Chasing The Sun

Starting

I start to drive.

" Well can I go to my house and get some clothes and stuff? " I ask.

" No. You can't. I have enough money to buy you new ones. "

" Okay... " I don't see why, but whatever he wants I guess.

" So what's your name? " He asks.

" I'm Louis. What's yours? "

" It's Zayn. " I smile to myself.

" Lovely name. " I say.

" Yeah. I guess. "

" Well... Zayn. Tell me a bit about you. " I say. I want to know the person I'm driving across the country.

" Well... I'm Muslim and I've lived in New York for 13 years. I'm 24 now and I'm... gay... " I look in the mirror to see he's embarrassed.

" I'm turning 24 in a month and I've lived in New York for 18 years. I've been driving a taxi around New York since I was 20 so this has been my job for almost 4 years now... I'm also gay. "

He seems less embarrassed now.

" I'm glad you're nice. I don't want to drive around for days and days with a pothead or something. You seem accepting and nice. " Zayn says.

" Well I'm glad you're not a pothead or something either... " I laugh.

" Me too. " He laughs with me.

" So... who is Lilly? " Zayn asks.

" Oh she's my best friend. "

" I'd like to have a best friend... " Zayn says slowly.

" What? You mean you dont have any friends? " I ask. He's crazy. No having friends?

" I didn't say I don't have friends. I didn't say they were real either. " He looks at his shoes.

" Look Zayn. There's always fake friends who want a spot in your money and they don't understand the damage they're doing. Just ignore them. They don't deserve your friendship then. "

" Yeah. " He says.

We go for an hour in complete silence. Just driving. After were out of New York City. I had time to think.

It's already 9:45 PM and I'm tired.

" Hey Zayn? I think we're going to spend the night in a hotel. I'll try and find one and we'll stay at a hotel until tomorrow. We both need some sleep. "

" Okay. Sounds good to me. " He says.

We drive another half hour without a word until I find  a hotel. We get out of the cab and I help Zayn carry his luggage up to the building.

" Hello. We wanted to know if there are any rooms left? " I ask the lady at the front desk.

" Yes there is one. " We fill out a form and both give her our drivers licenses and she finally gives us the key to our room.

" Didn't think I'd be sharing a room with a stranger tonight. " I laugh.

" I did. " Zayn laughs. His laugh is cute and higher pitched.

" Okay them. Well I'm going to go take a shower and then go to bed. " I smile at him and go get in the shower.

: z a y n :

I'm trying to control myself. Be the calm and collected Zayn I really am. I don't want to scare him. He's all I got right now.

That's only the half of it.

I'm staying in the same one bed room with him. This stranger I paid to take me wherever he wants to go. I have a huge heart and I trust people.. too much sometimes..

I hope this leap of faith lays of in the long run.

I still don't know why I left. I don't know if he bought it when I told him I don't know why I'm trying to leave New York. In all truth I couldn't think of a better answer.

The one thing that's getting on my nerves with him is his swearing and sarcasm.

I hate his sarcasm.

I wouldn't be able to stand being around him if he didn't have his good features that outnumber the bad features.

His eyes are a striking blue. The way he smile it's just mesmerising. He is perfect.

I'm trying to keep myself from telling him how I feel.