Immune (NaNoWriMo2014)(Wattys 2014)

10) First, Second, and Third World Problems (Part 1)

Nathan eyed the girl, trying to think up a plausible answer. She was drenched in water, and had come from her car to ask if he needed a ride anywhere. He never saw people like that these days.

"Oh, that's alright. I can manage on my own," He answered her, and started to walk in the opposite direction. He didn't have a destination, but he could probably make a shelter in a few minutes.

The girl placed a hand firmly on his shoulder, and he looked over to her. It was hard to tell in the pitch - black stormy night, but he thought he saw a shrewd glint in her eye. "And where are you headed, exactly?"

"Oh..." He wasn't prepared for her to follow up. "SRC. I have night school there."

"Really? I just came from SRC. It's that way, for about a mile." The girl pointed somewhere left, and Nathan resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Crap. That could've gone better.

"Look, I know that I'm just a random stranger to you, but it's storming out. If you need a ride somewhere, we can get you there."

"We?"

"My boyfriend. That's his car, over there." The girl pointed to the solitary vehicle, and tilted her head. "Have a little faith."

Nathan pursed his lips. He could just have them drop him off somewhere suburban and he could leave from there. It's not like these people were a threat to him, even if they were hostile. He shrugged. "I guess it wouldn't hurt. Thank you for the offer."

The girl began leading him to the car. "Your welcome. I'm Suzanne, but my friends call me Suzy."

"Nathan. Sort of friendless, but that's my own damn fault."

Suzy chuckled. "How the heck are you managing to stay so dry?"

"I'm not. My clothes are pretty heavy."

"Yes, but everything else is dry. It's like you're made of cheesecloth."

Nathan scoffed, but he knew what she was talking about. It was hardly voluntary. Being the son of nature itself – or herself, rather – had it's perks. He was, for the most part, everything - proof. Fire, water, shock, explotion, et cetera. It was times like these, when he was close to being found out, that he wished he could turn it off.

Thankfully, they got to the car before she could question him further. She knocked on the drivers window, and the young man inside scrolled it down.

"What is he doing here, Suze? Why did you bring him?"

"So we can drive him where he needs to be? Why do you think I got out of the car in the first place?"

"No way. We're not driving this guy anywhere." They were acting as if Nathan wasn't there. It was fine by him. Att least he knew the hospitality only extended by one.

"Don't be such an arsehole. Get in," Suzy told Nathan. Indifferent, he moved to the door and pulled. It was locked.

"I said no, Suze. My car, my rules. Just leave the guy. He can hitchhike off somebody else."

Suzy stubbornly folded her arms. "I'm not getting in until you let Nathan in."

"Nathan, huh? Sounds like a fag's name."

"Clint!"

"Listen, Suze. I promised Janie I'd give her my BioChem textbook after I dropped you off. So either get in the car or I'm leaving you."

Suzy tapped her foot on the ground. "I stand by what I said, Clint. No."

Nathan leaned over to her. "You don't have to do this for me. You just met me."