First lines given – #1

Welcome to the first First Lines Given! If that sentence confuses you, here’s a link to where I explain what this is.

Today’s first line is by Bree Dawn! She said:

Honestly, this sentence made me laugh. Such a good prompt.

Kind of nervous, but here’s the result:

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I was supposed to learn how to drive, but instead, I got a crash course on anti-psychotics. Which was normal for Anthony. He always ended up talking about serial killers or drugs or some other random thing that I didn’t need to be reminded of. I never knew what was going on in his mind.

“Anthony,” I pleaded. “Please. I’m trying to get the hang of this.” My white knuckles squeezed the steering wheel tighter. I should’ve had someone else teach me. The cars on these neighborhood streets were so close to each other. I felt like I was about to hit everything. Why doesn’t this neighborhood have driveways for people to park in?

“You’re doing fine. It’s–” He paused with his hands up like he was about to go down another rabbit hole. His left wrist made circles in the air. “Anti-psychotics are important, Lily.”

“No. No no no no. No. We’re not going down that road again. I need to learn how to not feel like I’m about to hit everything with this stupid car. Not about anti-psychotics.” Even though I was only driving around a neighborhood, I felt like I was a monster. Because I couldn’t just practice driving in a normal car. Oh no. I had to drive a lifted car – one that should have never been lifted in the first place. All the other cars looked like tiny bugs, ready to be squished.

“You’re fine,” he reassured me in the most not reassuring way ever. He wasn’t even looking at the road or at me. His eyes were glued to his phone. He was probably reading some article about anti-psychotics. “The more you drive, the more comfortable you’ll be.”

“Can’t I drive around a parking lot?” I almost screamed. I was so tired of him. He wasn’t the person I needed in my life right now. I had a ten-page history paper due next week. Two tests. Another test the week after that. I only wanted to take a break and learn how to drive a car. A normal car.

“You’re too smart for a parking lot. With all those AP classes you’re in. You’ll be a pro at driving in no time.”

I sighed. “Being good at science and math doesn’t correlate with driving a car at all.”

“See! Smart terms!” He clapped like that was something to be proud of. “Now! Remember the medical uses for anti-psychotics that I talked about? What was the last one I mentioned? I don’t want to start over…”

“Can I just drive in silence?” I snapped. The available room on the road got narrower.

“When does anyone drive in silence anymore? It’s the blaring radio or the cringey music or annoying passengers. You gotta pick one or the other.”

“That’s not how it works!”

I felt his glare from across the car. “You listen here! You need to–”

The car jolted as it slammed into the back of a sitting vehicle. Not too bad. Just along the side. But I probably crushed the poor thing. I was just trying to turn onto the next street. I… This wasn’t supposed to happen.

But like I said before: should’ve had someone else teach me.

Copyright © Robin LeeAnn