Weeds ➵ Two-Bit Mathews

03. the ride

PART THREE

"I asked for a ride home from school," she groaned. "Not a ride all over town doing your shenanigans."

Her brother turned to glare at her briefly. "You wanted a ride. Beggars can't be choosers so shut your trap."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Jay."

Jay swerved a garbage can that was a little too close to the curb and Willa let out a squeal. "I don't know why mom and dad gave you dibs on the car, you don't even know how to drive."

"Funny," he replied. "I don't recall being the one who backed into a shopping cart at the grocery store."

"Yeah?" She snipped at him. "I don't recall being the one who shredded the tires dragging on the strip."

"Mom and dad just thought the tires were faulty," Jay smirked. "You just don't play your cards right, you're too honest. You should've told mom that you suffered a hit and run but you had to tell the truth."

"Sorry for being a good kid," she said, shoving her brother by the shoulder. "We all can't be sneaky hoods like you."

"Nah, now don't call me a hood," he frowned and took a right turn on to a familiar street. "That's just plain rude."

"You're a hood, the truth ain't rude," she gestured to the street they had just turned on. "We're on Shepard's street right now, now tell me why are we going to his place if you're not a hood?"

"Didn't I tell you to shut your trap?"

Willa sunk into the passenger seat smug that she had annoyed her brother.

Willa sat on Tim Shepard's couch in his living room, sipping on a glass of water and staring into space. Her brother was down in the basement with Tim for the last hour. Everything they were talking about seemed hush-hush. Willa even tried to eavesdrop and failed. At this point, she was getting impatient to leave. She should have grabbed the keys and took off but her brother probably would have killed her for it.

The main floor of the Shepard house was eerily quiet, all she could her was the tapping of her feet on the hardwood from where she was shaking her leg. She half hoped Curly or at least Angela would be here to keep her company but they were out.

Willa thought about all the things she could be doing right about now. Chatting with Heather on the telephone, watching The Brady Bunch on television, or even just spinning some records as she laid down on her bed. Even doing the homework Mrs. Stringer had given her World History class today would be better than just sitting idly and awkwardly on the Shepard's couch.

She wished her brother had never gotten caught up in Tim's bullshit anyway. Jay was an easy recruit. He came from a poor family and wasn't all that book smart. He worked a dead-end job down at Benny's diner and had just dropped out of high school when Tim had swooped in and asked him to join his "gang". She wasn't even sure what they did, Jay always left her in the dark.

When it got so quiet where she was sitting that she could hear the clock ticking, she decided to leave. Her house was probably only three or four blocks from Tim's and a nice walk would be better than being bored out of her mind sitting all by herself.

Willa hollered down the stairs at Jay to tell she was leaving and left Tim's to make the trek home.

The sun was setting when she started walking. The sky was a pretty array of oranges and purples. It was the end of winter so the sun still set early but she could tell spring was on it's way since the air had a warm wind to it.

An engine hummed behind her and skidded to a stop. She turned around to check it out.

"If it isn't my favourite little lady," Two-Bit grinned. "What are you doing out walking all by your lonesome?"

"I'm not your lady," she said with squinted eyes. "And I'm walking home. I got tired of waiting for my ride."

"Hop in," he said. "I'll give you a ride no problem."

Willa hesitated and folded her arms. "Should I get in the front or should I just crawl into the trunk to save you the hassle of dealing with me?"

Two-Bit laughed and shook his head. "Get in the front. You're fiery today, huh? I thought we were over the whole trunk thing."

"We are." Willa climbed into the passenger seat and clicked in her seatbelt. "I just couldn't get in here without a little snark first."

"Charming." He turned up the radio and drove off.

Willa must have underestimated how long of a walk it actually was between her place and the Shepard's since it was almost completely dark when Two-Bit pulled into the driveway. Either that or he was an exceptionally slow driver, which Willa knew wasn't true. At many points of the drive she had been gripping the door handle for dear life and it really didn't help matters that his breaks were just about to give out and only worked when they felt like it.

"Thanks for the ride," she told him, moving to unbuckle herself and get out.

"Hey, wait," he said, placing a light touch on her hand that was trying to release her seatbelt. "I gotta ask you something."

Willa stopped getting ready to leave. "Go on, then."

"Go on another date with me?" He asked, smiling softly at her. "You know, I'm not so bad."

"No way," Willa said, shaking her head. "I won't even give you my number, what makes you think I'd knowingly go on a date with you?"

He looked at her with a sheepish expression. "I gave you a ride home? Plus, you know I could show you a good time."

"Keith Mathews, you need to know one thing about me," she said, making eye contact. "I do not set myself up for failure. I will not get my heart broke by a guy like you."

"This is the east side, baby," Keith replied. "All the guy are like me."

"You ever hear my name come out of those guys' mouths?" Keith shook his head. "Exactly. I play it real safe."

"That ain't no fun."

"Maybe not," Willa agreed. "But it hasn't done me wrong yet."

Willa stepped out of the car and thanked him for the ride before slamming the door. He stared up at her, dumbfounded. She had made it up the whole driveway and in through the door of her house before she heard his engine rev up again and he left.

♦ ♦ ♦

BONUS

jeremy irvine as jay king