Across the Street

3.

"What?"
A smile appeared on his face, "I'll keep the bug, just for memories sake, and you get to keep your Charger!"
"Challenger."
"Same thing."
I spun the keys of the bug around my finger, "Are you sure?"
"Yes Kelly, c'mon, I promise I'll take care of it."
I thought for a while, tossing the idea around of Tom actually having something that belonged to me. Anytime I let him borrow something he always breaks it. I let him have my old flip phone, he dropped it in his toilet the next week. When I gave him my pair of white converse, he came to my front door holding them without the soles of the shoes the next day. And no one can forget the countless amount of times I've let him "help" me with the house and he's broken a wall or a chandelier or a table.
"Kelly please?"
"How do I know you'll take care of it? You've never taken care of anything I've given you, and a lot of work has gone into that Beetle."
"Remember the crew neck sweatshirt that had Spider-Man written across the sleeves that you gave me like 3 years ago?"
"Barely."
He shuffled around his pocket and pulled out his phone, scrolling through his camera roll. After a few seconds he pulled one up and held it to my face for me to see.
"Is that.."
"I wear it every time I go back home because I don't want to forget about- um, about this place."
I studied the picture, the sweartshirt seemed to be in good condition, it fit him better than it had fit me. Overly-baggy was never really my style. "Well, I guess if you promise me that nothing will happen to this bug, then you can have it."
Tom jumped and embraced me, "Thank you thank you thank you Kelly!"
"You're welcome," I choked as his arms began to squeeze me into oblivion, "Wow you really are taking P.E."
He let go and took the keys to the bug, "Sorry ha." I nodded at him and waved as I walked up to the passenger door of my new classic car. But right before I could sit down Tom came up next to me, "What about Starbucks though?"
"Meet me there?" He gave me a quick thumbs up and ran into the other side parking lot. As I watched him run through the parking lot, curly brown hair going all over the place, I prayed that the bug would roll up to the Starbucks in one piece.
However, worries flew out the window as soon as I sat in the driver's seat of the Challenger. A blessing like this only comes once in a lifetime, and I swear, at this very moment, I was ready for God to strike me down and take me to heaven because my life was complete. When the engine revved for the first time though, that's when it really hit me. I had worked so long and so hard just to get this car, and it was finally here. I remember my dad telling me that there were going to be times when I would just forget about this car and spend all my money on something stupid like a brand new car with a rear view camera. But if I really wanted it, he'd say, I would get it eventually. He may not get to see it in person, but I know that my dad is looking down on it right now. My mom is probably just rolling her eyes at my dad and I's obsession with cars.
Once I had my emotions in check, I pressed the gas, and pulled out of the dealership, ready to show off the car I've devoted my life to the past decade.