Bon Bons to Yoga Pants

Chapter 50-Lexie, Shut Up.

For about ten seconds, all I could do was stare at my rearview mirror and the rain pounding my cracked back window. Had that just happened?

You've got to be kidding me.

"No!" I groaned. "Not now! Kenzie is going to kill me!"

Smoke billowed out of the hood of the other car, and fearing for their life, I ejected my seat belt and threw my door open. An elderly woman sat in the driver's seat, staring blankly at her steering wheel. I rushed up to her window, rain pounding my shoulders and hair.

"Are you okay?" I asked. She blinked, in a daze. I jerked open her door. "Ma'am? Are you all right? Do you need me to call an ambulance?"

"I-I'm fine," she said, rubbing her chest where the seatbelt crossed her ribs. "Just . . . a bit disoriented."

Her airbag had deployed, leaving an acrid scent behind and bitter powder in the air. Although smoke continued to plume and hiss from her car, I didn't see any flames.

"Are you having a hard time breathing?"

"No. I'm . . . I'm fine."

"I'm going to call the police," I said. "You stay here."

She nodded weakly and I shut the door before the deluge soaked her skinny, frail little body. By the time I made it back to my car, water had seeped through my dress. The warm chill pressed against my skin when I climbed back inside, grabbed my cell, and called 911. Rain fell so hard I could barely read the street sign across the road to tell them where to come. Once I finished reporting the accident, I slipped back outside.

"That's all I need," I muttered, jogging through the rain soaked grass in my bare feet, "is some sweet old lady to have a heart attack or something."

I knocked on her window. She shook her head and cracked open the door. The haze of shock had started to retreat from her glazed eyes.

"The police are on the way," I said. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you want me to have them send the ambulance?"

"No," she said weakly. "No, I'm fine. I just . . . I lost control. It's like the water just carried my car, and I'm . . . oh goodness, I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to hit you. It was an accident. And your dress will be ruined. Just an accident, I swear!"

Tears welled up in her old eyes. She held out a shaky hand for me. I took it and gave an affectionate little squeeze to reassure her. My dress was the least of my worries now. Water streaked down the side of my head in long rivulets.

"Don't worry," I said. "I'm not angry. Accidents happen. I'm just glad you're feeling all right."

Not wanting to soak her, I retreated to wait in my car until the police arrived. Attempts to call Mom were futile. She likely didn't hear her phone over the cacophony of Kenzie's friends and last-minute preparations. Mira and Rachelle were also MIA. A mild state of panic started in my chest. I had to get to the wedding! How was I going to get there if no one answered? Would they wait? Would Kenzie freak out? My phone chimed with a text.

Hey, Bradley had written. Just got here. Will I be able to see you beforehand?

My heart skipped a beat. Bradley! I hit the send button to call him and pressed the phone to my rain-saturated face. He answered after one ring.

"Hey girl."

"Bradley!" I cried. "Oh, I'm so glad you answered. I need help. I was just in a car accident, and no one is answering their phone, and I need a ride and—"

"Whoa, whoa. Are you all right?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just some sweet old lady hit me. Please come get me?"