Soooo Not Normal

T E S S A

Just breathe. It'll be okay. It's no big deal, right? It's just driving. Millions of people do it all around the world, every day.

"Are you okay?" Peter asks, concerned.

"No, actually. Do you mind if I turn on the radio?"

"Sure. But, you do know that I can't actually teach you to drive, right? I'm not legally an adult yet."

"Neither am I. Not till the June after next!"

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, June fourth."

"Come on! I'm August tenth."

"No way. You're, like, a foot taller! You are not younger than me."

"I guess I am. And I am not a foot taller than you. Maybe like three inches."

"How tall are you?"

"Five six."

"I'm five-one. I'm shorter than a sixth-grader." He snorts. "Hey! That is not funny."

"A little bit." He laughs.

"Not at all!" But now I'm laughing, too. "My height is not funny!"

"Well, when you say it with that tone of voice it is!" I'm laughing so hard I don't even notice Emma and Caleb walking out of the store. She gives him a hug and walks over to the car. I quickly get out and give Caleb a hug.

"Hey, Tes!"

"Hi, Caleb."

"Nice car."

"Thanks. It's not really mine, though. Emma's the one who drives it."

"Nice. If she crashes it, send me a picture, okay?"

"Already have my camera ready." Emma waves me over. "Well, bye! Enjoy work!"

"I won't!"

"Don't die!" Emma yells.

"I might!" He yells back I smile as I duck into the passenger seat of the car. Emma starts ranting about the price of milk.

"Shoot! Let me run inside real fast, okay?" Peter asks.

"Sure," I say as he opens the door. He runs inside and I smile.

"So, how was the driving lesson?"

"I didn't learn anything. We were talking about other things."

"Like what?"

"Like my height."

"He made fun of your height?"

"No, I made fun of my height."

"Why?"

"Cause it seemed funny at the time."

"You're weird."

"You know you love me."

"Nope."

"Hey!" We collapse into laughter as Peter opens the back door. He looks at us and shakes his head. We laugh harder. I lean over and turn on the radio. 'Grateful' blasts from the speakers. I sing along as Emma stares at me.

"Don't you know this song?" I ask.

"No. I can bet you're the only one in this car who has heard this song before."

"Not true! Peter, have you heard this song?" I ask, turning towards him.

"No, never heard this song in my life."

"What?! You guys are uncultured swine." I say, shaking my head and turning it up.

Word Count //447 Words\\