New town, new start.
It had taken longer than expected to unpack, so when everything was finally in its place, the only store open was a dingy little gas station on the other side of town. Walking through the dark and unfamiliar house, you reach your car in the long gravel driveway, lit by the stars. Surrounded by trees and a chorus of night time insects, you imagine this place may not be so bad.
Arriving upon the gas station lit by neon lights emitting a faint buzz, you take in just how empty the place is. There's only one other vehicle here that doesn't belong to an attendant. Next to the door, under an orange light swarmed with small insects, sat the rusty forest green truck's owner. The smoke from his un-ashed cigarette exiting his nose and dancing around him while his cigarette dangles from his lips and he plays with the carton in his hands, elbows rested across bent knees. You walk past him and he doesn't bother acknowledging you. The bell rings as you open the door and the florescent lights inside the gas station offer a stark difference to the sleeping town right outside. The attendant is mopping the floors and lemon scented chemicals carry their way to your nose.
You bring your black coffee up to the counter where the attendant meets you and you pay. Exiting, the bells chime once more and and you fish a dollar bill out of your back pocket. The guy was lighting yet another cigarette. You hold out the dollar bill as an offering.
"got one to spare?"
He gives you an up and down and hands you a cigarette but not before swiping the bill from your hand, rolling it up, and sliding it right into the cigarettes old place in the carton. You lean down with the cig dangling from your lips and he lights it for you with a snap of the lighter. He leans back on his elbows and you realize just how appealing this stranger really is. You go through some valid points in your head
Yes, it's a school night
Yes, your parents are definitely worried
Yes, you decided to start fresh and break your old habits
But... is life really worth living if you're not having fun?
"You should take me for a ride"
Your eyes meet
"Why"
His voice is velvet and you smirk
"I guess you'll have to find out"
With this you stride to his truck and lean against the door waiting for him to follow. After a minute of him staring at you emotionless, unreadable, your face turns red and you realize you've made a fool of yourself.
Then you hear it.
He fishes his keys out of his pocket and hits unlock.
Click.
