Flat Tire--a short story/scene

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Sitting in the warm car, I gaze out the window into the rain. The pattering rain on the roof and racing drops on the window was my only hope for calmness; my eyes narrowed in deep thought. the cracking lightning and pounding thunder calmed my nerves and sent a shiver of comfort across my shoulders. “Are you okay?” His low voice jerked me out of my trance, but I didn’t meet his gaze. I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat, remembering why we were stuck out here, in the middle of the night, in the chilling rain. “yeah, I’m good. Sorry, just thinking.” My voice cracked as I spoke and didn’t come out near as convincing as I would’ve hoped. “About what?” he asked. I averted my eyes toward my shoes, which bumped lazily against each other. “what do you think?” I said, my voice quivering. “we’re out here, in the cold, no home in sight, and you ask me what’s wrong? everything. Everything’s wrong.”

He seemed almost humored by my hopelessness, “Well at least you have me,” He said smirking. “You know, I’m the funniest person I know.” I scoffed. “Oh, yeah? Should I go ask if Mathew thinks that?” it was a low blow, but I was still kind of pissed.

His eyes widened as he drew in a long breath before his counterattack. “Now how was I supposed to know that he liked veronica too? And on top of that, you had the entire school year to tell me she was your sister. Its not my fault your sister has a thing for charming, tall, and handsome young men, such as myself.” this time I meet his eyes. I start, “listen, I know what you think. But I'm telling you, she only likes you because she thinks I like you. okay? Now drop it.” I mumbled, “God, one girl likes you and it goes straight to your big head.” I sat in the tension for a few moments waiting for him to say something, say anything. The air conditioning’s humming filled the cramped car like water in my lungs. I resorted back to staring at my shoes when I felt his breath against my ear. “So you don’t like me?” my whole body went rigid and I was suddenly aware of the mere inches between us. “N-no,” I stuttered. He leaned back and I let go of a breath I realized I had been holding. “Shame.” He said nonchalantly. “Kinda thought you were cute.” He crossed his arms over his chest and smoldered in my direction. “Kind of? You kind of thought I was cute? Well I kind of thought you were a decent human, with common sense. But you don’t even know how to change a flat or charge your damn phone!” I hissed. Then he did something I wouldn't have expected after my small outburst. While I was gazing hotly out the window, I felt his hand on mine, which was lying on the middle console. My heart skipped a beat as his fingers intertwined with mine. “I’m really sorry we’re in this situation, Ash.” His thumb grazed back and forth on my hand. “I really never meant to upset you.”

I blinked away the tears and tried the wish the heat in my face away. The lump in my throat felt like barbed wire and so I resigned into silence as the tension melted away. finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I glanced up and met his apologetic gaze. “it’s okay. I let my phone die, too.” we chuckled slightly, but he seemed slightly distracted as his eyes darted from our combined hands back to my eyes. “Ash...” he whispered, his voice raw. The intensity of his gaze was enough to make my breath hitch. “Yeah?” I breathed, noticing how the moon shimmered off his cheekbones. His eyes flickered to my lips then to my eyes again. he lifted his hand and hesitated before resting it on my cheek. The warmth of it seemed to warm my whole being. He leaned in, my stomach flipping, and stopped inches from my face. “Did you mean it?” he breathed. “Do you really not like me?” I tried and failed to slow my breathing as I answered, almost inaudibly, “no,” he placed a soft kiss against my lips as I closed my eyes, then whispered, “You sure?” his thumb trailing my cheek, I answered, “promise.” Then he kissed me fully and gently. His lips moved slowly against mine and his other hand combed through my hair. I let my hands find their way up his chest, his shoulders, graze his cheeks then into his soft brown hair. after a little while, we broke apart, our foreheads resting together. He smiled. “Shame. Kind of thought you were cute.”