Less than Lovers, More than Friends

My Story

I sit in the passenger seat of Derek's Mustang convertible. This is quite a change from the Honda that he used to drive. Now he has his own new American muscle car. A Shelby GT500. Derek is poor, or at least I thought he was. I wonder just how he has the money to pay for this. I guess it's not really my business. Derek goes through the gears, feeling the need to show everyone his car's power. I have to admit, the thing is cold in the middle of winter, but at least it looks good.

"How long have you had this?" I ask as I run my hands over the dashboard. It is a sexy car, there is no doubt about that.

"Not long. A couple of months, I guess." Derek explains as he shifts once again. I feel a bit of car envy in my veins. The car is hot. I should be driving this car. "It's a bitch to drive in the snow." He complains. "It slides all of the time. Damn rear-wheel drive. But I still love it." He admits as he gives me a cheesy grin.

"Was it new when you got it?" I ask, running my hand over the cool leather seat. Black and red. This car is hot.

"Of course it was." He says happily. "I knew I wanted one a few years ago when the new body came out. I saved up some money for a down payment and here I am." He says happily. Derek looks good in this car. It has the power and the style to match his personality.

"Yeah, I guess it is better than the Jeep." I agree as I think of my own crap vehicle in Grandma's driveway. It is good for the winter, but it utilitarian. It's not a status symbol. At least I hope it's not. If it is, then I am in trouble because that makes me look like something I don't want to be.

"I just love to drive this thing." Derek says with a smile as he grips the shifter. "I look for reasons to drive it. It's like an addiction. Damn Mark keeps asking to borrow it. In his dreams. No one drives my car." He says frankly. There is goes... I was actually thinking about asking. Derek just pulled that thought from out of my head.

"I need to get some stuff for my horses." I mutter more to myself than to Derek. Derek quickly glances over.

"Let's go." Derek says with a nod. "But not feed. I am not putting feed in the trunk of my car." He tells me frankly. He is awfully protective of this car, but at the same time, I can see why. If it were mine, no one would be breathing in it.

"No. I don't need feed. I just need a new brush and some de-wormer." I tell him. "Light stuff that can all fit in a grocery bag. But it's fine. The feed store is closed, I would have to go somewhere else. I can do it tomorrow. I was just talking to myself, really." I explain, not even wanting to go.

"No. We have nothing else to do. We can go. Just point me in the direction." He says as he drives along. I sigh, going to Smithson's is something to do. Not to mention, I can pick up some fresh muffins. There's are the best..

"Okay. Just take a left up at the next light. Smithson's is on the left." I explain as I point in the direction. "We really should have brought Mark with us." I tell him, feeling bad that Mark didn't come along. He and I are friends and I don't like to ditch him.

"He didn't want to. He is pissed that I won't let him drive. Im just not. You have no idea how much I pay for this thing. I don't want it damaged. Not to mention, he hates sitting in the back. You have no idea how tight it is back there." Derek says as he points to the back seat. I look back there and nod. It is tight and I wouldn't even want to be sitting back there.

"Insurance would pay. I doubt that Mark would get in an accident." I tell him with a shrug. He looks at me with a shocked face. "What?"

"I can't believe you would tell me that. Mer, it doesn't matter if he smashes it beyond recognition. Sure, they would give me the money, but that doesn't bring my car back. It's gone forever. I don't want another one. I want this one." He says as he parks the car, killing the rumble of the engine.