Heartdriven: Too Driven To Drive

28. Gasoline

    The table was set for breakfast, and Sebastian proudly arrived in the kitchen, placing a little, bent nail in front of Alice, who had been patiently waiting for him.
    "There it is."
    She picked it up, trying to expect it for evidence of her wound, "That's it? I thought it would have been bigger. All this drama for that?"
    "Careful. It just needed to be sharp, to do the damage. I think the top of the table collapsed, only having these little nails holding it together," putting his palm forward, she gave it back to him and he was sure to get it wrapped before putting it in the garbage bin. "I will remove the rest later and put it back together with some screws. I just need to get some more."
    "Okay, great. Because I wanted to get some groceries, so you could just drop me off?", she began filling up his plate with buns as he still hadn't made his way to the table, and she was getting hungry. Actually, they had some food expiring, so she needed to stuff him up and make room in the fridge.
    "Or maybe I could use some of the bigger ones, if I place another board in between. I think I have some in the garage," he was completely in his own thoughts.
    She turned around to him still pondering, the slight sting from the cut on her ribs made her grimace and she directed her frown at him, "Did you hear what I said?"
    "Something about groceries...?", giving her a bashful smile.
    "Eat," casting her thumbs towards his breakfast, "Before you get completely distracted." He followed orders and sat down, digging into his plate and the assorted buffet on the table. "I was saying you need to drive me town so I can get some more groceries."
    "How long will you be? I would like to get the tables done so I can start packing. I need to leave before you wake up tomorrow." She had apparently thrown a cork in his plans, but he didn't sound too excited about leaving either.
    "Really? That early?", she had to brush the slightest feeling off, if he sensed any emotion on her, it could backfire, "Well, I can take my time. Just drop me off and go back home, then I'll call you when I'm done."
    "Are you sure? I can go with you, if you want," he reached over and touched her hand, just as she had been about to finally get a taste of that buttered bun on her plate.
    "No, I'll be fine. I actually saw they were having a sale in one of the shoe stores, I was thinking of getting some new."
    Letting go of her hand, he chewed into his own bun and she got a moment's peace to start her own. And then he continued, trying to hide the food in his mouth, "Alice, you know you don't have to wait until something is on sale. If you want a new pair of shoes, just get them."
    "I hadn't considered getting a new pair until I saw the flyer," and seeing part of their selection printed out, made her realise how many options there were for the amounts of walking she was about to partake in, back and forth from home and to the town.
    "Oh so you are an easy customer?", sensing a teensy bit judgement coming from him, sounding like he had expected her to jump freely into his credit card. That was stupid from him, really. But he was too sweet for her to start it up again.
    "You know me, I can't resist a sale," laying it on thick, she couldn't hold back the eyeroll. He wanted her to spoil herself a little more than she was willing to, but stepping into new shoes, was a good start against her pride. He should take it as a victory.

    Predictably, the shoe store was quite crowded when Alice arrived, and she opted to start off getting the groceries. She had brought a cooler bag, so getting the shoes later would be of no trouble... that is, if hadn't started dripping as soon as she got back outside. It was too soon to call Sebastian, she didn't want to bother him already and drag him away from work. So, she marched on, making her way back home.

    The clouds looked darker as she got outside the town... or maybe the wind was moving them closer. Supposed she couldn't outrun the rain and just had to endure it the rest of the way. It was getting heavier and colder, but it would have been manageable if not for the sound of the sky thundering in the distance. She was walking amongst open fields and not feeling the least bit safe, as the blasts were getting louder around her and the sky sounded to fall apart above her. She had gotten as far as she could, but now it was time to call her saviour.
    It wasn't the brightest of plans, but she had to seek shelter and ventured out on the nearest field with a large enough tree for her to not be hit by the constant downpour. The line kept ringing in her cold hands, and she hung up to hide her hands in her sleeves. But just as fast as she had put her phone back in her pocket, the call returned.
    "Alice, my love, are you done already?", he sounded slightly out of breath. Maybe he had run to catch her call.
    "I'm sitting under a tree and it's raining and booming in the distance. I'm a little... just a little bit scared. Can you come get me?", the words came out so quickly, the other end needed a moment to compute.
    "I'll be there in two minutes."
    Home was bit further away than two minutes, but if he wanted to be optimistic about a damsel in distress, she didn't want to burst his dreams.
    "Thank you. I'm gonna shut off my phone now because I'm worried about lightning. I love you," speaking even faster to not have her teeth chatter.
    "I'll be there in one minute." He hung up without another word, having already sounded like he was rushing.
    She shut off her phone and sat waiting. She was officially a certified idiot. At least the groceries were kept cold. And what was she doing under the tree? She was wet anyway, and the lightning was more likely to hit the tree than her. She was going to make Sebastian some pie with leeks and bacon for their last night together, before he left. As long as that wasn't soaked. Another crack in the heavens, and she was cuddling her food. "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes... wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings... these are a few of my favourite things... when the dog bites, when the bee stings... when I'm feeling sad... I simply remember my favourite things... and then I don't feel so bad...", surprisingly it was working to keep her mind occupied, just singing lowly to herself, over and over.
    Her singing was interrupted by a few honks, and the familiar car pulling up the road. She picked up herself and her bag, and was met by an umbrella, escorting her to the car. She shook herself a couple times to get the drops off her jacket, and just as she sat in the seat, Sebastian turned on the heat on full blast, accompanied by the seat warmer. And then he just stared her down.
    "I didn't get new shoes."
    He reached back to the backseat and handed her a little plastic package, "You can save these then."
    "What's this?", she could tell, but still caught by surprise. It was a widerange selection of shoelaces in different patterns and colours.
    "I got them at the hardware store. On sale," he did his best to emphasise that they had been on sale, as if he thought that would make the gift more special to her.
    She leaned over and kisses his cheek, a still rain-fresh kiss, "Thank you. They are very pretty."
    He clearly noticed how wet she had become, and turned on the frown, "So what is the excuse this time?"
    "I was done earlier than expected and I didn't want to bother you while you were fixing the tables. And then it started dripping, so I didn't want to look at shoes," she felt like she was explaining herself to the headmaster.
    "Alice."
    He was making her feel guilty, and she just looked down, embarrassed, "I must have stepped under a ladder a while back. And then the ladder must have hit me in the head. But really, I'm just dumb."
    "As long as you realise it. But it is getting worse. Can you explain to me how you are going to survive a week without me?", his tone was getting scolding, and somehow she felt she deserved it, but she did not appreciate what he was saying.
    "I'm not getting worse!"
    "You have completely abandoned your survival instincts. I am worried you might walk onto a live track one day, because you didn't expect there to be cars!", he was gesturing a lot with his hand, as if he was reaching for the common sense within her.
    She just stared dead back at him with a blank expression, turning up the sarcasm, "Yeah, it's surprising they even let me in the paddock in the first place, since I'm so incompetent."
    "You are not incompetent. Just... reckless."
    She covered her face in her hand and gave her head a couple of shakes, "Alright. We have already avoided one fight today. Let's not do this. Please don't be mad at me. I'll try to be more careful. I don't want you to worry about me."
    "Then start using that thing between your ears. Whatever is left of it," he turned back to the car and got ready to start it back up, trying to get the last word.
    She put her hand on top of his, that was clenching the gear rod, and stopped him from moving it, "Will you knock it off? I feel like you are trying to start a fight with me, so it will be easier to leave."
    "Would that be so terrible?", he did a very good job at keeping the guilt of his reaction to himself, but that sentence uncovered it all to her.
    "Yes!", she allowed herself to clap back with a tiny snap after putting up with him, "It is very immature."
    "It is difficult to surpress the anger when you pull off shit like this," and that anger was still hidden in his voice until he took a deep breath and let his exhale spread condensation on the windows, "Alice. I just don't want you to get hurt by your own carelessness."
    "Maybe you are just noticing my stupidity more, because you have been around me 24/7." That gave him a chuckle and her a relief, in the realisation he was warming back up to her. She needed more of that warmth. "Can you tell me you love me again? Because I am not feeling it right now."
    The chuckle continued into a headshake, but positively, "I love you, Alice. Let's just get you home and in a hot bath."
    She wouldn't let him leave on a bad note.