FicWad

As it turns out, Mr. Williams made me sit outside the door on the floor the whole period. I've never been so mortified in my life. The class was snickering at me as he practically slammed the door in my face and commanded me to sit on the ground and wait the whole period. However, he only counted it as two tardies, not an absence. Lucky me. The rest of the day went by pretty slowly, as usual.

As I was walking to my car, I noticed something in the corner of my eye. I ignored it and kept walking to my car. I had barely gotten the key in the door when I looked up and saw that guy with the pop cans parked two spots away from me, kicking at his bumper. I slid the key out of the door and walked around my car and towards him. What was I getting myself into?

I cleared my throat loudly to get his attention when I approached him. He looked up breathlessly, and his eyes immediately darkened, probably in anger. I smiled at him slightly. "Hi."

His upper lip curled into a sneer. "Hi."

I looked down at his car, my eyes scanning it for a moment, before looking back up. "Having car trouble?"

He rolled his eyes and leaned against the front of his car. "No, everything is just peachy, actually."

I sighed and crossed my arms. "Listen, I'm trying to help you. You don't have to be sarcastic, you know."

He laughed abruptly and kicked at some gravel on the ground. I couldn't help but notice that his shoes were ratty converse. "Help me, huh?" He grinned slightly and glanced at me. "Pretty ironic considering what happened today."

I groaned and exhaled deeply. "You're still hung up over that?" I scowled at him, "Listen, I apologized for it. Accidents happen. Now I'm trying to make up for it-"

"Don't bother."

I glared at him. "Suit yourself." I turned around and began walking towards my car again, the key ready in my hand.

"I'm out of gas."

I turned upon hearing him call out to me. I looked at him; he was fumbling with his keys nervously, his eyes cast down on the ground. I sighed and there was an awkward silence between us for a moment. He looked up, his eyes had softened. His eyes were asking me the question. I sighed.

"Do you want a ride?"

I could have sworn I saw the corner of his mouth curl into a smile, but then again, it could just have been my imagination. He stood there still for a moment, as if contemplating whether or not to go.

"Do you or not?" I spoke up. "I have to get going."

He was still standing unmoving for a moment, before finally he began to shuffle towards my car. His head was slightly down as he walked, as if he were ashamed. I smiled and nodded to myself as I opened the door and slid my body inside. I slammed the door and turned the ignition, humming to myself softly. I was interrupted with a knocking on my window. I jumped and looked up, seeing the annoyed guy scowling at me.

"Oh! Sorry!" I laughed slightly and turned to hit the 'unlock' button on the door. He opened the door and sat down quickly, brushing his hair off of his head. He did that a lot. "I always forget to do that," I spoke up, trying to start conversation.

"Do what?" His voice had a bored tone to it, and his head was turned away from me, staring out the window.

"Well, whenever I drive somebody home, I always forget to unlock the door for them," I paused as I reversed out of my spot. "So they end up standing outside of my car for a few seconds." I laughed nervously, "They always get mad about it.."

"Interesting." His voice was still bored, but sarcasm was tinted in it now. I bit my lip nervously as I continued driving, eventually exiting the parking lot. The silence was killing me. I reached forward to turn some music on, and I felt his eyes staring at my hand. I finally turned on the radio, which currently had Silverchair playing.

"What is this?" His voice was monotoneous next to me. His head was again turned and staring out the window.

"Silverchair, I think," I answered.

"It's shit, that's what it is," He responded. "Don't you have any CD's or anything?"

"Of course I have CD's.. I just don't bring them with me in my car."

"So this is your car?"

I nodded slowly, glancing at him. "Yeah.." I said. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Let me guess," He sighed, leaning against my window. "Mommy and daddy bought this for you, right? They bought you your first car, right?" He was mocking me.

"Actually no," I responded cooly. I tried to keep calm. "I saved up money for this car." I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Does this look like something 'mommy and daddy' would buy for their daughter? Besides," I paused a moment, gripping the steering wheel slightly tighter. "My parents are divorced."

He was silent for a moment, his body still. I glanced at him curiously, wondering what he'd say. His mouth opened, and I waited for it...

"Turn right up here."

I couldn't believe it! This guy had not ONE ounce of compassion in him! I glared and looked ahead of me again, biting my bottom lip hard in frustration. I tried to control my voice, not letting it shake in anger. "How are you going to get your car back?"

"I don't know. Tow it or something."

"Towing? Don't you have an extra set of keys?"

"No."

"Oh. You should an extra set. It would really save you the money for towing expenses." I looked over at him and smiled, but again, his head was turned away from me. He wasn't answering me. "So..." Silence. I coughed and shuffled nervously in my seat. That's when I realized something.

"This is going to sound really weird.. but what's your name?" I couldn't believe I had broken his project, and now I was driving him home, and I didn't even know his name.

"Gerard."

My eyebrow furrowed slightly. "Gerard," I repeated to myself, testing it on my tongue. "Are you.. a senior?"

"Yes."

"Oh." I was quiet a minute, and sighed after realizing that he wasn't going to ask my name. "I'm Dana, by the way."

"Interesting." There was that same word in that same bored tone again. It was driving me insane. It was quiet again, very awkward, until he spoke up again. "Turn left up here."

"Up here?" I asked, pointing at the street sign. He nodded.

"I've never been over here.." I commented, my eyes scanning the homes around me.

"Doesn't suprise me."

I raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked over at him. "What?"

"Nothing." He sighed and grabbed his backpack on the floor. "My house is here.. on the right.. the one with the red car in the driveway.. yeah."

I pulled in slowly, and stopped, putting my car in park. He grabbed his backpack and without looking at me, opened the door. I felt my breathing stop. Was he even going to thank me? I mean, I know I ruined his project and all, but he wasn't going to be THAT mean, right?

I bit my lip and felt my shoulders slump against the seat. He wasn't going to say thank you. I jumped in surprise when I heard knocking on the window next to me. I looked over and saw him staring at me through the window intently.

"Oh-" I paused and shakily unlocked the door. He opened it and leaned inside, staring at me. Damn straight, Gerard. I expect a thank you. Damn straight. He leaned in further and..

Picked up a folder lying on the floor. I think my jaw dropped to the ground right there. Could he be any more rude? He picked it up, shoved it into his backpack, and pulled his body out of the car again. I was seething.

"Hey."

I jumped and looked up, seeing him staring at me, his pale hand on the car door. He was hunched over so he could see me through the car.

I inhaled sharply, and avoided making eye contact. "Yeah?" Please, please, please just thank me. Just do it and get it over with. Please show that you have a heart. It was quiet for the hundreth time today. His quiet comment really caught me offguard.

"My parents are divorced too."

The door shut before I could say anything, my mouth practically hanging open in shock. My hands were frozen to the steering wheel as I watched him trudge up his lawn and to his house. He opened the front door, stepped inside, and closed it. Leaving me confused in the drivers' seat.