meet me at midnight.

32.

My life at college continued as normal and my work experience was going well. I focused on ignoring Chad and he seemed to take the hint and leave me alone. As September ticked by, I knew my birthday was on the 27th. Nana had sent me money to make up for all of that missed time and I decided I wanted to book a weekend at a log cabin.

When I told Desiree, she begged me to make it a group holiday so we could all celebrate together and we found a cabin in Old Forge four hours away. On the 26th, Josh and I went to pick Kenny and Aubrey up. It was half seven in the morning and we sat outside their apartment block, waiting.

"Do you think they're still asleep?" I asked.

"Knowing Kenny, probably." Josh said, lighting a cigarette and grabbing his phone. He unlocked it and hit Kenny's number. The phone rang for what felt like an eternity until Kenny picked up.

"What?" He snapped.

"Yeah, good mornin' to you too," Josh said. "Hurry the fuck up. We have a four hour drive."

"Hang on," Kenny said. "Aubrey's just packing."

"Did she not think to do that last night?" Josh said.

"I did say, but no one ever listens to me." Kenny said, and I giggled when I heard Aubrey protest in the background.

Ten minutes later, the two of them appeared on the steps. Aubrey opened the car door and clambered in. Josh sighed and opened the driver's side door. He got out and I heard him talking to Kenny. I heard the trunk open and peeked behind me. Aubrey was leaning against the window, eyes opening and closing slowly.

"You ok?" I asked her.

"Not a morning person, Daisy." She said, smiling a little.

The trunk shut and we both flinched. Kenny slid into the backseat, elbowing her and she glared at him. I smiled when Josh got back in the driver's side, shutting the door. We stopped at a Starbucks drive-thru and grabbed coffee. This seemed to perk Aubrey up.

"Can we put the radio on?" She asked. "I feel like singing."

"Babe, please don't," Kenny said, sipping his coffee. "You're really beautiful, but you have the singing voice of a bag of cats bein' hit against a wall repeatedly."

"No, I do not," Aubrey replied. "Josh, turn on the radio."

I saw Josh smirk and he looked at her in the rearview mirror. Aubrey glared at him.

"Since you asked so nicely." Josh said.

"Really?" Aubrey said, smiling.

"Yeah, did you want me to put the screen up too?" Josh said.

"What screen?" Aubrey asked, and Kenny sighed.

"Limos have those screens that go up between the driver and passengers, babe." He said.

"Oh," Aubrey said, then cottoned on. "Hey, no bein' sarcastic."

"This is my car so I'll be as charmingly sarcastic as I want, Kenny's girlfriend," Josh said, and Kenny laughed at that. Aubrey smiled too and leaned back in her seat. "If you had an issue with it then you could walk there."

"No, 'cause I'd hitch hike." Aubrey said.

"Wow, you're trustin.'" Kenny said.

"Why trusting?" I asked, sipping my latte.

"From what I remember Ed Kemper liked murderin' hitch hikers," Josh said. "I wouldn't get into any one's car if I didn't know them."

"Wasn't he the one from Mind Hunter?" Kenny asked.