The Outside Lines (boyxboy) - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Nathan's POV
A few minutes of silence passed without either of speaking. I sat staring out the window, the sound of the truck's engine filled the silence.
"Are the rumors true? Are you actually some kind of thug." Taylor spoke first. I thought for a second on how I would respond to that, but she continued before I could answer.
"Before you try anything, I would have you know I'm a brown belt in karate." She said, very seriously.
I laughed. "You could probably beat my ass. I'm no fighter."
"Seriously? So all of the rumors around school are just baseless?" She asked looking perplexed.
"I guess so." I shrugged.
"... You totally look like you could mess someone up though." She said, raising a brow.
"I know, I get that a lot..." I trailed the sentence.
"So, you know all the details of the plan?" Taylor started after another long silence.
"I'm pretty sure I do, but we can go over it again just to be safe." I answered. She nodded and told me everything I needed to know.
By the time we reached Rebbecca's neighborhood it was already dark out. That's a good things though. It's a crucial part of Taylor's plan. We sat parked outside in a public parking lot a couple blocks away from Rebbecca's home. We scoped the place out preparing for any complication.
"You don't talk much, do you?" Taylor made note of my silence as we crouched behind a nearby hedge.
"Uhh, yeah I'm not that great at socializing." I admitted. "Mostly cause I scare people off, so I never really get involved in conversation." I explained quietly, trying not to blow our cover.
"Does that make me special?" Taylor questions.
"I guess?" I pondered the awkward question.
"That's kinda hot" she said jokingly, with a laugh following shortly after. I couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Now! Now's our best chance. C'mon!" She said suddenly motioning me back towards her truck. It was a task keeping up with her. The only one who could match her energy was Noah.
She moved the truck closer and parked it on the neighboring curb to the one with Rebbecca's house.
"Alright, keep the engine running. After the fireworks go off, floor it. I should be able to reach the passenger side in time." She explained before hopping out of the truck. She walked behind the truck and lifted cases of fireworks off the back. I could barely make out what she was doing but the light from Rebbecca's house made Taylor visible as she stacked them against it. She turned my way signaling that she was about to light a match.
Suddenly we heard one of the neighbor's door open. It was a loud screeching noise, it sounded like a screen door.
"What the hell is going on here?" I could barely hear someone say over the engine of the truck. To say my heart was racing is an understatement. It felt like it was going to beat out though my mouth.
Taylor hastily lit the match and tossed it into the crate of fireworks. I revved the engine and stepped on the gas. Just as I began to fear that I left Taylor behind the door to the passenger side popped open. She climbed in and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Holy crap, I thought we were done for!" She sighed in relief as she melted into the seat.
"Me t-" I began but was interrupted by what I assumed was the hundreds of fireworks going off. Looking through the rare-view mirror I saw every color imaginable dancing in the air. The deafening explosions and screeching car alarms going off were loud enough to wake the dead.
"Oh shit." I swore in a sharp, hushed voice, my eyes as wide as a drugged up owl. Taylor howled in laughter.
"You know, your reaction alone was worth all this effort. I can't imagine how Becca will respond." Taylor managed to speak through her hysteric laughter.
I pulled over on the side of the road once we got a fair distance away from the neighborhood.
"Swap? I don't want to be behind the wheel when the police come for us." I jokingly said, lifting my hands from the wheel.
Taylor snorted. "You're actually such a dork."
I stepped out and walked to the other side and she slid across the seats.
"Well, we did it." Taylor celebrated with a smile.
"We did." I smiled back at her.
"I hope you don't mind, we're going for a little joy ride."
"Oh uh, alright." I agreed, a little caught off guard. I was surprised she didn't wanna just take me home.
(Play the song)
Taylor rolled down the windows and yelled out the window right as we entered the freeway.
"Wooo suck it!" Her voice swallowed by the wind.
"C'mon, aren't you going to join me?" She asked as she brought her head back through the window.
"Erm..." I paused.
"You need to loosen up." She told me with a roll of her eyes. She was right though, if I wanted to join the fools I'd have to be a fool.
"Woooo!" My shout was accompanied with a voice crack.
"Now that was a shout!" She complimented, wearing a look of pride.
We drove around destination-less for who knows how long. The wind flowing through the open windows, attacking my long hair. and music blasting on the radio, It all almost felt unreal. I've always wanted to hang out with Taylor like this. Noah too.
It looked like I wasn't the only one with Noah on their mind. Taylor went quiet for sometime. I could tell what happen between her and Noah was bothering her.
"Do you intend on making up with Noah?" I asked, cautiously. Hoping not to pry too much.
"..." She stayed silent.
"That jerk." She frowned. "Why should I forgive him? I've been his closest friend for years and yet, he was so quick to get on my case. I get that he's angry and afraid, but still." Taylor vented.
"I understand where both of you are coming from. But I think it would be best to squash this feud as soon as possible." I suggested. "Things can get bad if you wait too long."
"Since when were you Mr. Social expert? I don't remember you having any friends." She bit.
"Sorry, I... didn't mean to-." I apologized, turning to face the lowered window.
"I wasn't being serious." She sighed after a moment of awkward silence.
"I'm curious though, you said you're bad at socializing, you seem perfectly normal to me?"
"You think so?" I tilted my head slightly, curious.
"Well yeah, for the most part." She shrugged.
"I can't start a conversation for the life og me though." I thought out loud.
"You know what your biggest issue is?" She asked glancing over at me. "That." She gestured to me with her free hand.
I scanned my body. "What, what about me?"
"Dude, you dress like a homeless thug. You need a haircut, and you need to shave that beard off. You look extremely rugged." She pointed out.
"People, they're pretty shallow, they often judge others solely off appearance, so if you go out looking like a beggar or someone wanting to put a knife through their throat, chances are they'll stay clear of you." She explained. "I'm guilty of that myself."
"I guess that's why Noah reacted the way he did when I approached him." I scratched my cheek out of embarrassment. I knew my appearance made me intimidating but it sounds like I have a whole lot of work to do.
"Noah? You talked to Noah? What happened?" She questioned, intrigue welling on her face.
"I'd... rather not talk about it." The embarrassment grew and I averted my eyes.
It took awhile before Taylor finally dropped the subject, but I had a feeling that wouldn't be the last I would hear of it.
We continued driving and blasting the music for at least another hour before Taylor finally dropped me off.
"This is where you live?" She asked as her curious eyes wandered the questionable streets. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't suit you to a tee."
"Well I can say for certain that it doesn't. I haven't even gotten used to living here yet." I admitted as I hopped out of the truck.
"The frog that didn't like the swamp." She mumbled to her self wearing a smile.
I chuckled. "Thanks for the lift."
"No prob". She said with the toss of a hand. "Well I should be off. My parents will scold me if I'm home too late on a school day. See you at school." She said, revving her engine.
"See you at school?" I repeated, thinking a second. "Right, see you at school!" I lit up realizing she'd likely talk to me again.
With a final wave she was off.
The door suddenly opened up behind me, almost scaring the skin off my body.
"Who was that?" My mother came out beaming.
"S-" I began but mom cut me off before I could get a word out
"That was a friend right?" She asked, desperation taking her voice.
"She's... more of an acquaintance." I scratched my cheek. "I want to befriend her though."
"My boy is making progress." She said, almost teary eyed. "Come come, tell me all about it!"
"Mom, you're starting to sound like grandma." I told her, embarrassed. Her glare sent me into an uncontrollable laughter.
We went inside and grabbed the pre-made dinner from the fridge. We sat in the living room, watching mom's favorite soap operas on the old box TV that sat atop the aged end-table. We ate and chatted about the various details of our day.
Despite sometimes being strict my mom was patient, kind, and understanding. We bond over so many things. Our love for old movies and TV shows, our taste in classic music, cooking and so on.
While I felt comfortable talking to her about a lot of stuff I did keep some skeletons in the closet. Like the late forth of July party Taylor and I threw for Rebbecca.