I follow him out, and neither of us says a word as I lock up, and go out to my car.
Neither of us speaks as we get into the car.
Neither of us speaks as we drive along.
I turn the car radio on eventually, just to break the silence, but the bright jaunty tunes are too much to bear and I switch it off angrily, the car veering slightly across the road.
Joel doesn't react.
I keep glancing at him as I drive along, his gaze is fixed straight ahead somewhere in the distance.
His eyes look as though they might be brimming with tears, but I can't tell.
I'm so busy trying to tell that I nearly don't notice the traffic lights, and we jolt to a stop suddenly.
We jerk forwards in our seats, the seatbelts cutting in, until the lights change and we move forwards again.
He must think I'm a terrible driver.
As we draw into town, Joel speaks.
"Drop me off here," he says unemotionally.
I stop at the side of the pavement beside a "no parking" sign, and he climbs out.
"Thank you for the lift," he says, then falters looking at his hands.
"And... everything." He looks up at me and gives the slightest, tiniest, smile, then turns and heads off.
"Joel!" I call, but he's already vanished into the crowd.
I curse and fall back into my seat. I can't possibly go after him, and he's probably already gone by now.
I don't dare leave the car here, and wouldn't even if it wasn't no parking.
I don't want my car vandalised, thank you very much.
Mobile phones are rather cheaper than cars.
I drive off, with no idea where I'm going, and pass aimlessly though estates, the rows of houses getting grottier every road, until suddenly I realise that I know where I am.
Rest In Results Xx >>>
Emergency.Room.Romantics
I slam on the brakes, causing the driver behind me to blow his horn loudly, loud swearing, and not entirely unwarranted insulting gesticulations.
I should either a) get Joel to be my boyfriend and chill out, or b) take driving lessons.
I think I'll try them in that order.
I drive back up the road slowly, looking for the place I recognise, and then park on the corner, not too close to arouse suspicion, but close enough to view all traffic coming and going.
There's a corner shop not far away, and when I see it my stomach takes the chance to remind me that I've had no lunch, and didn't eat much in the way of breakfast.
I get out, and walk down to it nonchalantly.
I'm starving.
I get half way down the street, when I realise I have no money, and go back to the car.
All I have in the glove box are coppers, so I take out handfuls and fill my pockets.
When I get to the shop, I chose a random sandwich quickly, then head to the desk to pay hastily, seeing a gang of laughing people I recognise walking in laughing.
I hope to god they don't recognise me.
It seems to take an excruciatingly long time to pay for a sandwich in one and two penny pieces.
Then again, it probably does take as long as it seems.
When I finally escape, I walk back hurriedly, somewhat less casually than before.
As I reach the corner, I have a brief glimpse of Joel fleeing down the road.
He glances behind him looking hunted, but appears not to identify me.
His hoodie's ripped, his jeans are torn, and his hair is mussed, but he appears relatively unharmed.
He's running like hell anyway.
He heads up a drive, crashes through a door and slams it loudly behind him.
I smile slightly, move my car to in front of the house.
I put the seat into reclining position, open my sandwich and settle down to watch the show.
< !-- BEGIN CBOX - www.cbox.ws -->
< !-- END CBOX -->
