Finding Truth

Chapter 4

Loading up the car with all my bags, snacks and drinks I look up to see my mom and dad standing on the porch. My mom has a few tears running down her face while my dad stands beside her rubbing her back and kissing her head. Closing the trunk I walk over to where my parents stand.

"No need for the tears mom." I say giving her a massive hug. "I'll be back before you know it and we can grab coffee."

"You better be missy." She says through sniffles. "I want to see all the amazing pictures you take and then we can start a scrapbook."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Smiling and wiggling out of her grasp and moving to my dad, give him a hug and laugh saying "You better keep mom sane while I'm gone."

"I don't know if I'm THAT good. That's always been your department. You girls stick together." He chuckles back.

"Alight guys, I really need to get going if Aden and I want to make it to the hotel on time."

"Love you sweetie," my mom says, kissing my forehead again "stay safe and have fun. Not too much fun though."

"I know, I know, mom. Love you too."

"Have a good trip Sammy, love you." My dad chimes in.

"Thanks dad, I will. Love you too." I say giving them both one last hug before heading back to my car to go pick up Aden.

Driving to Aden's I start getting butterflies out of nowhere. It's just Aden I keep telling myself which makes them get even worse. We're just going on a trip as friends. Nothing more. Nothing less. It's going to be fun. We'll make memories neither of us will ever forget. Just the continued thought of spending the next week alone with Aden sends a shiver down my spine. Putting my focus back to driving I continue down the familiar back roads that take me to Aden's. Pulling into the driveway I lay on my horn knowing he'll hear me. I've never really given any thought to Aden always living alone in a house until now. How did he transfer to our high school and move into a house by himself at seventeen? I'll ask him about that on our drive. After all, curiosity killed the cat. A few minutes goes by and he walks out the door holding a single duffle bag. Jeez, men really do pack light. Laughing it off I shake my head and roll down my window yelling at him to hurry up because he's walking like a snail.

Aden throws his bag in the trunk alongside mine and crawls into the passenger seat. Looking over I see him trying to get comfortable. I realize it's going to be a very long drive for him. My parents got me a black 2016 Audi A6 when I got my licenses two years ago and don't get me wrong, It's fast and reliable, but not the most comfy car to drive for a long period of time. Especially if you're six foot four like Aden is.

"Gonna be a long drive for ya, huh?" I snicker.

"It'll be longer if we have to pull over so I can adjust your attitude." Aden says while flashing me a grin only the devil could match. There's something else there though... I catch something in his eyes that doesn't match the smile... I just shake my head knowing I must've been seeing things.

"Woah there cowboy. We haven't even left yet and the first has begun?"

"Well, it's going to be a long trip so I figure why not make the most outta the time we have together."

"That's fair." I say while backing out of the driving way after turning on navigation. "I do have a question though. I've never made the connection for some reason until today but. Now that I have, I'm really curious."

"What's up?"

"How did you move here on your own, get a house, and transfer to our school at seventeen? I know you don't talk to your parents or about them but it just doesn't make sense to me. Oh, and where is Rocky staying?"