About You

1

The cool wind of the open window blows across my face as I sit in the passenger seat of my moms car. I watch the beach and shore line pass by as some person on the radio station blabs on about the weather for the next week.

"God, I can feel the temperature rising as we drive in." My mother comments over the radio speaker.

It is indeed hot. Even with the windows down, the humid sticky air of the outer banks is sweltering.

"Let me hold the wheel, take off your cardigan." I reach over and steady the steering wheel as my mom starts to take off her cardigan, foot still on the gas.

We coast for a few short moments before I notice my mom is hitting the gas a little too hard.

"Mom stop pressing so hard, we're going too fast."

The rev of our old cars engine roars in our ears as my moms foot presses harder on the gas, steadily speeding up faster and faster. As I'm bent over the middle of the car with my hand on the wheel, a glimpse of a beat up van comes into view, speeding down the street towards us.

"The fabric is fucking stuck!" She yells trying to put her hands on the wheel again, but failing.

"It's stuck in my earrings, shit!" She yells again.

"I've got the wheel, just stop pressing so fucking hard on the gas!"

The wind whips through the open windows of the car, making it deafening. I can hear my mom panicking next to me as I try to watch the road ahead. The old van races towards us on the wrong side of the road, blasting music out of its open windows. It was probably going the same speed as us, but slighting swerving all over the place.

"Mom!"

"I can't get my goddamn hands out!!"

I watch the van swerve into our lane.

"MOM!"

At the last moment before this stupid swerving van almost hits us, my mom grabs the wheel and pulls us over the the far side of the road, absolutely slamming the gas. It feels like life was in slow motion for a few moments as I look over at the driver of the van, a guy about my age with dirty blonde hair, screaming something mid sentence to the other people in his car. We make a very short amount of eye contact before both cars are far down the road very quickly.

Our car cruises down the open road for a few moments before my mom looks over to me with a frazzled expression.

"Let's never do that again."

I sigh heavily before falling back into my seat. I didn't even realize that my heart was pounding in my chest until I tried to relax a bit. Where did this woman learn how to drive?

"You good?" She asks breathing a little heavy.

"Yes. Just wanna get to our new place."

"Never letting you steer again." She says with a chuckle, I smile at that. We've always had a very good relationship. Since I was very little, my mom has been like a best friend to me.

Our car starts to pass through the down town part of the Outer Banks, I watch in awe as I see massive houses with countless cars and grounds keepers on the properties. Huge places too big to ever house a single family. No family or any single person would ever need houses this big, so luxurious.

Countless fancy cars drive down the road by and in front of us, going deeper into the mass of rich neighbourhoods. I watch as we pass stores along the main road, all high end brand stores. People in expensive outfits pursuing down the sidewalks.

"Where's our place?" I ask.

My mom sighs before answers,

"On the other side of town, along the old cut."

My eyebrows furrowed by the way she said it, as if she was.. disappointed?

We soon pass a barren part of the main road, on both sides there is nothing to be seen but swamp and lake. Not a single house in sight.

"This is closer to where we'll be living. Mer and Charli live just a street over from us."

I watch the swamp and lake pass by as our car continues towards our new house.

My mom grew up out here with her best friend Mer, who has lived out here ever since my mom left in her 30's. Up until recently my mom and I have lived out in Philadelphia. Mer's daughter just happens to be my best friend, she lived with us for a few years while her mom was travelling the islands in Cancun, Mexico. Quite random for a school teacher, I know. But it was her dream. Charli and I have always seen eye to eye on everything, well, almost everything.

"I'm really worried about this interview tomorrow." My mom says fumbling with her bracelet.

"You'll do great, mom. They practically begged you to come out here."

We cross a small bridge and officially drive down the main road along the old cut. Small bungalows line the sides of the streets, along with some small businesses. A handful of restaurants, some shops, but not much. It seems this side of town is much more laid back, compared to the other side.

"I know, I'm just nervous."

We pass a restaurant called 'The Wreck' right before turning down Pine Street, which I assume is ours.

As we pull in, I notice the house is painted a deep green, with a bright red front door. Mer and Charli are sitting on the front porch before noticing us pull into the drive way. Immediately they stand and start cheering at our arrival. A big smile appears on my lips at the sight of them. I hadn't seen them in months, at least 7.

Before the car can stop, I jump out and run towards my best friend and pull her into a big hug. She smells like the ocean and lavender as I hug her tight.

"Long time no see!" Charli says into my shoulder and I laugh. When we pull away I inspect her, I swear she's grown taller.

"You're so tanned now, holy shit." I say laughing.

"And you're so pale, we need to get you in the sun."

We catch up as I watch our mothers hug and speak to each other. Both of them crying. I know my mom is so happy to be moving here.

"I know you just got here, but there's this crazy party happening down at the bone yard tonight and I wanna bring you. I need you to meet my friends." Charli says to me as she walks with me over to the car. I start unloading my stuff from the trunk as I process her words.

"And my boyfriend."

My head snaps in her direction at the words.

"Boyfriend?" I question.

"Boyfriend. Started up about 3 months ago." She says grabbing two of my bags.

"And you didn't tell me?!" I say loud.

"Theo." Mer's voice interrupts my train of thought and I see her standing next to me with tears in her eyes. Her arms are out, inviting me in for a hug.

Without a second thought I wrap my arms around her and we embrace for a few moments before pulling away.

"How have you been doing, honey? I haven't seen you in forever." She says giving my arm a little playful punch.

"I've been great! Mostly super excited to move in here to see you and Charli all the time. How are you guys? I've heard that Charli-"

"Nope!" Charli says interjecting.

"My bad." I say shamefully.

"Charli what? Now I need to know!" Mer says.

"Nothing mom, we'll talk later about it!"

"Come on honey, I need to know now!"

My mom gives me a wink before we start to walk up to our new house together, with Mer and Charli arguing behind us. Both us with two bags in hand, we approach the red door, excited for this new beginning.