better than most 。dominic fike (ongoing)

04

we drove in verbal silence with only the sounds of the radio and wind whipping through the car's open windows occupying our space. i watched the familiar scenery of my city roll by as his car glided down a long stretch of street that served as a connected local road. i had absolutely no clue which beach he was taking me to since we weren't traveling east yet but rather north. i enjoyed his presence even in silence to the point of not asking. he could likely kidnap me at this rate and i'd probably apologize as if its my fault.  

my aimless thoughts were interrupted by dom saying "shit" unexpectedly. i took a break from looking out the window as i had been the majority of the drive. i only ever looked toward him on the exception of a few brief and stolen glances. mostly because i felt a sense of tension between us, and not the angry kind.

"what's wrong?" i asked 

"gas" he said motioning to his dash which had lit up orange from the near empty tank. i let out an "oh yeah", nodding my head and remembering we were supposed to have gotten gas before we took off.

"i'm just gonna make a u-ey at that chevron on the corner" he said pointing up ahead at the nearest gas station which was three lights away.

i nodded once again and we reached a light which turned red before he could turn. his face turned serious suddenly and i followed his line of vision that landed on a young boy outside. he was standing a little ways away on the median to the left of dom's driver side. the boys clothes and hair were disheveled and he was flying a cardboard sign that said: LIFE'S SHORT. BE HAPPY! he couldn't have been more than nineteen, and despite his obvious unfortunate situation he had a smile on his face. 

real or fake? i couldn't tell. 

dom began to rummage through the pockets of his jeans while anxiously shifting his eyes between the red light and the boy who most likely couldn't see us looking through the dark tints of our jeep. 

"what are you looking for?" i asked, his anxious energy starting to shift onto me

"money" he sighed lifting up the compartment of the center arm rest after having no luck with his pockets

"where the hell is my wallet??!" he grumbled running his hand through his hair

i had no clue what his wallet looked like or where it was but i popped open the glove box in front of me to help look, and sifted through it finding nothing but napkins, a notebook, and other miscellaneous things. i even lifted up my butt incase i sat on it for whatever reason but had no luck either. he continued to look in all the cars smaller compartments like the cubby on the door and the cup holders when a "HONK" sounded from behind us. the light had turned green. seemingly a couple seconds ago as the car that was in front of us had gone already.

"FUCK!" he yelled out exasperated and hit the gas not before flicking of the car behind us. i stifled a laugh watching his face which was still very serious. he sped through the three lights leading to the gas station before making a sharp turn and perfectly parking at the pump directly in front of the mini shop of the station. before i could ask if he was alright he hopped out the car and something fell from inside and onto the floor in front of him. he bent down to pick it up. 

it was his wallet. 

he sighed.

"here" he said pulling out two twenties and handing them to me "go get your drink". 

"oh no no no no, i'm good" i said and began reaching deep into my bag and pulling out my wallet that was somewhere on the bottom

"i didn't ask if you were good," he said putting the money into my hands anyway