A Quarter Mile Away

6 - We Don't Have To Dance

Please listen to We Don't Have To Dance -Andy Black for this chapter

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'Is this girl for real? Why is she even late?'

I'm currently sitting here on the hood of my car patiently waiting for Alena to grace me with her presence. It's 3:30 and still no sign of her.

"Avery, right?"

I turned my head slightly to the right at the sound of my name and am graced with the presence of Jaxon, who had decided to help himself and sit next to me.

"Right"

'I know guys like you Jaxon. I dated one, have a girl on your arm while flirting with others. I need to remind myself not to say too much around this one. He seems too perceptive for his own good.'

"I don't think we got the chance to formally meet, you kind of ran out on me. I'm Jaxon" he says as he smiles at me. I know exactly who you are Mr.

"I don't remember running, I do remember walking off to my locker to get my things ready" I smiled sarcastically at him.

"Touché"

We sat like this for about a minute before it started to agitate me. From the corner of my eye I could see him leaning against the hood of my car, with his feet stretched out in front of him and his arms crossed over his chest and a slight smirk attached to his perfect lips.

"Can I help you with something?!" I let out an exaggerated sigh to which he just gives me his breathtakingly beautiful smile in response.

He chuckled lightly "Only took you less than a minute. I'm waiting on my little brother so instead of waiting by myself, I figured I'd wait with you. Maybe even get to know you and who knows even become friends" he sarcastically takes in a deep breath at the end.

"I'm not the kind of girl you want to be friends with"

I have way too much baggage for an eighteen-year-old. I've grown up in a violent environment, my last boyfriend turned psychotic on me and I'm now raising my little sister on my own, both of us barely surviving.

I did not have time for guys like Jaxon playing with my emotions because he's bored with the current girl on him arm.

"What makes you so sure about that?" He asked in a serious tone.

I just turned my head and looked him directly in his eyes for the first time since he sat down "Just keep going on with your life and pretend I don't exist. This town is just a pit stop for my sister and I"

I've come to terms with the fact that I won't get to go to College. Not only did I not have the money for it but I couldn't bare to leave my sister alone or with some stranger.

I'm already struggling with the idea of leaving her with a babysitter but we need the money. The only plan I had was to stay here for the year, finish senior year and try to get into the corporate world with anyone who was willing to give me a shot.

I had no plans on getting close with people. I made the exception and made friends but let's be real here, most high school friendships end when College starts so I'm not too worried. I just need to remind myself not to get too emotionally involved with them.

"What about your parents?"

I turned to meet his gaze "What about them?" My tone sounding a little harsher than I had anticipated.

"You said this was a pit stop for your sister and you. You didn't say 'your family', this leads me to believe that it's just you two?" His eyebrow shoot up in question.