Page 1 of Knox
1
Summer
I’ve never seena shooting star before.
In fact, I didn’t even think they were real. Like unicorns, or nice, caring men who don't treat you like garbage.
But, as I pace up and down outside a rundown service station, I look up, and, flying across the night sky is an honest to God shooting star. Its bright yellow tail streaking through the darkness like a tear made of gold.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
In all the books I’ve read, and the movies I’ve seen, people always make a wish when they see one. And, even though I feel kind of stupid doing it, that’s exactly what I do.
I scrunch my eyes closed as tight as possible, and tap my heels together three times… If it worked for Dorothy, it can work for me, right?
“Please,” I whisper, “just let me get through tonight. Let me get away. Let me find somewhere safe. Somewhere I can lead a normal life, away from my asshole stepdad. Somewhere I wake up each morning, looking forward to the day, instead of dreading it. Somewhere with friends, and a community I can be a part of. Just a boring, normal life. That’s all I’m asking.”
I let out a breath and open my eyes. The star isn’t in the sky anymore. It’s almost as if it never happened. I don’t feel any different.
I’m not sure what I was expecting.
Maybe a gallant knight on a bright white stead. Appearing from around the corner in a full coat of mail. Long blonde hair flowing from beneath his helmet. A bright white smile. Big strong hands. A desperate desire to rescue me and whisk me off to his castle.
But, instead, the sleazy-looking mechanic is walking towards me. An unpleasant grin on his face.
He rubs his hands together as he gets closer. His eyes hover over my chest as he licks his lips. He doesn’t even have the manners to hide it.
“It’s not looking good,” he smiles, “gonna need to order in some parts. Could be…” he scratches his head. A white shower of dandruff falls down onto the shoulder of his grimy blue overalls. “Two, three days.”
“You’re kidding?” I squeeze my temples and bite my lip. This is the worst possible news. “Is there nothing you can do? I mean… just to get it back on the road? I can’t wait two days… let alone pay for a new part.”
“Hey,” he says, trying to put his hand on my shoulder. I step back and cross my arms over my chest. “No need to worry. You’re in good hands here. In fact, you’re lucky you found me. Any other mechanic, well now.. they might not be so kind as me. I can see you’re in trouble. And I can see you’re a nice, upstanding young woman... just trying to make her way in the world. Heck… I don’t want to get in the way of that. Let me order in these parts, and I’m sure we can think of a way for you to pay me back. How does that sound?”
That sounds like the worst thing imaginable, I think.
But I don’t say it out loud. I’m totally screwed without my car.
“Let me think on it,” I manage, “I mean, you can’t order the part now? Right? It’s the middle of the night. I’ll find somewhere to sleep, and come back in the morning.”
“I have somewhere you can sleep,” he grins. “A nice, warm bed with your name on it.”
“That’s okay,” I mutter, stepping away from him. I can smell the whiskey on his breath, and all of a sudden I realize just how alone I am. There’s no one else around. The odd car passing by, but what are they going to do? How would they even know if I was in danger? “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Suit yourself,” he says, the hand in his pocket starts rubbing himself. My stomach turns, and it’s all I can do to stop my lunch from coming back up.
I remember seeing an all-night diner a couple of blocks away, so I turn around and head there as quickly as possible. Looking over my shoulder the whole time. Scared in case my creepy mechanic decides he isn’t going to take no for an answer.
Fortunately, he doesn't follow me.
I take a seat at the counter and let out a deep breath I didn’t even know I was holding in.
A friendly-looking, middle-aged server waddles over and pours me a coffee. “Any food?” she asks.
I get my wallet out of my bag. Although, I’m not sure why. I know exactly how much is in there. Right down to the last cent.
“No,” I say, my heart sinking. How am I going to get away if I can’t even afford to buy myself a sandwich? Let alone get my car fixed? “I’ll just stick with the coffee.”
“She’ll have one of your chicken salads,” a large man sitting next to me says. “On me.”
