Plans and Promises

Chapter 2

There's only a week left of summer and I told Dad that I wanted to go to the city and do something special for the day and he confirmed my idea last night. I get dolled up and am really excited to get out of this small town for today and spend some time with my friends, when I hear a knock on my door. Maleficent, who is chilling on my bed, pokes her head up and stares at it, waiting for it to be opened. I laugh at her nerves and call for Dad to come in. The first sign that tells me something is up is the sheepish look on his face. I feel my heart leave my chest right then. He comes in and sits next to Maleficent, who throws her head on his lap. He sighs and starts telling me about a stupid phone call- our plans are canceled. I feel like the wind has just been knocked out of me. I was really expecting to go, to get to see my friends and have a good day for once, but again, my father's job has gotten in the way. I put on a phony smile and tell him it's okay. 

"Um, I'm going to change now, Dad. I'll see you later." I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he left my room. I sigh and feel tears pricking at the back of my eyes, but I refuse to cry. Not when I spent such a long time on my make-up and made myself look pretty (for the first time in forever I might add). I throw on some jean shorts and a cute tank-top and walk over to my windows, ripping the curtains open violently. I know it's not his fault, but I can't help but be mad at Dad for deserting me when he promised we could go to Bennington. I hear my father's car leaving and I want to do something reckless. Finally making my decision, I pull my cowboy boots on and turn off all the lights, and lock the door with Maleficent at my heels. I put her in the dog pin and plant a kiss on her head. She gives me sad, pleading, husky eyes, but I know this is too dangerous for her to come along and I leave her where she is in her pin. Yanking the lanyard off of my neck, I start the Ryno and put it in reverse. I maneuver it until I can tear off down the gravel and onto the concrete road, driving like a maniac. I hear another engine and lose my concentration. Looking behind me, I see the boy (who I've decided to call Green Eyes because his eyes have made a lasting impression on me so far), on a four wheeler. Next thing I remember is being in a ditch.

                                                                                 _____________ 

I just woke up and I'm a little better, but I think that's only because I know what's wrong with me. There is a huge gash in my left leg starting 5 inches from my knee all the way down to my ankle. It's not too deep, but seeing it freaks me out. I'm blind in my right eye from the blood pouring down my face due to a 2-inch cut right across my forehead. I have multiple scraps across my arms and right leg and I can't deny the searing, white-hot pain in my left wrist. And the whole time what's going through my head? 1. Is my phone okay? 2. Did I really just make myself look that stupid? I groan when I see that Green Eyes is running towards me. Why, why did I have to turn around? Couldn't I have done what Dad had always told me to and kept my eyes on the road? Apparently not, because my eyes weren't on the road. When he reaches me, I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I try again and I'm able to get out a loud, hoarse, sound that reminds me of a pig instead of a human girl. I can feel my cheeks heat up, but this is not the time to be embarrassed. I try for a third time and I can choke the words out.
"Glove compartment. There's a first-aid kit." It's very weak and I'm quiet, but he hears me and gets the kit. I manage to sit up with his help and I bandage my leg up tightly. I sigh with relief and take my phone out of my pocket to turn the camera on so I can do my head. My phone (thank God!), is completely unharmed. Green Eyes sees that I'm trying to look at myself and takes the phone out of my hand gently, holding it up for me as I wrapped my head. I don't trust anyone with my phone, but I know that I can trust this boy with anything, instantly. When I'm cleaned up, I look at my wrist, which I have avoided using until now. I can't control my breathing and the wave of nausea that hits me when I see it. It's completely swollen and and cocked out of place slightly, so I know for a fact that it's broken. Green Eyes almost throws up. It actually makes me smile and he grins shyly. This is the first time I've actually gotten a good look at his face. His eyes are green, of course and he has black hair that comes down to his eye brows. His hair has purple highlights in it, too. He's really cute and I can't believe that this is the boy who's been spying on me all summer. 

"So, you're the one who's been watching me all summer?" I ask, trying to get my mind off of the intense pain in my wrist. He smiles and nods, shaking his hair around and hiding some of the highlights.
"Sorry that I didn't introduce myself sooner. I wanted to, just never got the chance." He says. I smile back.
"I'm Everly Wescott, but you can call me Ev if you want to. I'm new here, obviously. I just moved from Bennington." I shut my mouth before I say anything else because I already feel like I'm blabbing on. 
"I'm Cyrus McKay. Nice to meet you Everly. I have been here my whole life. Do you want me to call an ambulance? I've got my own phone." He offers. I shake my head vigorously. I do not need an ambulance to come and get me. No way. My dad would never let me drive the Ryno again. I can bandage my wrist myself.
"It's okay. I can bandage my wrist up when I get home. I know how to drive one-handed... but do you think you could reverse my Ryno out of the ditch?" I ask. He laughs and nods and jumps in. It can be reversed out easily. I flew out of the windshield because I didn't have it up. He gets it out of the ditch and onto the road. I get in and he leads me back to my house where I let Maleficent out of her pin. I walk up to my door and unlock it. Cyrus has an uneasy look on his face and I know what he's thinking.
"It's okay. My dad won't mind." I assure him he smiles and we walk into my house together. Maleficent starts growling at Cyrus and I snap at her to stop. I get a ice pack out of the kitchen and lead Cyrus up the stairs to my room. His jaw drops at the sight of it and I laugh at how amazed he is. "This is all yours?" He asks. I nod.
"God! I wish my mom would spend that much money on me!" He says and my smile fades.
"I-I don't live with my mom. She died when I was born. I live with my dad. It's just the two of us. All alone, we are. Well, all alone with you." Cyrus looks at me funny and I can feel my cheeks heat up. "I mean, you know, as friends. Your the only friend I have here- I mean if your okay with that- I'm just gonna shut up." I turn away quickly and my phone suddenly goes off in m back pocket. I pull it out and see that my dad is calling me. My heart flutters and I answer. 
"Dad? Are you coming home?" I ask. I hear a loud sigh. My heart drops.
"Sorry sweetie. I can't come home. I have a client here and I'll be here for a while. Next door to us-" I cut him off because I know what he's going to say.
"It's okay. I met them today. Well, their son. He's with me now." I say quietly.
"If I'm not back by the time school starts, well, they'll be driving you to school and back. I really am sorry, Everly. If I had a choice I would come home. Don't do anything stupid, please? I have to be down here for this case. Okay?" He asks I feel ice go through my veins.
"Um, yeah, about that, I broke my wrist." I say it quickly, but I know he understands me. Another sigh.
"Oh, Everly! Why? We've talked about this! Being bad isn't going to get you anymore attention than I already give you! You know this! Have you bandaged it up?" 
"Look, I didn't mean to, ask Cyrus! It was an accident! I fell out of the Ryno! I'll be fine! You didn't have to take me to the hospital when I broke my ankle, why is it any different this time?"
"We did go to the hospital when you broke your ankle, Ev. Can Cyrus' mom drove you the the E.R.?" Cyrus drops into our conversation, and I'm grateful. 
"Yeah, we can take her, it's alright Mr. Wescott." I smile at him and he grins back. "Bye, Dad, love you." I say.
"Bye, Everly. Be good!" I hang the phone up before he says anything else, and sigh.
"Great. More being all alone at night and just about anytime else for the next 5 years of my life! God, I hate his job! He's always gone! I can't stand it!" I complain. Cyrus looks uneasy.
"By yourself? That's not safe. I don't like that. Maybe I could..." He trails off and blushes slightly. 
"What? You could what?" I ask
"Well, I was going to say sleepover when your alone, but, you know that puts the both of us in an awkward position." I smile at him.
"Oh, don't be stupid. That does't put us in an awkward position. I trust you. Especially after the whole Ryno wreck." He smiles and I laugh.
"Guess I'm spending the night then! Wait your dad-" I shake my head at him.
"Nope. Won't mind, but your going to have to either sleep in a guestroom or the floor. But what about your mom?" I ask "Won't she mind?" Now it's his turn to shake his head at me. 
"Guess we're having a sleepover then!" I cry, and we both laugh so hard we can't breathe.