“Hi,” Holland said, voice unusually sweet. “Hi. Thanks for coming.”
She shoved her backpack into the car first, and her little body followed close behind. Holland pulled the door closed, only halting to settle in her seat before jumping into a long-winded monologue.
“I don’t usually do shit like this. God. I would’ve called a tow truck, but – thank you for coming. I’m so fucking sorry,” Holland said, unable to settle on just one sentiment. She rambled consistently, without taking a breath, like she didn’t remember how to stop. It wasn’t often that she asked for any kind of help, especially not in the middle of the night. Her anxiety was high, her desire to placate the person beside her even higher. “I’m sure you had better shit to do tonight than haul my ass across town.”
She huffed out a nervous breath of air and pulled the seatbelt taught across her chest. “I can like, pay you back. For the gas, or whatever. Get you a drink. Whatever you want. I’ve got like, red wine at my house, I think. And cash. I’ve got some cash on me here, actually.”
Once the car jerked into motion, Holland reached for her bag and began digging for her wallet, quite literally searching for gold. “That stupid old truck,” she said, still rambling as though her life depended on it. “Jesus fuck. I swear, I’m just going to leave it right there on the road. Finally let it die.”
It really wasn’t. Sophie couldn’t sit home, knowing her car had broken down -- in this kind of weather. She wouldn’t feel necessarily good knowing Holland gotten a sunstroke in the middle of nowhere.
“Okay, I need you to breathe. I was home, job hunting. It’s not a big deal, I promise you.” Smiling warmly at her, the brunette started the car and soon they were both on their way. She needed this; getting out of the house. It felt exceptionally nice for once.
“I don’t need you to pay me back, don’t be silly. When my car breaks down, then maybe you can rush to help my sorry ass.” She joked, throwing a look her way, then quickly focusing on the road ahead of them. “I don’t need anything. But if you do have wine....” her voice trailed off, before a grin appeared on her face.
“Seriously. It’s cool, we’re cool. If you only knew how many times my old car broke down.. It happens. I’m just glad it happened now, and not in the middle of the night. Things are kinda scary then. Everything is.”