"Damn it!" I swerve to the side and pull the handbrake up.
"Please don't tell me I have a flat!" I unbuckle myself and push open the door.
"Please!" I walk around the car and feel my anger rise.
"Argh!" My forced scream echoes through the air and causes a few birds to take flight, followed by constant chirping.
"Why do I feel like everything in the universe is trying to stop me!?" I walk back to the driver's side and bend down, looking for my phone.
"Fifteen percent! How in the-" I get in and rest my hands on the steering wheel while holding my phone up.
"Great... No reception too..." A laugh starts bellowing from my core.
You should have never gone on this trip to begin with.
"Okay... Okay... It's okay... It's okay, right? I'll just take a walk. There was a small gas station not so far." I nod in agreement and get out of the car. I push my phone in the back pocket of my jeans.
"Okay... Let's do this..." I start walking.
Probably not the safest place to be walking alone... Maybe you should wait by the car... I am sure help will come... And waste hours? But what if someone steals the car while you're gone? Then what? Ah....
"Damn it!" I turn around and head back. "This is the worst possible start to a cross-country trip! Stuck... In the middle of the woods... No phone... No car... Probably no food or water soon either!" I open the driver's door and get in.
Wow... Let us not be that dramatic... You packed enough food for a few days. And you still have about ten liters of water.
I pull down the visor and wipe the sweat from my forehead. I bring my wrist up and press my watch button.
"Okay... It is quarter to five. Not too bad, not good either. Think... What can you do to-"
I click my tongue and get out.
"You fool! You have a spare tire!" I shake my head with a grin and make my way to the back of the car and pop open the trunk.
Thank goodness you watched that YouTube tutorial! Otherwise, you would have been screwed!
I lift the spare tire, gather the jack, and place it down on the dirt next to the flat tire.
This has those horror movie vibes... No! Stop it!
"Okay... If I remember correctly, I should push the jack under here and then start jacking..." I scoff feeling a tad amused while busy pushing the jack under the car.
If this goes well I will be adding this to my CV.
I start turning the handle of the jack and hear a few creaking sounds as the car slowly lifts.
"Okay... This is not too bad." I continue turning.
"Oh man, now it's getting tough... Come on Tarah, you got this! Use those muscles!" I start straining and use both hands.
With a sudden bang, I jump back as the jack slips, sending the car crashing down.
"NO!" I fall to my knees. "Are you freaking kidding me!" I grab onto my hair with both hands.
I take a deep breath. "I am going to have to do this again... Aren't I?" I get up and fix the jack under the car. I turn the handle again faster than before.
Okay Rambo! You are going to break it!
After a few minutes, the tire is suspended in the air.
"Ha!" I grab the lug wrench, connect it to the first bolt, and use my body weight to loosen it.
Remember to loosen opposite to each other.
I place the wrench on the second bolt and same as before I loosen it.
"I'll be done in no time!" I smile and place the wrench on the third bolt.
"What the?" I push again.
"Argh! Why is it not moving!" I stand and use my foot to push while I pull.
"Come on!" I throw my head back, straining.
"Arghhhh!" I push and pull with everything I have inside me but stop feeling my lungs about to crawl their way up and out of my mouth.
Perfect! You just had to go ahead and say you'll be done in no time. Well done! The universe accepted your challenge!
"I don't understand why it is not coming loose-"
I look left seeing a pickup truck approaching in the distance.
"Oh thank goodness! Hey! Hey! Please help me!" I walk into the middle of the road and wave my hands in the air. The truck slows down and stops behind my car.
"Oh thank you so much!" I walk towards the car.
"No problem- Tarah?"
"Kevin! Kev is that you!?" I smile seeing him get out of his truck.
"What on earth are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?" He walks closer.
"I have a flat and now I can't loosen the third bolt. I am so happy to see you! It has been years!" I wrap my arms around him giving him a quick hug.
"It has hasn't it? Last time was at prom if I remember... Let's go have a look." He smiles as he lets go of me.
"Yeah... It was... You then disappeared... Where have you been?" I walk with him to the flat tire.
"Around... Here and there... And you?" He bends down and fits the wrench onto the bolt.
"The same... I guess..." I study his appearance... Tall. Dark hair. Dark eyes.
Was he always this good-looking? No... I don't remember him like this? He used to be so quiet...
"Tarah?"
"Hmm?" I realize he is standing upright looking at me.
"I said looks like the bolt is rusted or stripped. It ain't going to come off with this thing." He holds up the wrench.
"Oh no... Now what?"
"Well, I can help you but my tools are at home... We can go fetch them?"
He raises his eyebrows slightly.
"We?"
YOU ARE READING
IN HIS EYES
Mystery / Thriller"...did you hear about that girl that went missing?" ... "...they never found her. And I don't think they ever will." ••• Embarking on a cross-country trip, Tarah's plans are quickly derailed when she gets a flat tire. Unable to help herself, hel...
