Everyone Should Know (Alex Turner)

44: Lemons & Beer

44: Lemons & Beer

Janessa's POV

It's been two weeks since we arrived to Mexico, which, the time we have been here has been absolutely amazing. We left Distrito Federal, Mexico's capital to come to a smaller city called Tijuana, in Baja California. That's where the fun is according to high school Californian kids. We are slightly close to Los Angeles, so we'll drive to get back. It's easier. It's less than three hours away, way less. But we where in TJ yesterday. We are in Ensenada now, well on our way to Ensenada, a place about two hours or an hour and thirty minutes from Tijuana, depending on what road you took. Whereas you tried to chose the new road, due to temblors, a good part of it was taken down. Bad enough, that's where you got to see the ocean and the sunset and the boats and this one tiny island. So we took the inside road, which to me, was beautiful as well. Maybe even more beautiful. It's a valley with mountains and everything is green and there are big trees and there is a very small town with a primary school and horses and tiny stores. Miles and Jamie get out of the car to take a piss close to the mighty, strong horses, since there's no one around. Aileen is taking a picture of Miles' butt cheeks claiming that it's art and that the body is beautiful, while we all just turn around. I can hear Miles and Jamie laughing and Alex cursing at them. I look at Matt and focus only on him, and smile. He smiles back. I try to picture what was it that made me sit on top of him and kiss the shit out of him that night, but there is nothing. I see and find nothing. I try counting his flaws, but in a way I'm pretty sure he's doing the same about me as well, so I turn and with my binoculars see some horses or cows very far away having intercourse. I come to the conclusion that I was very alone, and really drunk. Who knows, who cares. Nick has fallen asleep after reading a book called ' The Dangerous Boys: Book Four ' . That was before he read another book. Then fall asleep again.

I am so sure he doesn't even finish them.

Inside his open rucksack you could see his variety of books, from a book by Mary Higgins Clark to a children's book called ' Dear Dumb Diary' to even another children's book called ' Because of Winn Dixie' or however you spelled that dogs name, who cares?.

Back on the road, from away I could smell something burning. But it smelled good, not the annoying type but a good one. I reached through Alex's rucksack and pulled out a box of camel cigarettes. He looked at me and asked me if I wanted to try some. I said yeah. Camel cigars aren't my brand but, which is? If its the first time I do this.

"How come you wanna try it?" He narrowed his eyebrows a little which made me smirk.

"Because I wanna," I concluded.

He thought about his response for a second and nodded.

"Okay, you want me to light it for you?" He asked and handed the stick to me.

" I don't wanna light it up yet. And if you're wondering, I am more than capable of doing this myself, okay?" I gave him a little glare. He smiled again foolishly and tickled my neck.

"Okay okay then, just don't burn your fingers and come crying to me." He said and with that, put his hoodie back on and closed his eyes. He was tired. A certain song about a place in California by Devonté Hynes was on thanks to Miles. He was driving and Aileen was focused on talking to Matt. Nick was still asleep with his dog book in his hand, and Jamie was drinking. I have no idea from where he got a bottle from. He seemed alone in the back with Nick. As I turned I realised he had earphones on.

I took the cigarette and put it in between my lips, trying to find a comfortable way to fit it. I slightly bite it. I just had it in my mouth without lighting it. I could get used to this. As we walked by a small house there was a girl holding a bucket of water. Since I am in the window of this about to be convey, she saw me. I smiled but she didn't. Then I realised it was because I had a damn cigarette in my mouth. Kids don't like cigarettes, they are bad. I shouldn't like them. I'm not a kid. But, I am setting a bad example. Regardless of my thoughts, I decided to light it up. As I consumed the soon to be smoke I remembered that crazy night where I got high and saw Zac. But there's no way I could see him right now, with so many people around. Plus, he wouldn't want to see me smoking around. I coughed and remembered I had some problem with my lungs, and threw the cigarette out the window. I don't have anything wrong with my lungs. I can't possibly get used to this.

Then I saw a beautiful mountain. So green, so peaceful, so free. I often imagined myself hiking mountains in valleys and staying, living in the wilderness forever. Forever isn't for everyone. I'd listen to my favourite bands and make flower crowns and then come back down and sell them to kids in exchange of food or beer and lemons. When I saw something as special as this I always thought I should share this special little moments with someone. Or make a poem about them or write them down somewhere. But I never did this. I always let them slip away in the back of my head and not remember them.

As we passed I saw what I did not expect to see, an orphanage.

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HEEY there! Sorry for the wait. I was going to make this chapter longer but I considered I'd made you wait too long so I'll continue on the next chapter. Love ya all,

-Luli