Alice tried to remember who had given her the key, but nothing came to mind. That wasn't surprising, it had been at least fifty years since she had been given it. Fifty years seemed to fly by, but one year without John felt dragged out, too long. He had died exactly one year ago, 365 days. Alice knew that at their age it wasn't something to be shocked about, but death was something that always seemed to sneak up on you. Fifty years with that key, fifty years with that man, both of them gone.
She sighed, sitting next to John's headstone, giving it a pat. “How ya been, Johnny?” She asked with a little chuckle. “You, and the car of course.” He had loved that car even more than she had, it was almost a blessing that they left together. It had been her eighteenth birthday, and her family had pitched in together to get her a car. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't remember who had given her the key. Her brother, maybe? She supposed it didn't really matter who gave her the key to the car, but she still wanted to know.
She had met John a few days later, when he nearly ran into her car with his bike. After a lot of yelling on her part, and a lot of apologizing on his, he had asked her to go to dinner with him. She had, of course, declined. A month later, she had completely forgotten about the incident. Then, it happened again. He commented on her parking skills, she yelled some more, and he offered to take her out to eat. It repeated again and again, and while Alice knew he was doing it purposely, she also had no intention of parking anywhere else. They spoke often, her leaning against the passenger door, him sitting on the roof, even if she complained.
Each time, he would ask her out again. Each time, she would decline. It took about six months, but she did finally accept. John hadn't acted surprised, just grinned and held out his hand.
“What?” She had asked, looking down at his outstretched hand, “You don't expect me to pay, do you?”
“I really should get something for waiting so long for a yes, but no. The keys,” he'd responded, and Alice just laughed.
“You are definitely not touching my car. I can drive,” she'd answered, sliding into the seat. John stood outside still, arms crossed and pouting. “Oh, will you just get in?”After quite a bit of arguing, Alice finally got out, storming to the passengers side,“You're ridiculous!”
John had let out a long, hearty laugh before sitting down next to her, “Thank you, stubborn lady!” They were silent the rest of the drive, and although Alice had wanted very badly to ask where they were going, she refused to be the first to speak. As they drove more and more, it was apparent they weren't going to dinner.
Soon, there was just long, empty road. It appeared never ending, shooting straight ahead. John pulled to the side of the road, turning to give her another one of his smiles, although this one looked a bit more devious than the others. “On the roof,” he'd ordered, and she merely stared. “C'mon, climb on up there.”
“Excuse me?”
“Trust me, alright? Just climb up there,” His eyes crinkled in the corners when he smiled, which was so much more than Alice. She felt tested, as if she was too boring if she didn't. And if there was one thing Alice refused to be, it was boring.
Glaring at him, she'd pulled herself out of the car, attempting to climb up top. After a few tries, she pulled her shoes off, tossing them into the car before doing it once more. She wiggled her toes, finally able to get up top. It wasn't exactly graceful, and she sat awkwardly with her skirt bunching up, but she was there. John's head peeked out the window, looking up at her. “Hold on tight, okay?” And before Alice could ask what he was doing, the car lurched forwards.
It wasn't very fast, but the wind still hit her, her hair tickling her face. She had never been a particularly rebellious child, but she did get into her fair share of trouble. That feeling she got when she knew she was doing something her parents wouldn't approve of, it was there. She unlatched her hands from the sides, lifting her fingers to feel the breeze hit her. Without bothering to think about it, because one certainly doesn't take time to think in a situation like that, she let out a long shout, closely followed by a laugh from John. They drove like that for a while, Alice never tiring of the feeling, until the sky began to darken. John pulled to the side of the road, despite Alice's complaints.
“I'm just being safe,” he'd said with a chuckle, and Alice felt herself smiling.
“Alright, it's my turn, then,” she'd decided as she slid down to the ground. After straightening her dress, she pulled open his door. “Hop on out, I'm taking you somewhere.”
John obliged, moving around to the other side. Alice sat for a moment, just looking over at him before turning the car around. She knew it was kind of a long drive, and it was already getting late, but she would just have to hope he didn't have any other plans. It took about an hour, and John didn't seem to impressed when they arrived.
“A forest? Wow, how charming!” he'd said, clapping his heads together dramatically.
“Oh hush, you'll see,” Alice said, stepping out of the car and waiting for him to follow. He got out a second later, buttoning up his jacket further.
“Chilly outside,” he commented, looking around as if he expected something great to jump out of the foliage.
“This is the part where you offer the lady your jacket,” Alice commented, walking ahead of him. He followed behind, and when he spoke she could almost hear the smile on his face.
“I figured you would just be offended if I tried,” he explained.
“Well, maybe you don't know me well enough,” she'd answered, carefully taking a step over a hole that must have been inhabited by some animal.
“Alright, would you like my jacket, young lady?” he offered, which she declined with a smile. He had been about to say more when they arrived. A clearing, the trees opening up to a pond. The stars seemed to smile down at them, their reflection contrasting against the dark water. They stood near the edge, just looking for a moment. John took off his jacket quickly, laying it down on the ground. “Your seat, miss,” he said, grinning.
Alice took a seat, doing her best to sit like a proper lady although it wasn't quite as easy there. John settled down next to her, on the little room left on the jacket. He thanked her, and she thanked him. After that, they didn't need to say anything more.
Alice smiled down at the headstone, “Yes sir, I sure do miss you.”
