Look for the Light (Joel Miller fanfic)

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

                                                                                    Joel's POV

You'd spent the last two days treading tirelessly on the road. The days were long and the nights were spent pretty much sleepless. You couldn't remember the last time you'd had a full night's rest. You averaged maybe four or five hours a night, if that.

The nights were getting longer as October hit. As you drove down the endless highway, you could see leaves of every shade of fall. There were bright yellow, deep red, and orange leaves. Massive red maple trees lined the highway. It was quite the view. You had always liked this time of year.

Aly sat in the passenger seat, staring mindlessly out the window. You could see Lake Erie a few miles to the right of you. Maybe she was admiring the view. Or maybe she was wishing she wasn't in the truck with you.

You gave her the cold shoulder the past two days. She was probably sick of your bullshit. She hadn't even tried to talk to you since the first night you set up camp back. That was okay though. You didn't really feel like arguing with her today.

You passed a sign that said "Now Entering Cleveland, Ohio" and Aly sat up straight in her seat at the sight of the sign. You wondered what got into her but didn't ask.

She quickly pulled out the large map and ran a finger down the blue line that was trailed from Boston to Salt Lake City. Her blue eyes went wide as she looked over at you.

"This city is where the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum is!" she stated excitedly.

"And?" you asked casually.

"I always wanted to go since I was a little girl. Can we please go?" she asked with hope in her voice.

"No," you said sternly.

"Please?" she asked again, desperation in her voice.

"I said no." This time your voice went deeper, you wanted her to know that no meant no. You were coming up on the exit sign quickly, just a couple of miles from it.

"Oh come on, Joel. This is the only thing I'll ever ask you to do. Pleaseeeeee." She turned to face you and batted her eyelashes. You turned your head to look at her, and she had the most innocent look on her face. She knew what she was doing. She was trying to pull on the old heartstrings and make you say yes. That wouldn't work on you, though. Not a chance.

"Can you please act your age? Pressuring people with the whole innocent eyes look isn't gonna get you anywhere fast."

She frowned. "I think a 35 year old can get pretty damn far with the right kind of influence," she huffed back at you.

So that's how old she was. You figured she was in her early 30's.

"Well, trying to coax a 50 year old man like that isn't gonna work." She rolled her eyes back at you.

You glanced back at the road for a few seconds and then back at her again. Her eyes looked sad this time, almost like she was about to tear up. She faced back towards the window and away from you, sighing quietly.

Focus, Joel. Don't let a girl influence you. You can't give in. You were struggling hard with your thoughts as you were only feet away from the exit now. You gripped the steering wheel hard and concentrated on the road.

You glanced back over at her from the corner of your eye, and she was leaning against the glass now just staring out. Don't do it, Joel. Keep your eyes on the road. You screamed internally as you lost the battle.