Looking After You

(9) Ages: 18 & 15

Ages: 18 & 15

“Leave me be, Jameson or I swear I will steer this truck into the river right now!” Jenny ordered while practicing her driving for the first time in James' beat up old stick shift Chevy. It was the only car the parents were comfortable with Jenny practicing on which meant James would have to teach her because he wasn’t about to let anyone else handle his precious truck.

“I don’t think that’s really necessary because I’m sure it will happen either way!” James argued in frustration while gripping the overhead handle so tight his knuckles were turning white. “You’re grinding gears! Gently ease it into second!”

“I’m trying but I can’t focus with you yelling in my ear!” She shouted over the sound of the truck practically screaming in pain.

“Well, maybe if you would do it right I wouldn’t have to yell! By the time you finish practicing with my truck I won’t have a truck!”

“Probably just as well considering this thing is older than my grandfather!” Jenny argued again while she continued to grind gears.

James had enough and quickly placed his hand over Jenny’s to show her how to slide the gears into place. “Like this.” He instructed and motioned for her to keep pressing down on the gas and clutch.

She glanced down at their hands with a small smile before focusing back on the road in satisfaction. “I think I’m getting it.”

“Don’t jinx it,” James ordered sarcastically and immediately received an eye roll from Jenny.

“Okay, I think I got it.” Jenny expected him to raise his hand from hers, but he never did. “James, you can let go,” she pointed out with a cheeky grin. He pushed the feeling he drew at the touch of her hand against his to the very back of his head and focused on the current situation, quickly removing his hand from hers. She smiled and began moving into different gears herself as she progressed down the road. Silence filled the truck for just a split moment before the sound of grinding gears permeated the silence once again, causing Jenny to wince and Jameson to close his eyes in frustration.

“Jennifer, if you kill my car, I swear…” He trailed off, leaving his threat undefined and hoping that would be enough for Jenny to just give up and pull off to the side of the road.

“Would you just shut up about the stupid truck a minute and let me get the hang of this! Our parents told me to use your truck because nobody cares if this old thing kicks the bucket! It was probably ten bucks at a junk yard!”

James fumed at her words and shortly after her words, his anger got the better of him. “That’s it! Pull off to the shoulder right now!” He ordered, only causing Jenny to fight back.

“No!” She shouted back while continuing to drive down the abandoned road.

“Jennifer Michelle Loren, if you don’t stop this car right now-”

She quickly stepped on the brake before yanking the gear into park like a pro and turning to James with a determined scowl. “You’ll what?”

He glared back at her a moment before swinging open his door and stepping out onto the black asphalt. He cradled the back of his head and walked to the front of the truck before pacing back and forth to calm his anger.

“What are you doing?” Jenny questioned as she stepped out of the truck and stood at the corner of the truck in her cutoff jeans and cowboy boots, her long, curly locks blowing in the gentle breeze.

“Contemplating how many ways there are to kill a fifteen-year-old and get away with it.” He teased with a scowl while continuing to pace in front of his truck.

Jenny smirked as she took a few more steps in his direction. “You couldn’t kill me, even if you really wanted to.”

His pacing slowed as he moved back over to her side of the truck with a raised eyebrow. “And what makes you so sure?”

“Because it’s too much trouble breaking in a new sparring partner.” She answered confidently before crossing her arms over her chest with a grin and leaning against the side of his truck.

He shook his head with a sigh and took a few steps towards her in dismay. “Why are so determined to complicate my life, Jenny Loren?”

“I only do it because I care, Jameson Jenson.” She answered immediately.

“Well, I think you care just a little too much.” He stated firmly and watched as Jenny’s face slowly fell in sadness. His stomach began churning at the sight and he immediately wished he could take back his stupid statement.

She stepped forward and shoved the car keys into his hand with a broken expression. “You can drive. I just want to go home.” She mumbled out softly in an attempt to keep her voice and tears in check.

Jameson quickly turned around to apologize. “God, Jenny, I didn’t-“

His words were cut short by the sound of his passenger side door slamming shut and he lowered his head in regret.

~

(This chapter is dedicated to lockedinmyworld! Thank you so much for the lovely comment you left on the last chapter! I truly appreciate it! :)

I would really like some thoughtful comments about what you like or even what you don't like. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, please :)

I am super hyped, please ignore the meaningless jabber :p

Anyways, I'm just posting these chapters because I don't want my page to become stagnant. I haven't posted anything in nearly a month so I figured it was about time. I probably have 5 or 6 more chapters already written but they just don't feel right so expect them to be changed if I do decide to post them. I'm sorry for the lack of updating. I have SO many ideas and I want to write so bad, I just feel like I don't have the patience anymore. I feel hyper all the time now and don't really have the patience to sit down and write. Which I'm not complaining about because it's a whole lot better than how I used to be. I feel happy which is really all that matters to me. So I guess if feeling happy means I don't get to write for a while then, a blank page I shall have. Thanks again for reading and I will try to post new stuff just as often as I can :)