Chloe settled into the driver's seat, adjusting the mirror and taking a deep breath. Ethan leaned back, trusting a little too much that everything would go smoothly… a mistake he'd discover very quickly.
"Ready…" Chloe said, with a shy smile. "Let's go."
Ethan watched her nervously as she started the car, which purred softly.
[Ohhh… oh my god, champ, brace yourself for automotive apocalypse. If we survive, you owe me a statue.]
"Hey!" Ethan exclaimed. "What was that?!"
[You're about to die, little one. Chloe looks determined to turn this into a rollercoaster of chaos.]
Chloe started moving down the main street, accelerating a bit more than necessary. Ethan gripped the seat, eyes wide as saucers.
"Chloe… slow… please…" he begged.
"I'm going slow!" Chloe protested, even though her foot pressed the accelerator more than she realized.
[HAHAHA, slow she says… while we're about to become a flying car.]
The first traffic light caught them off guard. Chloe braked too late, and the car screeched, stopping just before hitting a huge SUV. Ethan screamed, hugging the dashboard.
"You almost killed me!" he shouted. "Are you insane?"
"No! It was just a scare!" Chloe said, laughing nervously.
[Listen up, this is a real-time horror tutorial. Breathe, champs… or don't, your lives are optional right now.]
They continued forward, and Chloe tried to turn at the next corner. She turned too fast, and the car skidded slightly. Ethan yelled again, banging his hand on the roof.
"This is madness!" he shouted. "Your reflexes are… nonexistent!"
"I'm practicing!" Chloe replied, laughing. "Besides, who needs real brakes anyway?"
[Amazing! This is better than any video game. Suspense, fear, possible injuries… and your butt is still intact. For now.]
Chloe and Ethan went through a couple more intersections with dangerous maneuvers, dodging pedestrians and cars with screams, laughter, and the system mocking them nonstop. Ethan was pale, shirt sticking to his sweat.
Finally, after a maneuver worthy of a professional stunt —though very clumsy— Chloe parked in front of the store. Ethan let out a deep sigh, almost trembling.
"Finally!" he said. "I'm alive!"
"See… it wasn't that bad," Chloe said, getting out of the car with a proud smile.
[Survived… for now. But remember, champs: not every day does fate give you a second chance after such driving.]
Ethan rolled his eyes and stepped out, shaking himself off a bit. Chloe looked at him, amused, and winked.
"I promised not to kill anyone today," she said.
"Yes, thanks… you almost killed your favorite hero," he replied, still breathing heavily. "But I admit, it was… fun, sort of."
Chloe laughed as they both entered the store, Ethan still trying to calm his nerves.
Chloe walked down the tech aisles, looking at the headphones she wanted. Ethan followed, still shaking off the fright of the ride.
"So… just headphones?" Ethan asked, pointing at the shelves. "I could get you a phone too if you want."
Chloe looked at him with a mischievous smile.
"No, thanks. Just the headphones. That's it."
[Haha, champ… never underestimate the power of female independence.]
Ethan nodded, amused, as they approached the counter. The clerk recognized them immediately.
"Chloe!" he exclaimed, smiling warmly and professionally. "Great to see you again!"
"Hi," Chloe said, blushing slightly. "Just the headphones, please."
The clerk carefully took several models from the shelf and began explaining the features. Chloe chose a pair carefully. Ethan watched, entertained by how focused she was.
Jax, from inside his head, commented:
[Well done, champ. Pay like a hero.]
Ethan pulled out his card and paid for the headphones: $1,000 in total. Seeing how kind the clerk was, he added a generous tip on the screen.
"And here's a little extra," Ethan said, leaving around $200 as a tip.
"Oh, thank you so much!" the clerk exclaimed, surprised and grateful. "It's not necessary, but I really appreciate it!"
Chloe smiled, satisfied with the purchase.
"Perfect… that's everything I needed," she said. "Thanks, Ethan."
"No problem, Brooke," he replied, winking at her. "Just make sure you enjoy it."
[Shopping hero unlocked, champ. Congrats, your reputation rises, and your wallet goes down… but in style.]
They left the store, Chloe happily carrying her new headphones, a great gift for her parents who had cared for her so much growing up.
"Do you want me to drive now?" Ethan asked, with a playful wink. "My heart couldn't survive another scare if you're at the wheel again."
Chloe laughed but admitted, blushing:
"Well… actually, I've never driven before. It's my first time in a car. Sorry for almost wrecking your car more than ten times."
[Haha, champ… that explains the chaos earlier. Lucky we survived, although I counted 99 near-deaths.]
Ethan leaned toward her, feigning concern as he hugged her.
Chloe nodded, still laughing nervously.
"Alright… but I promise I want to try later, even if just for a few minutes."
Ethan handed her the keys, still teasing internally:
[Ohhh, champ… don't make me jump for excitement while she learns not to crash.]
Once Chloe settled into the driver's seat, Ethan asked more calmly:
"Do you want to buy anything else while we're here?"
"No, thanks," Chloe said. "I've got everything ready."
"Perfect," Ethan said, smiling. "So… what time does your bus leave?"
Chloe looked at her watch and frowned slightly.
"Almost three hours left. We still have time to go home and get ready before I leave."
[Ethan, champ… three more hours with your beloved, don't disappoint, but this time I won't hand you money easily.]
They both laughed as Ethan arranged the bags in the back seat and Chloe carefully started the car, still blushing from the situation.
The drive to her apartment was calmer than the trip to the store, with Chloe focused and Ethan making light jokes now and then, making sure she didn't get too nervous.
Finally, they arrived at her building. Ethan got out the bags while Chloe parked.
"Alright, we're here," Ethan said, smiling as she closed the car. "Now we can relax a bit before you have to leave."
Chloe sighed in relief, still with a shy smile and rosy cheeks.
"Thanks for everything, Ethan. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Always for you," he replied playfully, lightly hugging her shoulder as they entered the building together.