The Drive to Your Heart

Part Four

I managed to sign up for the registration this time.

After completing the paperwork and parting with a chunk of my savings, I received a schedule for my lessons and was told that my preliminary test would be in a week.

As I stepped outside, I found myself scanning the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of that cute guy again.

But he was nowhere in sight, which was kind of disappointing. I realized I never even asked for his name.

"Ruth, you're hopeless," I muttered to myself, shaking my head.

But I had to focus—I'd just taken a significant step toward my independence. That was definitely worth celebrating!

Yup, this mindset is exactly what my parents wanted me to work on.

***

"Here's to being adults!" Karla exclaimed, clinking her can of soda with mine.

"So, Miss Ruth, how does it feel?" she asked, popping her can open.

"It feels good," I replied, a grin spreading across my face. "The lessons are going smoothly. My instructor is super chill—he's been really patient with me. Honestly, I think I could skip the preliminary assessment and go straight for the DMV test."

Karla's eyes widened. "Whoa, slow down there, speed racer! You got lucky. My instructor was a nightmare. He made me parallel park for, like, an hour."

I chuckled as the waiter approached with our burgers. "Here's your order, ladies. Enjoy."

"Thank you," we said in unison, before turning back to our conversation.

"So, when's your preliminary test again?" Karla asked, unwrapping her burger.

"The day after tomorrow," I replied, taking a bite of my burger. "I just hope the other instructor is as nice as Mr. Franklin."

"Are you ready for it?" Karla asked, raising an eyebrow.

"As ready as I'll ever be!" I said, beaming at her. "I'm totally gonna ace this test."

***

Today was the last day of my driving lessons. The week had flown by in a blur of practice sessions and pep talks from Mr. Franklin, my instructor. He was a kind-faced man in his late 30s, with a calming presence that made even the most stressful maneuvers seem manageable.

"Hello, Ruth. Ready for your last lesson?" Mr. Franklin asked with his reassuring smile as I slid into the driver's seat.

"Yup," I replied, giving him a thumbs up, though my stomach hurt a little due to the nerves.

We started the lesson, going over everything we'd covered throughout the week. Mr. Franklin had a way of making even the complicated instructions sound simple.

By the time the hour was up, I felt like I could conquer the world—or at least the DMV test. Mr. Franklin nodded approvingly as I parked the car.

"You've done well, Ruth. I'm confident you'll do just fine tomorrow," he said, giving me a fatherly pat on the back.

"Thanks, Mr. Franklin. I really appreciate all your help," I replied, feeling a warmth in my chest.

As I left the driving school, I felt satisfied. Tomorrow was the big day, and for the first time, I wasn't scared. I was ready to ace that test. But as I walked away, I couldn't help but glance around myself, hoping to see a familiar face in the crowd.

But again, no sign of him.

Shaking my head, I decided to focus on what mattered: getting my driver's license. Everything else could wait.

***

"Ruth Hale?"

I snapped out of my thoughts, my eyes widening as I recognized the guy standing in front of me. It was him. What were the odds?

I was waiting for my preliminary test instructor, my nerves already making my palms sweaty, and then the umbrella guy showed up. The last person I expected to be my instructor.

"Uh... here," I replied, raising my hand like a kid in class, feeling awkward. He looked up from his clipboard, one eyebrow lifting in what I could only assume was his version of a greeting.

I hesitated, my brain scrambling to make sense of this situation. "You're... the instructor for the test? I thought you said you were here to take the preliminary test, instead," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Of course. He never said he was taking the test—he was the one dishing it out.

My instructor, Axel Danforth, crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly to the side. "I'm the instructor, actually. Let's see what you've got, Miss Ruth."

Axel led me to the car, and we drove to the testing area in total silence. The kind that makes you hyper-aware of every sound—like the squeak of my sneakers against the mat or the soft hum of the air conditioning. I tried to break the ice with some small talk, but Axel's responses were as warm as ice.

Well, so much for trying to be friendly. Message received: No chit-chat today.

We finally reached the testing area, and I slid behind the wheel, trying to calm myself.

With Mr. Franklin, my lessons always started with an announcement, a signal that it was time to start the car. Naturally, I expected Axel to do the same.

But the silence dragged on. I glanced to the side and noticed Axel jotting something down on his clipboard.

Wait—was he already marking something? I hadn't even started yet!

"Uh, I was waiting for you to get buckled in and all," I quickly explained, hoping it would buy me some time.

He turned to look at me. "You can start whenever you're ready, Miss Ruth."

Biting back a sigh, I started the car and began the test.

My hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tight as I navigated the course, trying to ignore the intense way Axel was watching me.

It felt like I was a bacterial cell under some microscope.

The pressure was getting to me, and I made a couple of minor mistakes—nothing major, I hoped.

Finally, the test was over. We parked the car, and I let out a breath I knew I was holding. Axel turned to me with that same serious look, and I braced myself for whatever was coming.

"You did well," he said, and I could feel a huge grin forming on my face.

"I knew it! Thanks so mu—"

"But," he interrupted, "there are a few things we need to work on before I can pass you for the official test."

My smile vanished. "Wait, what? What did I mess up?"

"Some small stuff—rolling through a stop sign, not checking your blind spot well enough, and taking turns too quickly." He read off his clipboard. "These might seem minor, but they're important for the real test."

I frowned, trying to process this. "So wait, does that mean..."

He nodded, and I could practically feel my heart drop into the pit of my stomach. "You'll need more practice. We'll schedule another preliminary test in a week."

My mouth fell open in shock.

I did not just fail my driving assessment, did I?

***