Fire Meets Gasoline

Chapter Eight : Paper Planes

Chapter Eight : Paper Planes

JOHN'S DIARY: I took a nap the minute we were out of our town, I never realized but sound of the road and the tires, the sound of the wind blasting in our windows, the sun hitting the trucks rooftop and the radio playing old songs, all of that made me forget what was I doing, more specifically what I was about to do. I looked to my left and saw Mike and his golden skin. He was calm listening to some weird, alternative band, he was only looking at the long road, although it seemed like it was going to last forever and there were no cars around us. His LGBTQ+ bracelet was still on his arm, I think I've never seen him take it off, he was proud of what he was and I admired that about him. Mike saw that I was awake and he quickly stopped the music and looked at me.

"You've only spent forty minutes sleeping, we have exactly a few hours until we get to my sister's house, so if you want to sleep more go ahead." He told me while putting his glasses on.

"Nah it's fine, so what were you listening to?" I tried to start a conversation.

"Something you're not interested in, I guess!" He joked.

"C'mon just tell me!" I felt that now I was truly awake "I showed my favorite band and you liked it so-!"

"Shadowboxers ?" He gave me a quick look and said, "I only like four songs from them!"

"Yeah like I haven't seen your playlist full of songs from them!"

"Please!" Mike laughed

"You're really not gonna tell me what you were listening to?" I said while focusing on his face.

"Youth by daughter, and don't judge because it's a really good song!" He explained to me happily.

"Is it a band?" I asked.

"I don't know" He giggled, "I only listen to this song anyway!"

"Good, so-"

"It makes me feel good, you know?" He interrupted me "This song actually makes me feel good! Like I need to feel adrenaline and happiness and do something crazy, this song makes me feel this way!"

"Good!" I responded.

"I'm sorry you were gonna say something, what is it?" He focused on me.

"Nothing actually, I'm just glad you're feeling happy!"

"Yeah..." He looked more serious, "I want you to feel this way too!"

"I will...!"

Everything got quiet and Mike and I just stopped, it wasn't awkward, but those seconds were special in some way, like a moment of relief.

"You know what?" He got his energy back "Let's listen to some Shadowboxers!"

He turned the radio back on and put on my favorite song. The energy from Mike moved to me and both of us started singing like crazy, no one else was around in any way. Mike threw his head back and forth without a care in the world, I told him to calm down but it was too late, I was already tapping my feet and my hands were clapping without me realizing, I started singing the lyrics on a normal tone and then Mike screamed the words as the wind blew on his face, I turned the volume up and just let the song run through my veins, it was one of the greatest memories that I have with Mike.

We were on our fourth song when my phone rang. I promised Grandma that I would always pick the phone, so I looked into my phone to see who it was, it wasn't Grandma, it was my mother.

"Who is it?" Mike asked as he turned down the volume.

"My mother." I gave him a quick look into his sunglasses "Should I pick it up?"