"Children of Sean Kiersey's new car, we now find ourselves embarking on a special, special journey - one that requires utter commitment and the most devout of attitudes to thrill and thriving in a world that no longer holds us bou-"
"Roy - can you just pass me the zoot?"
"Alright then, I'll shut up."
There was a chorus of amused groans at Roy's feigned sulkiness, and Calum, now sat in the back, leaned across Cindy to pat him in consolation.
"I'm sorry mate, I didn't mean it. Give us the speech."
"Too late, the damage is done."
"Roy, I want to hear the speech," Aika spoke up from the front.
"I'll tell it you later."
Aika smiled, then glanced over at Sean; it had only just come to her attention that he seemed to be a little concerned - distracted.
"You good?" she asked, as he glanced at the car for the fourth time in fifteen seconds.
"Yeah - just, can you feel that? Like vibrating?"
Aika paused, attempting to heighten her senses in a concentrated silence. A low hum was emitting from the car engine - more like a buzz.
"Yeah. What is it?"
Without warning, the car suddenly jolted, as if it had hit a speed-bump on the motorway.
"The fuck was that?" Cindy exclaimed from the back, all attention now on Sean's worried expression.
"I don't know," he replied, gripping the wheel as the car bumped up again.
"Pull over there," Aika said, pointing to a small curve in the road, next to one of the old SOS machines with a telephone. Sean managed to manoeuvre the car across a lane, before dipping into the bay, bringing the car to a weird, trundling stop. It revved as he tried to turn it off, before seeming to die out completely, flickering a little in its demise.
"Fucking hell," he groaned, before opening the door. The rest followed, getting out the car to examine its exterior, which remained perfectly intact.
"Must be the spark plug or some shit," Sean muttered, lightly kicking the wheel in an underwhelming display of frustration.
"You know how to fix it?" Calum asked, raising his eyebrows as the sunlight glinted from the vehicle.
"Yeah, reckon so," Sean nodded thoughtfully. He walked around the back of the car to retrieve a small toolbox, before slamming the boot shut. "You guys can take five, I won't be long."
The place they'd pulled over was convenient for a stop in terms of its spaciousness on the side of the road, and Roy had pulled his camping chair from the car as well, sat on it with a crossed leg as he began to roll up another zoot.
"You know," he said, almost so quietly it was as if he was speaking to himself rather than the others. "If there was a lake here or something, we could find a fish for my fish-tank."
"Don't worry, mate, we'll find you a fish."
Calum had one leg leant against the side of the car next to Aika, a cigarette resting between his lips, and Cindy was stood facing them, a hand on her hip. She was admittedly beautiful, the way she held her stance, her cool blue eyes, and the abundance of dark ringlets curling past her face. With Roy focused on his rolling, and Sean fixing the car, Aika was the only one to notice the way she was looking at Calum - and then the light wink he gave her when he noticed. A mischievous smile grew on Cindy's face, and then she looked over to Sean.
"You finished yet?" she called, and Calum smiled wryly before looking out to the road and breathing out a hazy cloud of smoke.
"Just about," Sean murmured, barely audible, as he gave a final push down, and stood back, closing the bonnet. "Okay, we should be good."
Calum pushed up off the car, and then opened the door; he waved Cindy through in a mockingly courteous fashion first and then followed her in. Almost immediately, Sean revved the engine, pleased with his handiwork as Roy leapt off of his camping chair. Calum was leant out of his window, laughing as Sean pretended to drive away without Roy and Aika, the two of whom chased the car in an amusing show of rude gestures and shouting. Before he reached the road again, Sean slowed, allowing a split second for the two of them to find their seats before speeding back onto the road, barely giving them time to shut the doors.
YOU ARE READING
Backseat Drivers
Roman pour AdolescentsIn a summer limbo, Sean Kiersey calls on four friends, all strangers to each other, to embark on a youth-fuelled jaunt with him across the country, following their instincts to a destination. A flower-power playlist, and the prospect of freedom gets...