I’m in Conner’s car.
Why?
What’s his motive? Still, it’s enough for me to jump in without further questioning.
I hope the principal doesn’t talk to me about this stunt. All I need is a phone call home, and if Dad answers, I don’t want to know what he will do to me.
This is reckless. But despite my better judgment, Conner’s look made me pay attention. I’ve never seen someone so brash before. It frightens me, and as I look at Conner bobbing his head to the song.Itintrigues me.
“Why did you do that?” Then, remembering our surroundings, I blurt, “I’ve got work. Don’t take me home.”
“Uh…okay. Where do you work?”
“South Side Marketplace. It’s behind the service station you saw me in,” I answer.
“Oh, yeah—the new shopping outlet. Cool.” He stops at the red light and flicks his blinker on. “And you wouldn’t have said yes otherwise,” he replies after pausing momentarily.
“If you had asked me at lunch or so, I would feel more inclined, you know…”
“With your bodyguard around?” Conner grimaces. “I’d rather not get into a fight at school.”
“Don’t. I don’t like violence.” I look away from him. “Also, Andy isn’t my bodyguard.”
“He certainly acts like one.”
The light changes to green, and as Conner turns right, the Toyota glides smoothly over the potholes.
My face doesn’t feel hot anymore. The air conditioning is on max, but I’m getting cold. I want to turn it down, but I don’t want to touch anything in his car. It’s more expensive than my life.
Instead, I focus on the song “The End Is Where We Begin” by Thousand Foot Krutch. A punk/rock, alternative vibe, but right up my alley, considering my favourite band is Imagine Dragons.
“Do you like the song?” Conner asks.
“Yeah, I do.”
“They’re my favourite.” Conner bursts out into song, his voice surprisingly good.
“So…It is true what they call you at school,” I say, and Conner glances at me. “Ace.”
He curls his lip and cringes. “Please, I hate when people call me that.” As he glares ahead, he says, “Sarah Jane made it up in seventh grade after I got three school certificates for Sport, Art and Drama. Since then, it has been a running joke.”
“Oh…” I leave it hanging. Should I apologise for calling him Ace or let it go?
“So, your favourite band is,”—I lean closer to the screen—“Thousand Foot Krutch.”
“Yeah! I watched AMVs when I started high school, and they were a classic in almost all the videos I watched.
“AMVs?”
“Animated music videos.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah,” he laughs bashfully. “And yours is Imagine Dragons, right?”
“How did you—” Conner glances at my shirt, which I wear over my long-sleeved top. “Yeah, they are…” I murmur, heat prickling my cheeks.
“What’s your favourite song by them?”