The Moon Shines when the Sun Isn't Around

Part 30

As Oreo and King packed up their things, their laughter filled the air, creating the kind of memory that felt timeless. Oreo zipped up her overnight bag, catching King's eye as she grinned at him.

"This trip was exactly what I needed," she said, stretching her arms above her head. "I feel like we've barely scratched the surface of fun."

King leaned back against the truck, smirking. "It was pretty solid, huh? But we still got the drive back. That's like, four more hours of us being stuck in the car together. Who knows what could happen."

Oreo raised an eyebrow, amused by his teasing tone. "You saying you're tired of me already?"

"Nah, never that," King said with a laugh. "Just saying, we can crank up the music, grab more snacks, and make it count."

After making sure everything was packed and secure in King's electric truck, they both climbed in, Oreo claiming the passenger seat this time, pulling her feet up onto the seat. The sun was still low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the ocean as they took one last look at the beach before hitting the road. The silence between them was comfortable, but it wasn't long before Oreo broke it.

"Okay, we gotta do something fun for the ride back," she suggested, fiddling with the radio. "Wanna do like a rapid-fire question thing? I'll go first."

King glanced over with a raised brow. "Alright, hit me."

"Favorite snack for a road trip?"

"Easy. Flamin' Hot Cheetos," King replied immediately. "You?"

"Ugh, basic," Oreo teased. "Sour Patch Kids for me."

He shook his head but smiled, eyes still on the road. "You're the one with the basic taste, but I'll let it slide."

The playful back-and-forth continued as they drove, laughter and lighthearted banter filling the truck. At some point, they pulled into a rest stop to refuel and grab snacks — Oreo making sure to grab her beloved Sour Patch Kids and King getting his Cheetos. They tossed the snacks into the backseat next to the gaming system they had packed away and continued the drive.

Two hours in, with the sun now setting behind them, Oreo leaned her head against the window, watching the world pass by. King turned the music down slightly, glancing over at her.

"You good?" he asked, noticing her quietness.

Oreo smiled softly, looking at him. "Yeah, just thinking. It's been nice to just... chill like this. No pressure, no drama. Just us."

King nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. "Yeah, I get that. It's been a minute since we just hung out, no distractions."

They fell into a comfortable silence again, the hum of the truck and the distant sound of the road beneath them the only noise. As the night grew darker, they switched on the lights inside the truck and hooked up the gaming system again. The drive back became a blur of video game battles and snack breaks, both of them shouting and laughing as they tried to beat each other in the latest game.

As they neared home, Oreo glanced at King, noticing the relaxed smile on his face. She felt a surge of gratitude for the trip and for him.

"Thanks for this, King," she said softly. "You really made this spring break amazing."

King glanced over, his smile widening slightly. "You're welcome. Had to make sure we both had a good time, right?"

They pulled into King's driveway, the headlights cutting through the darkness. King put the truck in park and turned to Oreo.

"Back to reality, huh?"

Oreo shrugged, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe. Or maybe we can find a way to keep this going a little longer."