My Sweetest Finley

3

We make our way to Eric's car, leaving all of his friends alone in his house. He opens the door for me, a gentleman. "If only your sister had these types of manners," I say quietly but he hears, a rush of air coming from his nose as a laugh. As I sit and reach for the buckle, I can feel the car rock as Eric sits. "She's adopted you know," I look at him confused while he's sitting with his head down. "I think that's why she left because she thinks you're gonna leave her for me. I don't know," He reaches for his own seatbelt and buckles it.

When he turns on the car, loud music pours from the speakers. So loud that I can feel the bass flood my body and it makes me light-headed. I feel my face flush and bile begin to make its way up my throat. My hand flies to my mouth as I struggle to unbuckle myself. Eric jumps from his seat and runs to my side of the car. He manages to unbuckle me while I'm in too much of a panic.

I squeeze my eyes shut as my lunch makes its way out of my mouth and nose. I can feel my hair being held back by Eric who I can also faintly hear laughing. "Sorry," I hear him say mixed with his laugh. I look up at him and smile then dip my head between my knees and take a deep breath. "Can I have some water?" I wipe my mouth with my sleeve then notice vomit down my top. "And a shirt please," I look up at him, he lets go of my hair, turns into the house only to return a few minutes later with a dark grey shirt and a water bottle.

I change my shirt right there, not caring if he sees anything because he did just watch me puke out my entire stomach. But when I look up at him to say thank you, he has his back turned to me. "You ready?" I ask him like our delay wasn't my fault. He nods his head and gets back into his seat.

The car ride is mostly quiet but a comfortable silence between me and Eric. The only noise is the slight hum of the radio. The song was practically incoherent but Eric heard enough of it to break the silence with, "Oh shit, I love this song." His voice seemed bored but the rest of him was almost dancing to the song. Fingers tapping on the steering wheel, and his head bobbing to the music.

I admire the smirk that is barely present as he lip syncs the words. When he looks at me I feel my face heat up and turn to look out the window, placing my palm to my chin.

___

I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep until I was being shaken awake. I guess I had forgotten where I was because once I saw that it was a man waking me up, I threw a punch at him. I think it hurt me more than him but, it's the thought that counts.

"Jesus, Finley," Eric mocks, rubbing the "sore" spot on his arm. "Sorry," I stare at the ground as I walk to the front porch of my house when I hear my dad's voice.

"Who are you?" It probably looks really bad that I'm groggy, barely awake, with a stranger, at night. But my dad's urge to kill Eric ceases when Eric walks up to my father and reaches out his hand to introduce himself. "I'm Eric Karter, my sister left your daughter at my house. Bad influence, I know," Eric winks with his comment. He and my dad carry conversation so well it seems like they've known each other for a lifetime.

"Okay, time for you to go. Dad, don't you have to get to bed?" I give him a wide eyed look, he never can take a hint. I start pushing Eric off the porch but he spins out of my way, causing me to trip. "It was really nice meeting you mister..." He looks at me confused as he doesnt know how to refer to my father. "Martin, Jerry Martin," He gives Eric a tight smile and a nod, in which Eric returns.

I walk Eric, finally back to his car. I rest my arms in the open window as he buckles his seatbelt. "I had fun," he looks up at me with his expressionless stare. "You had fun driving me home?" I scrunch my eyebrows together with the same tight simple my father gave him. "I had fun being around you. Goodnight Finley Martin." He smiles and drives away before I even have the chance to return his goodbye.