Free For The Least Of These by Jennifer Davis Page B

the same thing. I’m almost certain it wasn’t this bad. But he told me that he bought some carb cleaner, and it took the paint off his car, the windshield, and him. There’s a grocery store just down the street. I’m sure we can buy some there.”
    “Carb cleaner – as in carburetor cleaner?”
    “ Yeah. It’s supposed to work miracles. According to this guy I know.”
    “What guy is that? Does he still have skin in the places he removed the paint from?”
    “Oh, you wouldn’t know him. And yes, he still has skin.”
    “That’s a great idea, Alicia,” Skylar said, calming a little. “We can get two cans and clean up the truck, too.”
    I ignored the fact that he was insinuating that I needed a whole can to clean me, and I agreed to go with them to the store. I didn’t like this idea, but I didn’t really know what else to do.
    When we parked the truck, Skylar switched off the engine and said, “Okay, girls. Get two cans. Here’s ten dollars for my can.”
    Once again, my anger flared. This time I didn’t hold back. “So, you expect us to go in and buy the cleaner – me looking like…like this – and I have to pay for my can, too? Boy, Alicia, you sure know how to pick ‘em.”
    Skylar was obviously too dim-witted to realize that I was angry. He just smiled and said, “Thank you.”
    I removed my glasses so I could see a little bit, and Alicia and I went into the store. We found the automotive aisle fairly easily, and very few people seemed to be around to notice my new look. Luckily, they had three cans of carburetor cleaner, and the price for each can was only three-ninety-nine. I quickly decided that I’d destroy the receipt and tell Skylar that one can took the whole ten dollars – that way he could pay for my can, too. He also treated us to some paper towels. Once outside, I didn’t even mention money. Skylar didn’t seem to notice, and he didn’t ask for any change.
    We pulled the truck to the far side of the parking lot under some bright lights and then began to furiously clean. I was pleasantly surprised when the paint disappeared from my glasses, and I could see again. I was a little hesitant to use the cleaner on my skin, but Alicia rubbed some on my arm, and it didn’t seem to hurt. It did remove all the paint in that spot, so I decided to use it. Soon I had removed all of the paint from my skin, and it hadn’t taken my skin off either.
    Skylar and Alicia had been working frantically on the truck, and I started helping them. Alicia had moved the seat back and was getting the paint off of the metal frame under the seat. Skylar was working on the rest of the interior, so I started on the outside of the truck. When we were finally satisfied with our effort, Skylar was certain it was too late to pick up his brother. However, when he checked the time, we’d only been working for about twenty minutes, and Skylar decided that the band would still be practicing or just finishing up.
    I asked Skylar to take Alicia and me back to the Richland. I had no more adventure left in me. I was all used up – and my clothes and hair were still flecked with red.
    “I can’t do that,” Skylar said. “By the time I take you back, the guys would have left. And Dylan would not be happy with me. I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to go with me.”
    I was too tired to argue, so once again, Alicia got in the backseat and I sat up front. I was almost too tired to pull the truck door shut, but I managed somehow. I must have fallen asleep as soon as the truck started up, and before I knew it, Alicia was tapping me on the shoulder and saying, “Brandy, we’re here. The guys are standing up by the door talking. I made Skylar park away from them in case you didn’t want to meet Rick after all…”
    I jumped up as if I’d been shot. Was Rick in sight? I wiped the sleep out of my eyes and glanced around looking for the door Alicia was talking about. As my eyes began to focus, I recognized Rick and