lemonade | ethan

eighteen

my sleep is disrupted by the loud ringing of my phone as it sits face down on my night stand. i glance over at my window, expecting to see sunlight peering through but it's still dark.

i rub the sleep out of my eyes before picking my phone up. the time read 5:23AM. when i saw the caller ID was ethan, it made me slightly nervous.

"hello?" i put the phone on speaker before laying down against my pillow for i was so exhausted.

"hey, wu. are you awake?" his soft voice echoes throughout my empty room. i shuffled around in bed, becoming comfortable as my duvet lay heavily on me.

"no." i say in the most serious tone i could muster. but i end up smiling anyway.

i hear him chuckle on the other line. "i wanna show you something."

"so show me." i yawn.

"you're funny, dev." he laughs. "it's a place..." he explains. "now get your cute butt up, i'll pick you up in five."

and with that, he hangs up the call. i groan, turning over onto my back before rolling out of bed. literally.

i throw my unbrushed hair into a quick ponytail before throwing a hoodie over my t-shirt and shorts, knowing it would be chilly. especially since we're by the ocean. i take the slip on vans from my messy closet and put those on.

plopping down on my bed, i figured i could get in a little snooze sesh before he showed up. when did he say he'd get here? honestly, i stopped paying close attention when he said it was a place that he wanted to show me.

now get your cute butt up, i'll pick you up in five.

i take a long exaggerated gasp, stretching my arms out. "he called me cute." i chuckled, a grin from ear to ear as i still had my eyes shut from being so tired.

my phone dings from beside me, and i quickly take it to look at the notification.

ethan: come out

i get up, quickly walking down the stairs and quietly out the front door. i text my parents i'm going out for a morning run in the case they get suspicious of where i am so early in the morning.

ethan sits in the drivers seat of his car, windows down. "hey." he says in a quiet tone.

i smile, hopping into the passenger seat. "so where is this place anyway? is it far?" i ask. "i've got plans today."

"oh yeah? what're your plans?" he asks, his eyes fixated on the road.

i shrug. "i have church today at eight. you should come." i explain.

he sighs, "i wish i could, but i've got to pick up another girl later so i could take her to this special place too."

"oh come on," i playfully punch him in his shoulder. he laughs, shaking his head.

"no but, seriously. i have to deal with some family stuff." he says.

"tsk. you're holding back on me, dolan. i know you. family stuff is your most common excuse."

he purses his lips. "it's serious this time."

one thing i learned not to do in the time of knowing him was to get nosy. i know not to ask questions, to not bud into his personal life.

"it's a shame. i would've loved sitting in a church with you for hours." i sarcastically frown, in attempt to bring up the mood.

"maybe some other time." he chuckles.

by now, we were heading into town and out of the neighborhood. the street lights were shining still and there was no one out on the streets.

in a couple minutes, we were driving past town already and through the rural parts of brooklyn bay. through the trees sat a heavy fog that almost blurred our vision, but was clear enough to blend in with the trees.