Across the Street

1.

I remember the day Tom Holland moved in across the street from me.
It was raining so damn hard that the water reached the front doorstep of my house and my skateboard got caught in the sidewalk current, leaving me with no transportation to anywhere for the next month or so till I would be able to get another one. However, I did try to go after it, but in my attempt to do so, I got splashed by a large U-Haul that was hauling ass so fast to turn the curb it flung a small storm of water right in my direction. When I was able to stand up and keep my balance in the rushing water, I caught sight of him; an actual dumbass. He jumped out of the passenger side of the U-Haul with the most dumbfounded look on his face. I immediately hated him.
He also had the audacity to run over to me, through the raging river that covered the street between our houses, hug me, and say sorry loud enough that the rain became a whisper. When he finally let go, I scoffed and pushed him to the ground and let him cough as he struggled to get back on his feet before any of the street water got into his mouth.
That was 16 years ago, and now I'm the top mechanic in our town's shop, and Tom is a junior in the University of Michigan. He's also managed to continue to be a dumbass, as well a nuisance.
Today though, today is a big day. A very big day indeed. Today is the day that I am finally able to get the new car that I've been wanting since I learned stick shift: The Dodge Challenger 1970. All black, and soon to be, all mine. After graduating college, I knew I had to get a job as a mechanic, one; because that's all I could really do, two; because I knew that I would be able to make a decent amount of money, and could put aside a nice sum each time I got paid towards the car.
What's the plan now? Get in my crummy ol' 1999 yellow beetle and get the love of my life out of that god forsaken car dealership I've been watching it sit in. But just as I was about to jump in the driver's seat, none other than Mr. hecking - Holland burst out of his front door.
"Kelly! Kelly!" I hoped that if I got in my car quick enough, rolled up the window, and locked the door, he would go back to his house. But of course, he ran all the way up my driveway and to my window, tapping on it incessantly.
I begrudgingly let it roll down, "What Tom."
"I need you!"
"Need me to what?"
He stood there for a while, obviously making something up on the spot, "I need you.. to.... um.."
"You have three seconds to tell me something before I run over your foot."
"TAKE ME TO STARBUCKS"
"Get in," I groaned. A small smile flashed across his lips before he basically threw himself over the hood of the bug just to get to the other side and slide into the passenger seat. "Since when did you get athletic?" I asked keeping my eyes on my rear view mirror.
"Uh, I take P.E. now"