Chapter 2
Quaid
Well, that didn’t take long.
I look at the girl sitting next to me all curled up in her winter coat and fast asleep.
Jess Silva.
No, wait, now it’s Jessica Silva.
Christ.
How the hell did I get talked into driving Jessica Silva back home for Christmas of all people? When I put that ad out, it was with the intent that I wouldn’t have to be bored the whole drive home and have someone to talk to. I could have taken a flight back home or even the train as I had suggested to Jess, but I love to drive. Living in New York these past months, my car has been locked away in the garage, and I had been itching to get back behind the wheel again. I know it was impulsive of me bringing my car to Columbia since having a car in NYC is almost redundant. Not only was it expensive as hell to keep it in the garage, but I haven’t even had the time or opportunity to use it. I was anticipating finally driving it back home, as much as looking forward to being back home. The only thing that I wasn’t looking forward to was the four hours of silence I would have to endure with only my thoughts to keep me company. And now the one person that was supposed to offer me some distraction is fast asleep. Not to mention that she is one of the most belligerent people I have ever met.
Belligerent and irritating as hell.
One date. It took only one date to be forever annoyed by this girl. It all happened Senior year. One of my best friend’s girlfriends was always on my case how I didn’t date enough. Since Freshman year, Decker and I were tight, but Ronnie had him wrapped around her little finger since they’d first met. Whatever Ronnie wanted, Decker would get it done. So when Ronnie got into her head that she should set me up with one of her BFF’s, Decker was relentless at bugging the shit out of me until I caved.
I said yes at first because I thought she was going to set me up with Cassandra Mackenzie. I had had a crush on her since junior high, but that girl only had books on the brain, not brawn. I think maybe that’s why the crush lasted until senior year, though. She was so focused, so sure of herself that you had to be in awe of her. But the thing about Cass that really did me in was that the girl was all heart. I had never seen her be unkind to anyone and the work she used to do at the Youth Centre back home was nothing short of inspiring.
Yeah, I had it bad for Cass but then Jessica’s cousin Isaac moved back into town and that’s all she wrote folks. Those two became joined at the hip soon after his arrival, and if most guys at our school didn’t stand a chance before then with Cass, well after Isaac, she didn’t give any of us a second look.
End of story.
With Cass on my mind, I never even considered going out with Jess. Crushing on a girl and then going out with her best friend didn’t seem right to me. Reluctantly, I went on the double date from hell, and that’s exactly how it was; hell. I tried my best at being engaging and a gentleman the whole night through, but this small creature of a girl was exasperating. She had an opinion about everything and could not keep it to herself if her life depended on it.
We went to see some stupid ass action movie and 15 minutes into it; the girl had the biggest bitch fit I have ever seen. It’s like the movie attacked her personally and it was her duty to make everyone aware of her lack of satisfaction.
I kept quiet the rest of the night. For me, it was just a temper tantrum of a spoilt little girl. There are too many real issues that people should fight for and be disgruntled about and making such a scene over some stupid movie really got on my nerves.
After the movie, we had gone to a friend’s party where little Jessica felt the need to end the evening avoiding me with a solo cup in her hands and flirting with one of my teammates. That was the real nail on the head that pissed me off. I mean we were supposedly on a date and her avoidance of me while giving her full attention to another guy on our date was just damn disrespectful. I have no tolerance for that type of shitty behavior, so after making sure that Decker and Ronnie were giving her a ride home, I left and ended the worst date in Plymouth history.
I look over at her and see that she is still blissfully asleep. I know that I wanted company, but a sleeping Jess is a better alternative to an awake one. It’s the mouth on her that ruins it because the girl is a stunner. If a horny scientist ever tried to mix Sofia Vergara and Mila Kunis’ genes together to create the perfect woman, well I have no doubt that Jess would be the outcome of such an experiment. All curves with long dark brown wavy hair falling to her petite waist. Honey brown eyes under long dark lashes and perfectly full red lips.
Yeah, Jess is definitely one of those girls that stop traffic. That is of course until she opens her mouth. Jess would be perfect if she were mute. Unable to control it, I let out an unwanted chuckle and immediately bite my inner cheek when I see that she starts to stir on her seat because of it.
“What’s so funny?” her voice comes out low, but I hear the bite in it regardless.
“Nothing. Go back to sleep, Jess. We’ve still got a couple of hours to go.”
“Well if you stopped giggling over there like a fucking hyena, I could have enjoyed my nap in peace.”
“Do you always have to be so crass?” She slowly opens her eyes and looks at me amused.
“So now I’m crass, am I?”
“Yes, you are. The shit that comes out of your mouth would make an inmate in cell block eight blush.” She smirks at my remark, but as I say it, I can't seem to look away from that same foul mouth. Like I said the girl has killer lips.
“What can I say? I grew up with worse being said all around me. I’ve got an older brother and more cousins than I can count. Don't expect me to apologize for being me. I like my dirty mouth just fine, thank you very much!” she puffs out and raises her chin to the sky to drive her point through.
“Jess, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“So tell me what was so funny?” she asks stretching her arms over her head. Her hair is all over the place, and her eyes still hold that dreamy look after a couple of hours of sleep. Again I think how sexy this girl is and how what comes out of her mouth, ruins the perfect package. I pride myself on being respectful but this girl seems to get under my skin, so before I can stop myself I tell her exactly what I was contemplating.
“I was just thinking how the past two hours have been the best ones I’ve ever spent in your company. It’s a shame you’re awake now, ‘cause I definitely prefer you out cold.”
“Asshole,” she spits back but I see her trying to stifle a small smile, so it’s hard to keep mine in check.
“I don’t remember you being this vocal in high school. As I recall, the Quaid Stevens I went to school with, barely said three words to me those whole four years.”
“I’m sure I said more than three words.”
“Really? Because I don’t remember even one small chat. I mean this is the most I heard you speak since I’ve known you.”
“First, you don’t know me, Jessica. Second, yes I guess we never did talk before.”
“Well, whose fault is that? Not mine. I was more than polite to you the one time we went out.” I can't help but laugh at her statement.
“Really?? That was you being polite? You completely ignored me the whole date and acted like a spoilt brat the whole night through. You even went as far as trying to hook up with a friend of mine while we were still on our date!”
“I did no such thing! How the hell was I supposed to make small talk with someone who barely said a word throughout the whole date? And don’t say it was me. You were like that with everyone. So don’t act all surprised if I got bored and tried to converse with my friends at some lame ass party,” she chokes out while staring at me, challenging me to deny that she’s right. I hate to admit it, but she’s got me there.
“Ok, I’ll give you that one.”
“So what happened? Came out of the silent closet in college, did you?” I laugh again. She’s actually funny when she’s trying to be sassy.
“No. No closet.” She continues to stare at me to get an actual answer. Screw it. I have to say something, or else she won’t drop it.
“I had a stutter.” Her eyebrow rises, interested in this response.
“Growing up I had a stutter, so I preferred to talk only when I needed to. It got better before high school, but I was so used to only talking when talked to, that I guess it kind of stuck, you know?”
“You’re talking now.”
“Of course I am. It’s only us two in the car. If I didn’t talk with you, then you’d look like a crazy person talking to herself.
“He talks, and he’s a comedian! Who would of thunk it?” she says raising her hands up in the air. Now we’re both laughing, and I feel myself relax a little.
“So how far away are we anyway?”
“Couple of hours. If you weren’t so squeamish, I could probably get us there in less.” I won’t dare go over the speeding limit with Jess by my side. She acted like a petrified deer in front of a firing squad the moment she entered the car. I wouldn’t play on a person’s fears even if the person in question is Jessica Silva, but I have to admit that not pushing my car to see what she’s got, on the open road is a real killjoy. I was looking forward to driving this baby home without being limited to sticking with this senior citizen speed we’re doing now.
“Don't you even think about it, Stevens, or I’ll make you stop the car right here on the freeway if you even think about adding pressure to that gas pedal!” she says with her most menacing voice. Again, it’s pretty cute how she’s trying to intimidate me into behaving.
“Yeah? I think you need to rethink that plan of yours. Too many deathly faults in it. You would either get run over by a car or worse if I let you out now. Not to mention there are a lot of wackos who would love to give a pretty little thing like you a ride. So I guess you’re at my mercy, huh?” I smirk but as I say it, there is a faint blush that appears on her cheeks, and she quickly looks away to her side window.
I have to admit that was the last thing I’d expect to see. The girl has always been very clear about her dislike of me, so why the blush? And why does the thought of having this blushing Jessica Silva at my mercy appeal to me?
“Well, well, well. It seems that New York has given you quite a mouth. Still, don’t even try it. We’ll get home when we get home. No rush,” she says as she glares back to the road, no lingering blush in sight.
“And no need for small talk either. Although I enjoy seeing you have grown out of giving people the silent treatment, let’s not get crazy. No need for you to break tradition on my account. Silence is golden after all.” And with that little parting remark, she shuffles herself closer to her side door and resumes her napping posture.
“Fine by me,” I growl. As I said, the girl knows how to push my buttons in the most aggravating way. The faster I take her home, the sooner I will be done with putting up with her smart mouth. No matter how tempting that mouth looks to me.