Three Simple Words

Chapter 1

The silence once again settled around them, suffocating them from the inside out.

"I'm Thomas, I wish we could have met on better terms but nonetheless it's nice to meet you." He finally said, earning a laugh from the dark-haired girl. "What" he replied, baffled at what could make her laugh like that, surely it wasn't from the empty rode they were traveling down, the midnight moon peeking out from behind the clouds.

"Do you always talk like that?" she asked, laughing a little at the confusion plastered over his face, "Like you're talking to royalty?" she clarified.

For Thomas, talking to people had never been his strong suit which surprised most people because of his 6'1 frame and hardened muscles. "Only to people I don't know, I don't want to offend them" he replied, wishing they would go back to the silence that had covered them before.

"Has anyone ever told you you're cute before?" Ariel said, only half asking.

This time it was Thomas's turn to laugh, "My coach tells me that everyday" he replied, the sarcasm biting into the conversation. At this, Ariel looked mildly impressed at the witty retort.

"Let me guess, you're the star running back, a scholarship just waiting for you for any college you want and your darling parents are so proud to have a son like you. Am I right so far?" she asked, only a little surprised when he shook his head yes.

"Alright let me continue, your parents have no idea you went to that party to night and you're terrified that they are going to find out even though you could never disappoint them. You have always been the center of their lives and they would do anything for you, the picture-perfect family. Am I right?"

When Thomas didn't respond, she knew her answer or at least she thought she did. Things are rarely as they appear to be especially for Thomas. "Of course, I go to a party looking to find a boyfriend and I find a running back with a perfect life instead." Ariel stated, having a flair for the dramatic as well.

The next few minutes were as awkward as if he had gotten in her car completely naked, each minute seemed to take an eternity to pass and they were no closer to being home.

"So, what's it like to be the perfect son of two perfect parents who live in a perfect home on the end of a perfect street in a perfect town..." He interrupted "I get it, gosh, stop already, my life isn't fucking perfect alright, are you happy?!" Thomas spat out, hardly realizing how close he had been to blurting out the reason he can never have the perfect life, the one full of joy when he knew all he had waiting for him was hell itself. The anger that was inside of him seemed to be drowning the both of them,

"Sorry, god, I was just asking" Ariel replied, her mood wavering ever so slightly at his outburst.

"I'm sorry, I had no right to yell at you when all you've been was nice-ish to me; my life is good, far from perfect but as close to perfect as it can be." Thomas replied. The conversation left both of their heads swirling, the sudden change of moods left them both a little unsure of what to say next.

"Alright can we just start over, please, I've been kind of a bitch to you and you haven't exactly been the best conversationalist of all time." Again, Ariel's attention veered from the road onto the chocolate eyes that sat next to her. "Yeah, I'd like that." He replied, relieving the tension that had settled around them since they had left the party.

"So, do you want to tell me what happened to your face or are you going to keep me guessing?" she prodded. The blond tried to keep his face devoid of emotion but inside the fear and anguish consumed him. He knew the she had been wanting to ask him that since she saw him inside but he had hoped she would respect his privacy, obviously he wasn't too lucky.

"When I was going to the door, a group of guys accidently rammed into me and I couldn't regain my footing fast enough. It's no big deal, I'm stronger than I look." He laughed slightly, trying to sound as nonchalant as he could manage.

"Those must have been some pretty strong guys if they were able to knock you down and cut you up that bad."

From the way Ariel kept glancing at him, he knew she didn't believe him but he was grateful when she didn't press the subject, besides, it wasn't a complete lie. There was a large group of guys it just wasn't so much of an accident but rather a planned attack. Regardless of the reason they were there, Thomas would make it his business that the truth of that night was never to come out or the truth of why he was in that corner.

"Don't you need to know where I live?" He proposed, slightly confused as to where the night was headed. "And let you go home looking like you were in a wrestling match? No. You can come to over to my place and once you look presentable again, I'll take you home." She explained, having figured it all out during the first few passages of silence.

Seeing the exasperated look etched across the other's face, she continued "Don't worry, my parents are gone for the weekend, it's just us and my brother." Shoulders relaxing slightly, Thomas took in the surroundings and trusted Ariel to get them home safe and sound, one way or another."