A Short Drive By Jennifer Allen Haruka brushed some long blonde bangs out of her emerald eyes. She glanced at her reflection in the rear-view mirror. She had short, cropped hair. Her hair made her look like a boy, but she did not care. Haruka wore a white T-shirt and a pair of blue Jean shorts. She revved the engine of her yellow Ferrari. She loved the roar of the engine; it was like an orchestra. She glanced at the other driver next to her car and grinned inwardly. 'Hmm...nice. '67 Mustang fully restored; six-cylinder engine. What a beauty!' The man driving the car turned towards her and smiled. He raised his eyebrows and whistled. Haruka laughed, 'The joker doesn't even know that I am admiring the car, not him.' Haruka's thoughts were cut short when she heard the passenger door open. A man entered the car, holding a gun. Haruka snorted and glanced at him. He was short and dirty. He wore a stocking cap and a dirty Levi jacket. He smelled like cigarette smoke and looked like something the cat dragged in. "Do what I say and you won't get hurt!" The man sat down in the passenger seat next to her and pointed the gun at her side. He closed the door and did not bother to buckle up. Haruka brushed her long bangs out of her eyes. He was eyeing her ravenously, she could tell that he was undressing her with his eyes. She could also tell that his little "visit" was random. Big mistake. "Drive!" Haruka grinned wickedly, "You asked for it, asshole!" She pressed her foot down on the gas, hard, and the car sped forward. The car went from zero to fifty in four seconds. "What the hell?" The man gasped as the car raced down the road and towards the freeway. The man jabbed the gun into Haruka's side, causing her to wince in pain. She continued speeding down the road, taking the curves at a dangerous speed. The car zoomed around other cars, past semi-trucks and little Volvos. Sixty. Seventy. Eighty. Eighty-five miles per hour. She could sense the panic building in her "passenger." The man began to scream as the car turned another dangerous curve. The man trembled, "You're crazy!" She flashed him a wicked smile, "I know." Haruka's "passenger" held onto the car's dash tightly, causing his knuckles to turn white. His face was pale as he stared at the crazy woman. Haruka was enjoying every minute of the drive. She loved the feel of the road and the wind in her hair. The man, however, was still holding onto the dash. He was screaming like a cheerleader. "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO," he screamed, "KILL US?!" Haruka flashed him a wild grin and pointed at a tree down the way. "I'm dead anyways, right? Might as well take a bastard like you with me!" The man stared in horror as Haruka showed him the tree. He dropped the gun and screamed again. "I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Haruka turned to him, grinning. She could see the drops of sweat slide down his grungy face. "STOP THE CAR, BITCH!" Haruka frowned, "That's wasn't nice." She pressed the gas to the floor. The car careened towards the tree. The road turned into dirt and grass. "I suggest that you get out now!" The man stared at her in complete horror, "WHAT?!" She glared at him, "GET OUT!" The man looked at her and then at the tree that was getting closer. He opened the car door and jumped out. Haruka could hear some bones crack as the man landed in the dirt. She spun the car around expertly, causing the tires to squeal. She skidded to stop, narrowly avoiding the tree. She reached over and shut the door. She picked the gun up from the floor and threw it into a tree. "Have a nice day!" Her tires squealed as she sped towards the road, leaving the man lying on the ground, moaning. Michiru tapped her foot on the ground. She held a driver's helmet and a ticket for a car race in her hands. She smiled as Haruka pulled up. "Where were you? I was getting worried. We have to be at the race in twenty minutes." Haruka leaned over and opened the passenger door. "Sorry." Michiru smiled, "Setsuna and Hotaru are already there and I made sure that your car is well tuned for the race. Haruka kissed Michiru, "I love you." Haruka started the car's engine, listening to its low rumble. Michiru stared questioningly at Haruka, "Where were you, anyways?" Haruka smiled as she pulled out into traffic; "I was just driving around."