Lorenzo's Lucky Number

1| goodbye gas station

"I would feel much safer If you told me where you're taking me, you know."

I closed the door of his Jeep Wrangler and settled in the passenger seat. I wouldn't show it, but I was more nervous than I've ever been. Why was I so quick to run off with him? He could be taking me anywhere, how could I possibly know what was going through his mind? It still wasn't too late to leave. My hand crawled to the door handle and I gripped it tightly. I wanted to but I didn't. I should—but I shouldn't.

"Why do you wanna feel safe? Isn't it exciting to not know?"

I released the handle and hoped he wouldn't be able to see my worry, but when I looked at him he was already focused on driving with a grin.

"I don't even know your name! I know nothing about you, I-"

And that's where I began to panic. It was now too late to get out, and I felt my heart beat rapidly inside my chest. The burning feeling from when I met him was back, but this time it wasn't a pleasant sensation. I was frozen, thinking of everywhere he could take me and what he would do; the possibilities were endless.

"It's exciting, right?" he said in response to my mental breakdown.

"No!" I huffed. I took deep breaths to calm myself, but also to show him I was serious.

"Fine," he paused while he ran a red light, "my name is Lorenzo. Feel better?"

After several cars honked he spoke again, "Look, I ain't gonna do anything to you. I just wanted to show you something 'cause you looked stressed. All your questions will be answered soon."

Besides him driving through a red light, It did make me feel better. I was quick to trust people, which often resulted in me getting hurt, but I decided to stop worrying and see where he would take me.

"Okay. I'm Evelina. Evelina Thai."

"That's a beautiful name, Evelina." he said, pronouncing the "th" as a "d", something everyone around here does but It never stood out until he spoke.

There was that charm of his again; I swore my name never sounded so good before. I felt heat rise in my chest once again.

I doze off looking at Lorenzo. The sun was shining on him, turning his skin into a golden hue and illuminating his eyes to match the colour of whiskey. He was just breathtaking. I wondered if anyone had admired me the way I was admiring him.

"I can see you staring, you know." he teased. I quickly caught myself and stopped.

"As If!" I groaned, embarrassed that I let him see through me.

I already felt myself warming up to him and I hoped it wasn't a mistake.

"Happens all the time," He chuckled, "If I weren't busy tryna keep us alive, I'd be staring at you too."

The comment caught me off guard. Before I could think of what to say he spoke again.

"Why are you so surprised? You're beautiful."

"Not at all." I replied, earning a groan out of him.

"Let's start with your eyes," he started.

"I hate my eyes."

It was true. I had eyes that were slightly upturned naturally, giving me a resting bitch face. Plus, when media shames my culture's features, it's kind of hard to love myself.

"They were the first thing I noticed about you. And your hair-"

"Has no volume whatsoever."

"-Is so long and smooth. Also your nose-"