Alone Awaken

Chapter 9: Remi

Colton drives through campus with ease and turns left onto Central. Central is the main road that spans the entire small population of Fredonia. You supposedly could walk the whole town in one day. I've obviously never done it. I only go as far as the Willow tree.

"Can I roll the windows down?" Colton looks quickly at me then back to the road.
"Sure, you think I care about what my hair looks like?" I point to my half-up, half-down top knot that's seen better days.

Colton shakes his head side-to-side smiling. He rolls the windows down and turns up the radio.
"Is there anything you want to listen to?" He speaks over the gentle wind.

"Doesn't matter, I'm not picky." True.

He pushes each preset and shuffles through the local stations until here comes the sun by The Beatles start playing. "Aw yeah, LOVE this song!" He taps to the beat on his stirring wheel.

It's at the part where they sing sun, sun, sun, here it comes. Colton sings along. He sings without a care, as if I'm not even here. As if he's in his own world consumed with music. I can't look away from him. My eyes are glued to this magnificent man, who somehow, keeps finding his way back into my life today. Without even thinking, I sing the next verse with him.

"Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting. Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear. Here comes the sun. Here comes the sun and I say. It's all right." It's almost as if this song was meant to play for me. To hear at this very moment. Colton's the light in my life, melting away the cold harshness of my past. Let him melt it away.

Colton slows down to the stop light. His mouth is wide open, brows sky high in disbelief. In a high pitch tone he says "whaaaaaaaaat?!" And starts laughing. I laugh with him. I can not believe I just sang with a guy I just met. As if the last 4 years never happened. The light turns green and we're still laughing. The car behinds us beeps to bring us back to reality.

"Oh shit!" Colton laughs and starts driving. "So you can play and sing?" He lowers the radio to talk. Fuck, he said we didn't have to talk.

I clear my throat to prepare myself to be hounded by questions. "I, uh, can't actually play. I know nothing about the piano. I just, play." I look out the window so I can avoid his hazel eyes that read me so well.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa.. you just.. play?" He thinks for a second. "Is there a reason why you play? Because what I heard.. what I felt.." he coughs for a second as if he didn't mean to say what he just said. He told me earlier that he actually feels what people play. Did he feel my pain early this afternoon?

"When you heard me play.." I try to figure out what to say without saying too much. I can't dive into my past just like that. "When you heard me play, what did you feel?" I look at him and wait.

The wind tussles my long hair over my shoulder and wraps around my chin. I brush the strands back behind my neck and gather it to one side. I catch him staring at my neck. His eyes jump back to me in hopes that I didn't see him staring. The corner of my mouth turns up.

His eyes are back on the road. We turn into the mall strip and park in front of the liquor store. The errands he needed to run was a liquor run? Great. I'm a little bummed to know he drinks. Then again, it's college, everyone drinks.

He turns the engine off and takes the key out of the ignition. He stares at his keys and his brow furrows. It's as if he's fighting with his own thoughts.

"I felt pain. Like you have something troubling you. When you left, I felt the need to ease your pain. I want to let that pain go, for you. Some how, this might sound crazy. But some how, I connected with you. I've been drawn to you since that moment." He shifts in his seat. "I know we just met, but I can't seem to be without you." He reaches for my hand and I let him hold it. I can feel his calluses against my fingertips. "You told me to leave you alone, but I don't think I can."

Whaaaaaaaat just happened? I feel like I've been asking myself this question all day!

I sit there, looking at his hands wrapped around my left hand. He's latched on to me in a way I can't explain. I know what he means, I know what he feels. I some how feel the same way. But how could I deserve this? After what I did? This has to be a trick. The work of some sadistic devil. No one finds a connection with someone so quickly. Dare I even say love. Love at first chord. Well that was cheesy-as-fuck.

"Colton, I-"
"Colton! Dude, I've been texting you!" A voice comes from Colton's window. He never rolled them up when he turned off the car. Colton whips around to the driver-side window and lets go of my hand.

"Josh What are you doing here?!" Colton bellows in frustration. "I told you I didn't forget!"

"Well fucking reply next time, it would have saved my ass from driving here." He points both thumbs at himself like he's of all-importance. My lip curls in disgust. I don't like this kid already.

"Oh, hello there." He winks at me. I feel nauseous. Yup, I'm going to barf.

"Josh leave her alone." Colton tries to deflect this Josh kid away from me.

"I'm just being friendly." He turns his attention to me. "You coming to the party pretty thang?" Pretty thang?

"Don't talk to me like I'm filled with air. Ok, brah?" I roll my eyes at him. What decade is he even living in? To actually think he can speak to women like they're a piece of meat.

"Ooooh feisty, I likey!" He sticks his tongue out while smiling. I'm gonna barf again.

"Josh. Go back to the house. Please." Colton stares at josh. I can't see his expression, but whatever it was, caused Josh to back away.

"Alright, I'll see you back there." He waves and leaves.

Colton turns back to me. "Sorry about him. He doesn't.. think." He makes an excuse for Josh.

If these are Colton's friends, I can see why he wants to spend time with me. I'm probably the closest thing to realness he has here.

"It's fine." I shrug. "Guys like Josh don't bother me, if anything I feel sorry for him. He can't see past his own ego to see what's actually in front of him, something great." I look out the window. "I bet he's passed countless girls that could have been the one for him. But too blind to notice them." I look back at Colton and find him gazing at me with a type of aw plastered on his perfect face.

"I'm glad we met, Remi." The right corner of his lips turns up then gradually creates a full smile. I smile back. "You can wait in the car if you want, I'll just be a couple minutes." He opens the door and leans out.

"K, can you leave your keys? I want to listen to the radio while I wait." I put my hand out with puppy-dog eyes.

"Already settling-in, I see." He laughs tossing the keys towards me and I catch them with ease. He turns and walks away pushing both hands into his jean pockets. His jeans tighten and snugs tight against his tight ass. I could watch that ass all day.

I finally pry my eyes away and place the keys in the ignition. I turn the keys to the first position and hear a click. The radio starts and I begin shuffling through the countless presets he has saved.

Florence and the Machine's Dog Days are Over plays and I can't help but keep it on this song. I've always loved the beat and rhythm to this is song and I can't help myself from letting the music consume me. Wait for the drop..

"Run fast for your mother run fast for your father. Run for your children for your sisters and brothers. Leave all your love and longing behind you can't carry it with you if you want to survive. The dog days are over. The dog days are done. Can't you hear the horses. Cause here they come."