The Miraculous Mistake

It was the last day of my Junior Year of High school. My boyfriend Blake was continuously not taking a no for an answer about me going to this end of the year party that everyone who's anyone was attending tonight.

I wanted to go, but knowing I had a responsibility for my mother, I told Blake that I couldn't.

My mom, about four months ago was in a serious damaging, car wreck. It was so bad, we are still not sure how she made it out alive. A reckless driver almost ruined my mom's life, ran her off the road, while running a red light. She saw him coming up fast but was unable to get off the road fast enough. Thankfully she is still with us, but she is not whole. She was diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) after having episode after episode. Several nights of her screaming in her bed, then acting somewhat normal when actually awake. I won't lie to you, she is not the same person anymore. My mom seems broken, like that wreck took a huge part of her being. A miracle is a miracle, and having her still here with me today was one of those.

"Well just let me know if you're able to come or not, and I'm so sorry about your mom." Blake sighed while putting his books back into his locker.

"Thanks." I said while shifting my feet back and forth, side to side, noticeably. As I was about to head towards my next class, Blake kissed me on the forehead and told me everything was going to be alright.

I rushed over to the hospital as soon as the last period school bell rang. Dad was going to be working that night, so I told him I'd stay the night with her at the hospital.

"Don't you have a party to go to?" Mom asked with a puzzled look as soon as I stepped into the tiny hospital room.

"I'm not going mom." I argued.

She started talking to me about how she didn't want to hold me back from living my life. I of course explained to her that that wasn't the case. I WANTED to be there with her.

After squabbling for twenty minutes, I finally gave in... Who could say no to my mom? She's like the most caring, sweetest person I know. She's always thinking about others before herself. I wish I could be more like her.

"Now you go and have fun with your friends," Mom said excitingly. "Tell Blake I said hi!"

After exchanging a few hugs, I set foot outside the doctor's office door when my phone started buzzing. Blake's name popped up on the screen.

"Okay, okay, I'm going," I said while holding the phone up to my ear talking into the mic. "I will see you in a bit."

As I was getting dressed for the party in my closet, one of my best friends Lane marched through the door complaining about how she had to hear from Blake instead of myself, that I was going to the party.

"I wanted to get dressed with you." She said with an unpleasant whiny voice.

"Well, start changing, cause' I'm about done. I just have to fix my hair and do my make-up, then I'll be ready."

Lane is a 5'6 long wavy-haired, red headed, barbie. She's captain of the cheer-leading squad, usually has men lining up at her door, and very outgoing. Lane is what you call very "popular". We've been friends for two years now, we became friends when we both were trying out for the squad.

"Blake should be here any minute." I said as I walked to my bathroom to put mascara on.

"Blake is already here with flowers for his girlfriend's mom and her beautiful daughter." He called out while carrying a bouquet of perfect red roses with one pink lily in the middle. He knows lilies are my favorite.

"Aw, you shouldn't have." I said blushing with a big smile on my face.

Blake always knew how to cheer me up, how to make me feel good about everything. We have been going on strong for 10 whole months. They've been a little patchy here and there, but mostly we were inseparable, undeniably in love. I never knew in my lifetime I could find someone that I loved and someone who loved me just as much. He loved me for me, and has never once tried to change who I am or what I do. He's the star quarterback (cliche, I know), so yes of course all the girls are all over him. But he chose me out of all 3,000 in our high school.

I always believed that nothing could tear us apart, that we would never have any problems, always smooth sailing.

That night was the opposite of smooth sailing.

As we walked into the house that the party was being thrown at, the music is blaring, teenagers dancing to the beat, lots of red solo cups placed everywhere in hands, on the floor, and on the tables. I was used to these types of parties. They were the usual in my world. I'm not one of those girls that stay at home and "Netflix and chill" by myself. That's just not me. This was my scene for the most part.

Blake, Lane, and I all gather around in a triangle talking about how we were officially seniors!

"I really should start focusing more. This is it. The last school year coming up." I said shaking my head.

"Relax, babe. You'll do just fine." Blake said while pulling me into a hug squeezing me.

"Says the guy that makes nothing but straight A's."

"You make A's too."

"Yeah, and B's and one C this past year."

As I looked over at Lane, I see her roll her eyes.

"You're such a crybaby, lighten up. It's all going to be okay." She snapped with an annoyed look on her face.

The front door of the house slams, and us three look over towards it. It was my other best friend Audrey entering with a bang. I thought to myself, oh lord.

I am much closer to Audrey than I am Lane, but they are still equally my best friends. Audrey is gorgeous with her long curly black hair, and her perfectly shaped face. She is outspoken, loyal, and she's always been there for me from day one. I'm not sure what I would have done all these years without her. She's the peanut butter to my jelly.

And here she goes... The anger she has obviously been withholding, even before she got here.

"Why in the hell didn't y'all tell me you were already here?" She said with a very grouchy look shown across her face.

We all looked at each other with fake deep remorse.

"Oops." I said nonchalant.

"You're already drunk, aren't you?"

"Yeah, and she's only had two. She's a lightweight." Blake said, then laughed hysterically.

I stared at him with THE LOOK of "how dare you" and nudged him forcefully. He put his hand behind his head, regretting what he just said.

We all carried on talking about everything going on in our lives, and what was bound to happen over the summer, when all of a sudden, I started feeling dizzy.

All three looked at me with concern.

"Maybe you should go sit down, Rylee." Lane said as she took another sip of her Smirnoff.

"Yeah, let's go take a seat for a bit. We'll chat there." Audrey said while starting to pull me away from the group.

Not even a second after I turn my back to sit on a couch over by a fireplace, Lane starts to try and dance with Blake. He seemed a little offish about it but still carried on with her anyways moving his body to the music.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Audrey was going on and on about this girl she'd been texting but hasn't been getting a response. But all I could focus on was Blake and Lane dancing together.

Her rubbing her ass up against the front of his pants. For some reason, he wasn't really backing away. Was he liking her dancing on him like that? Why isn't he pushing her off? I started to get so fumed, I almost cracked the solo cup in my two hands. Which would have led to a mess all over my outfit. Thankfully, the song ended after three minutes of the torture, and Blake made his way over to me. Lane swaying her hips from side to side also coming towards us... She knew what she was doing. She was always a huge flirt, I just never thought it would have been with my man. It was known that I was watching from afar.

"Would you like a drink?" Blake asked, acting as if nothing had just happened.

"Yes, I would love one." I said pettishly while crossing my arms.

"Ooh, grab me one too!" Lane said overly excited.

She could tell that I was steaming from the expression my face was showing. Blake timidly told her that he was just getting the drinks for him and I.

Lane didn't care for that, and just kept on asking anyways.

I pulled Blake aside over by a corner wall that was separating the kitchen and the living room. Lane just watched us with a glare of jealousy.

"Don't you think Lane is acting a bit weird tonight?" I asked, still glancing over at Lane.

He said he was thinking the same thing, but he was still pretending as if all her actions were okay. Men, ugh.

We decided that we were going to go outside by the outdoor pool for a bit, just to relax with one another. We started playfully acting like we were going to push each other in the pool, and joked around for about 30 minutes.

"I'm going to grab some more drinks, I'm out of beer." He said while getting up off the concreted slab.

I told him in an agitated manner that I'd be waiting for him outside for his return.

While lingering, I started looking at my Insta seeing if I got any likes on a picture of Blake and I that we took earlier right outside my house. All of a sudden, a strong smell of what smelt like skunk's odor filled my nostrils.

It was unbearable, I pinched my nose with my right hand and tried to cover my eyes with my left to keep the smoke from getting in them. SMOKE?!

"What the hell, dude? I thought there was a fire or something." I said while jogging over to where the smoke was even thicker. Where this stranger stood holding a blunt near his thin lips gazing at me with admiration.

There was this beautiful, tan male specimen who had a masking smell of "Old Spice" cologne on his clothing. How could I smell that through the marijuana scent surrounding us? It stood out, just like his gorgeous, strong boned face. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He was wearing a black T-shirt with the arms slightly covering his tattoo of what looked like a dragon. He wore skinny jeans that fit him perfectly, not too tight, not too loose. He had black curly hair that went past his ears. His eyes, the color of grey that somehow reflected the smoke that remained in the air around us.

"Did you want some?" Ezra asked while taking a strong puff, his fingers entwined with the blunt.

The more I stared him up and down, I knew he had looked familiar, everyone called him "the loner", "the bad boy" at school due to his reputation of smoking weed and skipping school all the time. I do believe people had said before that he robbed a store once, but that may have just been a rumor. I try and ignore rumors, most of them are untrue. I like to judge people myself and see what they're all about. Not listen to how others portray people.

"No thank you." I said as I gestured my hand back and forth in front of my face trying to get the smoke to float away.

"It's medicinal, you know."

"Sure, it is, and I'm the fucking queen of England." I said playfully as I start making a flirtatious motion.

"Jeez, touchy." Ezra said with a smirk.

His mouth was moving, but I was hearing no words being spoken. In that moment, I was frozen, I felt like I couldn't move. Why was I feeling this way?

"So, you're the bad boy of the school, huh?" I said, utterly assuming I know everything about this man.

"Really hate when people call me that. It's annoying." He said as he took yet another puff of his marijuana-filled cigar.

"I would hate to have that reputation as well."

"It sure does get me women though having that "title"." He said with strong confidence.

"Wow..." I said while rolling my eyes noticeably so he could see.

"What are you doing out here all alone? Don't you have a boyfriend or something?"

"I do and he should be coming back any minute now."

"He's with another woman." He said in a cocky manner, while leaning up against the brick wall.

"I beg your pardon. He is not like that at all!"

"Don't get mad at me when you're proven wrong." He shrugged and gave me a smug look.

I rolled my eyes and then walked away leaving him all by himself.

I stormed towards the back door to enter the house to find Blake. While setting foot inside, I saw Audrey sitting on the couch with the biggest smile I had seen on her in awhile. She stated that that girl she had been awaiting her text for, finally messaged her back.

I abruptly interrupted in what seemed was going to be a VERY long conversation that I didn't have time for at that moment, and asked her where Blake was. He was supposed to be back with my drink like thirty minutes ago. He didn't leave, did he?

"He went to check on Lane. Apparently, some dude was grabbing on her, so he went to see what the fuss was about." Audrey said shrugging while still staring at her phone.

A song came on that really fit the mood, it was an intense type of song. As I was frantically searching this big one-story house, checking inside every door, I finally walked into the one Lane and Blake were in.

I waltzed in there just about to ask what was happening with Lane, and I see IT happening. I see Lane and Blake making out over by a twin sized bed, Lane pushing Blake up against the dresser. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. Maybe I got high from that weed out there, or I was too drunk? No, that can't be it. I'm seeing this very clearly, even in this dim lighted pink room.

My heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces, my throat almost locked up, but I still managed to say,

"What the actual fuck is happening right now? Blake, Lane?!"

Blake looked at me shocked, and with a bit of confusion, while Lane is primping her hair just staring at me with squinting eyes.

"Please tell me I didn't just see you two kissing. Please." I said with a raspy voice.

"Oh, hey Rylee." Lane beamed, acting as if nothing just happened between them two.

"It's not what you think. It's not what it looks like. She kissed me, I swear."

In that moment I wanted to run, run like hell. But I was experiencing such distress to even move, and I'm barely letting out a breath not taking my eyes off them.

"Please, you have to believe me." Blake said as he walked towards me hesitantly.

"Don't come near me, I don't want to be around you. Either of you!" I said while crying just a little holding back the actual storm that I knew was to come. "How could you do this to me?! Was I just not good enough?! I have to go."

Blake tried reaching for my hand, but I was able to escape the room untouched. I embarrassingly ran out crying, not entirely hiding my emotions from everyone at the party.

I didn't want to hear the lies, I didn't want to hear Lane gloat about kissing my BOYFRIEND. She had to have wanted to, by the way she was acting, it was like she had no remorse for what she had done. Was it the alcohol that made them do this? Lane must've taken advantage of me drinking, and decided that night would be the night that she'd try and get with Blake. Why this specific night? Why not before now? Sadly, Blake went right ahead along with it.

I'm such a fool thinking that Blake and I were always going to have this happy ending with engagement, marriage, two little kiddos, and a nice house. FORGIVE ME for thinking that fairy tales can actually happen. I've always trusted him, always believed everything he said, and now I'm not sure what to think of him. Or what our future will hold.

I'm an even bigger fool for believing that Lane was a loyal friend. Whether there was alcohol in her system or not, it still shouldn't have happened. I'm in complete shock that she could do this to me. I've been nothing but a good friend to her.

I was almost out the door when Audrey tapped me on the shoulder wondering where I was going, and why I was leaving so early.

"I'm just ready to go home, I'll talk to you later." I lied, restraining myself from tearing up in front of her.

"You're going to walk home?! At least take an Uber." I heard her say as I walked down the front door steps outside.

This night couldn't get any worse right? Wrong. It started pouring down raining as I was walking down the block in the subdivision. The rain made me realize even more so, how fucked up the night really was. It sounds like one of those sad movies you watch... and I was the sad girl in the movie. I'm not normally this emotional, but this was one of those rare cases. I had a good reason.

Shake my little head, and call me ridiculous.

I stopped right in front of a tall two-story house, fell to my knees as anger and sorrow washed over me, and then I started to bawl my eyes out. Tears came flowing down my face then landing onto the concrete. I couldn't walk any further. I was so hurt.

Seeing one of your longtime friends hooking up with your boyfriend, it didn't feel good. Watching your boyfriend, the love of your life, of almost a year making out with another woman was the worst.

I felt like I got stabbed multiple times in my chest, and someone had set a big boulder on top of me. My breathing was off, and just as I'm about to let out a full exhale, someone came driving up beside me and stopped. Don't freak out, don't freak out. Stop crying. I look over my right shoulder and see him. The "bad boy" stranger that I spoke to earlier at the pool just staring at me from inside his car.

"What do you want?" I asked with such bitterness.

"Well, I'm just wondering why you're strutting through the rain, at night." He ponders as he takes both his hands off the wheel of his car and puts his left arm up on the window. "That doesn't seem very safe to me."

"Why don't you mind your own business?"

"I know you don't know me, but can I at least give you a ride?"

I didn't take but a few seconds to respond. I guess I was just so fed up, I didn't care what went on for the remainder of the night.

"Anywhere, anywhere other than that stupid party!" I said angrily taking two steps towards the car.

"I know somewhere we can go, hop in."

I walked around to the other side of his old blue, shiny Camaro, I opened the door, and jumped in, slightly slamming the door beside me. I knew I shouldn't have, I should have just called an Uber like Audrey said to do...

Getting in a car with a stranger, I tell you, is not normal for me. But, in that moment, that specific time of the night, I didn't care where I was, who I was with, or where I was going.

Anything to get my mind off of Blake.