Collision Read online

  Collision

  Kristen Granata

  Copyright © 2018 by Kristen Granata

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One: Cool as a Cucumber

  Chapter Two: Day One

  Chapter Three: Lunch Date

  Chapter Four: Prince Charming

  Chapter Five: Big Nose Kates

  Chapter Six: New Apartment

  Chapter Seven: Dinner with the Brooks

  Chapter Eight: Surprise

  Chapter Nine: Safe in My Castle

  Chapter Ten: Halloween

  Chapter Eleven: The Box

  Chapter Twelve: Not So Saved by the Bell

  Chapter Thirteen: The Job

  Chapter Fourteen: Peace Pie

  Chapter Fifteen: Humiliation with a Side of Awkwardness

  Chapter Sixteen: When the Time is Right

  Chapter Seventeen: Christmas

  Chapter Eighteen: The Sad Part

  Chapter Nineteen: My Turn

  Chapter Twenty: The Letter

  Chapter Twenty-one: No Strings Attached

  Chapter Twenty-two: Full of Surprises

  Chapter Twenty-three: The Knock

  Thank You to the Readers

  To Stacy, for showing me the kind of love

  I wanted for myself, which in turn showed me the kind of love

  I needed to create for my characters.

  Chapter One: Cool as a Cucumber

  I had barely walked through the door and I could already hear them whispering. I don’t know why I was surprised; I knew they would be. It was so cliché: troubled girl walks through crowded cafeteria while everyone stops what they are doing to stare, leaning in and covering their mouths to mutter something to their friends. Part of me wondered what they were saying; the other part of me knew I was better off not knowing. Instantly, I had flashbacks to walking through the halls in sixth grade, right after everyone heard the news that my mother had up and left. That I could handle – this was worse. Focusing straight ahead, I tried to act natural, as if today was just like any other day; as if the past three weeks were just one awful nightmare that I would soon wake up from.

  “Just breathe. Cool as a cucumber, remember?” The arm of my best friend linked with mine. Her words of encouragement only confirmed that I did not look natural at all.

  “I do not feel very cucumber-like. This was a bad idea.”

  “Here. Sit.” Shelly stopped next to an empty table and pulled out a chair for me. “What do you want – pizza or Chinese?”

  “You are not going to leave me here alone with these vultures while you bring me a tray of food, like I’m some helpless cripple. I’m coming with you.”

  “How are you going to carry a tray of food with that?” She pointed to the sling cradling my left arm.

  “Can we not, with the pointing?!”

  “Yes, because it was my pointing that called attention to the big contraption wrapped around your arm.”

  I sighed as we made our way to the pizza counter. “Remind me why I let you talk me into coming here for lunch?”

  “Because you needed to get out of the house... and because you were beginning to smell a bit ripe.”

  “The doctor told me I had to wait a few days before showering!”

  “Two days. The doctor told you to wait two days. Not five.”

  I rolled my eyes and opened the refrigerator while Shelly ordered our slices. I tried to balance both of our soda bottles in one hand. It was difficult doing everything with one arm. It was even more difficult for me to ask for help.

  “I’m serious,” she continued, tucking her red hair behind her ear. “I don’t think Febreeze is going to save that poor recliner you’ve been laid up in. We probably have to burn it.”

  I felt my cheeks push up as I tried to conceal a smile.

  “There it is! There’s the smile I was waiting for.” She poked her finger into the dimple in my left cheek.

  As I attempted to swat her hand away from my face, one of the soda bottles sprung loose from my grip and rolled across the floor. The cashier shot us a disapproving look. I quickly followed after the runaway bottle, and knelt down to catch it before it went any further. When I reached my hand out, a large-sized white sneaker stopped the bottle in its tracks. My eyes traveled upward – perfectly-fitting jeans, a white t-shirt that was tight in all the right places, broad shoulders – until they were looking into a pair of familiar eyes staring back at me. I quickly tried to stand when I saw who it was, but he bent down to help me up, and both of our heads knocked together. We recoiled, rubbing our heads in unison.

  “You should be more careful crawling around on the floor with that arm,” he said with a smirk.

  “You should be more careful with that head.”

  “Are you okay?”

  Ignoring his outstretched hand, I stood and brushed my pants off. “I’m good. I’ve been through worse.”

  His eyes tensed. “I know.”

  I immediately regretted my choice of words. I felt the tightening in my chest and averted my attention to the soda bottle still under his shoe. “Well, thanks for stopping that.”

  “No problem,” he said as he picked it up. “Just don’t try to open it any time soon, unless you’re planning on wearing it.”

  “Don’t worry. That one’s hers.” I pointed my thumb in Shelly’s direction.

  His smirk turned into a grin, revealing his set of impeccably straight teeth. “Here. You can carry things better like this.” He stepped closer to me, and wedged the soda bottle into the crook of my elbow. The sling cradled it along with my arm and kept it from falling.

  “Thanks.” I quickly backed up and turned to make my way back to Shelly. I had only walked a few steps away when I heard his voice call from behind me.

  “Merritt?”

  I turned back around. His eyes were sincere and warm, a look I was not used to seeing on him. Then again, I had never actually looked directly into them.

  “I’m sorry about your dad. I am glad you’re okay, though.”

  I forced my best polite smile, one that I had rehearsed. “Thanks, Chase.”

  Shelly’s eyes were wide with curiosity when I reached her back at the table. “What was that all about?"

  I shrugged. “Nothing. He picked up the soda I dropped.”

  “Talking to Chase Brooks is never nothing. What did he say to you?”

  I folded my pizza slice in half, and shoved a giant bite into my mouth. I smiled innocently as I chewed.

  She shot me an annoyed look. “You will finish that pizza, and you will tell me what he said.”

  Chase Brooks had been the topic of conversation in town since his return several weeks ago. I did not mind, as it took the attention off of my tragic headlines. Shelly and I had known Chase since kindergarten. He grew up to be the quintessential popular kid who was good at everything. In high school, he started his own band with aspirations to become famous. After graduation, he left for California, and everyone thought he would make it big in the music industry. Two years later, he was back here in humdrum Staten Island, and working at his father’s auto body shop. Nobody knew what happened in California, but it was clear that he did not end up rich
and famous.

  I took another bite of my pizza while I scanned the cafeteria. Chase was sitting at a table surrounded by his usual group of friends. From his messy-on-purpose blonde hair, to his thousand watt smile, he effortlessly looked the part of rock star heartthrob. Girls had always treated him as such, and he had always eaten it up. I knew early on that I wanted nothing to do with a guy like that – no matter how washboard his abs might be.

  “He seems different.” Shelly was looking in the same direction as I was.

  “You haven’t seen him since high school. Of course he looks different.” I stuck my soda bottle in between my knees and tried to twist the cap off.

  “Not physically. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

  “It’s his eyes. They look sad.”

  “I wonder what happened to him.” She shook her head. “Yet, the same girls are still trying to get with him.”

  “I just don’t understand how girls like that are considered attractive.”

  “Their tits are pushed up into their throats. That’s how.”

  “They leave nothing to the imagination. They’re cows, giving all the metaphorical milk away for free. Are they that desperate for sex? There’s so much more to life than two bodies converging for a physical release.”

  “I think a physical release with Chase is all those girls are looking for.”

  “Well then, they shouldn’t act so surprised when he doesn’t give them anything more after that.” I grunted, still struggling with the bottle cap.

  “I don’t know why you insist on doing everything the hard way.”

  “I’ve almost got it.”

  “Tell me what he said to you before.”

  “I thanked him for picking up my soda. He said he was sorry to hear about what happened. We walked away. I told you – nothing major.”

  A smile began to spread across Shelly’s face.

  I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start. That means nothing.”

  “That’s not why I’m smiling,” she said in a singsong voice.

  Chase was standing beside my chair. He reached down and took the soda bottle out from between my knees. In one swift twist, he tossed the cap onto the table and handed the bottle back to me. He then pulled up a chair and sat.

  “I was opening it.”

  “She means ‘thank you’,” Shelly quickly interjected.

  He smiled. “I was just making sure the soda didn’t explode all over you after you catapulted it into the air.”

  “Thanks. You’re a hero.” I took another bite of pizza.

  “So, how long do you have to wear that for?” He motioned to my sling.

  “Four weeks.”

  “She’ll be taking it off at physical therapy this week, though,” Shelly added. I tried to ignore the eyes she was giving me. I was not as thrilled as she was about Chase’s presence at our table.

  “If I actually make it to physical therapy.”

  A confused Chase looked to Shelly for an explanation.

  “I have classes on the days they want her to go to physical therapy: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They don’t have late hours, so I can’t take her after class. Crazy pants over here thinks she’s going to drive herself there with one arm.”

  “I don’t see what the big deal is,” I shrugged.

  “You shouldn’t take the risk,” said Chase.

  “Exactly what I said,” agreed Shelly. “You don’t need to be in another accident.”

  I cringed at the reminder.

  “Why don’t I take you?” Chase offered.

  Shelly’s eyes lit up.

  “No way.” I held my hand up. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Why is it ridiculous?” she asked. “It’s right by his dad’s shop. It’s perfect, actually.”

  “That doctor’s office right across the street? I can take you there on my way to work in the morning.”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing I don’t ever take ‘no’ for an answer.” Chase stood up and pushed his chair in. “Make her appointments for nine, Shell. I’ll pick her up around a quarter-to.”

  “I can make my own appointments.”

  “Nine. Got it,” Shelly replied.

  “Hello! Does anybody hear me?”

  Chase flashed his signature smile. “See you ladies Monday.”

  “Bye, Chase!” Shelly wiggled her fingers.

  I blinked at my friend incredulously. “Are you kidding me?”

  “What?” She shrugged, trying not to make eye contact with me. “You need a ride to physical therapy. Chase is going to take you. What’s the problem?”

  “The problem is that I don’t want to be stuck with him for the next month. Who knows what he’ll expect in return.”

  “He’s not like that, Merritt.”

  “Whatever he is or isn’t, I still don’t want him to drive me around.”

  “It’s better than you trying to drive yourself.”

  “I don’t understand why. Most people only use one arm when they drive anyway.”

  “You can’t drive with your arm in a sling. It’s too dangerous and I won’t let you!” She stood abruptly and stormed off to throw out her tray.

  I was stunned by her outburst. I stood when I saw her making her way towards the exit, and had to take two steps just to match one of hers.

  “Hey, giraffe legs, wait up!”

  She did not slow down until she reached her car. She swung her car door open and got inside. I was out of breath as I plopped in beside her. “Well, at least I got my cardio in for the day.”

  Her expression did not change as she stared straight ahead, clenching the steering wheel in both hands.

  I touched her shoulder when I realized she had tears in her eyes. “Hey, what’s wrong? What the hell just happened?”

  “These past few weeks have been hard for me, too, you know.”

  “I’m sorry. I know–”

  “No, you don’t know,” she interrupted. “I sat in the hospital all by myself. They wouldn’t let me see you because I wasn’t family. I tried to explain that nobody else was coming but they wouldn’t listen. I thought you were going to die. I replay that night in my head over and over again. I shouldn’t have let you drive. If I had just talked to you a little longer, if I was able to get you to stop crying, if I had just taken your keys…” She trailed off as a tear slid down her cheek.

  “Do not blame yourself. Please. The only person at fault was me. I was driving.”

  “I should have stopped you.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “But this time I’m going to stop you. You can’t drive around with your arm in a sling. If Chase is offering to drive you, then you will let him.”

  I sat back in my seat. “That’s what this is all about?”

  “I can’t lose you, Mer. This was a close call, and I never want to go through anything like it ever again.”

  I leaned over the center console and wrapped my good arm around her tightly. “You’re not going to lose me. You know I’d just come back and haunt you forever.”

  “You can’t make jokes like that now!”

  “You’ve known me since we were five. You know I make jokes at inappropriate times. Don’t act surprised.”

  She rolled her eyes as she turned the key in the ignition. “You need to do something about these defense mechanisms you have. You’re never going to attract any good guys like that.”

  “I attract plenty of guys – with my sarcasm and morbid sense of humor. It’s all part of my charm.”

  She finally broke a smile. “You did attract Chase today.”

  “See? Silver lining.” I rolled my eyes.

  As Shelly drove us to her apartment, I couldn’t help but wonder why Chase was so eager to help me. It’s not like we were friends – or even spoke to one another, for that matter. What did he think was in it for him?

  Chapter Two: Day One

  I woke up to the sound of dishes clanking together. It was one o
f the downfalls of having to sleep on the recliner in Shelly’s living room. The pain in my back was another. I was thankful to have a place to stay after losing mine, and I was even more thankful to have a friend like Shelly to rely on. She was family. She was all I had left. Still, it was hard. I slowly tried to sit up without upsetting my shoulder. When my eyes finally came into focus, I froze.

  “Morning, sunshine.” Chase was sitting at the kitchen counter just a few feet in front of me, an amused expression on his face. He was dressed in his work clothes: grease-smudged jeans and a black short-sleeve button-down. His name was sewn onto a patch with red thread.

  My hand rose up to touch the wild bun on top of my head, as I took my disheveled appearance into full account. I looked down at my favorite Cookie Monster pajamas, and cringed.

  “Chase brought breakfast,” Shelly offered apologetically.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” I grumbled as I trudged over and slid onto a stool.

  “That means ‘Thank You’ in Merritt speak,” she explained.

  “Nice pajamas. You look cute.”

  “Here I was, hoping my horrifying appearance would turn your stomach and cause you to flee in fear.”

  He grinned, which only infuriated me more.

  Shelly placed a plate with a golden pancake in front of me. “Look. Your favorite.”

  I pushed the pancake around with my fork, trying to ignore her obvious stare. My mood was not going to change just because Chase Brooks had brought us pancakes. My dislike for him outweighed my love of breakfast foods.

  “She’s just nervous about today,” she stated.

  “I am not.”

  Chase shook his head. “Don’t worry. They won’t do much during the first week of physical therapy.”

  “How would you know?”

  He rubbed his left shoulder. “I tore my rotator cuff in high school. I had the same sling you have on, and had to go to physical therapy for weeks after that.”

  “You tore it playing football.” I remembered him walking the halls with an entourage of girls, clamoring to cater to his every need.

  “It took me out for the rest of the season. I missed every game. I was so bummed that year.”