Crashing Into You

Chapter 11

Today was the day.

I was finally going to be seeing Elijah again for the first time since he left. On the outside I looked excited and I also looked confident in my plan. My insides were a whole different story. Right about now my stomach felt like it was doing flips. I mean this was a whole new level for me when it came to lying. I don't know how some kids and teens these days do this kind of thing on a regular basis. I felt as if I was ready to crack and tell them why I really wanted to go to Chicago. Though, I held myself back. I had to go.

Okay, so technically I don't have to go; but I must know if this guy was still going to be interested in me even if we were in a completely different state. This is a logical reason, right? Even if it isn't, I plan on using that as my reasoning on going.

After my parents said yes yesterday, I spent practically all last night packing my suitcase to get ready for the trip. Heck, I spent half of the afternoon trying to figure out cute clothes that I was going to be wearing during the week and a half I'd be living out of a suitcase. Plus, I also wanted to impress Elijah. I had this feeling that maybe I already did impress him, but I wanted to keep on impressing him. Especially since he was going to be playing to a lot more girls every day. I wanted to be the one that always stood out to him. Even if I wasn't even at the show. I basically wanted him to close his eyes and still see that I existed.

Everything was finally packed away in the car and my parents were standing in the driveway, ready to send me off. This was going to be my first big trip without them. I gone on small trips of my own, but it was more of a weekend getaway. So, today was sort of a big deal. I shut the trunk of my car after I made sure that I did get everything inside. I turned on my heels as I faced my parents, I hurried over to them and once again wrapped my arms around them for one more hug.

"I guess, I'll see you guys next Wednesday?" I questioned as I pulled away from the hug.

"Yes, you will. You'll be good for grandpa, right? I'm sure I don't have to tell you to be on your best behavior." My mother explained.

"No mom, you don't have to tell me that. I'll be good I promise."

"We'll definitely miss you while you'll be gone." My dad said.

"I'll miss you both as well. I might even miss this little squirt right here too." I explained as Hunter came out of the house to join my parents.

"I am not a squirt and of course you'll miss me! Who wouldn't?" Hunter said before he too gave me a hug.

I messed up his hair a little before I let out a laugh, "You are a squirt though."

"I told you I am not!"

"Okay you two, this could go on for ages. You should just go ahead and get in the car Sophia." My mom said in a teasing manner.

"You're going to miss the banter between me and Hunter while I'm gone though."

"You're probably right, but you really should get going. Don't want to hit too much traffic, right?"

"Wow, first you weren't sure about me going and now you're just kicking me out I see how it is." I teased.

"You know it's not like that, now hurry along we want you to get there before night fall."

I only nodded before I turned back around and walked toward my car. I placed my car key into the ignition and started it up after putting my seat belt on. I smiled at my parents and waved before I pulled out of the driveway and began my journey to Chicago.

I reached down for my phone and plugged it into the car to where I could play music from it. I started to press play on a different artist, but I found myself clicking on Elijah's album yet again. Even while I was on the road with a five-hour drive, I still couldn't resist listening to his voice come through those speakers.

So far about this trip I have learned that being in a car for five-hours can be incredibly boring. It kind of feels like you're driving for hours down a road that's never going to come to an end. I've been trying to pass the time, by singing loudly to Elijah's album, but it's not like that has really made the time go by much faster.

Finally, I saw the sign that marked Chicago, Illinois. Thank goodness! I was finally here. After a five-hour drive I made it. Now all I had to do was get to my grandpa's house and then call my parents to tell them that I made it. I didn't plan on trying to find Elijah right away, especially not today. Although all I had done was just drive here I felt exhausted. All I wanted to do was get some food inside me and go to bed.

A few minutes later, I pulled into my grandpa's driveway. Thankfully my parents had explained to my grandpa that I was coming so he knew I was going to be here. The light from the porch told me which door I should go in. I parked the car and turned it off. After I took the car keys out of the ignition and started to grab my suitcases. I only had a big one and a smaller one which wasn't that bad.

Once I had those on the ground I pulled them along as I made it to the front door of my grandpa's house. I knocked on the door before I entered. As I peeked inside I saw that my grandpa was already asleep in his chair. So, I walked over to him and gently placed my hand onto his shoulder. Soon enough he woke up and gave me a smile.

"Hey grandpa Lou I'm here. I just wanted to let you know, but maybe we should get you to bed as well."

"Hi Sophia, that would probably be a good idea." He said as he started to get up.

I helped him out of the chair and walked him down to his bedroom. I told him goodnight before closing his door and going into the spare bedroom that he had in the house. I placed my two suitcases on the floor, grabbed my pajamas out of one and started to change into them.

After that was all finished I brushed my teeth and then got into bed. This was the place I wanted to be after a five-hour drive. I closed my eyes and all I could think about was what tomorrow was going to bring me. I could only hope that Elijah would be excited to see me, just as I am excited to see him.