The Best I Can Do

Thundering Engines

Chapter Five:

Silver's P.O.V:

A knock came from my window.

I rolled down the window just a little bit, my eyes peeking up at who it was.

Just some guy. I've never seen him before.

"Hey. Are you alright?"

Depends. Do you really want to know?

I looked around the parking lot to see another car near me, hoping I didn't just get myself into a dangerous situation.

"It's over there." He pointed to a red 2012 Dodge Charger.

Nice car.

I looked at him again, scrutinizing him.

He held up his hands. " Relax. It's not like I'm gonna hurt you."

He sighed when I didn't say anything.

"I had football practice after school. We just got out," he gestured to the school's field. "I saw your car earlier this morning, and when I realized it was still here, I got...curious."

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Hey, do you talk?" 

And there it is. My cue to leave.

I sighed, put my keys in the ignition, and paused to listen to the beautiful roar of the engine as it came to life. 

I turned towards the guy and waved goodbye at his confused expression before I rolled up the window and drove away.

-----

I unlocked the front door to my aunt and uncle's house--my new home--and walked inside.

"Erin? That you?"

Uncle Robert's voice called out from the living room.

I walked in there, and I froze as I walked into another memory.

My uncle was sitting on the grey couch, tiny cracks in the leather growing bigger each time he moved. He was holding a beer in his left hand, and the remote was in his right as he stared at the baseball game on TV.

He looked up at me and welcomed me home with a big grin.

"Hey. How was your first day?"

I shrugged. He patted the space beside him, gesturing for me to sit with him.

"Wanna watch the game?"

I shook my head and gestured towards the stairs.

"Today must've exhausted you. Alright, well, I'll call you down when dinner's ready."

You're gonna make dinner?

He saw the shock on my face, and he laughed.

"Relax, I'm ordering pizza. With Katherine working late, It's what I always do."

I smiled and nodded before making my way upstairs.

I stopped on the top of the stairs when I saw from the corner of my eye that The Door was still wide open just like it was this morning.

I avoided looking into the room; I kept my eyes trained on the floor as I walked towards the room and closed The Door. 

My fingers slowly released the doorknob, and I walked towards my room.

I sat down on my bed, set my book bag on the ground, and laid back. My eyes looked up at the ceiling, thinking of today's events. I shook my head, remembering I had homework.

I sat up and reached for my book bag.

Twenty minutes in, I heard my name being called from downstairs.

"Erin! Pizza's here!"

I got up and headed downstairs. Near the last steps, I saw Uncle Robert paying the pizza guy, and I stopped in my tracks when I saw who it was.

He looked up at me, and recognition flashed across his face.

You're that guy from the parking lot.

Uncle Robert looked between the both of us.

"Do y'all know each other?"

When I didn't answer, Pizza Guy answered for me. 

"Uh...not really...sort of," He glanced at me before looking back at Uncle Robert. " We met today in Redwood's parking lot."

Uncle Robert smiled and nodded, excited I had 'made a friend'.

I don't want friends.

"Hey! You wanna come in and join us for dinner?"

I stared wide-eyed at Uncle Robert, wishing he would shut up and close the door.

Pizza Guy looked up at me again and shook his head.

"No, that's okay. I have to get back to work anyway."

Did he actually consider it?

After another quick glance at me, the guy turned around and left.

Uncle Robert carried the pizza into the living room, and I ran down the rest of the stairs and peeked out of the living room curtains.

I watched as the thundering engine of a 2012 Dodge Charger and bright headlights faded away into the night.