Kismet

Chapter Seven

After Chris stuffs his face full of cookies and milk, I tell him enough. I slip on my shoes in the front, and we are just about to leave. I glance up at Ethan, who sits by his stairs railing, leaning on it. There's a look in his eyes that suggests he's thinking hard about something.

   "Uh, Ethan?" I say, startling him out of his thoughts. "Thanks for the lessons and snack. Tell your mom it was good." I smile and turn around. 

   "Wait!" Ethan tells me, and I stop with my hand on the knob. I turn back to him. "Want a ride?"

    "Um. . . " I say. Without waiting for an answer, he walks into his kitchen. He returns with a key in his hand and a grin on his face, like he just got the car he wanted for his birthday. He jingles in his hand, trying to persuade me. 

   I roll my eyes. "Fine." I look down at my brother, who's nearly toppling over with dizziness, and I laugh. "Chris doesn't even look like he could make the walk, anyway." Ethan laughs, and opens the door. I release my hand and let him turn it. His hands were so much larger than mine, I realize. His fingers cover the whole knob, whilst mine don't. I look up. His head was so much closer to the ceiling than mine. I think it was the millionth time I'd noticed. Sorta.

   My next words come out of my mouth without my permission. "How tall are you?"

   First he looks a bit surprised, but then he smiles. "Six foot two." I blink at the numbers. "How about you?"

   I put on a grumpy face. "Five foot two. You're a foot taller than me! Lucky."

   "I'm four eleven!" Chris adds in.

   "Nice," Ethan says, gently punching him on the shoulder. Chris beams at that, and he runs outside. I quickly follow him, and Ethan walks out the door behind me, yelling into the house, "I'm driving the neighbors home, mom! Be right back." He shuts the door without an answer. He points to a red convertible with the black top on. It was nice- maybe made in 2005 or so. 

   "Sweet!" Chris says, running a hand over the side. "Can we take the top off?" He looks at Ethan pleadingly.

   "I don't think so-" I start to say.

   " 'Course we can!" Ethan tells us, smiling. He presses a button on the keys with his thumb. I watch as the car top folds over, resting behind the seats. "That's what it's for. Hop in."

   Chris immediately climbs in the front seat, but Ethan says, "Sorry, bud. Not old enough to sit in the front." He points to the back with his thumb, giving my brother a sympathetic smile. Grouching, Chris climbs in the back, plopping down on the seat behind the driver. He turns to me and says, "You can sit in the front, Kiara."

   A bit nervously, I open the door. I slip inside, buckling the seat belt. I'd never been in a convertible before. We could never afford one, and I didn't ever get the chance to ride in one. I'd ridden in a topless Jeep before, if that counts for anything.

   "Uh. . ." I start to say, as he turns the key in the car. It starts up with a soft roar. "Um, can you. . .?"

   "Drive?" Ethan asks, finishing my question. "Yeah. Got my license last year. I'm not saying I'm the best, so buckle up and hold onto somethin'."

   I grab the handle on the door so tight my knuckles grew white. I try not to gasp out that I change my mind.

   The car roars louder as he starts down the driveway. He turns it slightly, so it faces the right way, and then he presses on the gas pedal. We race down the road with a sudden burst of engery that waves my hair back behind my face. I want to wipe it out of my face, but I'm scared that if I let go of the car door, I'll fly out.

   "Ethan. . ." I say loudly and nervously.

   He doesn't slow or say anything to me. He only laughs a bit crazily, and Chris joins him. I glance to the side, to see a crazy glint in his eyes and hair flopping back that matches his laugh. The car races down the road, and I start to see my house in sight. I nearly sigh with relief, but that's cut off as the wind flies into my mouth like a wad of cotton. I could barely breathe. I struggle to turn behind me and look over the seat at Chris. He's laughing and gripping onto Ethan's seat.

   "Get you're seat bel-" I stop as Ethan slows quickly, jerking me forward.

   "We're here."

   I turn to the front a bit nauseously, my head spinning. "Was that necessary?" I cough out, straightening my hair the most I could. It was horribly frizzy and messy.

   "What?" Ethan asks innocently, turning to beam at me with a hand on the wheel.

   In a normal situation like this, I would've gotten mad. But when I glance at him with his huge eyes, I sigh, exasperated, but not mad. "Nothing. But I know I'm not letting you drive again, Ethan. At least with me in the car."

   "That's the normal speed around here!" he protests. Chris climbs out of the car, and I follow him. "Actually, there's no speed limit. That was slow, compared to what this thing can really drive."

   "Whatever. Thanks for the lessons, snacks, and drive. . . sorta." I glance over at Chris. He doesn't say anything. I kick him him in the chins, gesturing to Ethan with my chin.

   "O-oh," Chris says, suddenly getting it. "Thanks, Ethan. You're awesome." He smiles one last time at him before running into the house. I smile at Ethan, and wave. He waves back, and I walk into the house, swinging open the door.

 I quickly grab my phone from the couch and run up the stairs. Nobody questions me as I race into my room, silently shutting the door. Then I let out a huge smile that I couldn't contain any more. I have no idea why I felt like that, but I couldn't stop it. My heart was light and I feel like I could jump to Arizona and back.

   What's wrong with me?

   Maybe the car ride got the best of me or something. 

   I unlock my phone. No messages. I sigh in disappointment. I feel like I am losing Amanda. We hardly ever talk like we used to do, even if we were in the same town. I shake my head, as if to shake away the clinging thought. She was my best friend. We wouldn't drift apart. We'd been friends since second grade. That wasn't about to change.

   "Higher!" somebody laughs beside me. Wind blows through my hair as I am pushed higher on the wooden swing. Amanda flies next to me, her shoulder-length blonde hair whipping behind her head, the same as mine. For a sad moment, I drift back down to the ground, away from the blue sky. A gentle push on the small of my back makes me go higher than last time. Then they move over to behind Amanda.

   It was her older brother, Ty. He was rather short for his age, but muscled. He easily pushed us on the swing like it was nothing but the swing he was pushing. We are only seven, and this was my first time over at her house. It was one of the best days I'd ever had.

   "Yay!" I shout, as I am pulled closer to the sky again. I can see the white clouds against the blue perfectly, like a painting only the best artist could paint. A smile grows on my face as I go back down to the ground again.

   I am suddenly snapped back into the present as a beeping on my phone makes the memory fade. I glance down at the screen hopefully, and slide it unlocked. 

   "Stupid cell company," I mutter, as I delete the message from my cell phone company, telling me "It's the only day to get a new and improved plan!" I gently toss the phone on my bed, and it lands on my pillow.

   "I wish you were here, Amanda," I sigh.

   "Who are you talking to?" Mom yells from the hallway.

   "Nobody!" I shout back, rolling my eyes. I stand to my feet, leaving my phone on my bed.