Miss Independent- Kelly Clarkson.
A lot of people ask me why am I so guarded? Why have never had a boyfriend at the age of 18? And when I tell them why, they think I am crazy and don’t believe in love. I do believe in love just don’t want to fall. I don’t need a man to tell me I am beautiful, to pay my bills, to drive me places, and mostly to make me feel better. I can handle anything life throws at me with no one by my side. Especially after my parents died in a car accident, it has been easy to rely on myself.
“Uhm, mam. What would you like?”. A boy about my age asked from behind the bakery counter, he had curly brown hair that framed his face perfectly.
“Oh yeah sorry, just me over here in lala land” I joked, he chuckled. “Coconut coffee, please?” I smiled getting out my card and swiping it on the pin pad.
“Two Coconut Coffees!” He yelled to the back. I eyed him on why he got two. He smirked grabbing the cold cups and sitting down at the closest booth. I sat directly in front of him as I got the whip cream licking it off my straw.
“What’s your name love?” he asked slurping his drink.
“Beth, yours?” His eyes were so green, like the new leaves after fall.
“What a pretty name, it’s Harry,” He smiles. I rolled my eyes and continued drinking, I don’t need someone, especially a boy to tell me that my name is pretty.
“Ya’ see the soccer game Sunday?” I asked randomly.
“Yes! And then they missed the penalty kick to tie the game!” He tugged at his hair playfully, acting like a fangirl. “Didn’t think girls like you wouldn’t be into that kind of stuff,” Harry joked.
“P-please I am the master at soccer and basketball ask me anything?” I shrugged biting my lip while smiling.
“Hmm,” He pretended to stroke his fake beard. I laughed watching him be silly which was really cute. In an ugly way.”Best player?”
“Me,” I croakily smiled. He raised his eyebrows and giggled slightly.
“Oh ya’ think so?” He started getting up.
“I don’t think so, I know so,” I laughed getting up on my tippy toes to reach his height.
“Let’s let a game settle it then,” He got closer his breathe smelling of coconut. “My shifts over anyway,”
We left to head to the arena, when I noticed I didn’t have a car. I shrugged and walked down the side walk. When a car pulled up beside me.
“Need a ride?” Harry’s voice flooded my ears.
“Love, I am not going to let you walk to the arena,” He sighed.
“And I am not going to let you drive, If I can do it by myself let me,” I snapped again my guard was slowly coming back up. Knowing deep inside he was cute, but I don’t need his help. I don’t need anyone’s help.
“Awe, come on” He pleaded. No.
“No. I don’t need your help!” I yelled, his car was still slowly driving beside me. The arena was far away but I wasn’t giving up.
Okay, now I wish I had my car! Harrys car still hasn’t left, and my feet are hurting like shit. I stopped and removed my converse, continuing to walk barefoot through the streets of Holmes Chapel.
“Don’t worry I got it. Go. On!” Harry chuckled at me still not speeding up. I sighed and walked over to the drivers seat. “I will drive, because I am not letting you drive me” He smiled. I rolled my eyes and sped up to the arena, the peddles hurt my feet since I was wearing no shoes but I didn’t want to show any way that Harry could drive me! I don’t need him, I don’t need anyone.
I kicked the ball straight from the end of the field to the other, and made it in.
“Well I didn’t expect that!” he chuckled following me.
“What can I say I am the best,” I spun around. He ran up to me hugging me from behind twirling me around. Before he pinned me on the ground. Tickling me,
“Now tell me I am the best and I will stop,” Harry said unaware of my upper body strength. I spun him over, me now straddling him.
“Never,” I whispered. Suddenly rain drenched down. “Where the hell did that come from?” I asked looking up at the sky or well trying to not get rain in my eyes. Until I felt something cold and muddy in my chest. I looked down at Harry how was holding a handful of mud. I scoffed and got off of him throwing at him.
“Come back here, I’m not done with you!” Harry yelled chasing me.
I stopped, turning around to get hit right in the knee with mud.
“Oh, your going to get it,” I dug into the ground getting a handful of mud. I outreached my arm backwards and threw. Hitting him right in the back. He fell down, I ran after him giggling. I sat on top of him so he wouldn’t move.
“Oh, and who’s the best at mud fights?” I questioned the rain still pouring down on us. I tapped my chin. Pretending to think. I pushed me down to where now he was straddling me. Oo, so the Harry does have upper body strength.
“Me,” He then plastered mud all over my shirt. I gasped, looking up into his green eyes. Which were a lot lighter then before. They were very pretty. I suddenly realized what was going on.
“Get off me.” I snapped getting up and walking off the field still drenched and muddy. Leaving him in the middle of the arena. Raining as he tried to process what just happened. There goes my guard again.
I walked into my apartment that I shared with my best friend. My jeans were torn and muddy and my shoes, I may never get those stains out. I dropped the converse of the doorstep and ran to my room to get dressed into new clothing. I entered my room, and rummaged through my jammy shorts until I chose one. I was to tired to take a shower so I just changed. Once I was done getting into my night clothes I made my way back downstairs where Alexandra sat on the bar stool flipping through a 17 catalog. I sighed sitting next to her letting my head bang on the marble counter top.
“What happened today babe?” She asked moving her jet black hair out of her face. I lifted my head to look at her, as she looked at me.
“Okay, so I met a boy. Named Harry, and he is cute I guess? And he tried to help me do everything!” I lashed out in frustration. But of course all she did was awe after every sentence.
“I know, I know you are independent. Trust me I know. You insist on paying the bills by yourself. And when I have tried to set you up with someone you say you don’t want a man to take care of you and call you beautiful. Either that or you play for the other team.” She joked nudging me.
“Haha- your so funny,” I replied sarcastically. “But I did kick his ass in soccer!” I whooped in triumph.
“There is my fearless bad-ass I know and love!” She jumped up and started jumping with me. “Well I am going to bed, I am going on a date with Justin. I think we are getting pretty serious.” She smiled looking at the ground biting her lip.
“Okay get to bed.” I hugged her night, and plopped myself on the couch. Flipping through the channels, managing to find Disney channel, which I watch every night before I go to bed. It makes me feel like a kid again. I sprawled out of the three seater, taking up a lot of space because of my long legs. My eyes fluttered closed, with the same person on my mind.
I woke up, early surprisingly. It was 7:00. I never wake up this early. But I felt wide awake, I shrugged to myself and got off the couch. I rubbed my back from the ache, that couch was really un-comfy. I yawned, tears welding up in my eyes. I grabbed Alexandras keys off the counter, because she took my new car. Of course. Since she already left for her date. See this is how her dates work.
1) Takes my car. (range rover)
2) Still 6 in the morning.
3) Meets up with her boyfriend at waffle house.
4) Goes to the city of London,
5) Find something incredible to do.
6) Come home and tell me about it.
I made my way down the corridor, entering the car lot. I clicked the panicked button on her key set and searched for her car. It was beeping loud so it was not hard to find. I hopped in, roaring the engine to life. I backed out of my spot. Heading to the bakery, it is my normal routine to get coffee and then try to do something to pass the time.
The bell rung as I went inside the shop. The smell of ice cream, donuts and grinding coffee beans lingered in the air. I made my way to the counter, resting my elbows down, holding up my head. I also set my wallet down. I massaged my temples as a head ache grew tramendasly.
“Hello, love what can I get you?” The low husky voice, that sounded so familier, I slowly looked up and met the eyes with Harry. “Oh, hey Beth” Harry smiled.
“How can you be smiling at 7 in the morning?” I groaned still rubbing my temples.
“I’m an early riser,” I could just imagine him smiling. “Coconut coffee?” he asked, I nodded and took a seat in the same booth we met.
In no time, he set down the drink and sat across from me.
“Thanks,” I sipped on the drink.
“Uhm, Beth?” Harry asked still looking at me.
“Yes, Harry” I said coming up or air after my long slurp of the cold drink.
“Do ya’ maybe want to go out tomorrow, t-to a football game?” I froze, chocking a little bit on my saliva. My body tended and I did the only thing that came to mind. I ran, I got up and left, even though he called my name. He better not, ever do that again! Ever! Why would he do that? Nobody likes me, I am freaking ugly. People tell it a lot, ugh! He can’t have feelings for me? I mean I don’t have feelings for him… I don’t think. Oh My God why does it feel like I am on a coaster after to loopty loop. What is this?
I ran inside, slamming the door behind me. Alexandra and Gaven sat on the couch kissing. I just ran past them, I stopped running when I reached my room. I jumped face down on my bed. As the slides of the past years flooded my mind.
ι αм ѕσ ѕσяяу вєтн, тнєяє gσиє.
уσυ ∂σи’т нανє єиσυgн мσиєу тσ fιиѕιн нιgн ѕ¢нσσℓ..
ωну αяє уσυ ѕσ υgℓу? ι вєт тнαтѕ ωну уσυя ραяєитѕ ℓєfт вє¢αυѕє уσυ αяє ѕσ υgℓу.
I felt cold tears stream down my face. I haven’t had flash backs in forever. It is usually when I am doing something that I don’t want to do. I heard a knock on my door but decided to ignore it, no one needs to see me cry.
“Beth-” Alexandra stopped, “What are you doing?” she asked coming to sit down. She started rubbing my back gently.
“I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” I cried into the pillow.
“Acting so strong when I am not, acting like I can take on the world, like I don’t ever get lonely. And like I don’t miss everything I used to have.” I sniff.
“Ah, Bethy has feelings for Harry” she giggled.
“What? No!” I said getting defensive again.
“There you go again. As soon as I mention the word,” Her voice lowered as she whispered, “Love, you get all defensive”
“I just I don’t want anyone to do anything for me,” I reassured her and myself.
“But you do everything for us, why?” I sighed. Getting ready for a long lecture.
“I just want people to have what I didn’t, a shoulder to lean on, payed bills, to get a degree. I didn’t have any of that.” I looked into her eyes, she looked like she was in the verge of tears.
“But Bethy, you can’t sit on the side lines and watch us have fun,” She smiled snaking my bum. “Go out and get him,”
“How? I already ran out on him when he asked to go to a football game?” I shrugged, reapplying my makeup.
“Come on now, where’s the bad ass I know, a fearless tiger.” Alexandra yelled heading back to her boyfriend. Your a fearless bad ass. Your a fearless bad ass. Your a fearless bad ass. I thought to myself for a confidence boost. I ran out of my bedroom. Meeting Alexandra down at the bottom of the stairs.
“Remember fearless bad ass. Got get him tiger.” She whispered to me as I left the apartment. I couldn’t wait to see him. I ran as fast as my feet could carry me. I was only a few feet away when it started raining. Great. I jogged up to the bakery door. The bell above the door rang for the 2nd time today for me. There he was. Harry rested his elbow on the counter with a frown on his face. But he shot up when I came closer to him.
“I forgot something.” I came closer and smashed my lips to his. Sparks
Flew through out my entire body. My stomach was twisting as a pretzel. It felt right kissing Harry. “I’d love to that game with you,” I smiled. Reconnecting our lips.
