new york wolves } { of new drivers and the jersey shore

[babybeta]

Liam: Why do I have to turn right to go left? I don't understand this.

Leah: They're called "jughandles" and don't ask me why New Jersey does the things it does.

Liam: But this is the only place that does this, right? Normally I can just make a left turn.

Leah: That I know of, yeah.

Liam: Good, because this sucks.

Leah: It's not bad. It's actually probably safer for you to make left turns this way while you're still learning.

Liam: But what happens what I have to take my driving test.

Leah: You'll know how to make an actual left turn by then.

Liam: I hope so. I don't wanna screw this up.

Leah: You won't. Relax. And even if you don't pass the first time, you can always take it again. Lots of kids don't pass on the first go.

Liam: Not anyone in my school. I'm the only one who's sixteen who hasn't passed it yet.

Leah: Yeah, your aunt Fiona had to take it five times because she couldn't parallel park.

Liam: She couldn't? [turns to look at Leah]

Leah: Nope. And she was damn frustrated about it.

Liam: I bet. And it's not like we even do that around here.

Leah: Well, we did back then.

Liam: I'm going to be stuck on the subways forever.

Leah: That's not such a bad thing when you live in New York City.

Liam: Until you want to escape New York. [he should probably look back at the road soon]

Leah: [taps the steering wheel] Eyes up front, Mr. Driver. [and then she'll respond to the question at hand] And you shouldn't be escaping New York on your own at sixteen.

Liam: Just to the Jersey Shore.

Leah: New York has much closer beaches you don't need a car for.

Liam: Coney Island is for kids, and Long Island is too touristy.

Leah: Don't tell your father that about Coney Island.

Liam: Why not?

Leah: Because he loves it there.

Liam: Well Dad is also a big kid.

Leah: That is true.

Liam: And I like going there with him. But not with my friends. They all go to the shore.

Leah: Well, I don't want you driving to the shore on your own until you're a little older.

Liam: But Mom.

Leah: You will humor your mother's peace of mind, at least until you've clocked a few more hours behind the wheel.

Liam: [sighs] Fine.

Leah: Thank you.

Liam: [and as they are about to pass a sonic] Lunch?

Leah: [she nods] Sure. Be careful pulling off.

Liam: [grins and yeah, so not that careful]

Leah: [and that's his mother grabbing the oh shit handle and swearing]

Liam: [grins as they pull smoothly into a stall] See, nothing to worry about.

Leah: [and she glares at him, before shaking her head as she sits up] Sometimes I feel like I need to remind you your mother is a hemophiliac.

Liam: You keep saying that word.

Leah: Hemophiliac?

Liam: Yes. Your blood clotting thingie.

Leah: What about it?

Liam: So why would my driving have a relation to your blood clot thingie?

Leah: Well, if you get into an accident and if I start bleeding, it might take too long for help to get here and I may bleed to death.

Liam: Oh. Well, we won't get into an accident then.

Leah: Yeah. But I will feel better about that if it's not just confidence that's telling you that and you actually driving carefully.

Liam: [bites his lip] At least it wasn't a left turn?

Leah: [she smirks] At least there's that.

Liam: I'm sorry.

Leah: It's okay. But these are the things you gotta think about when you're a driver. You gotta think about who's in the car, and the other cars around you. Because it may not be me, but it might be a person like me. And when you're reckless, and someone dies as a result, that's on you. And you can't take that back.

Liam: Yeah, I know.

Leah: [she nods] So act like it. I know this is exciting, and you want to be more independent, but I need to know you take this seriously. [she then points to the window] Now order me a burger and a chocolate milkshake.

Liam: I do. I really do. [and he will go and order her food, and his small mountain of food]

Leah: [just show her and she'll not worry about it so much. and she'll hand over the credit card so he can pay before looking down to play with the radio]