.
Leah swears as she hits the wheel of the Mercedes with her open palms, before laying her forehead down on the leather. She can't remember the last time that life had actually given her a break and that had just given her a damn step ahead before it reared its ugly head and forced her back three paces. The sedan is practically brand new and is only one of the things Benny wouldn't have noticed if it were missing.
Lifting her head and trying the ignition again she hisses at the metal beast. "Start you piece of shit."
Once, twice she tries the switch, only to hear the splutter of the engine as it tries to tick over. She now wishes she hadn't stopped to use the restroom, or at least left the vehicle in idle when she'd ducked into the disgusting bathrooms of the gas station.
Digging around in her parka she finishes out her cell and flips it open. "Great, just great. Dead too."
Discarding it on the passenger seat she rakes her hands through her hair, desperately thinking of a solution to dig herself out of the mess she's in. Being so used to a cell, she doesn't even remember her mother's home number to be able to call her and to let her know she needs a ride.
Sliding out of the vehicle she heads back into the small building to use the payphone. Standing at the back of the store she timidly picks up the receiver and dials a number from her memory, one before all of the bullshit in her life started.
She bites her lip, waiting for someone to pick up.
"What?" Comes a gruff voice, thick with sleep.
"Hey, can you pick me up from Discovery Bay?" she asks, waiting for the man on the line to explode. "My car died."
"Leah," the voice sighs, clearly annoyed, "It's almost 1am and Discovery Bay is over 90 miles away."
"I know." She admits, hating the fact that she's even called for help. Especially him.
He takes a breath and lets it out slowly. She can tell he's thinking, or at least contemplating her request. It's a good sign considering they haven't spoken in years. She doesn't exactly deserve his good graces but she knows he's the type of person who would never leave her stranded, not now when she needed all the help she could get.
"Please?"
After a moment of silence he answers. "Fine. I'll be there in an hour."
She lets out the breath she's been holding since she dialled the number.
"Thanks, Sam."
.
