"I will be mad if you break that promise."
"I know." She smooths her skirt and leans back into her seat. Then her hands are playing with the strap of her safety belt. "I won't. I always keep my promises."
I believe her.
If it was anybody else, I'd say bullshit, but I believe that she'll keep any promises she makes to me. I trust Piper. I trust Piper in a way I don't trust anyone. Not even the other guys in the band.
I turn on the car and pull onto the street. It only takes a few minutes to get to the freeway.
We're quiet. I turn the radio up but that doesn't help fill the silence. It's a twenty minute drive back to her house, but it feels like it takes three hours. The air is heavy with frustration.
I sigh with relief when I park in front of her place.
She shifts in her seat, clearly uneasy. "Will you get back to your bike okay?"
"I'll take a cab home and get it tomorrow."
"Maybe I can take you? Today was my last midterm. There's this audition I was thinking of doing tomorrow, but... I don't think I want to do it now." She plays with her purse.
"Go to the audition."
Her eyes meet mine. "Okay. But only if you agree to let me take you to your bike. It's my fault you're stranded."
"I can handle it."
"I want to. Can I? Please."
Damn, she's polite even when she's tipsy. I'm not sure how to react. Nobody is this polite with me.
Nobody looks at me the way Piper does.
I nod. "Okay."
"I'm sorry, I... I just feel like this stupid kid who was trying too hard to be a bad girl. I really am a nice girl, I guess."
"That's not a bad thing."
"It is."
"Why?"
"Guys don't like nice girls."
"Asshole guys don't like nice girls."
She looks me in the eyes. "Do you like nice girls?"
"Come on." I get out of the car and help her out of the passenger seat. I know what she's doing.
I lock the car and help Piper inside. Her fingers dig into my arms. She rests her head against my shoulder.
There's no sign of Mal or Ethan here, but there are streamers and party hats.
"Do you want some?" She points to the cake on the counter. "Mal and Ethan threw me a Spring Break party."
"No thanks." I have to smile at the mental image of usually gruff Mal in a party hat. "I'm glad you called me."
She looks up at me with those big blue eyes. "Yeah?"