Broken Hill Hearts (Broken Hill High 4)

“Nah,” Brooke says as she opens the door of her car. “I’ve got a test tomorrow. I need to study.”

“Alright then,” I sigh, kind of relieved. I mean, now I can go home and crash in my pajamas without the world judging me. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“K,” she says on a yawn, making me wonder if any studying will actually get done or if she’ll just wing the test tomorrow.

I drop down into my car and start it up, but naturally, the parking lot is filled with bodies and I have to wait patiently for everyone to clear away before I risk killing them. I mean, I know I kicked ass on the racetrack that one time but I don’t doubt I’ll see my doom in the form a simple driving task. I’m not the most confident driver. Not like Nate.

I wave Brooke off to let her go first and she gives me a tired smile. She presses down on the gas when Holly walks across the front of her car, grinning like the little bitch she is. I watch Brooke’s reaction and roll my eyes.

She presses the gas once again and allows her car to lurch forward just a bit. Holly shrieks and darts out of the way while Brooke pisses herself laughing. I guess that will be a lesson to everyone around; don’t steal any of Brooke’s toys or you will be run over.

Brooke makes her way out of her parking spot, actually being careful not to hurt the girl and I pull out behind.

I’m so lost in my mind that it takes me until I’m nearly halfway home to realize that something is wrong. My car doesn’t feel right and something tells me it’s the tire. I indicate my turn and check my mirrors before pulling off to the side of the road.

I hop out and do a once around before noticing that I have a flat, but it’s not exactly a flat, someone has slashed my tire.

Shit, I can even begin to think about the damage I’ve done to the rim, though I’m sure mom, Jesse, and Nate will all let me know. I bend down to get a good look at the tire and study the rim. I mean, how the hell is this thing connected to the car? Better yet, where is the spare one kept?

I pop the trunk and then the hood. I search high and low but find nothing. Shit, this is not how it happens in the movies. Who am I kidding? It’s not like I’ll be able to actually change the stupid thing.

I walk around to the passenger side of my car and dig through my bag for my phone. I stand on the edge of the road, searching through my contacts for Nate’s number when it hits me, he’s usually at the very top of my recent contacts list, now, he’s just among the random numbers stored in this thing.

I go to press call when a familiar Charger pulls up behind me with a grinning Jackson in the driver’s seat. “What’s wrong?” he asks, getting out of his car.

“Someone slashed my tire,” I explain as I slide my phone into the back pocket of my jeans.

“Shit, really?” he questions, walking around the front of his car to get to mine. He bends down and has a good look at the slashed tired. “Geez, you pissed someone off.”

“I swear, I haven’t,” I tell him. “The last stupid thing I did was let you take me to the Haven Falls party. Apart from that I’ve been a hermit.”

“Haven’t I apologized for that party a million times now?”

“Yes,” I groan.

“And when are you finally going to accept it?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I’ll accept it as soon as you change my tire.”

A grin rips across his face and I watch as he attempts not to laugh. “That’s going to be harder than you think.”

“What? Why?” I grunt. “Just take it off and get the new one.”

“Where do you expect me to get a new one from?” he questions. “Did you happen to find one or were you hoping I’d pull one out of my ass?”

“What are you talking about?”

“This model doesn’t come with a spare tire. You need to get a tow.”

“What?” I shriek with wide eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Nope,” he says, pulling out his phone. He presses a few buttons and brings the phone to his ear. I listen as he talks to the person on the other end and soon enough, he’s ending the call. “Tow truck will be here in fifteen minutes.”

A sigh of relief escapes me. “Thanks,” I tell him. “I probably would have kept searching for the spare all night.”

“I don’t doubt that,” he laughs, sitting down on the curb.

I take a seat beside him. “You don’t have to wait,” I tell him.