The Summer I Learned to Dive - By Shannon McCrimmon Page 0,42

complained that she had a major head ache. She didn’t say much else. I think she was embarrassed about the night before, about how things went. I left her alone, allowing silence to dictate the mood. I didn’t notice that she hadn’t started the car yet. I guess I was too busy thinking about my night with Jesse.

“Just don’t judge me Finn,” she said breaking me from my daydream.

“Why would I judge you?” I asked surprised by her statement.

She looked at my seriously. “I love Blake. I thought we’d be together forever. It’s hard to love someone and then have your heart broken by him. Every time I see him I feel like my heart has been ripped into pieces. And then, he’ll play with my hair or kiss me and I become putty in his hands. I’ll think we’re going to be together again and then he’ll tell me we can’t,” she said, tears fell from her eyes.

“If you know this then why do you let him do it?” I asked. It had sounded harsh and I regretted saying it.

She sighed heavily. “I know. It’s stupid. I shouldn’t let him treat me this way. I still love him,” she said. “Last night was the last time though. I am through with him for good.” She sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

I nodded vacantly at her. I didn’t believe her.

“You don’t believe me,” she said.

I didn’t think it would be prudent to tell her that I didn’t. Instead, I sat silently.

“Thanks for being a good friend last night,” she finally said.

“I didn’t do anything,” I said.

“You were there for me.” She turned the car on and began driving.

“How long have you and Jesse been friends?” I asked.

“A long time... since grade school. Why?” she asked quickly glancing at me.

“Just curious,” I lied.

“He’s a really good guy,” she said and smiled at me. “I can tell he has a thing for you.”

“What? No, I was just asking that’s all,” I said but I could feel my cheeks turning red, my face felt hot.

“Sure you were,” she teased. I ignored her. “He doesn’t date too much. Lots of girls have wanted to date him. He’s just really picky. I think he’s been waiting for the right one to come along,” she said and shrugged. I wondered if I was the right one for him.

Chapter 12

He was tapping his fingers on the dashboard but this time he was not sitting in the driver’s seat. I looked at him bewildered. He motioned for me to get in the car. I opened the car door and sat down behind the steering wheel.

“Grandpa, why are you sitting over there?” I asked him.

“I’m tired of driving you around day after day. I’m old. I figured you could drive me around for a change,” he said.

My tone serious, I said, “Grandpa, I can’t drive a stick.”

He sighed heavily. “Just as I thought,” he shook his head slightly. “Well, guess you’re going to learn today then.”

My eyes widened. I looked at him in disbelief. “No way,” I said.

“Turn on the ignition, put one foot on the clutch and one on the brake,” he said as he pointed to the floorboard.

I looked at him then the floorboard to see what he was pointing to. I hesitated and tried to read his expression. He was serious and was not going to relent. I wanted to throw my arms up in the air but decided against it. This was one battle I would not win. I turned on the ignition, my feet pressed against the clutch and brake. The car started.

“Give it a little gas and then get ready to shift,” he said pointing to the stick shift.

I started moving, in the wrong direction. We were going in reverse. I looked at him frantically and as a knee jerk reaction, took my foot off of the clutch. The car choked and came to a quick stop.

“You have it in reverse,” he said stating the obvious and moved his hand to the gear. “Here, start her up again. Watch my hand, this is first gear.”

I looked down at his hand and did what he said. I drove a few feet; the car jerked and came to a quick stop again.

“Do it again,” he said.

I turned the ignition again, doing the same thing as I had done before. I drove slowly, steadily, afraid the car would choke.

“You need to change gears Finn,” he said unfazed. “Otherwise, we’ll be going five miles per