Winning Skylinn

6

It was the summer right after my 16th birthday, and I really wanted to learn how to drive. No one had bothered trying to teach me. My dad was scared to let me, and my mom worked a lot, so she didn't have time.

One day as I was moping on the front steps, Jonny came out of his house to take the trash out, and saw me.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"No one will teach me how to drive."

"I will."

Jonny had turned 16 in March, and gotten his license on his birthday. Technically, he wasn't qualified to teach a minor, but I didn't care. At least it was someone! Of course I took him up on his offer.

His parents weren't home, so we used his car. See, Jonny's parents were the cool kind that bought you cars for your 16th birthday. I was pretty sure mine would never do that.

He sat in the passenger seat and told me where to put my feet and hands. Then he guided me out of the driveway. I couldn't believe it-I was actually driving a vehicle!

We went down the street very slowly. "Stay within the speed limit," he reminded me. "You can go 10 on this road." I was currently driving at 5mph.

I smiled weakly and nodded, stepping on the gas a little.

"There you go. Much better," said Jonny from the passenger seat.

"Thanks," I replied, turning my head to smile at him.

"EYES ON THE ROAD! But you're welcome."

Over the course of three weeks, Jonny taught me all the basics of driving. We had those little outings when our parents were gone, so they couldn't stop us from doing it. They never suspected a thing.

If you'll remember, this was right after I started dating Denver. I wanted to show off my fancy driving skills, but of course I didn't have my permit yet. So one day, I asked him to come over and go driving with me. He had his permit, but no license. It was illegal and dangerous and absolutely perfect.

Just to be safe (even though the whole situation was totally unsafe), we only drove on back roads, and in a parking lot. We were in Denver's mom's car, and while I drove, he reached into the glove compartment and put a CD in the player.

"What's this?" I asked as the music began.

"Rascal Flatts. They're my favorite band," he replied.

Then he began to sing along to the track. I just about died. He had a deep voice, unlike the lead singer of Rascal Flatts, so it stood out from theirs.

I looked over at him, watching him sing his heart out and thinking how hot he was.

"Watch out!" he yelled suddenly.

I snapped my attention back on the road, and swerved away from the coming car. Meanwhile, I was screaming.

When we'd passed the other car, Denver started laughing his head off.

"We could've died!" I shouted.

"I know!" he replied excitedly, his hazel eyes bright like a child's.

Soon I was laughing too, but I calmed down and went back to driving. He went back to singing.

His voice filled the vehicle, mixed with the sound of Rascal Flatts, and I enjoyed every minute. Even if I wasn't the biggest fan of country music.

When all the songs had played, he said, "We'd better get you home. Want me to drive?"

"Sure." I pulled over-quite well, if I do say so myself-and we switched places.

He drove me back home, and we sat in the car for awhile once we arrived. "You know, I've always wondered what kissing someone in a car would feel like," he said randomly.

I knew he was about to kiss me when he said it. Sure enough, he leaned in, touching my cheek gently, and kissed me. I unbuckled my seatbelt so it would be easier to kiss him back.

Finally, we stopped and he said, "Yup. Just how the songs describe it." Then he got out of the car to walk me inside.

I didn't notice Jonny standing in his front yard, watching us. "Hey guys, how's it going?" he asked.

Had he seen it all? I wondered. "We're good," I replied. "Denver was just taking me driving."

His face fell and he said, "That's kinda dangerous, you know."

It was the first time I ever saw him jealous.

~~

When I awoke from my nap, I was starving. I smelled food cooking, so I went downstairs, and there was my mother, stirring a pot of chili on the stove.

"Oh, Skylinn! You're awake," she said cheerfully.

"Yeah, just woke up. When did you get home?" I asked.

"About an hour ago. I was gonna wake you, but you looked so peaceful and I know it's been a rough day for you."

I hadn't thought about Denver since before my nap. Hadn't even dreamed of him. But now I remembered today's events-taking him to the airport, saying goodbye, everything.

Tears sprung to my eyes and I slid into a chair at the kitchen table. I could cry in front of my mother. She was always there to comfort me when I was upset. And she was good at it too.

"Aw, honey," she said, coming up behind me. She massaged my shoulders, something I loved, and I just sat there crying.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked once my sobs had mostly subsided.

I nodded, wiping my nose, and she sat down beside me.

My mom didn't ask stupid questions, like "do you miss him?" or "what's wrong?" Instead, she asked me what my favorite memory of Denver was.

I was surprised at her question, but I was determined to answer it. I knew exactly what I would say.

"When I was sick and he brought me Fazoli's breadsticks."

She smiled, remembering.

~~

When I was 17, I got really sick with the flu and was out of school for three days-Monday through Wednesday.

Denver knew I loved Fazoli's breadsticks, so he brought me a dozen on Tuesday. He had this idea that it was stupid to bring a girl flowers when she was sick, because she wouldn't be able to smell them.

So instead, he brought me my favorite breadsticks and a 44-ounce Dr Pepper from McDonald's. Fazoli's only had Coke products-that was their downfall. So I always got Mr Pib, which was the closest thing to Dr Pepper, when I was there. It was my absolute favorite.

While I ate, he told me what had been happening at school while I was out. He knew I hated when people would ask, "So what's new?" after they hadn't seen each other in awhile, and the other person would say, "Nothing." It was so annoying! It's like, Does nothing happen when I'm gone?

After that, he stayed and suffered through watching all three High School Musicals with me. It was my all-time favorite musical, but boys never understood all the hoopla. Denver, though, was nice enough to watch all three, and sing the Troy part on all the duets, while I sang Gabriella's part. It hurt my throat to sing, but I didn't care.

I just remembered thinking that my boyfriend was the best one ever. So it became my favorite memory of him.

- - -

A/N: The whole driving thing probably sounded really cheesy and unrealistic, but it actually happened to one of my best friends, Emma. Her crush took her driving Friday night and sang to his favorite CD. I was like, "OMG goals!" So of course I had to put it in my book. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this long chapter! I had fun writing it. Let me know what you thought in the comments! 😊