Anemoia // Sally Face

18: California dreaming

June 1st

Summer is a great time to hang out with friends, go places with family, or just chill at home. After all that ghost stuff last week, I was glad to just sit at on my couch and watch TV. But I did miss my friends, so when Larry called me this morning saying we should go to the diner, I agreed.

I threw on a white cropped shirt and baggy light denim jeans. My parents went out with some friends and left me money to get food. I waited outside on the porch waiting for Larry to show up. Within five minutes, he was here with Sal in the front seat.

"So just us again gang?" I asked, jumping into the back seat.

"Yup, Todd is having his own little date with Neil, and Ash is as busy as ever," Larry responds.

"What, don't like us anymore?" Sal chuckles.

"Whaaaaat no," I respond with the same amount of sarcasm. "Now let's go! I'm starving!"

"Yes sir," Larry pulls out of the neighborhood and down the road toward the diner. He blasts some music and I have to remind him not to headbang while driving (he is not the most aware driver; I don't know how he's survived this long).

I happily look out the window at the passing scenery. Barns and horses out in a field. Small neighborhoods where children are riding bikes down the sidewalk. The sky is a beautiful bright blue with white puffy clouds making odd shapes. Today would be considered a perfect day to me as a kid, one where you go outside and play with chalk, then go inside to see your mom and have her make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for you.

We arrived at the diner and got out. There were only two other cars in the parking lot, so we practically had the place to ourselves.

"What's up Ms. Christi!" Larry announces his presence to the poor women who is cleaning up a table.

"Larry boy! How are you, it's been so long!" She leaves the plates at the empty table and gives Larry a big hug. "Also, you two, it's great to have some business! Go sit down and I'll be right over to take your orders."

Larry picks out a booth in the back for us to sit at. Ms. Christi hands us menus and asks what drink we want.

"I'll get a strawberry milkshake," I smile.

"Cola soda, please," Sal says glancing back to the menu.

"And a Chocolate shake!" Larry grins.

I don't feel like eating a burger today, so I scan the menu for something new to try. There are plenty of things to pick from on the menu, but the one thing that catches my eye are the Belgium waffles with fruit and whipped cream of top.

When Ms. Christi comes back to take out orders, I get the waffles. Sal gets the chicken tenders, which earns him some teasing from Larry. And Larry gets his regular burger.

"What should we do this summer? It's our last summer till college! At least for me," I say.

"We should go on a road trip somewhere, and not just a small daytrip. Stay somewhere for a week then come back," Larry responds.

"But where..." Sal ponders.

"Maybe the next town over?"

"A beach would be nice,"

"What about California?" I suggest.

"Cali! That's perfect!" Larry shouts. "I did say we should go one day, and you could show us around, and this is the perfect time!"

"But if you want it to be a road trip, that's like a whole day!"

"All the more fun. We could sleep in the car, it'll be great,"

I'm not totally against the idea of sleeping in a car, but during the summer we'll be toasting. "We could always just go to a motel."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Larry shrugs.

Our food is done, and Ms. Christi comes and puts the plates on the table. I happily eat the waffles with cut strawberries on top. Sal shares some of his fries with me, and I give him a part of a waffle. Larry gorges himself with his loaded burger.

"We should tell Ash and Todd about the road trip. All of us together for a big summer trip," Sal says between bites of fries.

"Do we even have enough room in the truck for all of us?" I ask Larry.

"Yeah, but it'll be squished,"

"I claim shotgun then, I don't want to be in the back," I say.

"Hey, I want to be in the front at least once too!" Sal chimes in.

We eat the rest of our food and sit in the booth talking about what we should do in California. I share some of my favorite places with them and we decide to go to the board walk, and definitely visit the beach. Also explore local shops. Larry is particularly excited about the board walk, since there's local performers there, and he wants to hear new music.

"So, when should we go?" I ask.

"How about the 20th? It gives us enough time to prepare our stuff and get permission from our parents," Sal suggests.

"Sounds good,"

...

I was scared telling my mom the plan to go to California, but she was strangely excited. Even though I told her of the friends that were going, she said it was going to be an adventure for me, and she was thrilled I'd be able to go back to Cali and revisit all my old favorite places.

I started packing as soon as I got approval from mom. I also called the others to see if the road trip was approved, and everything was going well, everyone could go. We would be gone for a week, so I picked out enough outfits for what we planned to do, and packed essentials like blankets and toiletries.

This trip will be so much fun.

***

A/N

So, this story really has blown up in the past two weeks, and I couldn't be more thankful for over 200 reads already, and with so much more i will be adding to the story. Thank you everyone <3