Lay in the Atmosphere (Brendon Urie) Wattys 2017

ONE

I plugged my phone into my car charger, placing it in the holder on my dash.

The time was exactly 10:32 pm and I just remember it being a night I wouldn't forget. I had one notification for pick up. I logged the address into my phone and drove.

The sky was beautiful, hues of blue and purple washed through the night sky. LA was a ruthless city but at times like this it was so peaceful.

I turned on M83, The Highest Journey playing as I pulled up to a set of gates. I raised a brow and notified the user I had arrived. I lay my head back, waiting for the customer, and I just listened to the soft melody of the piano.

I was strangely excited to be driving tonight, and I was also sort of excited to meet this person. Their house was massive, scratch that, their mansion was massive. The driveway looked like it could be made of marble, the palm trees surrounding the property strategically placed in perfect symmetry. I turned the music up louder and let my eyes drink in the beauty of it all, and that's when I noticed the heavy metal gates opening.

I sat on the edge of my seat, the music growing almost louder as I watched the silhouette of a man walk toward my car in powerful strides. Why he hadn't had his very own limousine I wasn't sure, but the moonlight seemed to glow brightly on the gold fabric of his finely tailored suit.

And when I saw his face, I almost grew nervous. Maybe it was the music, but in that moment, nothing in my life had seemed so angelic. He had perfectly swept hair, the color of dark chocolate, and a pair of chestnut eyes to match. His skin was porcelain and had a slight sparkle to it as he walked toward my backseat door, and when I heard the handle open, everything else seemed to go silent.

He sat down in the leather interior, looking me in the eyes through my rear view mirror. I had been staring.

"Such a beautiful song." He grinned, leaning his head back as well, just like I had.

I smiled warmly and turned the volume down as the song began to fade back to piano.

"Where to?" I ask.

"Play more of that wonderful music. Drive me around for 15 minutes, then I'll tell you the location and where I'd like to go."

He had such a strong voice, fluid and his sentences ran like a steady ocean. It was safe to say I was intrigued and the mysterious manner he had only added to my longing.

Not once have I ever been asked to drive and play music while picking up someone.

The next song to play was Stay With Us by Seoul.

"Mmm, lovely." He moaned in back, his eyes closed as he handed me cash.

I looked down and saw a hundred dollar bill.

"I- I can't, that's more than-"

"Nonsense, darling, I insist. I'm taking up your valuable time."

I didn't say anything, I just let him place it on my center console, and I felt my chest move firmly up and down at the thought of him saying darling. If I could choose to have one thing repeated for the rest of my life, it would be hearing his voice cooing out "darling".

I drove him around as he asked, listening to bands such as Odesza, Grimes, M83, relaxing trance, and he seemed to be enjoying himself.

His eyes only opened for parts of the drive, and I noticed every time he opened them. He would gaze out the window with a small grin and inhale the night air, admiring the same sky I had outside of the gates of his home. It was safe to say my focus hadn't been on the road, but, I slowly stopped us at the top of a cliff, the city lights below us gleaming like small pools of glitter.