radar love // baby driver

pt. 8

Now Playing: The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

Sara didn't know what to do. She was sitting by herself in Bacchanalia, eagerly awaiting for Baby to return back to their table. A few minutes had passed, perhaps five, and that's when the brunette stood up from the table. She knew that Baby stepped outside, yet she didn't know why. Was he nervous about this entire encounter? It was technically their first date, so she would understand if he needed some fresh air to ease the nerves.

She walked past many other couples who also made reservations at the restaurant. None of them seemed particularly interested in averting their attention away from their meals. She really couldn't blame them either because the food here was extraordinary. It wasn't until she reached the entrance of the building that she truly regretted wearing high heels. Barely an hour into this date and her feet were already aching.

She pushed open the door, the night air causing her to shiver. Instinctively, she rubbed her hands against her arms to create warmth. Sara noticed Baby, and then in front of him, Doc. She immediately stopped in her tracks, eyes wide as she examined the two exchanging words. Baby had his back towards her, and Doc was too focused on him that he didn't see her standing there. It was mostly Doc talking in a hushed tone, therefore she couldn't a single word that was uttered.

Sara was tempted to make her presence known and step closer towards the two, although quickly decided against it. She shut the door behind her as she walked back inside the building, her face shifting to a concentrated expression. It was made clear that Baby was no longer working with Doc, so why was he here? Could it have been pure coincidence? Doc seemed like the type of guy who could afford eating here almost every night.

In the suburbs, I learned to drive.
And you told me we'd never survive.
Grab your mother's keys, we're leaving.

Sitting back down at their table, she continued to eat her food. To her own surprise, it hadn't gotten cold at all. She didn't want to pry into Baby's business with Doc, however she couldn't help but be concerned. With every glimpse that she got into whatever he was mixed up in, it only fueled her worry. There seemed to be no upside in working with Doc – it was all bad. Her thoughts were all mixed up, and while she wished she could make sense of the entire situation, she really didn't want to burden Baby with questions.

"Sorry." Baby suddenly spoke, causing Sara to slightly jump in her chair. He took a seat, his posture different than what it was before he went outside. He was definitely more tense now. "Welcome back. Is everything okay?" Sara asked, sticking her fork in her food once more. "Yeah, it's just..." He was either lost in thought or searching for the right words. She assumed it was the first one. "I think I have to drive again." She sat up straighter then, eyebrows raised as she took this in.

"But I thought you were done with all of that." Sara protested, staring directly at the boy in front of her. He was fidgeting with the tablecloth as he shrugged in response. "It's not what I want." He confessed, causing Sara's heart to sink. He truly was of good character, but the people he worked with weren't. "I don't want to be stuck delivering pizzas, either." He chuckled, and the sound of his laughter caused Sara to smile. It didn't last long, though.

"Are you safe, Baby?" Sara hadn't thought twice of her words - the question really just slipped out. "No, but I will be." He answered, his brown eyes pouring into her own. She wanted to argue with him, tell him that he already said he was done with driving. Of course, she couldn't bring herself to do so. "Is your food good?" He inquired, finally digging into his own meal. Sara hummed in agreement, her mouth already full of said food.

They sat like that for awhile, exchanging a few words about the meal, discussing their mutual love for music, and even talking about where they'd go if they could go anywhere. Sara gave quite the generic reply and said that she'd like to travel the world. Baby's response was similar to hers in a way. He liked the idea of driving with no particular destination in mind, even getting lost somewhere along the way maybe, as he listened to all his favorite songs.

It was an almost unattainable hope, but Sara wished that the two of them could do something like that. Even though she just moved to Atlanta, Sara wanted to see what the rest of the world could offer. The only times that she was able to travel anywhere was when her father went on business trips. As expected, those slowly came to a stop once he became sick. Her mind was focused on her family now, more specifically her mother. She really should text to see how everything was going in Los Angeles.

After they finished dessert, Baby and Sara stood up from the table and finally exited the restaurant. They hopped into his car, and it seemed like Baby could read her mind as he flicked on the heater. She leaned her head back against the seat, noticing how his gaze was trained on her. "I know it's late, but can I take you somewhere?" He asked, evidently nervous. She wanted to reassure him somehow, perhaps even tell him that he had nothing to worry about. "Yeah, sure." Sara was willing to jump at any chance of spending more time with him.

In the parking lot, we're still waiting.
It's already passed.
So, move your feet from hot pavement and into the grass.

When they were together; regardless if it was in the diner, in his car, or at a fancy restaurant, it seemed like they were the only ones in the entire world. She desired to know everything about him, and in return, tell him everything about herself. Nobody else had ever made Sara feel this way before. The car started as Baby navigated it through the streets, often making quick, sudden turns. Sara stared out the window, her eyes focusing on the city lights and the few people who were out and about.

The Caprice came to a stop in front of chain-link fencing. It was dark outside, therefore Sara couldn't see much of where they were. She mimicked Baby's actions and unbuckled her seat belt before stepping out of the vehicle. "Where are we?" She asked, making her way to Baby's side as she followed him. "Somewhere that I like to go to think. Joe likes it out here, too." He announced, stopping in his tracks as he turned to look at her. She raised her eyebrows at this before realizing he had extended his hand. "Oh, sorry." Sara apologized, quickly grabbing onto it.

Baby remained silent as he grinned, walking forwards once again. There were only a few lights scattered among the open area, and it was just enough for Sara to notice the towering trees that were draped with moss. It was vastly different than every other part of Atlanta she had seen so far. The large city was busy and traffic was a constant problem. This place seemed like a peaceful oasis, which made it hard to believe that it was right in the heart of Atlanta. "You'll like it here, I'm sure." Baby probably wasn't wrong about that.

Had Sara known that they would be following a trail, she would've definitely went with the combat boots. In a way, it was funny. Here they were in formal attire, and despite this, they were out for some hike. It was hard to see much because of how dark it was outside, but the moonlight helped brighten up the forest a bit. It was nice. Sara could see why Baby and his father enjoyed it out here – it was an escape from the bustling city.

"Hey, Baby?" Sara whispered just loud enough for him to hear. He made a noise of approval, awaiting her reply. "Thank you for this. Tonight's been pretty perfect." She could barely see the smile on his countenance through the dark, although she knew it was there. "I want more nights like these." He said, and the sentence alone caused Sara's heart to race. "Me too."

Authors note: Some intense stuff is coming up. Once again, thank you all so much for the votes and comments! I'm really excited about where this story will be going because I have a lot planned!