Castling: A Novel (NaNoWriMo21)

31. Oh My Gosh, Hi

Saturday

Out the window, the highway barrier blurs by. I'm riding along a cross-town memory lane. My feet grow jittery, anxious to stretch out. I think it would help if I put this into some perspective. If I have to sit in a moving car for more than twenty minutes, then it's too far for me. Twenty minutes from my apartment would be downtown to the north, the river to the west, the confluence to the south.

Kieran's house is east, half-hour, twenty-five minutes with no traffic. The drive there is like a road trip to The Country's capital of Arbourton, which is an exaggeration, but still. Hyperboles are how I like to roll.

Look up how long Arbourton is from me. I did when I was tired once. How about clocking in at eleven hours and forty-five minutes?

Awful.

Sometimes when I watch Kieran walk into the coatroom, I can't help but imagine what this must be like for him and whoever drops him off. How does his mom or dad feel about the long drive? Do they like it? Does Kieran like it? I don't care how bright people say I am, I wouldn't want to sit in a car for an hour both ways.

If I had to take this route ten times every week, then I'd be pounding at the windows, begging someone to rescue me. All that time spent in a car is precious free time tossed out onto the side of the highway, gone with the trees. Drive another half-hour on this same road and trees would be bountiful. I definitely wouldn't be here if Kieran lived out in the middle of what I now call serial killer nowhere.

"Ooh! Good one!"

Dad wants to turn the volume up a couple notches on the radio when he hears a song he likes. I turn it back down.

"Really?"

I'm not in the mood to put up with his nonsense.

"I'll remember that when your songs come on."

I'm a wannabe rockstar in my room only.

"Heh. Just you wait."

I've been thinking about the numbers being in the super-trio's favor. Now, I'm not so sure we're safe. The music deities might want revenge on me for depriving Dad. Three visitors might give Kieran's parents a bigger incentive to drag us out somewhere, the school, the rec center. Max...

We both know the pain. I suppose we can suffer through it together.

I've been over Leo's house before. Each instance never had us going out somewhere against our will. We got to be...well, kids. His parents left us alone. The only real time they bothered us was to tell us food was ready because his family was nice enough to make sure I didn't starve if I stayed long...

Okay, one night, but it still counts.

...The point of my rambling is that friends should be allowed to do what they want. At least, I'm pretty sure. I've heard dozens of stories from morning story times at my old school to back me up.