ROCK MY WORLD

4. The Golden Gate Bridge

We've been driving for a few minutes now and all we can talk about is music.
He tells me about the band he is in and how his old bassist Cliff passed away a few years ago. He doesn't go in to much detail because he still seems crippled by his passing. He explains how his band have struggled with keeping bassists over the years and how much conflict they have went through with eachother, which tells me that he's been in this band for a while. I encourage him to keep playing music because his band might just end up being successful, to which he responds with a slight smirk.

I really like talking to him and I love his company. I already feel like I'm bonding with this stranger I just met an hour ago at some secluded diner. We seem to have a lot in common. Every now and then I feel his eyes gaze over at me and I blush.
"Just go straight ahead and under that tunnel", Kirk says.
"This really is a cool little van by the way" he continues, as he takes a look around at the back passenger seats and notices my collection of CDs and my guitar.
"Thanks" I reply.
"Do you play?" He asks.
"A little bit. I taught myself so I'm not that good", I reply.
"I'm sure you can strum a few chords" he says, "I could teach you some of my band's songs. I am the lead guitarist afterall" he says with a grin, as though I'm suppose to know how good he can play.
"Sure, I could use a few lessons", I reply.
He reaches out his arm to the back seat and grabs the stack of CDs looking through them all.
"Rumors, Are You Experienced, Led Zeppelin three and four, The Eagles, Cream, Deep Purple. I'm impressed", he says looking up at me.
"Are You Experienced has all of Hendrix's classics", he continues "okay if I put it on?"
"Yeah go ahead", I say.
He places the CD into the slot and Foxey Lady starts playing. Kirk begins to air guitar the opening riff to the song, making me laugh to the point that I'm in tears.

We listen to the album the whole way through as we drive towards the tunnel. It sounds even better when you're listening to it with someone who appreciates the music just as much as you do.
"How long have you had this camper van for?" He asks, just to make a conversation after the music ends.
"It's my granddad's actually".
"What does he think of you driving it all the way to San Francisco by yourself?" He asks.
"Sorry I meant it was my granddad's, he passed away when I was 16".
"Oh I'm so sorry", he says with sympathy in his eyes.
"If he was still here, I'm sure he would have loved for me to get it back out on the road. He stopped driving as he got older and I never drove it about too much either, so this road trip was a good excuse for me to drive it around. I'm sure my granddad would have joined me on this road trip if he was still here".
"What was your granddad like?" Kirk asks.
"He loved music and singing like me", I answer.
"You sing?"
"Only when I'm alone, I'm not very good".
"You said that about your guitar playing too. I get the feeling that you doubt your abilities a lot" he says.
"I bet you're incredible and you don't even know it. I'd love to hear you", he continues.
I let out an awkward laugh. Just the thought of me singing in front of someone makes me want to run a mile away.
"I don't know", I reply.
"I will get you playing and singing for me eventually" he says as I let out a laugh, somehow believing him.

We drive in to the dark tunnel and out the other side revealing The Golden Gate Bridge in all its glory.
"There it is", Kirk says.
"It's actually a lot bigger than I expected", I reply.
I can sense a devilish grin creeping across his face as I said that and my cheeks burn up.
"You can park over there", he says after we come off the bridge.

I switch the engine off. It's a nice little area overlooking the water with the bridge in view to our right. The sun is starting to set now, creating an orange hue in the distance that lies over the city like a soft blanket.
"So what do you think of San Fran so far?" Kirk asks, as he makes himself more comfortable in his seat.
"It's a cute little city. I was expecting to see more hippies and camper vans though".
Kirk laughs and stares at me for a moment.
"I really like you Blake, you're pretty cool", he finally says.
"So you don't think I'm weird?"
"Not at all, why do you keep asking that?" He says.
"I don't know, I'm just not used to people getting along with me".
"Why?" He asks, as he lowers his voice sounding quite concerned.
"I was bullied in high school. Everyone knew me as the weird hippie girl".
"You're not at all weird to me, besides there's nothing wrong with being a little bit weird" he says, with that cute laugh of his.
I smile at him and he stares into my eyes. I get shy and want to look away from that intimidating stare of his, but his beautiful eyes hold on to my gaze a little bit longer.
"Thanks for showing me around", I say.
"No problem", he says and we sit in silence for a minute.
"You know you can come bunk with me in my house if you want to? I have a spare room", he suggests.
"Only if you promise you won't kidnap me and hold me hostage", I say jokingly.
We have spent an entire day together bonding. We have had deep talks and opened up to each other about everything which is a good sign to me that he is safe.
"I was hoping you weren't going to sleep out here by yourself. It's not a good idea for a girl to travel alone and not have somewhere safe to sleep", he replies.
"Okay, it would be nice to finally get out of this camper van".
"Cool, I'll drive us to my place later. Want to sit and listen to music some more?"
"Sure" I say.

I know I have only known him for a day, but I can't help but think how I never want to go home now that I met him.