alright then, I’ll go now, bye,” he waved goodbye and headed to the pool.

“WAIT! I wasn’t done talking!” Ginny called after him, but he already ran out the door.

Nate looked around but couldn’t see her anywhere. He dialed her number and called her, then kept walking around.

Bzzzzzzzttt…

He paused when he heard a phone vibrate nearby. It was coming from a big bush. He strode over to the bush and looked behind it. Amelia was crouched down behind it. Her eyes lit up when she saw him.

“What the fuck?” he asked.

“Nate! You came!” Amelia screamed and threw her arms around him and buried her face on his chest.

Nate groaned and pushed her off. “What the fuck is the problem?” he barked.

“I’m hiding,” Amelia whispered.

“Yeah…I can see that. But why?” he asked.

“Well… few of us were playing truth or dare, so my friend Michelle dared me to go kiss this knucklehead named Derek, so I did, now he thinks he is in love with me,” Amelia said everything in one breath and then exhaled.

“What does that have to do with you hiding?” Nate pointed out.

“I’m getting there….so Derek started to get all cozy with me, and then he tried to grope me, so I kind of…kicked him in the groin and ran away.” she sighed.

Good girl, thought Nate. He couldn’t help but admire her a little.

“That’s nice, but why did you call me?” he asked.

“He is like, really mad at me and started to chase me around, so I hid here. I called you because you are like notorious for being the tough guy at our school, so I figured if I leave with you, he won’t bother me later,” she grinned.

Nate glared at her. “Seriously? I’m not your fucking bodyguard.”

“I know I just don’t know a lot of people around here, and you are the only one I know that scares the shit out of people for some reason. I need you to do me this favor, please?” Amelia pleaded.

Nate looked at her intently. She did seem kind of nervous.

“Fine, I’ll help you out just this once,” he said and grabbed her hand.

Nate hurried off to his car, holding Amelia’s hand. They walked past some drunk kids but no Derek.

“See? He is nowhere in sight. You dragged me here for no reason,” Nate said.

“Better to be safe than sorry,” Amelia shrugged.

He drove her home in silence.

“Hey, do you want to come in?” Amelia asked.

“Even if I had any desire to, isn’t your mom going to say something?” Nate pointed out.

“She is working overnight, so she won’t be home until morning,” Amelia shrugged. “So, how about it?”

“No thanks, I don’t want you to get any wrong ideas about us. Next thing I know, you’ll get attached to my hips like a clingy girlfriend I never wanted.” Nate raised his eyebrows.

“Gee…fine, you act like having a girlfriend is the worst thing ever. Wait…you are gay, aren’t you?” she said.

“What? No! I like women. I’ve had a girlfriend before.” he said.

“So, what happened? Did she break your heart or something?” she inquired.

“None of your business,” Nate said. His eyes were dark all of a sudden, his facial expression hardened. Amelia realized she crossed the line, so she didn’t press him any farther. She must’ve guessed it right. Maybe someone did break his heart.

“Sorry…I didn’t mean to pry.” she continued.

“It’s fine. I’ve got to go.” Nate started his car again once Amelia was out. “And don’t call me again for bullshit like this. I am not coming next time.”

“Copy that,” Amelia saluted and ran inside.

Nate sighed. How does he always get involved in other people’s crap no matter how hard he tries to stay away from them?

Nate went back home and was greeted by silence again. His dad was always away for business trips, and when he came back, he was busy with his new girlfriend. Nate had no one else to rely on other than his nanny, whom he loved dearly. She was a 68 years old woman who raised him since he was four years old. She was out of town to visit her sister, so he was all alone in the house. He ate a quick meal then went to sleep.

On Saturday afternoon, he prepared for the race. He had been waiting for this day for months, and it was finally here. He checked his phone to read his texts.

“Don’t think I forgot, I am still coming to watch you race. So where will it be?” Amelia texted.

Nate sighed. This girl won’t leave him alone. He texted her the address and headed to the garage to pick up his car.

Nate went to the track and inhaled the air. He loved the smell of gasoline and burnt tires. It was one of the few places that made him feel like he was at home.

“Nate, what’s up, man? I am glad you made it,” one of the guys at the track called out to him.

“Hey Mike, you know I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Nate said, he was smiling ear to ear.

“Hey man, good luck with that. I hope you win. Oh, and by the way, your girlfriend is here, and she is looking for you,” Mike said.

“I am sorry, who?” Nate’s face twisted in confusion.

“Your girlfriend, Amelia? She is very friendly. Not to mention totally hot! You are a lucky dude,” Mike winked. “There she is!” he said and pointed his finger behind Nate.

Nate looked over and frowned. She better not be telling people we are together, he thought.