Red

She stumbles from the driver's seat of her car. Her feet tripping over each other, ears ringing violently, heart pounding loudly in her chest. She had been alone in her car when she experienced a brief moment of thoughtlessness and obstructed another vehicle. She believes she caught a quick glimpse of the people in the car before the collision. All male, late teens or early twenties. "Three people." She thinks.

Her head still foggy, she staggers towards the other car. She fears the worst. Screaming and yelling, violence, possibly a lawsuit. "They have every right to be livid." She tells herself, wringing her hands nervously in front of her.

She approaches the drivers side door, quickly taking notice of the fact that the door won't open. The driver is pushing up roughly against it, but his efforts are in vain. He soon gives up and crawls over to the passenger's side, exiting the car from the passenger door. He inspects the damages as he unsteadily makes his way around towards her. The other passengers are standing near the trunk, watching their friend. None of them seem to be hurt, but the car is wrecked.

"I just bought this today!" the driver exclaims, shaking his head in what seems to be disbelief. He looks to be the youngest of the men. With shaggy blonde hair, blue eyes, average height.

"I'm a terrible person." She thinks, biting into her lip nervously.

"Today?" she asks him out loud.

"Yeah, today." He replies shakily, running a trembling hand through his disheveled hair.

She bites back tears. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking back there. I was just in my own world, y'know. Something you do when you drive, or at least what I do," she rambles on. "I didn't even see you. I don't know what I was doing. I'll pay for everything. I promise."

She inhales deeply and holds her breath for a few beats before exhaling harshly.

One of his friends near the trunk scoffs loudly at her.

"We're just supposed to let you get away with this? You destroyed his car, lady!" His arms flail wildly as he speaks. His black hair looking as if it was windblown.

She shakes her head vigorously at him, tears streaming down her face.

"I know, I'm sorry! But just let me pay for it, please. I promise I will." Her voice trembles with every word. She knew before coming to speak to them that this was a possibility, them being mad at her, but she doesn't know how to reconcile. How to make it clear to them that she wants to help. That she is sorry.

Her gaze shifts back to the blonde boy in an attempt to evade the dangerous glint that reflects from the black haired man's eyes.

"Please forgive me." She whispers desperately to him. He nods his head rhythmically, his eyes flitting up quickly to his friends.

"I think we can come to some sort of agreement."

"Yes, I think we can. We can." She agrees enthusiastically, grabbing at his arm desperately.

"What do you suggest, Henry?" The blond boy asks his black haired friend.

The black haired boy shrugs dramatically, letting a sigh escape his lungs. "I don't know, man." He stalks slowly towards them, his hands slipping into his coat pockets. "What could possibly make up for destroying your car?"

Her pulse skyrockets, her hands begin wavering, her feet move backwards away from them.

"I-I don't want any trouble, guys." She says, seemingly hopeless.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. We wouldn't hurt you." Henry sneers.

She nods, "Okay, okay. I can just give you my insurance information and go."

She spins quickly to head back to her car when a sudden pain blossoms in her side.

"What?" She asks, her hands shooting to the location of the pain. Her hands came away red. "What?" She repeats, turning back towards the boys.

The blonde boy pivots and walks back towards his wrecked car.

Black spots appear in her vision and dizziness overtakes her senses. She falls to her knees; her breath comes out in quick pants.

Henry watches as she crumples, then turns his back to her, facing his friends.

"Let's get this to the shop, guys."