Am I Going Crazy?

Chapter One

This idiot!

Ashton leans on his desk, letting his head hit the top with a small thump. He's got to be joking. His friend (who is not deserving of the 'best' title at the moment.) is trying to sell random junk to their classmates. In the middle of a presentation! He knows he's hard up for cash but damn. Talk about bold.

He's doing everything he can to not pull his hood over his head because of the second hand embarrassment.

Okay, if he's being honest, he does feel a little bad for Sam. Trent was being a dick per usual, slingshotting a gummy worm at his head. At least the girl his best friend has been fawning over told him to quit.

Sam got back on track with talking about his grandfather going nuts when the bell rang. Ashton snorted and lazily picked up his bag and his unfortunate friend's.

"So... what's my grade?"

"I'd say a solid... B minus."

The black haired boy cringed, listening in while waiting at the door. Sam gawked in both shock and dread. He can see his chance for a car going down the drain.

Sam put his hands on Mr. Hosney's desk, basically pleading. "See that man sitting in the car?" The teen points out the window, at his father. Oh here we go.

"That's my dad — and when I turned sixteen last year, he said if I saved two thousand bucks and got three A's... he'd help me buy half a car. I got the two thousand, and I got two A's. With your B minus? Dream gone. Kaput."

He leans closer, while Mr Hosney looks uncomfortable. The other teen outside the door took a sip from a water bottle.

"Sir, just ask yourself, what would Jesus do?"

Choking and coughing was heard from the hallway.
~~~

Sam ran down the school's lawn towards his dad's car, with Ashton following behind him. Just not quite as enthusiastic.

"Yes! Yes, yes!"

The short haired teen almost slammed into his father's vehicle.

"So?"

Ashton grinned at the man. "He got it."

"Really? He did?" Ron looked skeptical. Can't blame the man. Instead of asking his own son he looked to the other boy.

"He made a very convincing case to the teacher." He snickered behind his hand.

"Hey! It's an A minus but it's still an A. And I don't appreciate you asking Ash to confirm and not your own blood." Sam almost looked like he was pouting. He held his chest in mock offense.

"Fine fine. Get in, I'll keep up my end of the bargain. Ashton, you wanna ride home, or do you wanna tag along?"

The boy being addressed looked in the direction of his house. His grin, which was wide with humor, was now strained. But the other two didn't notice. He'll take any excuse to put off going home.

"If you don't mind Mr. Witwicky, I'd love to see what kind of car Sam's gonna pick out."

Sam playfully shoved his shoulder while his friend laughed. They both love giving each other a hard time. The boys went to the same elementary school, same middle school, and obviously the same high school. Bonding over similar interests (and how they were both very much outcasts), they formed a quick friendship. Ron and Judy took a liking to Ashton as soon as he stepped through the door for their first play date. The parents could tell something was off at home for the 7 year old. After all, it wasn't everyday a kid that young was allowed to suddenly appear at a strangers house to play video games. Not to mention the bruises—

"Then hop in kid. I know the perfect car for my son."

~~~

Ashton has been laughing at Ron's practical joke with the Porsche for the last five minutes.

"Would you stop it, it wasn't funny!" Sam cried, hunching down in his seat with arms crossed.

Ron grins at the older of the two boys in the rear view mirror. They pull into what looks like a run down automotive dealership. Sam eyes his father, the enthusiasm from before leaving his face.

As they pull in, the owner saunters over to them with the fakest car seller grin the three have ever seen. The outfit makes it, with the Hawaiian shirt and the straw hat. That didn't seem to deter Ron though.

Ashton scans the selection of cars on the lot, while the father and son heatedly discuss something. He hears the word "virgin" and immediately opts out of contributing. His eyes stop on a yellow car. The boy thinks it's a Camaro, but has no clue the year or anything. He never really got into cars.

"Hey hey, gentlemen! Bobby Bolivia at your service! How can I help you today?"

Sam and Ashton share a glance at his fake enthusiastic tone. Took all their self control not to even chuckle.

"Well, my son here, is looking to buy his first car."

"And you came to me? Well, that practically makes us family! Call me 'Uncle Bobby B.'"

Sam tries to smile at Bobby, and fails spectacularly. The owner immediately wraps and arm around the teen and leads him over to a group of cars. Ashton catches him saying something about 'the car choosing the owner' or something.

"Ey Sam! Check out this one!" The black haired teen stands next to the yellow Camaro he saw earlier. It had a black racing stripe down the middle of the car. In all honesty, it was a cool looking car. Better than any of the other ones in the lot. He ran his hand over the hood, but stopped when he felt the car vibrate. Vibrate? No, the wheels were probably unstable—

"MANNY! THE HECK IS THIS?"

Ashton nearly jumped out of his skin. He didn't hear the men come up behind him. Apparently, 'Uncle Bobby B' doesn't know where this car came from. Great.

"This is nice." Sam was already in the car, running his hands on the steering wheel. He thumbs dirt off the emblem that was on the wheel.

"What's that?" The older teen leaned into the car to stare over his friend's shoulder, pointing at the emblem.

"Dunno. A manufacturing stamp?"

"A what?"

Sam made a 'I don't know' sound. Ashton rolled his eyes.

"How much?"

Bobby stuttered, thinking up some kind of bullshit about this car he's never seen before.

"Well, uh. Considering the semi-classic nature of the vehicle..." He gestured while spewing off complete shit, "...five grand."

Ron made a face, as if he just smelled something absolutely foul. Well that ain't good for Sam. "We're not going above four."

Bobby made the exact same face as Ron.

"Four? Kid, outta the car—"

"Woah woah, didn't I hear you say some shit about 'the car picking the owner' or whatever.."

"Language, Ashton." Ron gave the teen a look only a father could give.

"No he's right, what's up with that?" Sam immediately backed up his best friend. He also wanted that car.

"Yeah well, sometimes they pick a car with a cheap ass father. Now this one—"

Bobby starts his script with the next car over. Ashton was over it, while Sam looked disappointed. Suddenly, the Camaro's passenger door swings open to hit the Edsel, the one Bobby was trying to sell. It crunches the side of Edsel.

"God damn son of a—" He continues to swear. Gathering himself, he puts on a fake smile, even worse than the one he greeted them with.

"No worries! Take a look at this Fiesta—"

Ashton is still leaning on the Camaro when it's radio turns on. A loud piercing sound admits from the speakers as everyone hits the ground covering their ears. Every single window of every car on the lot shatters.

Bobby stands up, looking around his dealership with absolute fear in his eyes. He spins around to face the three others. With a crack in his voice he shouts,

"Four thousand!"