The Heart of Cars

Chapter 4

Once outside on the chilly night of October 18th, I stop walking once I get to Sam's car and sit on the hood like I normally do while looking at the royals. I start kicking my feet as Sam sits next to me and Colton leans against the car on my other side. The royals look at each other and the king starts talking. "Well as you know the festival is in one week's time. Jolene, you have to make your choice by then."

"What!?!" I stand up, "That's it? That's the only information we get?"

"Watch it Jolene! I don't care if you are my daughter's good friend, I will not be talked to like that!" the king, Brett, says as he turns back around and walks up to me. "I'm sorry I don't mean any disrespect or anything but I think we deserve a better explanation then that."

"No, you don't. I told you what you needed to know. Now make your choice by the start of the festival or I will choose for you." With that he turns around and start to walk away. I open my mouth to speak then close it. I shake my head and walk over to my dad's truck and get into the passenger seat trying not to freak out or cry. My dad looks at the queen and walks to the truck after she silently nods. "Do you want-?"

"No." I say staring out the window as my eyes start tearing up. "Are you sure? I can stop, you don't even have to get out."

"I'm sure dad. Movies and popcorn can't fix this." I say softly and wipe away a few tears that snuck out. He squeezes my shoulder and drives home. I go get changed into sweatpants and a tank top. I pull my hair into a ponytail as I walk down the three sets of stairs to the main floor from my third floor room. "I'll be back." I say as I give my dad a hug and then put my shoes on. I get out my door to find Sam and Colton there. I ignore them and start running down my driveway out to the main road and head south. After three miles of running down the main road, I turn east and head down a hidden road that leads to the town's greatest treasure. A cliff over looking the town's biggest and deepest lake and down the cliff a little ways, the town church. A run down building that used to be pure white with the same cross and steeples as any other church but this is the oldest church in the kingdom and it has a little basement. My favorite place is in that basement, it has a large window that shows the sunrise and the cliff and lake with drums, guitars, basses, microphones, and a piano that hasn't been used by anyone other than me in years. Tonight I just run and stand at the top of the cliff breathing in the fresh air of autumn and hearing the crisp noise of the waves on the sandy beaches and rocks by the cliff edge. Then, I hear an abnormal sound, the sound of footsteps on the wet, dewy grass of the very early morning.

*edited*