Chapter 7 HEADING FOR A TREE.

Austin stared down at the unconscious Auria, surprise evident on his face to realize the stranger he'd hit was her, and memories of the store instantly flooded his mind.

"Will she be alright?" A voice from the crowd of the onlookers pulled him out of his thoughts, his eyes glancing around, meeting the concerned faces of the people.

"She needs to be taken to the hospital." Another voice spoke, a calm murmur to the person spoken to.

Just then, horns honked from the vehicles in line behind his car.

"What's going on there?!"

"Come on, the lights have switched to green!"

"Yeah, what's the second hold-up for?"

Impatient drivers nagged from within their cars, a few at the front popping out their heads from the windows as they glared at the people gathered around.

"Sir, you've got to take her to the hospital and get your car moving." One of the traffic wardens said, as she approached Austin. "Sure." He gave a nod, aware of the situation perfectly and turned to his driver, Miguel. "Open up the backseat." He ordered, as Miguel immediately did as asked.

Austin crouched to the floor, gently lifting Auria in his arms as he reached for the backseat.

"Would you stop blocking the road!!"

Some of the drivers behind grew even more impatient as the female warden went towards them, shushing them up.

"Over there is her scooter. You have one so you know how to drive it, I believe." Austin turned to Miguel who nodded. "Follow the car to the hospital while I drive, okay?" He added, bending down as he picked up Auria's belongings, leaving only her scooter with Miguel.

Austin got into the driver's seat and started the car as he began to drive off onto the roads, while the gathering slowly dispersed. However, just before the other vehicles could drive off as well, the traffic lights went back to being red again.

"Oh come on!" The impatient drivers all groaned, exasperated than ever.

Even Miguel had been pretty caught up in the traffic, as he waited, feeling quite frustrated.

But no one's frustration matched Austin's.

Being in the same space as this crazy lady again felt like torment. He didn't want to be the one taking her to the hospital, even though he was pretty concerned about her safety. But what choice did he have? He could already foresee an endless and stupid argument this lady would start the moment she wakes up, accusing him for something which clearly was an accident, just like the previous time.

While he was busy in his thoughts, he hadn't noticed Auria who was starting to regain consciousness.

Her hands held her head, feeling it throbbed, and her gaze was a fuzzy hue.

She slowly sat up, her vision clearing as she found herself in the backseat of a car. Her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing as she wondered how she got there.

Her eyes darted to the rearview mirror as she eventually spotted the driver's face, and her eyes widened in shock. "You!!" She yelled, a surge of emotions running through her body, anger being the most.

Austin turned around at the sound of her voice, and their eyes locked. "You finally are awake." He muttered softly, then returned his focus back on the road, his hands on the steering wheel firm.

"Of course, I'll be awake. Even in an unconscious state, my body doesn't feel right being around you!!" She spat angrily, as the corner of his lips pulled upwards. She noticed his smirk from the mirror. "Why are you smiling?" She frowned, when a thought crossed her mind. "Wait, are you abducting me?! Whoah! No way! Stop the car, you moron!!" She continued her tantrum, her voice loud and quite authoritative.

Austin frowned, but his eyes filled with complete disbelief at her dramatic scenarios and outbursts. "Fuck, no!" He yelled back as well, turning around to take a look at her. "Then why am I in your car?!" She demanded, and her questions were answered as the memories of the traffic flooded her mind. She recalled just about taking a turn, her scooter had almost collided with a car, and then she found herself going unconscious, watching a man approaching her. Austin's face, before she'd closed her eyes.

Austin's eyes fixed on her reflection in the rearview mirror where he observed her, a little spark of concern flashing in his eyes. "Hey, crazy lady!! Are you alright?" He called out, his voice steady however, just like the calm composure he kept despite the situation.

"I said it, you're a moron!!" Auria found herself consumed by a sudden burst of emotions as she suddenly spank Austin by the shoulder. "What?! Stop it, you crazy young girl!" He snapped, his face twisted with a mix of confusion and irritation.

"No, I won't stop it!" She retorted, still stubbornly smacking him on the shoulder at the last words of every of her sentences. "Why are you in my space again? Just like I thought, you're chaos! You're the reason for my situation, I'm sure you'll call it an unintentional accident too!"

She went on, her loud voice echoing through the car, and Austin, feeling exasperated by her words and continuous spanking.

But then, he was also quite distracted, and had lost focus for a moment, sending the car heading for a tree close by!

"Ahhh!" Auria let out a scream, her heart racing as she quickly placed a hand in front of her face in preparation for the incoming trouble.

Austin's hands on the steering wheel was as firm as ever, his gaze focused on the road with eyes filled with deliberate calculation. His left hand swiftly spun the wheel, diverting the car's direction away from the tree as it swerved back on the road. And in the sharp turn, Auria, as she had no seatbelt on, was pushed to the door, as she made a light bump with her head, letting out a yelp. "Ouch!"

Meanwhile,

at the Mendoza's mansion.

It was starting to feel a while since Auria left, and Mrs Mendoza suddenly felt a bit tense as she tried calling Auria's number, which did not go through.

"Are you able to contact her already?" Her husband, who was sitting beside her on the couch in the living, inquired, also moved by a little worry. The woman shook her head. "Not at all."

"It's okay, mom. Auria will be fine." Pete said, sitting on the armrest beside his mom as he held her shoulder reassuringly.

"And she'll make it to the bakery on time too." Penny added, seated beside her father as she smiled at him. She suddenly closed her eyes, joining her hands together as she seemed to let out a small prayer. "Oh God, please help Auria get to the bakery safely so she could get our cakes for us!!"

Her words called for laughter from her parents and brother, as they all looked at her, shaking their heads.

****

Now steady on the road, Austin quickly parked the car at the side, as he quickly turned around to check on Auria. "Are you okay?" He asked, worry laced in his tone. She gave no response as he got out of the driver's seat, opening the backdoor to find her still leaning against the other side door, her hand rubbing the side of her face.

She suddenly glared at him, and insulted. "You're crazy!"

"Come on, it's your fault, when you didn't stop hitting me!!" He argued, glaring back at eyes with eyes of disbelief, surprised she still has the strength to argue after what just happened.

"My head hurts!" Auria winced with a low groan, as he shook his head, thinking it was one of her dramas. He soon expected her to accuse and ridicule him of being a bad driver, but the words never came. He was about to return back into the driver's seat when he suddenly heard a quiet cry, as he turned to her, and to his dismay, she really was crying.