there was a red and white blur just as i pushed on the gas and my reflex was to brake again , but before i could even do that the beautiful girl with the man-slaying smile and the bitch glasses and the red roadster that i wouldnt have minded too much sitting in my own driveway darted into the narrow space between me and the car ahead of her and my heart lurched and my ears winced in anticipation of a metal-on-metal screech that didnt come .