Page 18 of The Not So Super Hero

Apparently, finals did a similar thing to Bailey’s heart, though it wasn’t nearly as uplifting.

Quite the opposite, in fact. His heart was ready to burst from sheer fear as he finished his last exam.

He actually hesitated to turn the test in, questioning if his bad luck would come into play and he actually skipped circles…

“My luck will be the death of me!” Bailey cried outside the classroom when Amery finally joined him.

“Well, obviously.” Amery giggled after she leaned down to flick Bailey in the forehead. “But you did fine, Bailey. We studied our asses off, and I’m sure it paid off.”

Bailey’s face was currently planted on the hallway floor. He wasn’t sure why he thought that was a good idea, seeing as the amount of germs on his face was probably astronomical. However, he was in the middle of a crisis, so he didn’t care.

“I hate finals,” he said, pushing himself up before he brushed off his clothes.

“Ditto.”

Luckily, Bailey didn’t have tests on Friday.

He had two days to finish packing up his belongings.

Students had to leave by Sunday for their 6-week vacation.

Amery and Ryan were already gone by Sunday, as were most of the students.

Many left the moment their finals were done, leaving Bailey as one of the last students packing his car.

He quadruple checked he had everything, making sure the most important things like his laptop, phone and charger were all in his vehicle.

Once Bailey was sure he safely tucked away his belongings inside, he started up his car and backed up. Then his tire blew out.

“Tell me you’re joking,” he cried.

Nope. His back tire blew out. He checked it the other day, and it was fine!

Now he had to get a new tire?! Circling his car, the opposite back tire was on the verge of blowing out too.

Groaning, he pulled out his cell and searched for the nearest garage, only to discover that they were closed on Sundays.

He slammed his head against his car once, twice, and a third time before slinking to the ground like a pile of goo.

Why was he even surprised? Obviously, something had to happen because that was his life, but whatever, he would find a way out of it.

He already turned his room key in, and he wasn’t sure if they would give it back.

What if they said no? Then he would have to sleep in his car because he really didn’t want to spend money on a hotel room.

Bailey peered into the car windows to see that he wouldn’t be able to lean his seat back.

There was no way he was sleeping sitting up.

He had, like, a 4-hour drive home, so rest was kind of necessary.

As he searched for a way to save himself, a certain someone came out of the dorm doors that caught his attention.

Zane rubbed his tired eyes while making his way to his own vehicle.

In that moment, Bailey got an idea that he wasn’t so sure he wanted to go through with.

When he looked back into his car though, and imagined the uncomfortable position he would sleep in, he decided, the hell with it, it was worth a shot.

“Zane!” Bailey called.

“What?” Zane asked, rubbing a tired eye.

“Uh, well, funny story. My tire kind of blew out and I turned my room key in.”

Zane’s movements stopped. Bailey assumed that was because he knew exactly where Bailey was going. Zane narrowed his eyes as if to challenge him to continue that sentence. Bailey was not one to back down from a challenge.

“I have no idea how to change a tire and I don’t have a spare. The garage is closed, so could I possibly stay with—“

“No.”

“Please, the garage opens in the morning. I’ll leave and get my tires changed as soon as I can!”

“No.” Zane walked towards his car. Bailey followed.

“You won’t even know I’m there.”

Zane snorted. Bailey couldn’t blame him because that was clearly a lie. He couldn’t be quiet, even if his life depended on it.

“Well, do you have a spare tire and perhaps know how to change it?” he asked.

“Do you think I know how to change a tire?” Zane asked.

“No.”

“Get a hotel room,” Zane suggested, opening his car door. He rested his arm on it and the other on top of his vehicle.

“I’m going to have to buy two new tires, and I have a long drive. I don’t have the money to spit out for a hotel,” Bailey explained while taking a few steps towards the passenger side. Zane clicked his keys, locking his doors, which had Bailey groaning. “Please, Zane, just this one night!”

Bailey leaned on Zane’s car, reaching over the top to playfully poke at Zane’s arm. He did not seem too phased by Bailey’s wide green eyes fluttering their eyelashes at him. He bit his lip, then tugged at Zane’s arm like a child, smiling when Zane’s eyes softened.

“Please?” Bailey pleaded. The car beeped as the doors unlocked. He threw his arms into the air in victory. “Thank you!”

“Whatever, just this once.” Zane pointed at Bailey, as if to tell him that there was no way he was helping the boy out again.

He nodded, grinning the entire time before explaining he just wanted to grab a few things, like his phone charger and some clothes.

Zane grumbled, slipping into his car while Bailey ran to retrieve his belongings.

A part of Bailey suspected Zane to drive off while he grabbed his belongings.

Surprisingly, he didn’t. The boy jumped into the passenger side of Zane’s car a few minutes later, putting on his seat belt before saying, “Thanks. I promise I won’t be a bother. ”

“If you are, I’ll kick you out.”

Bailey honestly felt like he could say he didn’t believe him. Seemed like he’d have to wait to find that out.