My Time with a Future Music Star

Just Ride

The next morning, Lizzy and Ben checked out of the "Poolside" motel and informed Lizzy's landlady, Martha, that they'll be gone for more days. Ben drove Lizzy to the Midas gas station. "Fill 'er up, kitty cat!", Lizzy playfully ordered as she went to pay for the gas. "Such a long way from here.", Ben said to himself as he pumped the gas. "One day, there'll be TV screens on these pumps. And phones will have internet." Ben filled the car to full. "Move over", Lizzy ordered as she shoved him from the driver's seat, "I'll drive for a while." Lizzy started the car and drove from Midas.

Minutes have passed, and Ben still had some questions. "Are you Okay?", he asked. "Yeah", Lizzy answered, "I like to drive fast." She winked at him. "I love racing, you know." "Off to the races, then?", Ben asked nervously. "Yeah and wind in my hair.", she went on, "I want a convertible." "You should get a Mercedes.", Ben suggested. "Old ones from the '80s have them." "I'll keep that in mind.", Lizzy smiled. "What do you hope to do if everything goes well at the chateau?", Ben asked. "Maybe find a house on a beach and get Blake, Jack, and Chuck to move there with me." "You must love the West Coast.", Ben stated. "Yeah", Lizzy said, "This'll be your chance to see and stay at the chateau with me." "Yeah?", Ben asked. "Hell yeah.", Lizzy answered as she turned the radio on. It was a Bruce Springsteen song. "Hell yeah!", Lizzy went on, "that guy can sing!"

A few hours later, they stopped at another gas station. "Kitty cat, fill 'er up!", Lizzy playfully ordered again. "You can also drive." After fueling the car, Lizzy got her and Ben a Slurpee and drove out of the gas station. "Love casinos, Indian Reservations. But baby, if you love me, take me to the gas station.", Lizzy sang softly. "You must be the Queen of gas stations.", Ben stated. "There's a story to that too.", Lizzy said. "I used to travel the country coming from one gas station to the next. That was kind of the premise of the song." "What were you doing?", Ben asked. "Trying to be free.", Lizzy answered, "Free to ride, free to wander and end up in numerous gas stations. Gas stations are like resting points for the locations to visit. The open road." "What kind of music do you like?", Lizzy asked. "All kinds.", Ben replied, "Except any kind of metal." "I had a boyfriend that introduced me to metal.", Lizzy said, "He was musically inclined with a guitar." "Blake?", Ben asked. "No", Lizzy said, "Someone else. Someone I met in college." "Country gets annoying when you hear it 24/7", Ben continued. "I like Dolly Parton and Hank Williams Sr.", Lizzy said, "Would like to tour Nashville and Texas one day." "Maybe you will.", Ben said, "when you're with that new label. By the way, thanks for kissing me. You love to love." "No problem.", Lizzy laughed and smiled, "You're like a gentleman. A million-dollar man, that is." Ben suddenly remembered winning that million back in Atlantic City. "I used to play poker a lot with friends.", Ben explained, "So, I win a lot. I also have a feeling that the chateau will be our playground and we'll have fun." "I know we'll make it work.", Lizzy added. Ben continued driving while Lizzy looked at the different sites that passed by. She wondered if her future will be worth all of this. Especially if leaving her life in New Jersey and New York will be worth it as well.