Galaxy Shoes

4. Marty's Motel

I flashed my right turn signal and eased onto the exit which would lead us to the highway. My hands drummed against the steering wheel as 'Wild Things' blasted throughout the car, filling the air around us. I spotted Liam from the corner of my eye as he bobbed his head in time with the words. I grinned cheekily and began bobbing my head along with him.

I glanced up at the rear-view mirror and smiled as Ellery casually lip-synced the lyrics Alessia Cara sang so beautifully. I rolled down all the windows as they both stared at me in slight confusion.

"Leave us alone, cuz we don't need your policies! We have no apologies for being-" I shouted off-key into the wind as we sped down the empty highway.

Liam laughed joyfully as Ellery sat quietly, looking terrified. Liam pushed his head out of the window as the next chorus came on and began singing off-key into the wind along with me.

"Find me where the wild things are!" We half-shouted, half-sang into the air, "We will carve our place into time and space-"

We both stopped mid-way and stared back at Ellery, expectantly. She stared at us with huge eyes and shook her head. We bobbed our head up and down as she gave us a look of surrender. She scooted over to the window behind my seat as I turned back around and continued driving.

"We brought our drums and this how we dance..." she sang. Liam and I smiled and began singing with her.

Before long, she succumbed to our crazy method of singing and was shouting out the lyrics with Liam and me. As we belted out the words, it took me a couple of minutes to realize that our only method of transportation stopped moving as the song came to an end. I frowned and tried to start the engine once more, but it rumbled and revved for a few seconds before dying.

"Jo, what happened?" Liam asked. He eyes held a mixture of horror and concern as he stared at me.

"Uh..." I muttered, "I...don't know."

"Well, I think we all know what's happened," Ellery stated, pushing her head between the front seats, "We're out of gas and, to make it even better, we're in the middle of the highway. We're at least ten miles away from the next town!"

"Okay," I sighed, raising my hands as a signal to remain calm, "It's simple. We just have to push the car."

"Oh, great," Liam groaned. I stared at him curiously.

"Obviously, I'm going to be the one to push this darn thing," he huffed. I laughed at his childish misery.

"It's okay," I said, "I'll push it with you. Ellery, you're driving."

"What?" she asked, sounding horrified, "Why me? I don't know how to drive."

"Well, then it's a good thing it doesn't have gas." I said, opening the door and hopping out.

Liam chuckled. "Good luck, book-um...Ellery," he said, jumping out and following me to the back of the car.

Ellery grumbled, jumping over the seat and landing roughly in the driver's position. I blew air out of my mouth as Liam and I prepared ourselves for the ten mile walk that was about to endure its torture on us. Liam pushed his hands against the bumper as I pushed against the top of the hood.

"Why isn't it moving?" Liam muttered through gritted teeth. I stopped pushing as I wondered the same.

"Ellery, is the car in neutral?" I called out.

"Oops, sorry," she apologized. I heard a shift before the wheels started rolling slightly.

I sighed before getting back into position. This was bound to take a while.