"You all buckled up kiddo?" Ron asks me as I take my seat in the back of the car. I quickly buckle up and fold my hands onto my lap.
"Yes sir." I say. He quickly adjusts his mirrors before starting the car and reversing out of the driveway and onto the main street. It takes about fifteen minutes for us to arrive at Sam's highschool. Ron parks his convertible near the curb in front of the school before turning it off. I take off my seatbelt and lean forward striking up a conversation with the older man.
"How's college life treating you Katana?" He asks as he sticks his arm out the side of the car. I sit there thinking for a moment on how to respond.
"It's going really well so far but it is a bit boring. Nothing interesting is really going on though."
"What about those gymnastic classes you're taking? Ain't that exciting enough for you?" I lean back into the seat and let out a small sigh.
"After what happened to Mom I-I couldn't continue my classes. It reminded me too much of the pain." Silence washes over us as I grip my right arm tightly trying to push the memory and tears back, not wanting to show any signs of weakness.
"I'm sorry kid, I know how much taking those classes meant to you."
"No it's alright, really. Besides, I started taking self defense classes instead. It's gonna be more useful than gymnastics anyway." I quickly respond wanting to change the subject. Silence fills the air once more. I lean my head back and look up at the sky. Not a single cloud is seen, just the clear blue sky stretching on for miles. I turned my head towards the school as I heard the obnoxious bell ring signaling the beginning of summer break. A bunch of teenagers come running out of the building throwing papers and a bunch of other objects into the air. Some linger around waiting for their friends or their ride home.
"Sam should be out any minute now." As soon as those words leave his mouth, an ecstatic brunette comes rushing towards the car holding a small stack of papers and screaming 'yes'. Sam quickly hops in the car with the biggest smile I've seen as he chucks his backpack towards the back seat almost hitting my face with it.
"Hey! Careful Sam!" I exclaimed but he either completely ignored me or didn't hear me altogether. He buckles up his seatbelt as he hands his father the stack of papers.
"A minus. It's an A though." I look at the back of his head in surprise. To my knowledge he was always a below average to average kind of guy when it came to his scores, so this was an unexpected turn of events. I lean forward and wrap my arms around him from behind the seat, giving him the tightest hug I could muster.
"Way to go Sam!" He jumps in his seat before turning his head to face me. I let go of him and go back to my seat to buckle up while Ron starts the car and drives away from the school. He turns around with a wide smile on his face.
"Katana! It's so good to see you again. Did anyone ever tell you that you weigh a ton? You gotta lay off on the Twizzlers." I place my right hand on my chest pretending to be offended by his words.
"How dare thee. Next time your stash runs out don't come crying to me." I playfully stick out my tongue before bursting into a small fit of laughter. Sam smiles and shakes his head before facing forward. After about 20 minutes or so we pulled up to a nice fancy looking dealership.
"I got a little surprise for you son."
"What kind of-" He stopped mid sentence after seeing all the luxurious cars waiting on the lot.
"No. No, no, no, no, no. Dad! You gotta be kidding me." Sam squirms around in his seat unable to contain his excitement as we continue to drive through the lot.
"Yeah. I am. You're not getting a Porsche." Sam turns towards his father as the smile on his face drops. Ron gives him a quick glance as he chuckles at his son's misfortune.
"You think that's funny?" I cover my mouth trying to stifle the laugh that wants to escape. He slumps in his seat as we exit the fancy lot and enter your everyday, second hand dealership. I look at all the parked cars on the lot seeing if maybe I can try to spot something decent enough for Sam. Ron finds a spot out in the front of the dealership and parks in an available spot.
"I don't want to talk with you for the rest of this whole thing." We get out of the car and begin to walk around looking at all the cars the lot has to offer. Making our way towards the used car section, Sam begins to bicker with his father becoming more animated as he shows his disappointment.
"Here? No, no, no, what is this?" Sam points to the cars in front of him. "You said, you said half a car, not half a piece of crap, dad." I bend forward to get a better look at the car before sighing and standing up with my arms crossed.
"I'm sorry Sam but-" I walk around to the back of the car. "-this is half a car." He faces towards me with a pout on his face before continuing down the lot.
"You're not helping." I shrug my shoulders as I follow right behind him and Ron.
"When I was your age, I'd have been happy with four wheels and an engine."
"Okay, let me explain something to you okay? Have you ever seen 40-year-old-virgin?" I raise my brow in confusion as Sam points at the two cars we stopped in front of. "Okay, that's what this is. And this is the 50-year-old-virgin. You want me to live that life." I cover my mouth trying not to laugh. After regaining my composure I walk up behind Sam and place my left hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know Sam. From what I've seen and heard, you're still single so you're pretty much still a virgin." He sends me a nasty glare as he drags his hand over his face, being dramatic as ever. He grabs my hand and takes it off of his shoulder before walking away.
"You're not helping, you know that." Uncle Ron gives him a stern look as he walks next to him.
"No sacrifice, no victory."
"Yeah, no victory. You know I got it. The old Witwicky motto." After walking around for a bit we come to the front of the only building on the lot and meet with the owner. He sticks his hand out for a handshake with a huge smile on his face. He places both hands on his hips as he gives us a quick once over.
"Bobby Bolivia, Like the country, except without the runs." I put my hands in my pockets and raise an eyebrow.
'What kind of comparison is he trying to make? Well whatever it is I sure as hell didn't get it.'
"Well," Ron starts. "My son here wants to buy his first car." He then places his hand on Sam's shoulder, giving him a light tap. Sam sighs as he deflates and gives me a quick glance. Bolivia looks shocked as he places his hand over his chest. A far away look comes across his features as he looks at the two males.
"You came to see me?"
"I had to." I give him a sympathetic look before tapping his upper back, trying to comfort him. I sigh and bring my hand back to my side as I leave them to go explore the lot. I walk down row by row, looking at all the cars trying to see if one of these will be good for Sam. I continue to look around until a yellow car catches my attention. I turn my head towards the car and stare at it for a while. I felt a strange tug pulling me to the car. I walk up to it and stop right in front of the hood.
'This is perfect for Sam.'
I place my left hand on the hood and trace my fingers across one of the black stripes, admiring the feeling of the metal on my cold finger tips. I quickly pull my hand away when I feel the car vibrate as if it was shuttering at my touch. I blink a few times as a bead of sweat forms on my right temple.
' Either I'm losing my mind or the car actually shuttered.'
I shake my head, getting rid of the thought. I turned around trying to see if I could spot Sam and Uncle Ron to show them the car. I eventually see them making their way towards me. I wave my hand and call out to them as I lean against the passenger door of the car. Sam walks over to me as he checks out the black and yellow car with his mouth slightly opened.
"This ain't bad." He walks around the car, stopping at the driver's side. "This ones got racing stripes." Bolivia walks up behind the car not really paying attention to the car until Sam calls it out.
"Yeah. It's got racing-" He pauses as he takes a good look at the vehicle. Without hesitation Sam opens the driver door and takes a seat. I lean into the open window through the passengers side as I smile widely at Sam. The brunette places both his hands on the wheel getting a feel for the car.
"Hey Kat, come look at this." I give him a questioning look before opening the door and sitting in the leather seat. I close the door behind me as I lean over to take a look at the wheel. A strange symbol is in the center not resembling any car brand I've seen. I lift my right hand and trace the image with my metallic fingers. I frown, forgetting for a moment that I can't feel with my right hand. I sit back into my seat as I continue to stare at the symbol, like a part of me has seen it from somewhere.
"It's some sort of face." I tell Sam. He hums in response before gripping the wheel again.
"Feels good. This is way better than the other cars on this lot." Bolivia walks up to my side of the car and leans against the window.
"How much?" Ron asks.
"Well," Bolivia starts as he looks the car up and down. "Considering the semi-classic nature of the vehicle, with slick wheels and the custom paint job-"
"Custom?" I interrupt him and give him a confused look. He bends down to be at my eye level as he gives a stern look,
"But the paints faded." Sam retorts as he leans forward to look at the older man.
"Yeah, but it's custom." I look at him in confusion and scratch the back of my neck.
"So you're saying that the paint is custom faded? That doesn't make much sense or even seem fair to charge for." I mumble the last part under my breath. He looks at me before shaking his head in disappointment.
"It's his first car. I wouldn't expect you to understand." He stands up straight and looks at Ron. "Five grand."
"No, I'm not paying over four, sorry." I stare at him and blink in disbelief.
'It's over by one. One. That's being such a cheapskate.'
I lean out the window and look at Ron with pleading eyes telling him I could pay for half of the car. He contemplates my offer before sighing and shaking his head no. Bolivia looks at Sam and I, telling us to get out of the car. I sigh and lean back in the car before trying the door handle.
"No, no, no. You said cars pick their drivers."
"Well, sometimes they pick a driver with a cheap-ass father. Out of the car." Bolivia turns around and opens the driver door to the car right next to us. I try the handle again but it wouldn't budge. I turn to face Sam and see he's standing outside of the car with his hand on the door.
"Sam, can you help me? The door won't open."
"Just hop out through the window if it won't open."
"I'm not crawling out of a window."
"So you'll crawl out of the bedroom window to sneak out but you won't crawl through a car window?" I turn red with embarrassment, sitting in the seat with my arms crossed.
"Some cousin you are." I mumble under my breath. I lean towards the driver side hoping to get out that way. Sam gives me an evil smirk as he slowly closes the door.
"Don't you dare Samuel Witwicky." I warn but he closes the door in my face as I'm draped across the center console. Once the driver door closes the passenger door opens, slamming right into the car Bolivia is in. Uncle Ron walks towards the yellow beetle and checks to see if he's alright. I quickly sit up and try to get out through the open passenger door but it closes before I can get out.
"Not again." I start to jiggle the handle refusing to crawl through the open window of the car.
"...greater than man…" I stop my assault on the handle and look at the radio with a confused face.
"Did the radio just-"
"Cover…your ears." I stare at the radio as I slowly start to panic on the inside. I open my mouth to say something but a high pitched noise comes out of the radio. I throw my hands over my ears and curl up into a small ball on the seat. The sound of glass shattering fills the air around us as the noise gets louder. Eventually the noise stops leaving an annoying ringing in my ears. I look up slowly, noticing that all the surrounding cars have broken windows and there's glass all over the pavement.
"Holly-" I turn my head to look out the front of the car staring worriedly at Mr. Bolivia. He looks around the lot with a terrified expression before snapping his head towards Ron. He holds up four fingers saying the change of price in a shaken up voice. I sigh as I massage my temples feeling a strong headache beginning to form. I tell Sam and Uncle Ron that I'll wait for them in the car while I try to ease the pain away. After a few minutes I give up and stare at my right arm. Before I get lost in my thoughts, the driver door is yanked open. I turn and see Sam smiling like an idiot as he buckles up and starts up the car.
"We are all set and ready to roll."
"Do me a favor and don't say that ever again, you sound like your dad." Sam groans and rolls his eyes as he drives out of the lot, following his dad all the way back home. I look out the window, contemplating what my next move should be.
'I still have to decipher my mothers will. All I've gathered so far is that it's written in some sort of ancient language. I have a hunch but I'd have to visit Auntie Mel to confirm it first. I hope with this clue I'll be pointed into the right direction.'