To Infiniti & Beyond

Chapter Five

Gapplebees went out yet again. We all met up at our local strip mall and then cruised 15 minutes on the highway to our local CVS. We all sat in our cars taking through open windows because it was so cold.

It's now 11pm on a Wednesday and everyone but Brynn, Jaxon, Grayson and I have left.

The three of us hop in Grayson's car - Jaxon in the front, Brynn and I in the back. We sit there for a good twenty minutes before Grayson gets bored and takes us for a drive around the block.

Brynn and I are about ready to go home so we hop back into my car and Jaxon goes into his. Jaxon is the first to leave.

For some reason I'm compelled to ask Grayson if he wants to come with me to drop Brynn off at home. Before we leave, the three of us get to talking.

Brynn and I are turned in our seats facing Grayson in the back with our full attention on him. Both Brynn and I are super nosey, so we start to ask about him and his life.

The conversation covers many topics. He talks about his recent ex, his first ex who cheated on him, his best friend, his parents, the shitty relationship he has with his sister and how he wishes it was different.

Talking to him opened my eyes. I kind of feel bad for judging him the first couple nights we met. He's actually a very down to earth person.

The three of us stop at the wawa in route to drop Brynn off. Grayson is ordering a sandwich and he tries to convince us that it's the most amazing thing. In the way he presents it, I almost believe him. He exudes confidence.

Brynn and I aren't serious people though. The way he's talking is making us die laughing. We're being obnoxiously loud in the middle of wawa causing heads to turn. The way Brynn and I are laughing makes Grayson smile.

Headed back to the car, we're all still giggly. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much.

Brynn gets out and Grayson hops in passenger seat. He looks at me in an interesting way, almost as if he is anticipating what I might say or do next. He almost seems intrigued by me as a person.

"What music do you like?" I ask while scrolling through my phone.

"Do you like J. Cole?"

"I'm not sure, here, put him on."

Grayson ques a few songs by this artist and he starts to talk about how he likes his music because it's so real. As I listen, I start to agree.

I find that the ride back to Grayson's car goes quicker than I'd like to admit. When I park, he catches me off guard by saying that he's not ready to go home. It's 1am, but neither am I.

"Come on." He says excitedly.

He jumps in his car and starts it. I slide into the passenger seat.

"Where are we going?" I ask as I put my seatbelt on.

He looks over at me, "Let's go for a drive." He smiles as he throws the car in first gear and takes off.

We're just driving around aimlessly in the next town over. We pass the entrance to a development and he stops the car in the middle of the road, "want to go house hunting?"

We hop from neighborhood to neighborhood looking at all the pretty houses, pointing out what we do and don't like about them.

He comes to a stop and asks me weather we should go left or right. I can't decide.

Time passes and we're still at the same intersection. Only the car is in park now and we're talking about tattoos. He comments on mine and I tell him about the stories behind each one.

A butterfly behind my ear because when I was a kid I used to sit and look at the butterfly bush right outside my window. I've wanted a butterfly tattoo since I was five, I got it when I was 16.

A bouquet of flowers, one for each of my grandparents, above my right elbow.

Two small hearts on my left wrist, drawn by my parents.

Daffodils on my sternum because they're my favorite flower.

I ask if he has any, to which he replies "I wish." When I ask him why he says that his parents are against it. I note that he's 19, an adult, he can do what he wants. He informs me that's not how his family works. His dad believes he's not responsible enough for a tattoo until he's got his own place.

Nonetheless, Grayson opens up his camera roll and shows me the folder titled "tattoos". He walks me through the five he wants, why he wants them and where he wants them.

He then asks me again if we should go left or right. I decide left.

In the next neighborhood we come across a park. He pulls into the lot and asks if I want to get out. I say yes and we race to the swings. It's freezing outside so we don't stay out for long but it was fun while it lasted.

I get a text from Brynn that reads, "why aren't you home young lady."

I smile to myself and reply, "I'll tell you all about it when I am."

Grayson and I continue driving around aimlessly. Then his dad calls.

"It's 3am Grayson, where are you?"

"I'm still out with my friend."

"Okay. Don't be out too much longer."

"Okay."

With that being said, Grayson puts the address to CVS into his GPS and we head back to my car.

My house is on the way to his and there's a short stretch of road with two lanes. He challenges me to a race.

He wins the race - no surprise there.

As I split to turn onto my road he sticks his hand out the window with a peace sign and I give a friendly beep as I smile to myself.