DRIVE ME CRAZY

3

Grace

The morning of my first driving lesson dawned gray and dreary, mirroring my mood perfectly. The thought of driving made my stomach churn.

I had a quick shower, and put on some comfy leggings and a hoodie. Reed was already waiting for me. He had come to pick me up and then I would drive a little bit through a parking lot and some residential streets.

"Grace," Reed called when he saw me. He was waiting by his car, casually leaning against it with a cigarette in his hands.

"Hi."

"Are you ready?"

I nodded because the words couldn't come out of my mouth. My anxiety and fear hadn't stopped growing since this morning.

Both of us got in the car and Reed drove to an empty parking lot. Reed seemed to have an endless supply of patience as he showed me the basics of the car. He pointed out the pedals, the gear shift, and the mirrors, but every term felt like a foreign language to me. I nodded along, trying to absorb the information, but my mind was already spinning.

Once we were in the car, Reed slid into the passenger seat, his face a mask of calm determination. "Alright, let's start with pulling out of the parking space."

My hands trembled as I adjusted the seat and mirrors, my movements jerky and uncertain. When I attempted to move the car, I lurched forward and nearly hit the curb. Reed's steady voice guided me through each step. "Ease into the gas, and remember to check your mirrors."

Despite his instructions, I found myself slamming on the brakes and stalling the engine repeatedly. Each mistake felt like a blow to my already fragile confidence. Reed's calm demeanor didn't waver, but his patience was clearly being tested.

"Maybe try starting from a complete stop," Reed suggested after another stalling incident. "And make sure you're in the right gear."

I shifted nervously, attempting to follow his advice, but the car seemed to have a mind of its own. My hands shook as I tried to coordinate the pedals and gear shift, resulting in jerky movements and occasional screeching brakes.

"I don't like this."

"It just takes practice." He said calmly.

Despite his reassurances, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was hopeless. Every turn felt like a disaster waiting to happen. My attempts to parallel park were a mess of clashing gears and uneven maneuvers, and my attempts at merging into traffic were nothing short of chaotic.

"I'm sorry," I muttered, frustration evident in my voice. "I know I'm not doing well."

Reed's expression softened. "It's okay, you are trying."

The lesson dragged on, each moment feeling like an eternity. Reed continued to offer guidance, but the car seemed to rebel against my every attempt. I stalled it, jerked it, and felt like I was more of a liability than a driver.

We spent the whole ride back to my dorm in silence. But I noticed that Reed wasn't going the same way we came.

"Where are we going?"

"I need a beer, and I bet you too."

"Uh," was all I could manage to say. I didn't have any more energy.

We got out of the car and walked together to the same pub from the other day. Reed ordered for both of us.

"Relax." He said, taking a sip of his beer. "You did great today."
"No, I didn't."

"Yeah, you made progress." Reed flashed a half-smile, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "A small one."

"Mm?" I raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

Reed's smile widened, and I realized that for the first time, I saw him without his cap. The light revealed a scar running from his eyebrow down to his crooked nose, both likely the result of his hockey career. His thick black eyebrows framed his dark green eyes, which seemed to hold a mix of warmth and intensity.

"How long have you been driving?" I asked, trying to shift the focus away from my own frustrations.

"I don't know," he shrugged casually. "Since I was sixteen, I think."

"Did you get your license on your first try?" I inquired, bracing myself for another tale of Reed's effortless success.

Reed nodded, and I rolled my eyes in response. Of course, he had. Reed Reism, with his natural talent and easy charm. "What about you?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"What about me?"

"Why didn't you get your license before?"

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "My friends had their licenses, and so did my sisters. There was always someone around who could give me a ride."

Reed chuckled softly. "Spoiled."

I shot him a look, but there was no bite to it. "Maybe."

"And now you are stuck with me."

"Lucky me." I leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in my eye. "So, how many speeding tickets have you racked up in your flawless driving career?"

Reed laughed. "None. I've always been a model citizen on the road."

"Wow," I said with exaggerated awe. "A perfect record. You must be the driving saint of the city."

"Hey, don't hate the player," Reed said with a smirk. "Hate the game."

It was getting late and tomorrow we had class early in the morning. Reed drove me back to my dorm and I thanked him for tonight. Even though the class had gone terrible, I had fun tonight with Reed.

Hi everyone, 

Hope you liked chapter 3. Short chapter today. What do you think about Reed and Grace? Let me know all about it! Don't forget to comment and vote. 

Kisses, 

P