A Few Wrong Turns

2

After they continued driving, Tory pulled her phone out from her purse and scrolled through.

  "What are you looking for?" He felt the need to reach for the wheel but hesitated.

  "My road trip playlist. Ah! Here you are!"

  "You still talk to objects like people?"

  "I'm not gonna start with you, Will." She started playing her music and singing loudly.

  It was too much for him. Will covered his ears. "Turn that noise off!" He reached for her phone.

"Stop! I like it!" She shoved his hand away.

  "Well, I hate it."

  "Who cares? It's my car and I'll decide what music I play!"

  "Tory, I paid you for a ride, not a headache."

  "Don't touch my phone, Will." she warned, hitting his hand.

  Will pulled his hand back. "Owe!"

  "Serves you right. Don't distract me while I'm driving."

  He glanced at a sign. "Speaking of driving, aren't you supposed to turn here?"

  "I know." Tory jerked the wheel and turned. Both rolled to the side. "And stop bossing me around!"

  "I think I've got a bruise." Will carefully rubbed his hand.

  "You're still soft." She huffed.

  "I am not! I didn't know I was going to need an insurance plan while riding with you! No one told me you hit like a boxer!"

  "No one told me you ramble on like a boring history teacher! No matter what it is!"

  "You never stop to get all the facts!"

  "And when I stopped listening, you kept explaining everything! Do you know how many conversations you had with yourself?"

  "I had to since you never wanted to talk whenever something went wrong. You'd just sit there." He grinned. "That's not to say I didn't enjoy the only few moments of silence." Instead of a snappy comeback, Tory reached into her purse, pulled out two pieces of gum, and shoved them into her mouth. Seeing it made his stomach growl, recalling that he refused to eat on the plane. "Gum?"

  "Yea."

  "Spearmint flavor?"

  "Of course."

  He sighed loudly. "Do I have to spell it out for you? Gimme some gum."

  "Oh. Did you want some?" she grinned slyly.

  "Not anymore." Will crossed his arms over his chest.

  "Good. All out anyway."

  Will rolled his eyes. "Why do I always have to twist your arm to get you to do anything?"

  Tory giggled as she chewed. "You're joking, right? As I recall, I'm the one who had to do all the twisting!"

  "I'm sure that's what you think."

  "It's what I know! Will, remember that time when that girl stole your money? I chased her down the block and when the cops arrived, you were nowhere to be found!"

  "You can't use that as an example. That girl was over seven feet tall! She could've killed me!"

  "No! I could've killed you when you let her go!"

  "Again... she would have killed me! That girl was like a pro wrestler! You can't count that!"

  "Ok, what about when we first started going out, and you didn't tell your mom? You called me your buddy, Fred."

  He looked at her in surprise. "How'd you know about that?"

  Tory scoffed. "You might wanna make sure you push end call before you put your phone into your pocket."

  He crossed his arms. "You can't count that either! You know my mom didn't like you."

  "Barbara loves me!" Tory quickly eyed him, expecting a reaction, but he acted like he hadn't heard her. "Point blank: you're a punk."

  "No, I'm not!" he scowled.

  "Yes, you are!"

  "I-" he glanced at the sign as she drove past it. "Tory, you just passed I-76."

  "I know. We're supposed to get on I-86."

  "The woman said 76."

  "You weren't even listening. And she said 86!"

  "I-76!" he shouted.

  "I-86! Now stop front seat driving!"

  Will's eyes flared with anger. "Can you listen to me for once?"

  "I stopped listening to you six months ago in case you didn't notice!"

  Will rolled his eyes. "I noticed."

  She shook her head. "You know, I don't miss this! The arguing over nothing! I've been happy on my own."

  "Well, it's been six months of pure bliss for me too, Bee Bee."

  They both grew silent before Tory hit the brakes. She sighed as she looked at him. "Bee Bee?"

  He cleared his throat. "Sorry. It slipped."

  She pushed her hair back with her hand. "Will, you haven't called me that since..."

  "Look!" he quickly pointed to the sign up ahead. "There's I-86... like you said."

  Tory sighed and dropped the matter as she gently pressed on the gas. They rode in silence as they pulled onto the highway.