Taste of Freedom

"Josie!" Ellie shouts from the end of the driveway, "Come on, we're gonna be late!" Late? I'm never late.

"I'm coming!" Quickly grabbing my vans from the porch, I stumble down the steps attempting to untie them. I couldn't do it.

"Dammit Jos, sit down," Ellie rips the Vans from my hands, quickly untying them and then shoving them on my feet.

I giggle at the action. "Okay, mom, I'm ready now."

"Come on, come on," Ellie grabs my hand and drags me down the driveway. Grinning, I stumble after her towards the car. I can always count on Ellie to be the responsible one.

"Hi, can you please tell me where you're taking us?" Ellie leans into the passenger window of the Uber. I jump up and down next to her, rubbing my bare arms.

"Uh... " the Uber driver starts, quickly scrolling through his phone to read the address.

Maybe this outfit was a bad idea. I mean it is December in Minnesota. "Ellie come on," I whine. It's too late to change my outfit anyways.

She hits me lightly, "Shut up!"

"315 1st Avenue North, Minneapolis?" the driver finally spoke up.

"Yep!" Ellie pushes me, "Get in."

I quickly open the car door and push myself in. The hot air hits me like a wall. "Thank god," I mutter. I lean back into the seat, letting the warm air wash over me.

Riding in the Uber, I could tell it was going to be one of those nights. That feeling of pure happiness and teenage recklessness; so much adrenaline to the point where you could run a mile and still be grinning. One of those nights where nothing could kill your high.

Pressing my cheek against the cold window, my eyes followed the smattering of street lights, traffic signs, and lit-up billboards.

"Okay, so Claire and Dani are just going to meet us there I guess," Ellie types loudly on her phone. Her freshly-done nails make sure I can hear every word she is typing. "They're getting an Uber now."

"Okay," I shrug. I couldn't care either way. As long as they come. Merging onto the interstate, everything becomes a blur of color. The combination of soft pop music pumping through the speakers of the car and the bright city lights make me even more elated. My slight nerves feel insignificant compared to my bubbling excitement.

Tonight was the night.

With my parents out for town for three whole days, I couldn't have felt lighter, happier. Three whole days of freedom, and this is exactly how I planned on spending them.

"Is the corner of 1st okay?" The Uber driver looks at Ellie and I through the rearview mirror. For some reason it makes me laugh.

Giving me a sideways glance while simultaneously clacking away on her phone, Ellie chirps a quick, "Yeah that's perfect!"

As the Uber slows to a stop, I prepare to jump out onto the bustling Minneapolis street. We don't need a repeat of last time. Running into oncoming traffic isn't a good idea in case you were wondering.

After safely crossing the street, we near the long line of people wrapping around the corner of the building. My eyes glanced up and down the line searching for the familiar bleach blonde hair and gelled back hair so sculpted it could never move. "There!" I shout, nudging Ellie. Excitedly, I skip towards Claire and Dani in line. "Hey!"

"Ohmigod girl, you look so good!" Dani immediately embraces me in a hug. "But shit how are you not freezing?" His familiar cologne eases my slight nerves, but I become even more excited.