"I heard about her, she's bad for you."
"Like you were any better."
"She's going to ruin you."
"Then let her."
Blake Gunner always looked for the bad in people, to know that he's not the only one. Yet to also see if they can defeat the bad like he t...
We stood at the underground parking lot of the hotel and got ready for the long road ahead of us. The bellhops were kind enough to load all our luggage correctly into the cars, and Axel provided a tip for their hard work. Dmitri came to see us off as well as Uncle Sterling. He helped the past two days expressively, especially with the house. Momma, Tamia, and Lana went out and bought new appliances and extra things that I'd need in the home while we cleaned the house, inside and out. I gave a spare key to Dmitri so that he can check up on it once in a while before I arrived. Besides, I wanted him to consider being my housemate, I didn't want to live in there all by myself.
"You should definitely meet up with him when you're there. Hopefully, Carter will remember him," Dmitri said to Lana as I closed the hood of the Audi and turned to them.
"Who?"
"Dmitri's older brother, I hope he's as sweet as you." Lana smiled to which Dmitri did a dismissive wave of his hand and gushed. Lana gave me her crutches because they were the only thing left to put in the car. Since Momma drove with Axel and Tamia, I could put the crutches on the backseat.
"Well, Blake. I'll see you in a couple of weeks!" Dmitri slapped my back enthusiastically that made Lana giggle. She leaned against the car in a red strappy tank top, black jean shorts and converse. Her hair finally washed and combed to perfection. I hugged Dmitri, and of course, he'd embrace Lana, and at that moment, I realized what a good friend he actually was. He didn't change over the years, I did, yet he still stuck around through thick and thin.
Lana wasn't confident in walking yet, so I helped her to where Axel's Mitsubishi was parked and where the others were. She greeted Uncle Sterling, and for once, he was genuinely kind and said she didn't have to come all the way just to say goodbye to him. I took it seriously more than she did but I let it slide when I felt her hand tightened in my hold. Lana did that whenever she sensed I'd do or say something inappropriate and, in a way, I was grateful because I wouldn't know what I'd do.
After we said our final goodbyes, we began our long journey back to Illinois. Somehow it went quicker than when we drove up to Minnesota, and we only made one stop in the afternoon for gas and a few snacks. Lana controlled the music while I drove and it wasn't awkward after the kiss she gave me on my birthday. There was a feeling inside me that made my stomach turn like that wouldn't be our last.
We reached our neighborhood when the sun became eye level and was an orange ball that merged with the sky's yellow, pinkish hues. The clouds seemed distant like Lana's hand out the window as she let her hair fall in her face with the wind. Thirty Seconds to Mars blasted through the speakers as I tapped my index finger against the wheel to the rhythm.
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