Chapter 6

Once we were settled into his car, I ran my hand over the butter colored leather of the seats. "How...fancy," I muttered to myself.

Tyler either didn't hear or simply chose not to acknowledge my commentary. Instead, he simply leaned back in his seat and put the car into gear, only one hand on the steering wheel. Once we pulled out of the lot, he started driving like a madman, quickly gaining speed until he was soon 25 miles over the limit.

I wasn't sure about him, but I didn't fancy dying today.

"Slow down, god damn it!" I all but yelled, gripping the door handle. He either didn't hear me or was ignoring me (I was betting for the latter), because he didn't change his speed. Once we got on to the freeway he actually sped faster, causing me to shoot him a death glare.

"Wait, where are we going?" I finally asked when I could focus on something besides his manic driving. "This is not the way to my house!"

"I need to make a stop," he said, looking straight ahead.

"Well thanks, that explains so much," I deadpanned. "Can you at least slow down a little? God."

"Shit!" Instead of answering me, his hands both flew to the steering wheel as he yelled.

"Well, Lauren, looks like you got your wish." He said, sounding a little more than angry as he struggled to steer the car to the side.

My stomach dropped as I realized the car was breaking down. "You ran out of gas?!" I exclaimed.

He ignored my outburst and got out of the car as soon as it safely stopped. This could not be happening. I groaned and got out of the car, slamming my door.

How perfect. We were out of gas on the side of a busy freeway, with a gas station nowhere close.

I walked over to where Tyler was at the rear of the car, opening the trunk. "Can't you call someone?" I asked.

He paused and felt his pockets. "Shit. No, I left my phone is at home this morning. Do you have yours?"

Yes, thank God. I nodded and pulled it out of my pocket. I had 10% battery left as I unlocked it and clicked on the phone icon. My mom was the first person I thought to call but, before I could click on her name the screen went black, the rotating circle indicating that it had just gone dead.

"It just died," I said with a hint of desperation in my voice.

He groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I usually keep a spare gas can half full back here, but I had to use it last week," he said, mostly to himself as he scanned the empty trunk. A red car flew by a moment later, a foot away from hitting me. I yelped in surprise.

Tyler briefly grabbed my upper arm and yanked me to the other side of him. "Stay over there," he said, pointing at the wall farthest away from the road.

"Aww does Mr. Heartless player care if I die or not?" I cooed.

"Shut up," he snapped and clenched his fists in frustration.

I sighed and went to go lean against the wall that lined the sides of the freeway. What the hell were we going to do? Each car that zoomed past us every few seconds was aggravatingly loud.

He stood silent for a few minutes, which was driving me insane. I stared at him impatiently, silently urging him to come up with something.

Then he looked at me. "Go wave someone down to give us a ride," he said, gesturing to the never ending lane of cars whizzing by.

"Why do I have to do it?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Because you're short enough to look like a helpless little kid."

"God, you're an asshole!" I yelled, straightening up nonetheless.

"Go on, smallfry," he smirked.

"Glad you still have your sense of humor at a time like this," I muttered, giving him the finger. I stepped forward and started halfheartedly waving at the cars.

"Come on, try a little harder," Tyler said from where he was now leaning against the trunk of his car.

I glared at him and began slightly jumping up and down while waving at the cars. I silently swore to throw Tyler into traffic if he so much as cracked a smile at the sight.

Eventually, a rusty red pickup truck pulled up.

I almost cried in happiness at the old, creaky contraption, but my happiness turned to uneasiness as the man got out.

He was tall, with a beer gut and a long brown beard that had food crumbs trapped in it. The tight gray tank top he was wearing allowed his hairy gut to hang out, almost making me gag.

Tyler approached the truck to talk to him and the man eventually agreed to give us each a ride home. Tyler locked his car multiple times and gave it an anxious look as we walked away, probably planning to return to it right away.

He could obviously tell I was wary of the man because, acting like he was simply being chivalrous, he let me in first, forcing me to sit in the middle.

I glared at Tyler and slid into the truck, where Grizzly Adams was all too happy to have me smashed in between them.

"So pretty little lady, what's your address?" The man said, his voice rough. I cringed; the guy was at least 35, not to mention that his hairiness could've rivaled Hagrid's.

I scooted as close as Tyler as I could, which was only about two inches from where I just was.

I finally told him the address of the house two over from mine, just incase he decided to come steal me and drag me back to his cave.

He tried starting a conversation multiple times, to which I mumbled one word answers to, and eventually he gave up.

After what seemed an eternity, we finally made it to the house two away from mine. I waited for Tyler to let me out, which he didn't. I eventually sighed and climbed over him, my cheeks turning bright red. Right as I was sliding out, I felt a little pat on my ass. I got out and whipped around, sending Tyler a death glare.

"See ya later, smallfry," he said, a flashing me a wide grin. I almost shrieked in fury. Instead I stalked off, not saying a word.

I smiled a little when I realized I got dropped off first, meaning Tyler would have to ride home alone with the man, whose name I'd come to learn was Lenny.

Serves him right, touching my ass like that.

I smiled to myself as I went to go talk to Alyssa about everything that happened.