The small road was especially narrow and hard to judge on curves. As the autumn season lulled onward, it always drew such a crowd into town. But she wasn't just visiting. The small town of Livingston, located in the heart of Oregon, was now her new home.
Cherry Lee Valentine's new home.
She squinted as the road took a sharp bend and a deer suddenly appeared. Cherry slammed her brakes and her whole body jerked forward.
Her head hitting the steering wheel, how fast had she been going. Cherry was tired and not paying attention. She was tired of everything and just wanted to start over. Cherry rubbed the sore spot on her forehead, feeling a bump forming and later a bruise she guessed.
At least it matched her busted lip and black eye. Even though it had been covered with makeup and Cherry still wore her sunglasses during the day.
Her heart twisted again.
She had been hurt badly this time. Cherry ran away. She had left and wasn't looking back.
Her heart was beating a thousand times harder as she watched the deer slowly walk away. Cherry's thoughts were spinning out of control quickly. She needed to get into to town and rest.
Cherry was about twenty minutes away from town when her old beat up car that had from this point on been pretty trusty was shutting down. It blew out a loud noise and not thinking Cherry jerked the wheel in a reaction.
This had to be the last straw on everything because Cherry had bursted into tears. She knew nothing about cars, but she got out and looked around in the cold air.
The crisp air burned her lungs as she started to panic. What if a bear came? Was there bears in Oregon?
She quickly scrambled back into her car. It's warmth fading quickly. Soon after she had got back out fear that her car would explode or something.
Cherry was scared.
It was nine in the evening. Who would she call? Thinking quickly, Cherry looked up the closest auto shop. Hoping her signal would stay consistent just until she could ask someone.
The hours on their website said they closed at 8 but Cherry had no other choice.
———
The day had been utterly insane and completely draining. Luke had been finishing up in his shop. Getting all the shit down that no one seemed capable of doing.
"What the fu-" Luke started before getting cut off by the phone ringing. Even though it was after hours, he picked up out of habit.
He waited for a voice.
"Hello?" A soft voice asked through the phone, their voice sounding sniffly.
"Yes?" His tone was short and sharp. Luke's patience had been tried more than once today. He had no time for all of this.
"I need help- I mean, my car. It- something happened." Her voice was shaking and Luke could hear the wind rustling in the background.
He sat upright in his chair, straightening his back.
"First off, who is this? Second thing, if you a lookin' to bring your car in, hang the fuck up we're closed for the night." Luke's voice wasn't mean it was just frustrated.
"My name is Cherry. I'm sorry I called, I really am."
There was a pause and a sniffle.
"I need help, my car broke down. It's cold out here and there's bears I think. I'm sorry to bother you sir. Please tell how to fix it and I won't bother you." Cherry was panicking.
When Luke heard the sound of her struggling to talk because of her panic he felt instantly protective.
"Okay Cherry. I'm Luke, and I want you to tell me what has happened?" Luke's voice was softer now.
"I'm not sure but it's cold and it won't start and I'm alone and those bears are coming." Cherry explained in one breath.
Luke couldn't help the slightest tip of his mouth.
A smile.
"I can assure you there are no bears coming to get you. I need you to tell me where you are so I can come get your car." Luke explained and Cherry nodded even over the phone.
"I don't know where I am at. I know it's cold." Cherry felt a bit silly saying that but it was true and then she remembered she can look at her gps.
"Oh-"
Cherry gave him the name of the road she was currently standing on.
"Okay, that's only about twenty minutes away." Luke said knowingly.
Before Cherry could respond, Luke was already asking a question.
"Are you in your car right now?" Luke knew some people would stay out of their car if it had broken down. But not in the weather would it be okay.
"No what if it explodes-" Cherry said quickly and wiped at her irritated nose.
"It's not going to explode. Keep your warmth up in the car." Luke said strictly. The temperature dropping was no joke. Even in October.
"Okay, thank you. I promise I really need help. I know you're closed cause on the website it said that. I didn't want to call but I'm scared." Cherry's voice trembled again and her eyes filled with tears again.
You're always such a goddamn hassle! Can you do anything right?
The memory of those words being yelled at her made Cherry's heart twist with pain.
Luke listened to the way her voice cracked and the sniffling.
Was she crying? Luke thought.
"Hey. I want you to stay in your car, and get a blanket. And I don't want to hear you apologize anymore. Got me?" Luke's tone was a demand and Cherry had always been good at those. Only except she wanted to follow his.
"Yes." Her voice was more breathy than before.
"Good." Luke had replied before ending the call.
