Of Suitcases and Other Things

17

And time seemed to say,

"Forget the world and its weight."

And here I just want to stay

Amazing day

Amazing day

-Coldplay (Amazing Day)

The concert ended but the feeling of euphoria followed Nikko as they made their way out of the building. Jay slung a protective arm over her shoulder as they navigated through the crush of people heading towards the exit. As the crowd thinned out near the parking area, Nikko practically skipped the rest of the way.

"Hey slow down." Jay widened his stride to keep up with her.

"Sorry. Just got caught up with everything." Nikko giggled, coming to a standstill beside his car.

Jay reached her and opened the car door. Making sure she was settled in before closing it and going round to the drivers side. He started the car, noticing she was singing softly to herself. "I'm glad you had a good time."

"Good? Best time ever!" She corrected him. "That was...hnnnn...ahhhhh...whoa!" She closed her eyes and covered her mouth. "I have absolutely no words to describe it."

He chuckled at her reaction, "No words?"

"Oh wait, I do! Abso-fucking-lutely amazeaballs!!!" She drummed her feet against the car floor punctuating her exclamation. "Sorry, pardon my language, I'm just too emotional right now."

Jay reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Ow! Hey!" She glared at him. "You're starting to turn that into habit, Faulkerson!"

"Sorry I couldn't resist. You're just too cute when you're like this." He flashed her his dimple.

Nikko puffed out her cheeks and sighed inwardly, that bedimpled smile of his penetrating her mind and setting up camp there. Same Jay, I could say the same for you.

The car turned out of the parking building and into the intersection. Judging by the time of night and the amount of traffic on the street, Nikko calculated that it would take them around forty minutes to get to her place. She was slowly coming down from the high of the concert and was starting to feel the effect that waking up at five in the morning had on her.

"It's not that late yet. Let's go-" he stopped short when he caught her stifling a yawn.

"Let's go where?" She asked, doing a 180 degree turn back to alertness. Her brain coming out of its foggy haze at the thought of spending more time with him.

"I was going to say lets go get coffee but it looks like you should be getting some sleep already." His eyes were now back on the road.

"What? No, I'm totally fine." She protested, regretting her momentary lapse into weariness. Please, she begged in her head, let's push through with it. This was her chance to try and make some sense about his actions earlier. What happened at the concert was making her think and feel things that she was trying to suppress. She really didn't want to go there. Ok, maybe she did. Ugh! This was why she needed more time with him. To see if things between them would be back to the way they were once the setting was different.

Jay seemed to hesitate a little before finally saying, "I think I've kept you up long enough today. You really should rest."

"But I'm good. Still wide awake here." She argued hoping he'd take a hint and just relent.