Welcome to Gaia! ::

*Luke's eyes go wide - first when he sees Cora jut into traffic, then when a car comes out of ******** nowhere and knocks her a** onto the ground.*

CORA! *Luke bolts into a run and is by her side in an instant. He was already thinking to call 9-1-1, get the driver out by the collar, and get the cops involved... But .... then Cora stood up. She brushed herself off, and looked more embarrassed than in any physical pain.*

Are you hurt? Cora, are you okay? *Luke grabs her gently and looks her over. To his relief, she appears to be fine, but....* Are you okay? What...? How...?

*He hadn't even taken in the condition of the car behind them.*

*Luke turns away for a brief second to see .... the damage to the car's grill, fender, and part of the hood....*

Holy s**t.

*He turns back to Cora just as quickly. Still giving her a once-over.* Cora, are you sure you're okay? Because you just got hit by a car.

*Maybe she was in shock. The body could do that, right?*

*Luke looks around ... His lip pulls back and he clears his throat.*

*A guy around Luke's own age got out of the Honda Civic. He had on jeans and a button down. He wore glasses, and looked horrified.*

"Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God, I am so sorry." *asks Cora* "Are you okay?"

*asks Luke* "Is she okay? Oh my God..."

*Luke takes a moment to decide how he wants to play this.* *whispers to Cora* "Let me handle this."

*Luke walks up to the guy.* "She seems to be okay," he starts out heatedly. "She's walking fine. She's got her arms and legs, but we really won't know right away. You hit her with your car, man."

*The guy stutters.* "I know, I know."

*Luke says louder, and angrier.* "No, man, I don't think you get it. You hit a girl with your CAR."

*The guy's face crumpled.* "Oh my God."

*Luke nodded.* "Yeah."

"Man..." *His face was getting red.* "What do I do? What am I gonna do?"

"Wait, wait a minute. What's your name, man?"

*He stutters.* "Lionel."

*Luke wonders if he can pull this off. Well, here's trying...* "Well, Lionel, to start off you call the cops."

*He nods, catching his breah.* "Okay."

"You call the cops, and you explain that you hit someone with your car. EMT'll get here. Cops'll stop traffic on the road. They'll take your information. They'll hit you with traffic tickets, traffic fines. You''ll be charged with reckless and/or careless driving. You''ll get points on your license. You'll have to call your parents and tell them that you''re going to court, maybe to jail..."

*Lionel wasn't looking so hot.* "Aw, man.... Aw, man...."

"Pedestrian's right of way. You're screwed, Lionel."

*Lionel looked at Cora, deer in the headlights, then back at Luke.*

*Luke waited a moment and then put up a finger.* "Or." *He looks right at Lionel.* "Or...."

*Lionel waited for Luke to continue.*

"Or we could walk away. You got a little, you know, fender bender." *Luke tried not to look at the massive damage to the car.* "No big deal. It's fixable. She gets to deal with any injury on her own. You don't go to jail.... You don't get points on your license, and we try to put this mess behind us."

*Lionel now focused on the dent in the front of his Honda. Honda Civics were not big cars....and the dent in his hood was big enough to ruin the sell-back value of a Hummer.*

*Luke put out his hand.* "What do you say?"

*Lionel brought his hands up to his head.* "My car. s**t. s**t... what am I gonna tell my parents?"

*He was freaking out. Luke wasn't enjoying this. He had to regain control of the situation.*

"Hey. Hey, man." *Luke gets his attention.* "You just hit my friend here. You hit her. You don't hit someone in a crosswalk with you car and then b***h about the damage. You're lucky you don't have ********> manslaughter on your hands."

*Lionel quickly rose to defend himself - albeit pathetically.* "B-but it was an accident. I mean, I didn't mean for this to happen."

*Luke feigned understanding.* "I know. I know, Lionel. That's why I'm gonna give you a break. Here." *Luke took out his wallet.* "Let's exchange information, and if anything comes up... we'll contact each other."

*Lionel seems to be coming around to that idea.* "You think so? Y-you don't think we should call someone? I mean, what if she's hurt?"

"We, uh..." *Luke tried to remember what had been said on Law and Order.* "We have our own doctors. We'll get back to you."

*Lionel frowned.* "But.... What?! shouldn't I take her information?"

*Luke dredged up more court jargon.* "Well, you see I'm her Guardian Ad Lietem. Uh, she's from Canada, so I think it's just better if I give you mine."

*It was clear that Lionel didn't understand, but he certainly didn't want to spend any time in court. OR in jail.* "What? Oh ... Okay... Okay."

*Luke nodded.* "Okay."

*Behind them, cars piled up. Someone laid on the horn and made Luke jump.*

"Hey JERK-OFF!" *Luke shouted.* "Cram it up your a**, huh?!"

*Luke cleared his throat.* "a*****e." *Lionel handed him his license, and Luke took down the numbers. He reached into his wallet and gave Lionel an ID that read "Brad Palermo." Lionel quickly took down the information, and handed it back to Luke.*

*Luke went to get out of there.* "Thanks, we'll be in touch."

"But, but..." *Lionel still was reeling from everything that had happened.* "Brad, what do I do about the car?"

*Luke pointed to the people behind him and then to the block around the corner.* "If I were you, I'd get it out of the road, man." *Luke motioned for Cora to follow him.* "Those drivers don't look like friends, you know what I'm saying?"

*Luke hurried out of the crosswalk and back onto the sidewalk, before Lionel could ask for his phone number or worse, Cora's nonexistent information. He looked down at his feet as he walked quickly away from the scene. To say the least, he looked shaken.*

*Luke motioned for her not to talk, but to follow him around the corner. He wanted a brick wall in between them and the accident.*