Across the Street

4.

I sat inside the Starbucks, waiting for Tom to drive up while watching the sky turn from blue to grey as an incoming storm made itself known. Small drops of rain began to pitter-patter against the windows as the storm began to pick up, but it didn't bother anyone. Everyone continued sipping their overpriced drinks and working on what seemed to be either college or business work on their MacPros. I was about to walk to the counter and place an order when I heard someone burst through the door. Everyone including me jerked our attention towards the entrance where Tom stood panting like mad. His hair was drenched as were his clothes that were now clinging to him like a heavy blanket. Tom's eyes scanned the room back and forth before they caught mine.
"Kelly we gotta go."
"You're the one who wanted Starbucks though. Plus, it's pouring outside. Just look at yourself."
"No you don't understand we gotta-"
"Tom, whatever it is, it can wait."
Before I could turn around he grabbed my wrist and dragged me outside.
"Tom! What the hell?!"
He pointed towards the highway where a red truck had seemed to crash into the side railings and roll off onto the freeway. It didn't take anymore than a few milliseconds before I realized who it was and made a beeline for the scene. I could hear Tom screaming my name, begging me to stop or wait, but I didn't care.
That truck. That damned truck belonged to Sebastian Mendez. A guy who liked to drink way too much for someone who wasn't even a legal adult yet. But there was always one person in his passenger seat. His "one and only". His girl.
My baby sister.
As my feet continued to pound against the ground, sprinting towards the crash I could hear screaming, her screaming. Even from 13 yards away I could see that slimy piece of crap crawl out of the wreckage and run the other way, not even giving Lu a second glance. I opened my mouth to scream her name as I was just maybe 20 feet away, but as the engine burst in a fiery bulb I was blown back. A ringing was all I could hear, and all I could see were the flames as they began to consume the red truck. As I squinted I was able to make out Lu, screaming and coughing, punching against the glass of the passenger window.
"Lu! I'm coming!" I slid across the asphalt right in front of the window. At first the situation seemed daunting as the truck began to lean in our direction, but there was no time to be afraid. I mouthed to her through the window to move so I could kick it in. She nodded quickly and crawled to the back seat. With four kicks, I was able to breakthrough and pull her out. Tears and makeup were streaming down her small face as she wrapped her arms around me.
"Kelly I'm so sorry I'm sorry."
"Tell me later we gotta move." While trying to get up though the truck tilted and the right side of the truck landed right against my left side. I grimaced, trying to hold in my screams. My grip on Lu tightened in pain, and when she turned around she realized what had happened.
"Kelly, c'mon get up get up! You have to get up the car is gonna explode!" The pain of the truck crushing me began to sink in, quite literally, and it was harder to move as the seconds ticked by, dizziness setting in. I saw Tom run up and grab Lu by the waist, pulling her away towards the side of the road even as she kicked and scratched his arms in her attempt to wriggle free and get back to me.
My vision faltered and it felt like my lungs collapsed. I reached out my hand in vain trying to reach for something, someone. But what's the use when you're stuck under a truck ready to explode?
Moments before I felt my eyes close I caught a glimpse of Tom running towards me, his old, wet sneakers splashing in the water as they hit the pavement.