[SDMN] Imagines

Random #8

Faster. 

Faster. 

Faster. 

Faster!

"Holy shit, Ethan! Slow down! It's only a Honda!"

"No."

"Yes! Not everyone is as ready for death as you!"

The car speeds down an empty road. Only a guard rail separated them from the cliff that descended into the ocean on the left. The side of a mountain skimmed inches from the passenger side of the car. Josh watched his petrified reflection stare back at him against the mountain side in the window. He closed his eyes thinking somehow it would make him feel better. His hands gripped the front of the seat. Ethan glanced over to see how tense with fear his friend was. 

The car turned, way above the recommended speed, around a corner. The left side of the vehicle lifted off the road. Butterflies tickled Ethan's stomach at the feeling of zero force.

"Ahhhhh! Please God!"

"Josh! Stop screaming!" Ethan yelled. The steering wheel was tight in his grip. His gaze was firm on the median line watching it speed past, vanishing past him.

"I know you're suicidal but I'm not! Don't take me with you!" Josh pleaded. 

"Fine. Pussy." Ethan mutters. His foot slowly lets off the gas. Josh anxiously watches as the speedometer needle moves back down.

"Oh my God. I saw my life flash before my eyes." The dark haired man let out the air he was holding in. Fresh air entered his body. He could feel his body slump and the adrenaline was flushed out.

"Oh please." He loosened the seatbelt that had been digging into his chest.

"I would actually like to get home in one piece." he said, looking over at the driver.

"Okay Josh I get it! You're not a suicidal psycho like me who has something to live for!"

"Ethan... that's not-"

"Not what your were trying to say? Because you were saying it." Ethan grumbled. His eyes barely looked at Josh. He took his left arm off the wheel and rested it on the window with his head in hand.

They went quiet. The passenger watched the outside, able to enjoy it this time without seeing it as his potential grave. It was a perfectly gorgeous day. Few clouds in the sky, waves gently crashing into the shore, and flowers in full bloom. This was their one day off this week. Josh just wanted to enjoy it peacefully. Slowly, Ethan pressed on the gas again. The speedometer began ticking up. The outside started to blur again.

"Ethan no! Slower! Slower! Slower!" Josh rapidly tapped his friends hand. 

Red and blue lights strobed behind them. A siren wailed out.

"Fuck." Ethan spat.

"Just our luck." he groans, careful not to blame Ethan. He looks back out the window to try to pretend he isn't there. The car slows down and pulls over.

A tall, skinny cop walks up to the window. Not the typical thumb-like appearance of most officers.

"Good afternoon, sir. License and registration." the cop requests. Ethan leans over to his glove compartment to fish out his registration. "Do you have any idea how fast you were going?" he asks whilst Ethan handed over his information.

"110."

"On the dot. If you're aware you were speeding, why do it? Do you know how easily you could kill someone if your car came up on one?" the cop asked with lecturing tone.

"I'm not trying to kill anyone else." Ethan responded.

"And you sir? Are you okay?" The cop leant over the see further into the vehicle. His dirty-blonde hair barely moved in the ocean breeze.

"Yeah I'm fine." Josh barely turns his head to answer. 

The police officer walked back to his car to run the license. Josh just glared at Ethan for getting them in trouble. Ethan met his glare with a Don't-Give-Me-That-Look face. Josh's furrowed eyebrows softened when he thought about how he had offended his friend earlier by accident. He just cared about Ethan's well-being, that's all.

"Okay so turns out this is your fifth speeding ticket which means I have to suspend your license." the officer informed upon his return.

"What? Seriously?" Ethan spoke in pain.

"That's the law." he shrugs.

"No please. I need to drive." Ethan begged. Him and Josh used this car not only to get to work, but for work. They drove delivery some nights.

"Sir-"

"I'll suck you off." Josh interrupted. "If you let him go."

They both stared at him. Ethan appeared mortified and shocked. The officer's expression was unreadable because he wore sunglasses. Although, he seemed somewhat shocked as well.

"Excuse me?" the cop said low and drawn out.

"I-I'm really good." Josh added, stammering. They needed this car.

"Step out of the vehicle." The cop commanded. He started walking around the back to passenger side of the car. Josh sighed an unbuckled his seatbelt realizing what he had said was mistake. Now he was in trouble too.

"What the hell was that?" Ethan hissed. But he got no response before Josh exited.

Josh stepped out and was immediately put into handcuffs. They stepped toward the back of the car. It seemed he was being detained now because of this. Ethan peeked in the rearview mirror and, instead, saw Josh lowering to his knees. Ethan quickly looked away and curled up in his seat. He had never felt so embarrassed. 

If only he had listened to Josh and stayed on the brakes, he wouldn't be in such a compromising position. Since there was nothing else to do, Ethan started biting his nails. He had no idea how long the two were back there before Josh finally opened the door and sat back down. It felt like an eternity. The officer slowly sauntered back up to the driver's window.

"This is your last warning. Drive slower. Or next time you won't get off so easy."

"You do." Ethan quipped. The cop frowned at him.

"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that. And you, call me." He lowered his sunglasses and locked eyes with Josh who had a blank expression. The tall man left to his squad car.

He drove off. The other two remained still in their car on the side of the road.

"Why did you do that?" Ethan rubbed his face with hands. At least he still had his license. His friend, however, had lost part of his dignity for it. It was his own fault, Ethan acknowledged. 

"Cause it always works. So I'm not gonna stop doing it now." Josh explained.

Ethan drove well within the speed limit the rest of the way back to their apartment in the city.