In and Out of Love

1

Free at last.

I slam the door of my 1965 VW bug and turn the key in the ignition.

It sputters awake.

I pull out of school, then skid onto a dirt path I call the way home.

Dust flying everywhere. My hair blowing in my face. It almost doesn't let me see the boy in the road. The boy waving his hands. The boy getting closer every second. I slam onto the brakes, hitting my hand on the wheel out of frustration.

"What are you doing? Trying to get yourself killed?" I half scream at him. He just stands there...hands in pockets...and dust all over. His ocean blue eyes capture me. He wears a darkly colored tee shirt with the Beatles strewn across it. His jeans are ripped and torn in several places and he has black vans on.

"I just needed a ride." He smiles at me genuinely. I see his skateboard under his left arm.

"Why don't you ride your skateboard?" I ask.

"Too far." He says. Lazy.

"Get in." I say, running my hand through my hair. He grins and walks around to the passengers side, opens the door then slides onto the seat next to me.

"Finn." He says reaching his hand out to me. I return the handshake.

"Iris." I say. His hand sends sparks of heat up my arm.

I tear my hand away and start the car once more. We drive for at least 10 minutes till I speak up.

"Where to? I say pulling forward and speeding up.

"Coral view road." he says.

"That's were I live!" I say glancing at him. He laughs.

"I guess I'll be living with you for the next year." He says looking at me.

"Next year?" I ask.

"Your grandmother never told you?"

"Tell me what?" I ask.

"That she is renting out rooms to orphans for extra cash." He says.

"She is?" how could she not tell me?

"Yea. So how much father?" He asks.

The wind dies down as I pull slowly into my dust covered driveway.

"We're here." I say pulling to my usual spot. He glances at me.

"Thanks." He says smirking. I nod.

"No problem." I then turn off the car and hop out of the car...my school bag hanging loosely around my shoulders. Finn quietly follows me up the deck stairs, through the door and into the kitchen.

"Iris? Is that you?" Grandma Joan calls. I smile and sniff in the smell of freshly baked cookies.

"Yeah it's me. Brought something you might want to see." I call back.