They all return to the car. The sky darkens and thunder rolls.
"Oh no," Katie exclaims, peering out the window.
"Don't worry, Katie-Bear, we're safe. Nice and dry inside the car," Logan reassures her.
"I know, but I also know that when it rains in California, the number of car accidents increases due to the wet conditions and reckless drivers. It's never a good combination," Katie says, her voice filled with concern.
"Right now, the roads seem calm and everyone is driving safely. What could possibly go wrong?" Camille remarks, only to be startled by James and Carlos gasping loudly.
"Don't say that!" they both exclaim.
"What do you mean?" Camille asks, confused.
"Whenever someone says 'what could possibly go wrong,' something usually does go wrong," Carlos explains.
"You can't say that. Take it back, Camille. Take it back now. Reverse your words. The only way to ensure we don't have bad luck from your mistake is for you to say what you said only backwards. And then the karma gods will show us mercy," James insists.
Camille looks at them both, bewildered. "What?" she asks.
"That's enough from both of you. Camille didn't bring bad luck upon us. She doesn't need to repeat her words backwards. Stop being so superstitious," Logan says, rolling his eyes in annoyance at their lack of rationality.
"Logan was right. We're invincible," Kendall confidently declares just before a deafening pop followed by the car hitting the ground interrupts their conversation.
"What was that?" Katie inquires, her eyes wide with concern.
Ms. Knight sighs as she maneuvers the car to the side of the road to avoid further trouble. "Unfortunately, it seems we have a flat tire," she announces, stepping out to assess the situation. After a moment, she returns to the car and informs the group, "A tow company is on its way to take us to a repair shop. Until they arrive, it looks like we're stranded here."
James shoots a reproachful look at Camille, muttering, "This mess could have been avoided if someone hadn't uttered those infamous words - 'what could possibly go wrong?'"
Camille's eyes filled with frustration as she tried to reason with James. "I never meant for this to happen, and I certainly didn't jinx it by saying 'what could possibly go wrong'. Your paranoia is uncalled for and the disrespect is not something I expected from you, my supposed friend," she explains.
James remains resolute. "Just own up to your mistake and apologize," he retorts.
Exasperated, Camille sighs and covers her face with her hand.
Carlos steps in, defending Camille. "Come on, James, lay off. This isn't her fault," he interjects.
James looks incredulously at Carlos. "Just minutes ago, you were on my side about the whole 'what could possibly go wrong' thing. And now you're taking her side?"
Carlos shakes his head. "I know when to rein in my imagination and consider how my actions impact those around me, especially my friends. I won't blame Cami for the flat tire. She's right, it's not her fault. You have been disrespectful, and she doesn't deserve that."
"James, it's important that you apologize to her immediately," Logan states sternly. "It breaks my heart to hear you disrespect my girlfriend, who is not only your friend but genuinely cares about you. Your lack of consideration for her feelings is unacceptable in my eyes."
"Karma is just a myth. You're too wrapped up in fictional tales and supernatural beliefs from TV shows and movies," Logan continues with a disappointed shake of his head. "You need to recognize the hurt you've caused."
"You've been quite 'in deck forest', Katie," she interjects with a mispronounced word.
"Indecorous," Logan corrects her in a gentle whisper.
"Indecorous," Katie echoes, the correction acknowledged.
James continues to avoid taking responsibility for his actions towards Camille, opting to remain silent instead.
"You're acting completely ridiculous and immature right now, and I'm honestly embarrassed to even call you my friend," Kendall remarks, clearly frustrated. "Camille has always been nothing but kind to all of us. She puts up with all of our crazy antics, but she definitely doesn't deserve to deal with someone like you, who blames her for a flat tire just because she innocently mentioned the possibility of something going wrong when Katie expressed concern about the thunder. You're just awful."
Finally, the tow truck arrives and transports them to a repair shop. They find themselves sitting inside the building, patiently waiting for the car to receive a new tire. Katie and Carlos observe the entire process through the large window in the waiting area, which provides a clear view of the repair room and all the activities taking place inside.
"Wow, this is really cool," Carlos exclaims.
"I can't help but notice that there aren't any female employees working in there. Girls are just as capable of fixing cars as boys are," Katie points out.
"You're absolutely right, princessa, but unfortunately, this industry is still predominantly male. It's incredibly challenging for women to be hired as car mechanics," Carlos explains.
"That's not fair at all. I bet I could do it if I had the necessary skills," Katie asserts.
"I have no doubt that you would excel at it," Carlos reassures her.