From the Hills to Crenshaw

4.0 | Sort of Uber

Spencer's POV

"You lost or something?" I follow up my original question as I walk towards the gate and off of JR's porch.

"Actually, my grandpa's car wouldn't start back at the restaurant." She admits. "It's Spencer, right?"

"I can give you a ride," I tell her and she nods.

"I can just order an Uber!"

"Or you can get this ride for free since I'm going right across the street from your grandpa's crib," I tell her.

I can see she's apprehensive, but she accepts my offer anyway.

"Thank you."

"I'm out!" I yell to Cam and he nods before turning back to his conversation with his girlfriend Keisha.

She follows me and I open her car door before getting in.

"How does a high schooler afford a car like this?" She asks.

"Says the girl hopping out of a shiny red Benz," I answer and she laughs.

"What's with you and the shiny red Benz stuff? That's my dad's car. I drive a Sonata." She admits as I pull off.

"This is my brother Darnell's car. He's a sophomore in college and a part-time car salesman." I say honestly.

"The guy on the porch?"

"That's my brother Cam," I answer.

"How many siblings do you have?"

"My mom just has me. But she's been raising my Aunts' two boys since they were babies."

"That's sweet," she says as she looks out the window into the night sky. "It's just me and my twin. But sometimes I wish I had more siblings. Then maybe, my parents wouldn't have time to be in my business as much as they do."

I laugh as I quickly realize this isn't some type of vacation for her. "You mean, you're not just visiting your elderly grandpa in the hood by choice."

"Is it that obvious?" She asks sarcastically.

"We might've overheard you and your parents going at it the other day," I admit and she laughs.

"Unfortunately, that's very much a normal thing for us!"

"So, are you like—- I mean, I won't judge you either way—- But they were screaming about rehab."

"—-I'm a lot of things, but I'm no addict."

"That's good. Say no to drugs." I say and she chuckles.

"Yeah, well I'll relay that message to my brother." She says and I notice her frustration.

"You know what? You never told me how that calamari tasted." I say as I purposely change the subject.

"Why do you assume I got the calamari?"

"Something just tells me you're a risk taker," I respond.

"I've had calamari before. So it was really no risk."

"Yeah, but not from Crenshaw," I tell her and she smirks, knowing I'm correct. "So tell me, how was it?"

She lets out a smile. "It was good——- Okay, it was the best calamari, I've had in a long time."

"See? I know my food!" I joke as I make the last left to our street.

"Well, that might be my last fancy meal for a while," she says as I park out front of my house.

She gets out of the car before I can open it. And I hope she has a minute because I don't want this moment to end so soon.

"Why is that?" I ask.