Finish Line

7

The car ride is long and filled with laughter and chatter. Ally and Dylan rant about Katie. Dylan and I talk about basketball and football. I can tell Dylan is getting more comfortable with me. He's not being such a smartass anymore. We're talking about school more, I'm learning more about where Dylan's going at the end of the summer. 

"Last year I spent in Manhattan with a buddy of mine, Duce Ackees," He begins to tell us. We both listen intently but he keeps his eyes on the road, "This year we haven't really decided where we want to go, I'm thinking either Boston or Chicago." 

"Where are you leaning towards," I ask inventively, trying to keep the conversation alive. He laughs at me as if it's a no-brainer. 

He turns the wheel gently as he says, "Boston for sure. There's a program there I've been looking into that I'm seriously considering. Zach was leaning towards Chicago because his girlfriend is living there but I'm not a fan of her."

"So what program are you looking into?" Ally asks from the backseat. She's leaned forward on her seat, clearly intrigued. We're close to the Chick-Fil-A we're meeting Keshawn at but it's late. Dylan and I will be back on the road only moments after we drop her off. 

He smiles this time, I notice his eyes light up a bit, "It's a mechanics kinda thing, cars and stuff like that." 

He's smirking like we're clueless. I didn't know Dylan was into cars. I thought he was more into stuff like soccer and such. He was in Manhattan last year playing soccer which both Max and Derek failed to mention. I wonder why he's so into cars? I'm too curious for my own good. 

We finally pull up to the Chick-Fil-A and park the car. I see Keshawn's truck parked across the isle. I jump out and cling to Keesh. I full on koala hug him only because I haven't seen him in so long. He sets me down and I brush some hair out of my face. 

"Right, Keshawn this is Dylan, Dylan this is Keshawn," I introduce. They shake hands and Keshawn takes Ally under his arm and Dylan does the same to me. I guess it's a guy thing. 

"Alright, thanks so much for the incredible time guys! Seattle was amazing with y'all!" She exclaims, climbing into Keshawn's truck. 

"Bye Ally. I'll see you in a couple months," I give her a quick hug before turning to Keshawn, "you better get her home safe, you doofus." 

He smiles at me and pulls me in tightly. I laugh into his chest and push him back towards the car, "Raimy Daniel! How could you use such foul language?" 

He's laughing hysterically at this point and I slap him on the chest. Keshawn and I have always had quite the friendship. We laugh 24/7 and have made so many memories that it's easy to be friends with him. It's easy to be friends with Keshawn and Ally because they're just fun! Same with Andy, Livia, and everyone else. "Shut up, Keshawn! Just get her home safe."

He gives me one last hug before pulling his truck out of the Chick-Fil-A parking lot. I watch them speed off before climbing back into the front seat of the mustang. Now the car is silent. The slight sound of the engine roaring underneath the car is all that can be heard. The music has died down to a hum and I sit peacefully in the silence with my hands in my lap. 

This car ride is going to be a long one. 

                                                                                                  ~

I woke up about 3 hours later. We haven't quite made it to Oregon yet. It's incredibly late, I'm surprised that Dylan is still awake. He wanted to get us back to Seattle by morning but it's already 1:14am and I have a feeling we are not going to get back until around 10:00 tonight. I'm starving and we're passing through a small town on the outskirts of California.