The girl in the car

For Memorial Day weekend, I went to Merced to visit some family friends. During the time I was there, nothing special happened. I guess the fact that I drove there can be considered "special". It was fun driving in an open road, even if it's for 2 whole hours.

When I got there, all the kids wet to go watch a movie, it happened to be Angels & Demons. If you haven't watched it yet, don't. Save yourself a few bucks. The movie was terrible!

Anyway, on our way back, my mom wanted to drive. So I sat shotgun. I fell asleep for most of the ride home, until the traffic started to build up. When I woke up, the traffic was heavy. At one point, the cars stopped.

And for this brief moment, I noticed something about the car next to us. There was this girl just staring at me. Maybe she was just looking into space and zoning out. Maybe she was trying to initiate a staring contest..

If it was the latter, she won. As soon as we locked eyes [not romantically], I try to put up a smile, and hold the eye contact. It didn't happen. I was able to put up a half smile, the kind where you close your lips and just tighten your cheeks. I held the glance for no more than two seconds, and I was broken. I looked back to my sister to ask for my laptop. [I didn't really want the laptop]

She said no, and I sat back straight.

The cars were still stagnant, not moving.
The car next to me was still there.
She was still looking.

I felt this weird feeling, as if I was paralyzed. I COULD NOT shift my head to meet her eyes.
What happened? I don't know.

For what seemed to be an eternity, the cars finally started moving.
I felt relieved.

Now, how did this happen. How did a person, that I have never met or will ever see again, make me feel like that.

Tim's answer: I care WAAY too much about other people's opinion.

P.S. Has anyone else have a similar experience?