Trust(21)

A noise like a gunshot shattered the night as a tire blew. Swerving wildly, the car screeched and shuddered. I braked hard, my head whipping forward, body slamming into the seat belt.

Holy shit.

Carefully, carefully, I steered the hatchback over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. All I could hear was the hammering of my heart. My hands shook, still holding on tight to the wheel. Not dead, just really shaken. Okay.

One at a time, I pried my fingers loose of their death grip. It wasn't easy. Driver's-side door open, I stepped out, knees knocking only a little. Everything was fine. No need for anyone to lose their shit.

The smell of burnt rubber filled the air. Only ragged strips of tire remained on the rear wheel. It could have been worse. Still, I swore up a storm, then popped the hatch, pulling out the jack and spare wheel. Mom and I had practiced for just such an occasion. The first three nuts came off fine, but the fourth one . . . I pulled and I strained and I called it every vile name ever invented, along with a few new ones even Shakespeare might have appreciated.

Nothing worked.

Over and over, the boom of the tire blowing echoed through my head. Not a gunshot. I needed to pull myself together. Except strange noises came from out in the dark, beyond the limits of where the lights could reach. The scuffle of a foot sliding over gravel, the mumbling of voices. Tonight, nature most definitely wasn't my friend.

"Stop it," I whispered. "It's just your imagination. There's no one out there."

Chris stepping out of the blackness, walking toward me with a gun in hand. That smile. That creepy, crazy, murderous smile.

"You're just freaking yourself out, you idiot," I muttered.

Mom would still be at work. Never mind what she'd say if she knew I'd been out cruising at one in the morning. Hang would come to my rescue. If I couldn't get the damn tire off, though, then neither of them stood a chance of doing it, either. I held the cell phone to my ear.



       
         
       
        

"Edie?" he asked, voice husky from sleep.

I took a deep breath. "John."

"What's wrong?"

"The, uh, one of my tires blew. I tried to change it myself, but-"

"Where are you?" There were rustling noises in the background, the jangling of keys.

"Bell Road. A couple of miles along."

"Get in the car and lock the doors," he ordered. "I'll be there soon."

"Okay. Thanks."

I let down the jack and did as told, sitting in the dark, cell held tight in my shaking, sweaty hands. Deep, calm breaths and nice thoughts. I closed my eyes, concentrating on good things. Kittens and cake and books and shit. Happy things. At least I'd gotten semi-dressed in black yoga pants and a tank top, a pair of flip-flops on my feet.

Years passed. Or at least twenty-three minutes. Someone tapped on the window and I shrieked. John. I flipped the lock and slowly climbed out of the car.

"You all right?" he asked, face set.

I nodded. "Thanks for coming."

"What were you doing out here?"

"You were right," I said. "About driving at night. It helps."

He nodded.

"Here, hold the light." He pressed it into my hands and dropped down onto one knee beside the busted wheel. Evilest tire in all of creation. Of course, for him the nut came off on his first try with ease. Bastard of a thing.

"I must have loosened it for you," I said, the tips of my ears burning with embarrassment.

He just grunted.

"I do know how to change a tire. It was just, you know, the nut."

A nod.

John had the car roadworthy again in about two minutes. God, for him it'd all been so simple. The boy probably thought I'd lured him out here under false pretenses. Because I wanted his attention or something stupid.

"You okay to drive?" he asked.

I hid my shaking hands behind my back. "Absolutely."

"I'll follow you back to your place," he said. "Make sure you get there okay."

"Thank you."

Back at home, I don't know what I expected. A wave of the hand, a chin tip maybe. But he parked his car and got out, moseying on over to where I stood.

"Your mom home?" he asked.

"No. She doesn't finish until four."

I'd left on the light in the front hall and the bedside lamp in my bedroom. Walking into a totally dark house had a tendency to freak me out these days. Meanwhile, my stupid hands were still trembling. The noise the tire made when it blew had been shocking, true. But that had been nearly an hour ago. I shook them hard, trying to dislodge the fear, to get the tremor to ease. 

When I looked up, John stood silently watching. "I can stay for a while if you want."

"No," I said, guilt making me refuse. "Really, you should go home, get some sleep. I'm going to as well."

He just looked at me.

"Thank you for rescuing me. I would have been in real trouble if you hadn't come."

A brief smile flitted across his lips. "No problem."

I smiled back at him, took a deep breath, and raised my hand in farewell. "Good night."

"'Night."

"Or morning."

"Right."

The curve of his lips could have kept me occupied for hours. Wings stirred in my belly, both scary and thrilling at the same time. Friends again or not, liking John in a more-than-that way was dumb. Insane even. Still, just to be sure where we stood, I wanted to ask if the fight had been archived, forgotten. Except just bringing it up again seemed risky during this time of peace. Maybe I should, though. Clear the air and all that.

"Edie," he said, shaking his head. "I'm waiting for you to go inside."

"Oh. Right."

"You sure you don't want me to stay?"

More than I could say, and for reasons less than pure. "Oh, no. I, um . . ."

"I don't mind."

"No, no. I'm fine. Really. Thanks." I rushed to the front door, unlocking it with all due haste. "'Bye."

"I'll see you tomorrow at school." He took a step backward, watching me all the while. Then he turned, heading straight for his car.

"Today at school," I called out.

He laughed. "Whatever."

Such was the magic of John Cole, I even managed to get to sleep. Bet I still had the stupid smile on my face, too.





John: Hey

Me: Hi. How's 1:38 am treating you?

John: Shit. You?

Me: Same

John: No driving at night alone again right?

Me: I'm guessing you want to hear no …

John: correct

John: Been worrying about it

Me: Alright. I'll text you first if I do.

John: Ok thanks

Me: And you'll let me know too

John: You want to know when I go out?

Me: That's what you're asking from me

Me: Hello?

John: Ok deal fine

John: I can look after myself though

Me: I put a baseball bat in my car.

John: You're weaponized now?

Me: Or ready for impromptu baseball games

John: Right

Me: So … what else shall we talk about? What do you usually discuss when you text girls at one in the morning?

John: I don't

Me: Sure you do. Come on. Tell me.

John: You don't want to hear that

Me: I absolutely do.

John: lets talk about movies or something

Me: Waiting.

John: Shit Edie

John: I ask them if I can come over

Me: That's all?

John: Yeah

Me: You don't text them anything else?

John: No

Me: None of the "what are you wearing" thing first?

John: No

Me: Let me get this straight, you give them no lead-in whatsoever?

John: Already told you no. Can we talk about something else now?

Me: Man, you're so lazy.

John: It works

Me: I'm actually disappointed in you right now.

John: FFS

John: we both get what we want. Why complicate things?

Me: I'm beginning to think life is about the complications.

John: Enough shit in life is complicated thanks. Sex can stay easy



       
         
       
        

Me: Not even a prom date on the horizon?

John: not going

Me: Got other plans?

John: hang at the lake maybe. What do you think

Me: You're inviting me?

John: yeah

Me: Cool. Sounds good.

John: We could jump off the rock again

Me: Okay. But just to warn you, I'm wearing a prom dress even though I'm not going to the dance and this isn't a date. It'll be something truly sparkly and stupid.

John: Remind me to bring floaties so you don't sink.

Me: Thanks, I appreciate that.

John: No problem

Me: You seriously wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen with me?

John: No. If that's what you want, go crazy

Me: You're sure? Because I'm talking big hair, a corsage and fluffy skirts, serious amounts of sequins and tulle.

John: whatever makes you happy. I'll even buy the corsage for you.

Me: :)

John: I'll bring the flowers and drinks and you wear the dress.

Me: Done.

John: Tell me something good

Me: We're in our last year of high school.

John: So?

Me: So time to get the hell out of here.

John: And go where?

Me: Everywhere.

John: What about college?

Me: College is out of this town. It's a start.

John: yeah

Me: You thinking of going?

John: maybe. Been looking at a certification for landscape technology and construction management. But my brothers not doing well so leaving him could be hard