Midnight

Driving

Alex jumps out the window first, "Come on Charlie it's your turn."

I hesitate, "I don't think I can jump that far. It was one thing getting in but getting out.." I trail off.

"Here I'll help you," he reaches out his hand to me. I take it gratefully and jump down. I land so close to him, I can feel his breath on my forehead. We both stand there for a moment in the crisp cool moonlight, my hand still in his. I inhale his scent, a mix of cologne and mint, before pulling away.

"We better get going," I say.

"Yeah," he replies looking very disappointed. But I can't seem to figure out why.

I toss my keys at him, "you drive." He catches them and we both climb into my yellow Jeep Wrangler. It was always my dream car and on my sixteenth birthday Alex drove me to a used car dealership so I could buy it. I turn on the radio and the first song that comes on is Anywhere Place by Katie Costello. It really hits home at a time like this.

Alex pulls out of his driveway leaving our entire lives behind us. Now starts our journey...

..............................................................................

We've been driving for hours now. It's currently 6:47am and though it's chilly out, the windows are down. Alex let me borrow his sweatshirt once he noticed I was shaking like a leaf. It smells faintly of him, I imagine the sweatshirt is him and he is wrapping his arms around me tight. But it's not Alex, it's just an oversized sweatshirt that fills the space between his leg and mine.

Alex and I have been talking about a lot. What made us leave, where we're going to, everything. Everything except my feelings for him, and how he is the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I go to bed and every moment in between. I am totally and completely in love with him but I can't bring myself to tell him.

We are going to Los Angeles. Alex decided that, because he knows it's number one on my list of Places To Go Before I Die. Cliche right? I know, but I still like the idea of having a list of things to do. I've always liked making lists; birthday present ideas, what homework to do and when, things I've noticed about Alex... We're going to the city I have always dreamed about visiting, with the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the giant Hollywood sign acting as the perfect backdrop. And the best part is that I'll be spending it with Alex. Who knows, maybe I'll finally tell him how I feel. I've got nothing to lose at this point.

We're about an hour away from Los Angeles when suddenly Alex pulls into a rest stop. "I'll just be a minute, I have to use the restroom."He says.

"Okay, I'm gonna get something from the vending machine, you want anything?"

"Surprise me," Alex replies with a smile that makes his gorgeous dimples even more prominent.

We both get out of the car and he disappears into the men's bathroom as I wander over to the vending machines that are all lined up in a row against a wall. I get Swedish Fish and Mike-N-Ikes.

"Hey where are you and pretty boy headed?" A voice from behind me asks. I turn around to find the voice belongs to a girl about my age, maybe a few years older. She's absolutely gorgeous by anyone's standards; flowing brunette hair, green sparkling eyes, piercings that dot her ears as well as her nose, and tattoos that are spotted here and there on her body. If I were a lesbian, I would want her.

"Um L.A." I say, confused as why she's asking me.

"Mind if I catch a ride with you?" She can tell I'm skeptical because she adds, "I promise I'm not a serial killer."

"Sure, of course! I'm Charlie by the way."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Bridget." And right after she says that Alex walks out.

"Hey Alex, this is Bridget. It seems that we'll be giving her a ride to L.A." I tell him. I can tell he's just as surprised as I am.

"O-okay," he stutters. And with that we all get in the car and keep driving.