"Best Friends"

Chapter Twelve

Back against the plush footing of a game room sofa, legs long and ankles crossed, I look down my shoulder at Clark’s laptop. A few different tabs up on Chrome, he’s been showing me cars after cars that he suggests. Other than a few bugs he brought up for my liking, he’s focused mainly on season-proof, safe and reliable cars with great gas mileage. He’d also brought up a tank of a Buick pointing out the luxury features that would make me most comfortable.

At a loss, I can’t even imagine myself in my own car…. For two years Clark’s been driving Jonah and I, before that his father got a driver ‘cause before that and all the way back to Elementary school it was Katie.

Seeing my wide-eyed face, a look of being lost, Clark laughs and nudges me with his elbow. “I’m sure I could talk your dad into any of these, you just have to pick. But!” he smiles wide, “I have one last car to show you. I’ll warn you - it’s a bit of work, but I think it would be way easier for me to get together than my Datsun.”

Switching to the first tab, it brings up pictures of a baby blue, vintage VW Beetle. I can see above the main picture it’s a nineteen-fifty-nine VW Beetle sedan. Totally in love, I curl my legs up and face Clark, looking to him to explain more.

“It’s a stick - but I can teach you that on my Datsun. It’s pretty put together, the shell and almost all the original parts. The engine and everything, including custom blinkers, have been added or updated so it’s safe and ready to drive on the road. The leather is a little worn but not falling apart at all, I would probably just update new rubber mats. And as much as I love the original steering wheel with the matching white leather, it’s not safe enough. I’d have to search for a modern wheel with a close enough aesthetic. It’s only going for eleven thousand, or best offer, and after all the work I’d do, it should still come out under the twenty-thousand budget your dad gave.

“There are only three drawbacks. One, there is no AC and no way to add it. Luckily it doesn’t get too hot here and the windows roll down all the way. Two, it’s a seasonal car, first sign of snow, it’ll have to be garaged like my mine. I’ve got the SUV though, so…. But three, and this is the one thing I’m going to look into, but I don’t think it’s possible, is no air-bags. With a new wheel we should be able to get that one – which is the most important one. But there would be no side protection and no protection for the passenger.” He scrolls down to some interior pictures. “There’s tons of room, though, so it might not be as much of a concern than say in my car or any other truly compact car out there. As long both seatbelts are on, everything should be fine.”

He takes a deep breath, eying me nervously. “What do you think?”

“I totally love it, is that bad?” I laugh.

He smiles wide, dimples deep, his eyes square on mine. “Not at all, I knew you would. There’s just something about us that loves vintage and antique. And I promise, I’ll make sure it’s perfect for you. I have all my contacts from when I worked on my car – I can get everything you’d need. Tinted windows, new radio with an AUX cord for your phone, seal all the right places from rain, so forth and so on. Really, I think it’s perfect for you.”

“And you think we could convince my dad? You think you could explain it all to him?

“Oh yeah. And he knows that I want what’s best for you, want you to be as safe as possible.”

*

Having wrapped up the movie of choice, I come back into the game room with my Shishabucks Cloud Micro reset. New water, more ice, cleaned, new shisha, and new coals, I’m ready for however much longer the D’n’D game goes, ready for another movie if Candice suggests it. Carefully placing it on the coffee table, I then pull the table to the edge of the loveseat. Candice looks over from the DVD rack. “What flavor did you pick?”

For a few months Candice has been showing more interest in the hookah, sometimes following me into the kitchen to watch me put it together. Jonah has never liked the idea of smoking of any kind and is fast to look the other way. Even with me explaining how the hookah even works, he wanted nothing to do with it. Candice followed suit for a while. But with how comfortable we’ve been getting one-on-one; she’s starting to form her own opinion.

“Trying Red Gummy Bear this time.”

She laughs a little and sweeps her legs around. “So, cherry?”

I drag hard to get it going. Long, thin, exhale like a dragon, and then “But in a Gummy Bear way.”

Her head tilts and she eyes it. “So, the flavor is the goopy stuff around the little bit of tobacco, that gets heated by the coals, and it’s sort of vaporized then dragged through the water to clean it, and through the hose for you to inhale?”

Loving how interested she is and how much she’s remembered, I offer her the hose, “Want to try?”

“It’s not like pot, is it? Where you have to hold it in?”

“Oh, no. This is sort of a long, lazy activity. It’s not meant to impact you hard, fast. It’s more for socializing actually – most people go to hookah bars.”

She nods thoughtfully.

“So, you just inhale – however much you want, and exhale naturally. There should be a little bit of flavor left on your tongue.” I chuckle, “I will tell you though – you’ll be spoiled. This is the best hookah out right now and I’ve added ice – which cools the water which means the smoke is cooler and therefore easier to handle.”

This seems to push her off the fence and she takes the hose delicately. Realizing the tip is mental though, she lets out a little “Oh” and scoots her hand up to the base. A soft inhale, not too shallow, not too deep, actually getting her lungs filled. She naturally exhales to the side of her lips, moving it to center to end. No coughing, not discomfort, she nods with a smile. “Cool.”

She hands the hose back and I inhale, exhale and ask, “So what movie?”

She looks back, “What about The Greatest Showman?”

“That’s a good one,” I agree.

She gets it all set up, pressed play then sits to my left. I let her get through the first song – one of her favorites – and offer the hose. She looks down, a little surprised. After her turn, I take the hose with my right hand and drape my left arm over her shoulder. She leans into my chest, and we continue our shared activity, having just another thing between us.