𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 (Walker Scobell)

Driver's License

"Oh God," I repeat, pacing back and forth. It was just me, Lele, and her dad, but I couldn't stop. I'm pretty sure the entire DMV just thought I was crazy. Walker just laughed in my AirPods. "Shut up," I said to the air. Yeah, they definitely thought I was crazy.

"Jade, calm down," Lele said, grabbing my arms and holding me in place. "You're going to ace this. It's a lot easier than it looks."

"You don't get to say that!" I say, sitting down. "You already have your license."

"If getting my license sounds like this, I think I might spare my mom the details," Walker said. Right now, the number was 64. I was 67. So anytime now. I fought the urge to pace again.

"Babe, you're not helping."

"65?" I heard, and I started panicking again. Two more numbers. "65?" Wait. Why did-

"Girl, it looks like no shows. You might be next," Lele said.

"Lele, please."

"66?" Oh shit, she might be right. I wring my wrists. Lele's dad steps out quickly to take a call, and it's just me and Lele. "66?" Someone, PLEASE.

"Here it comes," I hear Walker say, and I pull the phone to glare at him. He makes a silly face and I just roll my eyes before hearing the dreaded sound.

"67?" Well, time for my doom.

"Bye babe. I'll call you back later." I hear a quick mumble, but before I can ask, the call is dropped. I put my headphones back in their case, and make my way to the car Mr. Thompson had lent me to learn when my dad was gone. I strutted up, and the examiner shook my hand.

"Well, hello! I'm Tina, I'll be your examiner. Ready to go?" I nodded, but every part of me wanted to scream no.
~~~

The test itself wasn't that scary, necessarily. It started with me and the test lady (Miss Tina) walked out with me to the car. She explained that she was going to put a camera up, inspect the car, and tell me what to do. "Trust me sweetie. I won't say anything that will cause you to fail." I hope not.

I buckled up, turned on the car, and checked to make sure Miss Tina had her seatbelt on. She did, so I looked out and waited for instructions. "Ready when you are," I said, voice shaking.

"Alright sweet. State your full name to the camera please."

"Jade Gemoni Reyes Balmaceda Pascal." Yeah. It's a mouthful.

"Alright, when it's safe, drive out and turn to your right." Deep breath, check mirrors, wipe hands, and we were off. I turned after a car passed, and the lady started telling me to do these winds and turns. The part where I thought I failed was on a back up. She made me back up and I thought she was going to make me back up into the main street. But she didn't, and we went on. Did my K-turn, my parking, and also a question. We went back in, and I tried peeking a look at the paper. No use. I got in and the lady pulled Mr. Thompson, and with him, Lele, in with me. "I have to discuss her test with you as she is a minor. I understand you have guardianship of her right now?" I chuckled, thinking about how my dad missed this by a day.

"Yes, ma'am. Her father's at work in a different state."

"Alright. She did great. All she missed was the question on the hill about which way the tires go. You also had a close call with the turning. You turned a bit too fast, but I don't think you noticed. Other than that, you got 18 points, and if you had more than 30, you would've failed. Congratulations sweetie, you've earned your license."

"I told you! Didn't I, Dad?" Lele said, wrapping me in a hug. We started to walk out, my license in hand, ready to sit and relax from my nerves.

"Have you called your dad yet?" Mr. Thompson asked, walking with us to the car. I shook my head. "I say wait till you get home." He tossed me the keys and my eyes widened. "What, is that license just for show?" I laughed as I took the wheel, getting ready to drive home for the first time ever as a licensee.

It was a lot easier than I thought, and we all made it to my house safely. I was getting ready to call my dad when Mr. Thompson pressed a button on the visor and my garage opened. Inside, a hybrid Toyota was in. It was something I had asked my dad for, something I wouldn't mind using since I thought I wouldn't have money on my own to pay for gas. Either way, it was adorable, and it really made me remember my dad's sacrifices...

Then I saw him. Out of the corner of my tear-filled eyes, I saw my dad. I ran out of the car, forgetting about the door, and just running and jumping into his arms. I'll admit, I cried a bit, but it had been so long without seeing him in person. "Mija, I'm so so proud of you." I hugged him tight, and he just held me, making sure not to drop me.

"Papi, you're here early," I said after the tears and sobs ceased. He laughed and just squeezed me. "You missed it! I did so good! Look!" I said, basically shoving the license in his face like an excited toddler. He grabbed it and smiled, handing it back.

"Don't lose that. I know you," he chuckled, then wrapped me in a hug again. "Victor, as always, thank you so much for keeping an eye on my little girl. And thank you for teaching her," he said to Mr. Thompson, and I squealed, turning to Lele.

"Mall on Monday afternoon?" I say, and she nods. "Cool." We squeal one more time before heading our separate ways, me inside my house with my dad, already talking about our show and catching up, while Lele and Mr. Thompson drove out of the driveway and into the street towards their house.

~~~

A/N - HI!!! GUYS THIS IS THE SECOND-TO-LAST CHAPTER???? BEFORE THE??? i'm so excited for yall to see what coming up !!! also the drivigg by test?? yeah i took that today and PASSED. Got my license. wrote it down as a core memory holder type thing. go check out my other story! that one's a little shorter and more updated because i don't push myself to a 3000 word limit. it's a taylor swift ff, be warned...

as always love yall tysm for being here!!!
- Luna