《Falling In Love》 Chapter:1The boy with the car Chapter:1The boy with the car I''m sitting Shotgun in a sleek sports car.The street of los Angeles blur past.Over the roar of the engine, Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. I hear My heart pounding in my chest.I nced in the side view mirror at the cop cars right on my tail and caught a glimpse of myself. "Is this really me?Gulp! Yeah,that''s me,alright...I barely even recognize myself." a voice calls out my name, Ellie!Ellie!Ellieee!!! I turn to the car''s Driver,his piercing eyes locked with mine. He said ,"I''m gonna have to do something a little risky.Do you trust me?" "I trust you?! I barely even know you.",I said.the speedometer ticks past 100 miles an hour.The driver takes my hand. "It¡¯s now or never, Ellie. Do you trust me?"He said. "I¡­." I tried to answer but I just keep thinking one thing over and over¡­this is not how I expected my eighteenth birthday to go. Earlier that day¡­. rm -beeeeeep beeeeeep beeeeeep! I turned off my rm and bolt straight up in bed "Today''s the day... I''m finally 18th!!" I throw on my usual outfit,checking myself out in the mirror. "I look pretty cute." I look down at the name of Saint Gobain College printed across the sweater I''ve had since I was thirteen. "I still can''t believe it. This summer I''ll be attending my dream school!" I head downstairs, full of a feeling that my whole life is about to be different¡­.. I find my dad in the kitchen,cooking over the stove. "There¡¯s my birthday girl. What do you want for breakfast?" "I''ll have an belgian waffle." "Thought you might say that. Order up, one Ellie special." "Yumm!! How do you know me so well?" "You''re my daughter. It¡¯s my job." "That''s your job? Somehow I Don''t think your boss would agree." "Shh..that''s our Secret. So any ns for your big day?" "Same asst year. Stuffing cake in my face with Kenny and Paul.Then back home for board games with you." "Don¡¯t think I''ll take it easy on you,just Because it¡¯s your birthday. " "You mean you were actually trying when I wiped the floor with youst time?" Dadughs,then reaches into his pocket. He slides over a small box tied with a ribbon. I unwrap my birthday gift"Ooh..nice job on the wrapping, Dad." "I watched a how-to video,you know. Ellie,every morning I eat breakfast at this table with you...and every morning I''m amazed at how you¡¯ve grown into such a responsible, driven,remarkable young woman. And I think about how proud your mom would be of you." I open the box and find..A charming bracelet. "Wow. It¡¯s just like the one--" "Yeah the one your mom used to wear." My eyes getting wet, Itch the bracelet to my wrist. "Dad,it¡¯s beautiful. It''ll always remind me of her. And mom would be proud of you too." "That''s a relief! I don¡¯t exactly know what''s cool for teenagers these days." "Honestly, dad, me neither. " "Now finish up your breakfast. Don''t Wanna miss the bus and be tardy on your birthday. " "Actually, I was kiiiida thinking¡­ " "Go on,spit it out. I can see those gears of yours turning. Rememberst year on my birthday, we talked about driving lessons? And you said maybe next year--" "Ellie,sweetie, I know I said we would talk about it. But it¡¯s just too dangerous driving with a bunch of teenagers zooming all over the road. You don¡¯t wanna know how many bad idents I''ve seen." "But dad¡­don''t you trust me? I''m an adult now. " "I do trust you Ellie. It''s the world I don¡¯t trust. Besides, soon, You''ll be off at college in a big city. No point having a car there, right?" "....Right" he leans down and kisses the top of your head before walking off. "Love you, Ellie." "Love you too,dad¡­" Soon, I''m on my way to school, the only senior on a bus full of noisy freshmen and sophomores. I try to study, burying my face in a romantic story book.by the way I like to read about love stories. I''ve always wanted to be in this kind of cheesy story. It''s my dream to be able to write some. I''ve always been a shy kind of kid. So books were my first everything for me. It gives me hope to believe in Fairytale. But the rickety bus bounces so much, I can''t even read. " ugh, just a few more weeks." As the bus stops at a red light, I hear a deep rumble, as a sleek, Blue car pulls up in the nextne. "Whoa, look at the car!" I was daydreaming about it. I sigh, gazing absently at the gleaming ride. "Sure it would-be nice to go to school like that instead. " as if he can feel my staring, the boy behind the wheel meets my gaze¡­ just for a moment. Then the traffic light turns green, and the car rockets off, engine roaring¡­ I shuffle off the bus outside our prestigious Mystic Vista Prep School. My senior ssmates, parking their cars in the parking lot, high-fiving and hugging each other. But none of them greet me. I hardly recognise any of them and suddenly I''ve never felt so alone. "Did Ipletely miss out on high school? " that''s when I notice it...the Blue car from earlier, parked in the lot." Weird never seen that car here before." "Ellie, hey,Ellie!!c''mon,Paul there she is!" that''s Kenny, my best friend and her boyfriend Paul catch up and walk by my side. "Congrats on the big dieciocho! What''s the first thing you wanna do now that you¡¯re officially an adult? ",Paul said. " Hmmm, I guess I''ve always wanted to vote,buy a lotto ticket and get a tattoo." "Hold up. Since when have you wanted a tattoo? ",said Paul. "I dunno I just want to do the things I''ve never been allowed to do before. " Kennyughs and swipes five bucks from Paul. "He bet me you¡¯d say something like ''serve on a jury'' or ''get a full-time job''. Well? How''s it feel being eighteen?", Kenny asked. "I''m being stupid but¡­ I just thought I''d wake up this morning and I''d suddenly be excited. Someone worth noticing. Someone different. " "You''re different! You''re an adult now! You get to decide what you¡¯re all about." said Kenny. "In that case,I''m all about¡­ being the best I can be. Finally falling in love. And getting the hell out of L.A." "Well, can''t me you. Love is pretty great.", said Paul. Paul gives kenny a peck on the cheek. "Yeah, Buuuut it¡¯s not everything! Sometimes you¡¯ve to put yourself first," said Kenny. "That''s what I''ve done my whole life. Put my studies first. Put my future first. I want someone else to love me,to share their thoughts with me and I want to feel loved by someone special first of all." "You''ll, I know it. I''ve seen the future, and in it your significant other is a snack. ", said Kenny. "I love you guys." "Well, we hate you for leaving early. Can''t your fancy honors program can''t wait ''till after ourst summer here?",Kenny asked. "Well my eptance at Saint Gobain is still conditional on keeping my grades up until graduation. It''s not official yet." "Neither is you being valedictorian, but I''m sure you¡¯re already on the third draft of your graduation speech. ", Said Paul. " No¡­.fourth!!" "Atleast, We still have prom to look forward to.", said Kenny. "You¡¯ve got that right. Hear me out... orange tux.", said Paul. "You do, babe."said Kenny. "I dunno. I think I''d just be a third wheel." "You can''t bail on prom! It''s the ssic high school experience!!! Not to mention it¡¯s the perfect opportunity for your first kiss." Said Kenny. "Kenny!!Shhh¡­!!" "Oh please, Paul knows.", Said Kenny. "Still,I''ll probably be too busy with studying to go to prom. I can''t have it both ways." "Sure, you can! You can totally have it all.Just look at L.", said Kenny.Kenny point''s out the model tall blonde surrounded by sycophants. "Ohhh, You''re so funny,Josh." said L. "Ah, my name is Tim¡­.Never mind,I can be Josh now.",said the boy she was talking to. "It¡¯s so unfair. She''s barely behind me in the ss rankings,is on every sports team, and in every club! She never even misses a party!!!!" "Been doing some social media ''research'' I see!?" said Kenny. Across the parking lot L shoots me a re that still somehow manages to look dazzling. You can''t look away!!! Crash!Distracted,I run right into somebody''s back and go sprawling to the sidewalk, spilling all my books. "Oofff!!!!" I find my face an inch away from a pair of ck boots. I slowly look up and see¡­.It''s him!!!! The boy with the car! The stranger looks down at me with a cocked eyebrow. He''d been talking with Brent, the richest kid in the school. "That was so embarrassing that I''m so embarrassed for you.Wow,is this what humiliation feels like???,asked Brent. I feel my face flush hot with shame¡­ until the stranger offers me a hand. "You know, there are easier ways to get my attention.", said the stranger. I take his hand."I, ahh...thanks." He easily pulls me to my feet "I''m really sorry about running into you.It won''t happen again." "It won¡¯t?! Too bad.I was hoping it will happen again.", said the stranger. "I just got distracted, and then I didn¡¯t--um--sorry,but who are you?I didn¡¯t see you here before." "You cut right to the chase,Don''t you? The name''s Lan." "I haven¡¯t seen you around, Lan.do you go here?" "Not exactly, though right now, I kinda wish I did." "Lan You''re very kind. I dabble in charity too. But could you please focus on me? We''ll do the exchange at my house party tonight. The hottest girls, kegs,a Dj¡­ you¡¯d be stupid to miss it.", said Brent. "Stupid, huh¡­Is she going? Asked Lan to Brent. "M-Me?" "Her?" shocked response by Brent. Lan nods to my advanced textbooks. "You seem smart, And I wouldn¡¯t wanna be stupid now,would I? So if You''re going¡­. " "I- I mean¡­ party??Tonight??? I''m not inv--" "Of course she is invited!!! This is my good friend...erm..Her name''s¡­ " confused reply by Brent. "It¡¯s Ellie." "So, I''ll see you at Brent''s party tonight then,Ellie??" "You¡¯d better,Maybe. I mean that''s not really my scene¡­ " "Mine neither. Too bad. Alright, Brent,we''ll do it tonight but I''m not sticking around. " They shake hands and part ways. Then with onest look at me, Lan gets in his car and takes off. "Wow!! I know you have ns with your dad, Ellie, but you must have an iron will to blow off a guy that absurdly hot!,said Kenny." Ken, I''m standing right here¡­",Paul said. "I can''t go. I''ve never been to a party in my entire life!!!" " Remember five minutes ago when you werementing all your missed high school experiences?? Asked Kenny. "That''s the kind of say when major life changes areing! But you don''t mean it!!!" "So you didn¡¯t mean all those times you¡¯ve said you¡¯ve never really lived?or that you dad keep you on such a tight leash???" angry response by Kenny. "Ellie wants to get her feet wet,not dive right into the deep end. And a Brent Vandermeer party doesn¡¯t "Paul, what I''ve told you about extended metaphors??Don''t you want to help Ellie make the best of what''s left of high school?",said Kenny. "Of course, I do. So? We''re doing this together?? ",asked Paul. "Yeah..yeah!!!we''re going to a party!!!" Chapter: 2The party Chapter: 2The party After school, me and Kenny head to my house. Kenny flops down on my bed dreamily. "So Let''s see it. What are you wearing tonight?? " "Uhhh,this???" "That???? " "Yeah,what''s wrong with this??" "You¡¯ve been wearing that sweater since you decided to go Saint Gobain a million years ago!!!! This is your first high school party, you deserve a makeover." "Umm..I don''t know¡­" "Please!do it for me..More importantly do it for you. Let yourself stand out for once." "You''re right. I''ve been hiding behind this same old look for too long. Let''s see what I''ve got in my closet." I found a beautiful balcy dress thatdress, that fits me so well.. "Well,what do you think? Is it too much???" "You''ll be too much for Lan. He won''t be able won''t able to keep his eyes off you. But it¡¯s not what he thinks or what I think. It¡¯s what you think." "I think...I think I love it." After getting ready for the party,I enter the living room to see my dad is setting up a pile of board games on the coffee table. "So,I think We''ve got time for one round of forbidden ind and a best-of-three in the colony before I have to head into the office." He nces up and sees my new look. "Ohh..Hi,Kenny,Ellie..You look very nice. Are you two going somewhere?" "Oh,dad..I forgot to tell you..Kenny and I made ns." "ns??What kinda n?" "We''re going to a small get-together with some friends. " "Sounds nice. Which friends? " "Some¡­ uh.. Girls from school,right, Ellie?? ", said Kenny. "Yeah,You know them,dad. Anna and¡­ uh..Marie¡­ " "Right. I guess I''m just forgetting. That sound That sounds fun. Well..no worries. It¡¯s your birthday. You celebrate it however you like. We can y some other time. And be safe! You''ll be home by ten,right,Ellie? I''m leaving for my night shift around then." "I''ll make sure of it! Bye, Mr.Wheeler! ", said Kenny. I head to the door with Kenny and take onest nce at my dad as he packs up the board games¡­ Then I hurry out to Kenny''s car. Brent''s huge house is packed with my ssmates, dancing and talking. Music sts from the speakers. "Soak it all in!!", said Kenny. Beer sloshes from a pitcher onto Paul''s shoulder. "I''d rather not be so literally. " said Paul. "So this is a party? This is.. So epic!!! There''s something kinda magical about it. Like It''s loud and bright and vibrant. Beauty in chaos." "That''s surprisingly poetic.", aaid Kenny. "What''s everyone drinking out of those red cups?" "We will get to that partter." said Kenny. "Ellie! Is that really you??" asked by Tim?Josh? Whatever his name is!! "Uh..yes? I think so? " Wow! you look awesome."said Tim?or Josh? ''Thanks???" "Yes,she looks awesome. She''ll be signing autographster." said Kenny. "Who was that guy?,asked Paul. Someone brushes by,bumping me. "Oh,sorry, I didn¡¯t see you there...wait! Ellie???"Surprised Response by L. " Yes, In the flesh." "Where did you find that get-up? You almost looked hot, and then I realised It was you." angry reply by L. "Don''t you have something better to do, L???" Kenny said. "Definitely,Toddles." "Come on,that dance floor looks so fun!!" said Kenny. "Hold on, where''s the snack table? I bet Brent spent my worth on food!" said Paul. "Ellie, You''re the birthday girl. Where to?" asked Kenny. "I want to hit the dance floor. " "People better clear the floor! I''m about to break out moves that haven¡¯t even been invented yet!!!" said Paul. The three of us head towards the middle of the dance floor, where Kenny and Paul dance enthusiastically. I join in awkwardly at first but get more confident as I lose myself to the beat. Kenny spins me around. "There you go, You''re getting it!" Said Kenny. "I don''t look dump?" "No way, you¡¯ve got rhythm!" said Kenny. "That''s twelve years of ssical musical training for you." I overhear a couple of girls nearby.. "Oh wow! Who is that hot guy with Brent?" I look across the living room just in time to see Brent with a backpack approaching Lan. They shake hands. "My dude! So d you made it! Having fun?"asked Brent. " Let''s just do this.". Brent hands his backpack over to Lan,who unzips it to check inside. From a distance, I''m able to see it¡¯s stuffed with stacks of cash. "Whoa! Did you guys see that?" Lan tosses Brent a set of keys in exchange. "You know I got you, Lan! I can''t wait to get this baby on the openon open road." "How does Brent even get that much cash? Just walk up to the bank and ask??" Said Paul. "Given that his parents own the bank? Probably." said Kenny. L walks up and flirtatiously touches Man''sLan''s arm. And said,"Hey,there. I''m the unofficial wee "Is that so?"Said Lan. I try to ignore their conversation, but when I look back over, Lan is watching me. Kenny nudges me toward him.And said" He is legit staring at you. Go talk to him. " "And, say what???" "Anything,save him from her!!! Kenny pushes me again. Swallowing hard, I walk across the room and clear my throat.and said," Hey " "Hey yourself." Angry by my presence L said,"um,could you leave? We were kind of in the middle of something." "No,we weren¡¯t. " Lan never takes histhis eyes off me. Stunned. L flips her hair and storms off. He looks me up and down. "Wow! " My cheeks burn with heat as I blush. "Wow,what?" "You know damn well that. You had me worried there. Thought you hadn¡¯t shown, until I saw you across the room." "You must have great eyes then.I mean,you vision. Because you saw me,''cause...your eyes are great. Not that I''m, like, into your eyes or--" "Am I making you nervous? " "Nervous? Very¡­" "Howe?" This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . "Because, I think you''re preposterously hot." "You do like to cut to the chase." My eyes involuntarily y across his toned arm and chest. I feel myself blushing. "Come on. It''s no secret. You know you are." "It may havee up in the past. I like that you say exactly what you are thinking." "Well, what are you thinking right now?" "That there''s gotta be something better we could be doing with our night." "You mean you don¡¯t usually hang out at high school parties with a backpack full of cash?" "You noticed that, huh?" Lan hands me the bag. "Go Ahead.Open it." I swallow, a bit nervous, and unzip the bag. I take out a single stack of $10,000 from a pile of them. "Wow,I''ve never seen this much money in my life,what were you, um¡­" "Selling Brent a car. He''s taken a few off my hands. He''s got quite a collection in the garage here." "Is that...Is that really it? What all that cash is for?" "You asking if I''m lying? I''ve got plenty of secrets but none that are tied up in Brent''s car collection." "Secrets?" "I can show you the collection, if you want. Maybe a secret or two, If you ask nicely." "Okay,Lan.Let''s go." "Follow me." Lan navigates through the packed halls of Brent''s sprawling mansion, leading me into...a pristine, luxurious garage, lined with rows of stunning,rare luxury cars. "Wow.You sold him all of these?" "Most of them." "How?" "I have my ways. Say what you want about Brent,but the guy has solid taste." Lan lovingly runs his hand over a silver car. "This one was almost impossible to find. The aluminum -bodybodyy 1965 Schwarz Drei CLS. Gull-wing doors,2,96 single overhead camshaft, top speed of around 160 miles an hour." I watch his expert fingers gaze at the curves of the mint condition body¡­ the way his eyes catch fire as he talks about it. "First car ever built with direct fuel injection. Raw power. Only 29 of ''em ever made. The way she purrs¡­ there''s nothing like it." "You really love cars. Don''t you?" "Every car''s got a story¡­. Just like people. " "Then,what''s youryou story?" "You sure want to ask that? It¡¯s not a happy one." "Of course, I''m sure. Like, where are you from?" "Nowhere. Everywhere. Depends how you look at it." "Are you trying to be mysterious? " "Usually. Keeps me safe. Honestly, I''ve spent my whole life on the road. I''ve lived all over. Nowhere, I''d ever take a nice girl like you." "Who said I''m a nice girl? Maybe I''m not as nice as you think." "I doubt that." He opens the door of an orange coupe and gestures for me to sit inside. I slide in the car and sit next to him in the front of the car. "The 1966 Santagata Toro. The one that started it all. You look good behind the wheel." "It''s beautiful. How much is it?" "About $900,000. You wanna take it for a spin? Brent owes me a few favors." "I wouldn¡¯t know what to do with it. I never learned to drive. " Lanughs, thinking I''m joking, when he reads my face, his eyes go wide. "You''re serious!! " "My dad won''t let me." "Now that''s a surprise, I wouldn¡¯t have guessed there was anyone who could stop you from doing what you want." "Not anymore, there¡¯s not. I''m not the girl you think I''m. " "That so?" "I think you just have a very skewed perception of me." "Maybe everyone else does. Maybe I have exactly the right perception. It''s time to get you out on the open road, Ellie. There''s nothing quite like the thrill of a ride, the wind in your hair. Especially You''re up to no good. " "No good??" Lan offers me a hand to help me out of the car. As I do, My shoe slips and I lose bnce, falling back against the Santagata clinging to Lan for support. "Ouf!, sorry¡­" He catches me, and I find myself pressed against him.Leaning against the sports car, my face is just inches away from him. ''Easy, I''ve got you.'' ''Was this your n all along? Because I might have fallen for it.'' He looked me straight in my eyes. His eyes were so dark and mysterious.Maybe there was more about him,I can feel an invisible ma that was pulling me towards him. "Maybe it was." "Getting me alone in here, just so you could get close to me." "Didn¡¯t think it was much of a secret. I''m not a subtle guy." He looks down for a bit andughs. "I can feel your heart pounding." "You can!!" Entranced by his gaze, I find myself leaning in¡­.just then he pulls away sharply. "Lan...what''s wrong?" "Listen..sirens!! "He said it with much rage. I strain to listen, sure enough I can hear police sirens are drawing closer...then amotioning from the party. "Come on let''s go." Lan takes my hand and we made our way to the main house. Around me, everyone starts screaming, running in different directions inplete chaos. "Kenny! Paul! Where did they go?? My first time going out and I''m about to get arrested!!!dad is going to kill me¡­¡­" The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!