Ben waved the chocolate licorice under Ashley's nose, trying to concentrate on the road at the same time. I munched contentedly on my own piece, listening to them.
"It's chocolate, Ash," Ben enticed her. "Come on."
"No... seriously. Gross." She pushed his hand away.
"Not even half a piece?"
"No." She laughed. "Twizzlers just seem weird and greasy to me."
"You like Red Vines, hunh?" I broke in. Severe disapproval dripped from my words. Red Vines are the bane of my existence.
"Yup."
"I guess anything's better than black licorice. I hate that stuff."
The brakes gave a short, sharp squeal as Ben peeled off to the side of the road. Startled, Ashley and I began to laugh.
"You did not just say what I think you just said," Ben said in disbelief. I completely cracked up then.
"Yes, I did. I hate black licorice."
"Take it back."
"Not a chance."
"Then get out and walk." His eyes were laughing, but his poker face was absolutely perfect.
"I refuse." I smirked a bit, cheerily content with the situation. Ashley looked back and forth between the two of us, trying to decide whether to laugh or not. She decided on the former, and her black eyes twinkled as she snickered.
"Fine." Ben assumed a haughty expression. "Either you apologize and we go home, or you get out and walk. End of story."
"I can sit here as long as you can," I said smugly, trying desperately not to giggle.
A minute or two ticked by. Finally, I sighed.
"All right, Ben. I'm sorry..."
He started up the rusty old Suburban.
"... that I hate black licorice."
The engine was silenced amid the delighted snickering of two girls. Another five or six minutes ticked by, a patient staring contest, in which I laughed several times, but Ben never cracked a smile. Finally, Ashley threw her hands in the air, laughingly exasperated.
"No more of this!" She promptly shoved Ben against the driver's side door and started the car. Her short legs strained to reach the pedals, her little hands locked around the large steering wheel. Before she got very far, Ben nudged her foot away from the brake, punched it, and shut the car down once more. This time I was in hopeless laughter, knowing that it would have to be Ashley that got us home. Between my pride and Ben's, this was going to be a long night.
Ashley clambered onto Ben's lap and started the car again, instructing him to work the pedals. He refused, and she promptly shut him up, stating that it didn't count as driving, just as pedaling. Ben had no argument.
I made it home before my house curfew, thanks to the strange two-headed monster driving Ben's Suburban. Just a tribute to the fact that I've forgotten how much Ashley makes me laugh.