Wanderlust.

Leap

I felt my cheeks redden and then apparently forgot how to put words together to form even a slightly coherent sentence. My mouth betrayed me and let out a strange and embarrassing giggle. Thankfully, I don't think it was audible enough for Noah to hear. Once again, we had fallen into a silence. This time it didn't feel awkward at all though. It was comfortable, as if we had met each other before today. He bit down on his lip and broke the silence.

"So Clara... is there an actual explanation for why you're at a gas station this late or were you just in dire need of a Big-Gulp?"

He was funny, but in a mature way which was refreshing. At my school, making anything a dirty joke was downright hysterical to everyone except me.

"Would you believe me if I told you this was my attempt at a wild and exciting adventure?"

At first he looked confused, and raised one of his eyebrows.

"You basically loitering in a vacant parking lot was meant to be invigorating?" He continued, "This injustice must be corrected. Let's go."

I kept my feet firmly planted where I was. There was no chance I was getting into that car with him. Yes, he was attractive and funny but that didn't mean he wasn't dangerous.  

"Excuse me, are you insane? All I know about you is that your name is Noah C. Gordon, but I don't even know what the C stands for, and you expect me to casually hop in a car with you while you take me to God knows where?"

He moved slightly closer to me and flatly said,

"I'm not seeing the problem here..."

For some reason Noah's nonchalant attitude that I was just moments ago envious of, enraged me. 

"The problem is that I value my life and I am not prepared to die before my life has even begun!"

He smirked,

"You know those corny 'your life starts now speeches' they give at high school graduation?"

I nodded skeptically.

"Well I'm gonna give you one right now. What exactly are you waiting for? There is I no start button that you press and then magically the life you want for yourself appears before your eyes. You want adventure? Find your courage and have an adventure, don't just imagine one."

His little monologue struck me. What was I waiting for? I made up my mind that Noah wasn't an ax murderer instead just an eccentric teenage boy, and with that I threw all caution to the wind. I said goodbye to my common sense, mainly out of pride  and said, 

"You're right." 

Noah's face looked genuinely shocked, as if he was expecting more resistance from me. 

"Alright, I'll get into this car with you to go on this little adventure. You better not turn out to be a psycho though," I said only half joking. 

He gave a small laugh before saying,

"I knew you were different."

He used that word again. Different. I blushed and turned around quickly so he couldn't see.  I walked over to his black SUV and opened the door. I looked back over my shoulder and said to Noah, 

"Are you coming?"

I only prayed that I had chosen the right moment to take this enormous leap of faith.