What I Mean To You

Chapter 2 (The Car Ride)

The Car Ride

The car ride could have possibly been one of the worst times of her life. Not exactly the ride, but what happened after it.

They both sat in his black car and he started driving. "At least it's not a convertible," commented Darrell. The boy made his usual hurt face and said, "What? You don't wanna be seen with me? What's that all about?" Darrell shook her head and explained, "It's nothing personal, I just don't want people to get the wrong idea."

The boy turned towards her and with a raised eyebrow asked, "What wrong idea?" She rolled her eyes and said, "Eyes on the road, slick." The boy laughed and switched on the radio before turning his attention back to the car. A Linkin Park song started playing and Darrell smiled. It was one of her favourites.

"So you like LP?" asked the boy.

"Yes, what about you?"

"You kidding? I love them!"

"Cool, you're not that bad of a guy after all. Which reminds me, I don't know you at all."

"Actually, you do but don't remember."

Darrell turned and looked at him. She asked, "What, now you're gonna say I'm the guy you dream about every night? Oh, please." He laughed and answered, "Nah, I'm more in the get-to-know-you mood than in the flirt one. But I'm telling the truth. We were neighbours when I was four years old. You were three."

"And that's how we're related?"

"Yup, until now. Now I'm also the guy who saved you when you were in distress. Your knight in shining armour!"

Darrell shook her head and commented, "You are so lame. Anyways, we knew eachother when I was three and you remember that because.....?"

"Well, I dunno. We were neighbours back then but then you moved houses. I still saw you around school and all, so I guess I remembered."

"Well, we did move houses back then. Well, whatever, I've met too many people in my life so my memory of people is really bad. So, were we like friends or something?"

"We were little toddlers! Of course we were friends; you used to come everyday to my house to play and man, did you talk a lot!"

Darrell smiled to herself. How nice to meet someone just like that. But still, he was a major dork. Well, he was pretty popular in school; because of his looks and amazing soccer skills. But she could not remember his name. But there was noway she would ask him! What would he think? A girl taking a ride with a boy whose name she does not even know? Noway!

As she sat trying to concentrate on her brain cells, she heard him say, "Tray Orgon, you doofus. I can't believe that you don't know me! I mean, not to brag or anything but I'm pretty popular and all." Darrell giggled and said, "Maybe people aren't interested in you as much as you think." He turned towards her and said, "Nah, it's just you with a few loose screws."

As the car halted in front of a red signal, they both sat silent. Darrell would be home soon and she was hoping that her mother didn't call the police station, the fire squad and the ambulance already. Her mom was pretty over-protective.

Tray's cellphone started ringing and as he picked it up, the lights turned green and the car started moving again.

"Hey, mom."

"Tray Orgon! You are in a lot of trouble! Where are you?"

"Just driving home. Why, what happened mom? I told you I would stay back for those lessons I missed while we went to Aunt Taylor's wedding."