Kolten fumbled the keys trying to put them in the ignition, dropping them at his feet. He groaned and hit his head against the steering wheel. "Do you need me to drive?" I asked. I reached for the keys the same time he did, but he got to them first.
"Jo, you and I both know it's illegal to drive without a driver's license."
"It's also illegal to drive in the state you're in."
He started the car. "I'll take my chances." We started driving, and as we reached a stoplight, I realized I'd left my final project at home. The one that was worth 30% of my grade. The one that had taken me 3 weeks to finish. The one that was due first period, today.
"Kolten, turn around!"
"What? No! We're already late!"
"I left my project, we need to go get it!"
"Josefina, I don't have time for this-"
I put my hand on his arm. "Please, Kolten. I'll have my friend in the office get us tardy slips. I need that project."
He looked sideways at me, and then sighed. "Josefina, I swear..." But he started backing up to turn around, since the road behind us was oddly empty.
The light turned green, and the car that was in front of started out into the intersection. A car, whose driver clearly hadn't noticed that his light was now red, sped through, and crashed into the car. I gasped, and Kolten gaped. I realized about the same time that he did that if we hadn't started to turn around when we did, we would've been a part of that car wreck. Kolten found my hand and squeezed it comfortingly.
"Use my phone and call 911. Tell them there's been an accident. I'll focus on getting us back to get your project." He handed me his phone, and started the drive back to his house. I dialed 911.
"911, what's your emergency?" the operator who answered said.
"Hello, there's been a crash on the Center Street and 5th north intersection."
"Hello? Is anybody there? Please speak up, I can't hear you."
Confused, I spoke up. "Yes, hello, there's been a crash at the Center street and 5th north intersection."
"Is this a prank? I'm going to hang up now."
I handed the phone to Kolten. "Your phone's on the fritz. She says she can't hear me. You try, I'll watch the wheel." I grabbed the wheel as he held the phone up to his ear.
"Hello, this is Kolten South. There's been an accident on the Center street and 5th north intersection." He paused. "There were 2 cars." He paused again. "Yes." Pause. "Okay, thank you. Bye." He looked at me. "That was weird. She could hear me just fine."
He pulled up to his house, and I jumped out. I ran inside and grabbed my project and hurried back outside. "Alright, good to go!" Kolten turned the car around, and we were back on our way to school.
YOU ARE READING
Where'd She Come From?
Teen FictionJosefina Witten has been invisible her whole life, it seems. People just don't seem to see her, except for her best friend, Kolten South, who has always called her Jo. After she moved in with his family when her parents died during a tragic accide...
