The cashier didn't really care when I grabbed my stuff and headed into my car, I had already paid for it so I guess that he didn't feel obliged to try and antagonize a new customer. Yet he said 'goodbye' to me anyways. I tossed the cheeseburger into the passenger seat, while settling the soda cup into the holder.

I closed the car's doors quickly as I exited and gave chase to her trailer. Which would have been difficult, had it been busy. Thankfully both students and adults were both occupied with work during this time. So the road was clear, allowing me to keep a safe distance without looking like some guy from the Mafia about to do a hit. I was thankful I wore my sneakers, they masked my footsteps well.

What was Melanie doing out here? The school doesn't allow students outside during lunchtime. But nonetheless, she was the least of my concerns. My first and foremost priority was this little creep.

She was rounding the corner as he was coming up on an alleyway. Thus I seized my moment. Grabbing him from behind, placing a firm hand around his mouth as I pulled him into the gap between the establishments. I used the momentum and surprise to throw him against the solid concrete wall. His hoodie flew off, revealing none other than that fuckwit Gerald. Trailing Melanie for God knows how long from the school.

"You..."

He said, while grunting painfully.

"I'm just trying to get a chance with the hot new girl..."

He groaned. Even after annoying her just a few hours ago. Coupled with hints from her AND me that she wasn't even interested in him. The worm tries his hand again at taking her from me.

"No."

I snarled. Grabbing a nearby stone and using it to bash his forehead. He instantaneously dropped to the ground. While I pocketed the rock, checking the streets to make sure that it was still close to empty. In haste, I ran back to the parking lot next to the fast food restaurant, taking extra care to make sure I was not noticed by the cashier. Opening the door and hopping in. I pulled out my keys from my pocket and jammed them into the ignition, hearing that beautiful engine growl to life. I was able to pull out of the parking lot quite quickly, the empty streets also gave me the window I needed to

I parked my car quickly next to the same alleyway and opened my trunk after I hopped back out. With great effort I was able to stuff Gerald into the trunk, and luckily absolutely nobody noticed. It was only when I got back into the car that someone actually exited one of the buildings. With that I calmly drove off, just to be on the safe side.

As I drove around the curve a few meters ahead of me, I made my way down 94th Avenue. That charge was halted when I was stopped at a red light, thus I broke and waited there. Of course, it's programmed to wait a while for the other nonexistent cars headed on the roads perpendicular to mine. Whilst I waited, I hummed a quiet tune to myself. Something I remember hearing from the red car movie, before this huge chase scene. Take note that I watched lots of movies during my childhood days. So it's hard to keep track of where I got what I remember from the multitude of films I've watched throughout my lifetime.

And then it happened.

Out of the store right next to where I was waiting inside of my car, came Melanie.

"Oh, hey (Y/N)."

She called. Waving a little. Should I answer back? Maybe just pretend I didn't hear her? No no no! That's definitely not an option! Just answer back... keep calm. Stop sweating! No bad impressions, the first impression may be the most important. But that doesn't mean later impressions have to be of a lesser effort.

"Hi, Melanie! How's it going?"

"Sweet car! What's it's model?"

She asked while walking up to me. Observing my car closely.

"Plymouth 58' Fury. It's my dad's, he lets me borrow it when I need it."

I explained. Although the green light had already activated. I knew I couldn't just speed off, that just was plain rude. Especially to her. But... Gerald... I nearly forgot that he was back there!

"That's really nice of him. Say, it's still quite a long way to my house. So... Mine if I hitch a ride home?" She asked.

Oh no...

"Uhhh...

...yeah. Sure! Hop on in, there's plenty of room." I painfully blurted out, forcefully smiling to try and keep the mood.

"Nice, thanks (Y/N)." She smiled back warmly. A warm smile while I coldly sweated. She made her way around the car and opened the passenger side door. Sitting beside me. She stole a look at my half-eaten burger.

"Are you gonna eat that? It looks good." Melanie pointed at it. Alright, this is where I draw the line.

"I gave you a free car ride, but this burger..." I gestured to myself with my thumb. "Mine."

"Aww." She responded, with her cute, gentle voice. The voice of a siren. Alluring and pleasure-inducing. I applied pressure to the gas pedal as the car jolted forward.

"So, what were you doing out here anyways? Lunch had barely ended when I was suspended." I questioned.

"Heh, funny story. I actually was quite bewildered when the principle accused both of you for trying to start something. Especially when it was mostly aimed at you. So I tried to go to him to vouch for you, you wanna know what happened?" She answered and left me guessing.

"He went on a total power trip and suspended you too?" I asked.

"Wow, you must have been on the receiving end on a lot of those." Melanie replied. "I'm surprised that you haven't outright murdered him in his sleep."

"Ha! You have no idea." I smirked a bit at her joke.

"So, where are we going?" I asked. "I'm gonna need an address, even though I was born here I'm driving blind if I have no destination."

"No problem. My house is 1170 Moss Boulevard." She gladly said.

'Wow, you really need to be careful with your address. Thank God you gave it to someone who isn't looking to hurt you.' I thought. When all of a sudden I realized, Moss Boulevard is only a few ways away from my home. What a... pretty little coincidence.

"Thankfully that's pretty close to my house, I don't need to have to drive to the other side of town and back for this." I smiled, both to her and myself.

"Where'd you learn to drive so early? You're what, eighteen?" She asked.

"Seventeen." I responded politely.

"You look much older than you seem then." She laughed a bit.

"I'll take that as a compliment." I laughed back.

Just then, I heard something banging against the back of the car. Is he awake already? No, probably just moving around, if he was awake he'd be making a hell of a lot more noise than that.

"What's that?" Melanie asked curiously, and with a hint of concern.

"Ah... Well... the car's cool and all, but it's also pretty old, sometimes there's a loose part somewhere. My dad was actually planning on getting it repaired soon." I said, as I reached for the radio.

"How about some music?" I asked. She nodded in response. I gladly returned the favor by jacking up the volume to 18. Out came that one famous Fleetwood Mac 'Lies' song, which was about as coincidental as you could get considering the situation.

"Oh, I like this one." She pointed out, I wiped some sweat from my forehead as I smiled back.

"I like it too." I laughed a bit, hopefully it didn't too sound nervous. Otherwise she might catch on to something.

Eventually, while talking and listening to whatever the radio provided us with. We reached 1170 Moss Blvd. Melanie thanked me for the lift home as she made her way to the front door, unlocking it. But before she opened it, she turned back to me. Waving a little. I happily waved back as she closed the door behind her.