Cherry

Chapter 6

Cherry

For about an hour, Ethan and I laid in the grass together just talking about random shit. That's what happens when you're high. You think about the most random things and then it escapes your mind without you even realizing it.

"What's your favorite T.V. show?" Ethan asked me.

"That was out of nowhere," I laughed.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I said that out loud," he giggled, almost as if it were in slow motion.

I chuckle and answer, "I don't watch a lot of T.V. It rots your brain."

"But you smoke weed?"

"Weed's good for the soul."

After baking in the summer sun, knowing we'll have sunburns when we wake up in the morning, Ethan and I couldn't handle our hunger much longer. It's already almost six o'clock, unbelievably so. I can't believe he and I talked to each other for almost four hours. When we're together, our conversations flow so easily. Hopefully, it's not just the weed helping us. 

Once Ethan and I make it back to his car, I climb into the driver's seat. I didn't trust him to drive while being high, considering it was his first time. I've driven while high countless times, even though I know I shouldn't do it. But, my high has kind of gone down, so I know I'll be good enough to drive us to the diner. Ethan, on the other hand, is still extremely bubbly and giggly, which puts a huge smile on my face. I've never smoked with anyone before, but I like this. Getting to experience such an enjoyable time with someone and seeing how happy they become is priceless. 

"Buckle up," I tell Ethan once he steps inside the car.

"I know, I know," he bursts out laughing once he reaches for his seatbelt.

"What is so funny?" I giggle and look over at him.

"I have no idea, Cherry. Just drive," he smiles at me. "I'm starving."

I start the car and shift the gears to put it in drive. Once we start rolling, I notice that the inside of the car is too quiet. The only thing that can be heard is Ethan's attempt of trying not to laugh aloud; lots of snickering and smiling that he's trying so hard not to turn into a giggle. 

Whenever I drive, I always listen to music, so I connect my phone to the car's Bluetooth and shuffle through my downloaded songs. "Golden" by Harry Styles begins to echo throughout the car. The beginning beat makes me smile, as this is one of my favorite songs of all time. I don't know if Ethan likes the song or not, but who couldn't like it?

The weather today felt amazing, so I roll the car's windows down, allowing the wind to blow my hair around crazily. I also open the car's sunroof, granting more wind to blow through into the car. Feeling the song flow through me and the wind hit my skin, I stick my hand out through the sunroof and feel more of the cool wind touch my body. I look over at Ethan to see how he's holding up, but I notice that his gaze is already on mine. He was already looking at me.

Trying to push the feeling that formed in my stomach from his eyes on mine, I yell over the music and wind, "Wanna do something crazy?"

"What?" he shouts back.

"Stand up in the sunroof!" I shout, looking back and forth at both Ethan in the passenger seat and the road in front of us. 

He beams brightly at me and hesitates at first by staying in the same position. He even looks up at the sunroof, like he's trying to plan how he's going to accomplish this. But, before I know it, Ethan unbuckles and stands up in his seat, letting his upper body be exposed to nature. As Harry continues to sing on the radio, I drive as Ethan peeps himself out of the sunroof. It's in moments like these I wish it was possible to freeze time. With both of us laughing loudly, and the car speeding down the road, I wish I could be in this spot forever. All of my anxieties have drifted to the back of my mind, making me feel carefree. No nightmares, no reminders of my past. Just pure adrenaline and giddiness. I wish I could always feel like this.