Chapter 20

Let the battle of the Ames begin!

I start the car all by myself. Like a big girl. But I kind of wish he would've helped.

"What is this?" he says, making a face at the radio.

"Jason Derulo," I sing as Jason sings it. Sonic laughs and promptly turns off the music.

"Not a fan?"

"Ugh, no."

I raise an eyebrow, but I'm sure it doesn't look as awesome as when he does it, and he stumbles over his words.

"I mean, you have a good voice. I-I just meant mainstream totally sucks. N-not to bash on your taste in music, but… what is so funny?"

My hand claps over my mouth, stifling all my giggles. "I'm sorry," I say, bringing my hand down. "It's like you're trying to dig yourself out of a hole, when I didn't feel offended in the first place."

He pokes my side, tickling me. "Get the car to the street, silly girl."

I love it when he calls me that. Mental note: be dorky. "Will you help me?"

"I thought you did pretty well without it last time."

I know I'm pushing my luck, but I don't care. So far I haven't done anything wrong. I'm going to take advantage of it. Grabbing his hand with my left, I force it on top of my right hand on the shifter.

"Please?" I say as I tuck his fingers in between mine. His face flushes and I see his Adam's apple move up and down as he gulps. I can't help the strings tugging my lips, and he smirks at my goofy grin.

"All right," he says in defeat. "But you will have to learn to do it all by yourself."

I roll my eyes, and he moves my hand into reverse.

Instead of being nervous, Sonic actually has a calming effect on me. I don't stall the car once. Score!

"Wow, have you been practicing?" he asks after I get going on a hill without plowing into the person behind me.

I roll my eyes and pretend like his compliment totally didn't just make my freaking day. "Hey, do you mind if we stop somewhere?"

"Whatever you want. You're driving."

Stopping the air that wants to fill my cheeks, I pull into the Walgreens parking lot and shut the car off.

His eyebrow shoots up, but he doesn't say anything. Just fumbles around with his seatbelt before bolting around the car to open my door for me.

Cute.

Now let's not screw this up.

I so want to hold his hand, so I keep it nonchalantly at my side waiting for him to "accidentally" bump into me.

No such luck.

"What are we here for?" he asks, shrugging his hands into his pockets, his Secret Rings keychain lighting up as he hits it.

I tug him by the overshirt to the oral hygiene section. Running my finger through all the different selections, I finally land on a toothbrush and wave it by my face. "Is red still your favorite color?"

He chuckles. "You're buying me a toothbrush?"

"I thought you needed a new one. You know, 'cause I got yours all nasty."

That darn sexy smile creeps on his lips. The one I don't ever deserve and yet he still gives me. "I'm surprised you even remembered using it. I thought you were too wasted to remember anything from last night."

I shove the toothbrush against his chest and nearly pass out because I touched him.

"Well, going into the wrong house and walking in on you in the shower has been burned into my brain." Holy crap! Did I really just say that? I know I'm flaming red now. How do I take it back without making it worse?

He raises his eyebrows, his eyes totally laughing at me. I wish my legs didn't feel like Jell-O, because I kind of want to get out of here.

So much for trying to be nice. This was such a bad idea. Mentally smacking myself in the forehead.

"I guess that would traumatize you." Now his face has reddened.

"I didn't see anything," I say quickly. Could this conversation get any more uncomfortable? "I was just saying because, you know, I was drunk and you were—"

"Naked." He's laughing now.

Yes. The conversation could get more uncomfortable.

"How would you feel if you walked in on me naked?" What is wrong with my mouth today?

"Hmm…" He rubs his chin and attempts pervert eyes. It looks so funny I can't help but burst out laughing.

"Shut up!" I smack his shoulder and he steps back. As if I could really rock him off his feet with that weak hit.

"Well, thanks," he says, handing the toothbrush back, "and yeah, red is still my favorite color."

"Good." I walk past him, covering my heated face. I can't believe I talked about his naked ass. Totally not what I had in mind for this… whatever this is.

"So, where did you want to eat?" I ask when we get back in the car and reverse out of the parking lot.

"You're driving."

Is that going to be his cop-out for making any decisions today?

"Well, do you want to go in somewhere? Or just grab something to eat in the car?"

"Up to you."

Argh. I feel like this is one of those scenes with the bomb wires. And if I cut the wrong one, that'll be it for my chances with dream nerdboy.

I know I should prove to him I'm okay with us being seen together—which I'm still not one-hundred percent sure I am okay with, and that sucks—but I really want to be alone with him. Great. Just lovely! Here I go with the battle of the Ames.

"You okay?" he asks.

I nod. "Just hungry. Trying to decide what I want."

"Be honest," he says, putting his hand on mine and shifting into third.

Forcing back laughter at my transparency, I blow out my cheeks as I consider granting his request.

"Ames," he prods.

"I don't want to tell you." That's honest.

"Why not?" He shifts as we come to a stoplight, fully smiling now.

"Because you might get mad."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, his smile disappears. "You don't want to be seen with me."

"No, no!" I blurt. Gosh, I don't want him to think that even if it's a tiny bit true. And I hate myself for admitting to that, but my freaky dream keeps coming back and haunting me. "That's not what I meant. I don't mind going someplace public like I promised, but it's just…" There goes my voice evaporating like it always does when I get scared.

"The light's green."

I let off the clutch, jerking a little, but not stalling. "Sorry."

"What were you saying?"

The engine revs really loud and he moves his hand from mine to my leg and pushes it down on the clutch. Then he quickly shifts with his other hand. The car quiets as the rpm's drop.

"Wow, you're good." I smile trying not to drool over how hot that was.

"Pay attention, Ames." He chuckles and I get my courage back.

"I want to be alone with you."

He's still leaning toward me, his eyes flick up to my face, and I totally want to meet his gaze, but I don't want to crash the car.

"Why?"

"Because."

A small puff of air hits my neck as he huffs. "Because why?"

"I'm not trying to avoid people. It's just, I-I…" I let out a defeated sigh when I can't explain without telling him exactly what I want, which is a chance for Freak Amy to be herself without worrying over everything else. He totally helps me do that, when we're…

"You just want to spend some time alone?"

Exactly. "Yes."

He pauses and my face gets hot.

"Uh, yeah. That sounds okay."

My stomach does a little ribbon dance as he agrees. "Okay, then you choose the food."

His wide smile distracts my gaze for a second, and I have to snap it back to the road.

"Panda."

x.X.x

Oii~ Sorry that I haven't posted in a LONG time bt Prom(which is not just for cool kids!) is this Saturday and I've been busy with that and school so here's a little of whats to come and I hope you enjoyed this.

Till next time!