Pen Pals

'Merica! : Part Two

(Not edited...again sorry)

Penelope Bryan

What am I thinking?! I can't just leave can I? I mean it's a holiday, and I usually spend it with dad and Owen. Dad would kill me if I just left everyone. I mean, he would right, I try to reason with myself.  I'm sitting in my car, one hand on the wheel, the other on the gearshift...in the diner parking lot. I must look insane staring off into space as if I'm fighting some sort of internal conflict.... yep, definitely insane. 

"You gonna sit there all day Sunshine?" 

I jump in my seat and let out a shriek, accidentally blaring the car horn and sending the gearshift far backwards. Before the car could even move, a hand suddenly jerks the gearshift back into park.  Still mentally freaking out my eyes don't leave the unfamiliar firm hand that's covering mine. 

"Sunshine..?" The voice says lowering their head down to my gaze. I sigh, letting out the breath I didn't know I was holding, it's only Will. Wait, why is he here? In my car? My face scrunches and brows furrow "How and why are you in my car?" I say a little too sternly. He straightens his back and removes his hand. I didn't even notice it was there anymore.. should I be concerned? 

"Well, you look a little at war with yourself and I thought you needed some guidance. Plus, I knocked on your window and you just continued to stare blankly into space, so I decided to just get in." He pauses for a minute before his expression turned hard. "And you should really lock your car doors, some creep could just get in whenever he felt like." He finishes.

Yeah, some creep  already did. 

I quickly cover my mouth realizing I was thinking out loud. Ugh I've become so accustomed to Finn's bluntness I guess he's wearing off on me. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean that!" I say so fast my words stumble over each other.  Will shrugs, "Anyways, I figured you could use some advice."

My brow arches in response. Even if Will looks younger than me doesn't mean he can't have good advice. Plus, if it isn't good I just won't listen to it, so it couldn't hurt. Then again he knows nothing of my situation. "Okay, so since I just met you and probably have no idea what's going on in your life I'll just give some general insight." He looks over to me for approval. With a nod he continues "I think that you shouldn't worry so much. I've been in enough relationships to know that girls overthink basically everything. For what it's worth, I think that you need to be reminded that you're an adult. You can make adult decisions, and from what I've learned about you today is that you always consider everyone else before you consider yourself. What ever it is that you're worrying about, just know that you can put yourself first for a second. We'll all still be here when you get back." He offers me a small smile before getting out of my car and walking away. 

What the heck was that? 

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Once I round my neighborhood I try to psych myself up. He's just my dad, it's not like he'll hat me right? Right? Oh gosh, he's gonna be so disappointed. No, I've got this! I'm gonna march right in there and say 'Dad I'm gonna miss our annual barbecue, why you may ask? Because I'm incorrigibly thinking I have feelings for a soon to be Air force marine and if I don't see him I'll probably hate myself.'   

It even sounds bad in my head, there's no way I'll be able to say it in front of dad. 

Pulling into my driveway the familiar gravel crackling underneath the tires of my dad's car. For some odd reason he offered me the car today, I guess he didn't have work? I didn't really dwell on the thought I was just happy I didn't have to take the bus today. He'll probably want the car later though so I guess it's buses all the way to South Carolina for me. Bus fair isn't really an issue but seeing that it's already five-thirty, and the drive to South Carolina is four hours I'll be needing a place to stay. I just hope hotel's over there aren't as expensive as usual city hotels. I'm only running on this month's paycheck so it has to be enough.