Don't Let Me Go

Chapter 11

"So, what's first?" Asked Axcel as he pulled out of his parking spot at Starbucks. I buckled my seatbelt, though I barely cared about safety anymore. I leaned back in my seat and turned up the radio, staring out the window thoughtfully. "Hmmm." I thought of all the things on the list I made with Axcel. "Skydiving?" I suggested. How did you even sign up for that? Was there a such thing as skydiving in eastern New York?

"Okay. You're going to be proud of me, I already researched it. They've got a pretty good place in the city," he said and I looked at him in astonishment.

"You knew this was going to happen?" He nodded, a triumphant grin twisting his features.

"Del, I've known you my whole life, I could've predicted over half of the stuff on that list." He was a genius when it came to making people feel better. "When I got this idea, I scheduled us a skydiving class."

I stared at him, my eyes shining. "Really?"

"I know you've always wanted to go skydiving, so.." I didn't wait for him to finish, I lunged across the car and hugged him, beaming. "You have no idea how much this means to me.." I said, my voice thick with emotion.

"Hey, crazy lady..im trying to drive here." He said, but he smiled. "Don't get all much on me now," he warned, probably mostly because he wanted to hide the emotion in his own voice.

I grinned and leaned back into my seat. "Our class isn't until next week, so I was thinking we could just spend tomorrow in the city," He said and I sighed.

"Yeah, like Mom would ever allow that," I replied. I didn't want to kill the joy, but he knew my mother almost as well as I did. she would never let us do that.

"Another surprise: Already settled," he said happily and I stared at him. "What?"

"I may have done some major convincing. but I believe it was worth it. Besides, the Empire State Building is on that list of yours, is it not?"

"I would hug you again...if you weren't driving." He pulled into the driveway to my house and took the key out of the ignition.

"Pack your bags, Del, were spending the weekend in the city that never sleeps."

I packed quickly, eager to get out of the house and the tiny town. Mostly, I just wanted to take off before my mom had a chance to change her mind. As it was, she fussed over me constantly as I got ready to go. She just had I make sure I had everything I could possibly need. I'm pretty sure she told me to be careful at least 30 times. No joke.

Finally, I'd packed my suitcase with my essentials and the things my mother decided I needed.

"Okay, I'm ready!" I announced to Axcel, who was in the living room, trying to play the piano. My dad was sitting in the armchair next to the piano with the day's paper in his hands, looking at Axcel distastefully.

"Delilah, get this boy out of here," he grumbled. Dad didn't dislike Axcel, I didn't think so anyway.. They just argued a lot.

"Gladly. Lets get out of here, Ax," I said, grinning. I hadn't done anything exciting in forever. My heart was racing just knowing I'd be outside of this tiny town for once. The thought filled me with adrenaline.

"What? You don't like my piano playing?" He asked disdainfully.

I grabbed his arm with mine and carried my suitcase in the other. "I don't think you should play piano anymore, Ax," I said with a light laugh. He knew it was terrible..he wasn't actually trying to play well. He probably just wanted to annoy my dad.

"Hit the road, Jack!" My dad said with a small smile and kissed me on the cheek. My mom came up and gave me a rib-breaking hug. "Be careful sweetie," she said, clearly trying it to cry. Oh gosh.. I rolled my eyes slightly behind her back but hugged her tightly. "We will mom," I promised.

"I'll take good care of her," Axcel said, taking my shoulders and gently pushing me out the door. I waved once more to my parents until I was outside and out of sight.

My dad gave Axcel that look again and mumbled, "Yeah, that's what I was afraid of."