The motor broke down with a gurgling sound. It cried out desperately before sighing and falling silent, all while blowing out heavy clouds of dark smoke. I lifted my head from the car window and looked at Erik, who was sitting on the driver's seat.
-Fucking...- he muttered and hit the wheel with his palm. -It's high time you bought yourself a new car, professor- he added in a sarcastic tone.
-Uh... I'm sure she's gonna be fine- I answered, still sleepy. -Try to start the engine again.-
He gave me a look that was meant to show me how dumb that idea was, released his seatbelt, opened the door and stepped out on the street. I watched him and followed.
It was a very sunny and windy june day. We were in the middle of the route from the New York city centre to the Salem Centre. The vehicle stopped working on the middle of a wide street leading through the green fields of the cityside. Every few secounds another car was passing us with a slalom move. Erik had put his sunglasses on. He walked to the back of the car and leaned with his hands against it.
-You helping me with this?- it was more demand than question.
-I'll have to hold the wheel- I said and he thought for a moment.
-I guess- he shrugged and rolled up his sleeves.
We pushed the car to the side, moving out of the risk of getting hit. I opened the mask and moved aside immediately, the heat that the inside of the car radiated hitting me in the face.
-I'm serious about that new car. Today is the third time that something like this has happened. And that's only this month!- he ranted on.
-Alright, alright, just... I really don't have the patience to go there and talk to those sellers an-
-Says someone who has the patience to pick out the seeds of a tomato before eating it?- he interrupted me.
-They're disgusting, OK?- I said a bit more agressively than I meant to; Erik threw his hands over his head in a short gesture of surrender.
-No need to bite my head off!-.
The motor had cooled down a bit already and we both looked inside. It was clear that there was no way to fix this, especially without access to any tools.
-That's real bad...- Erik said and closed the car bonnet loudly.
-I don't have my phone. Will you call someone?- I asked him and he nodded. While he was talking to the consultant, I realised that I was cold, so I got back into the car. A few minutes later I heard Erik ending the conversation. He opened the door, sat down next to me and ripped his sunglasses of, his teeth grinding in annoyance.
-What did they say?- I asked
-They won't come before 3 p.m.-
I looked at my watch. It was a few minutes past 11 a.m.
-What? Why so long?-
-They're having a problem with some of the workers or something... I don't know- he replied, visibly angry.
-Oh.-
A short silence followed, Erik was tapping his foot. I put my hand on his shoulder.
-Calm down. It's just a few hours.- I said. He pushed my hand off.
-Why...why do you have to be like this? I cannot stand that positive talk of yours! It's making me sick! "Just a few hours"?- he mocked me- Half of the fucking day!-
I raised an eyebrow.
-You're overreacting. It's not even normal anymore!-
-Oh, I'm not normal? Well, I got news for you, mr. mindreading!-
-Stop being so childish, Erik! You are not the victim here!-
-Oh, so you are?-
-No, Erik, our fucking car broke down! It's a thing that happens! It's not the end of the world, goddamn it!- I had to stop myself really hard from getting angry.
-I've had enough.- he attempted to get out of the car again.
-You're being such a drama queen right now-
-Good thing I didn't ask for your opinion!- he stepped outside and slammed the car door shut, then sat down on a rock near the car and started playing with his gas lighter. I leaned forward and turned the radio on. There's no way he would still be mad in half an hour.