Tripping| Van McCann

2.The Beginning

Van's P.O.V.

I swore that I had never heard of a request like that. I've known she's my neighbour and we'd met each other for dinners but we hardly said anything to each other's face whenever her mum came around by our house or my family did. So under her sudden yet surprising request for a ride, I decided by best to pack up some clothes for it.  Perhaps I could go to Larry's afterwards.

The next day I showed up at her house as I drove the car nearby. She was struggling with her luggage and her mum showed up near the gate. Her mum followed her daughter's eyes to meet mine. She smiled at me as I got out of the car and greeted her properly.

"Hi, Mrs Joyce," I smiled at her. Her eyes scanned from my head to toes and averted back to her daughter.

"Let me help you with the luggage," I offered politely, Sammy reluctantly let go of the luggage as I put it in the boot. "We're off to go," I smiled at both of them.

Sammy waved goodbye to her mum as they hugged each other. "Have a nice trip!" her mum shouted behind us. "You might as well bring a boyfriend back home!" She rolled her eyes to her mum.

"So you're supposed to have your grad trip?" I looked at her as she fastened her seat belt.

"Yeah?" she put on her poker face as usual.

"So where are we going?"

"Just drop me off there," she pointed randomly at a street sign.

"Huh?"

"Alright, I'll pay you off. Just drop me there," she took her purse out and stuffed a £10 note into my free hand with impatience.

"Nah, if you just want me to drop you off within a mile, I wouldn't need you to pay for it," I pulled the car over and looked at her sternly. "It wasn't your real intention, innit?"

She sighed, looking out of the window. "Fine, I'll just go there on my own then." She put her hand on the door, ready to push it open. Though I had already locked all the doors before she grasped the handle and pushed it open unsuccessfully.

"I can let you go, but just tell me why are you doing this?" I turned to face her.

"It's none of your business," she snapped.

"Well, if you never tell me, I'll just hit the road again," I shrugged as I placed my hands over the steering wheel, my feet hitting the accelerator. The car sped up and we were ahead of the destination she'd said to be.

"Alright, I'll tell ya. Pull the car over first." She surrendered after all.

I pulled the car over again, and I turned to face her. Her eyes averted to the street view as she slowly opened her mouth.

"I was planning to get away from my family." she paused. "I think you know that my mum has a boyfriend and they always get into fights. He was an alcoholic and he just snaps about me all the time. That was frustrating for me as they want to get married. So I came up with a lie, telling my mum I'll go on a graduation trip for a fortnight with my mates and that's it," she pouted.

"Well," I was trying to find the right word. "So you must have somewhere to go. I can get you there."

"Erm..."

"What?"

"I've told her that we'll be going to Llandudno so..." she started hesitantly but I immediately cut her off.

"We can go together," I gave her a big reassuring smile. "I've got my mates there and it wasn't very far away from here!" I pressed my foot against the gas pedal with excitement. It's been long for me to go back to my hometown after all.

"Wouldn't that be inconvenient to you? I mean you didn't tell your parents about it yet," she frowned.

"Never mind, I'll just text them about it," I said cheerfully. "Let's go!"

I hit the gas as the car sped off, leaving the neighbourhood we've known for years behind. Birds chirped and tree branches screech after us. As if they didn't want us to venture into the unknown and leave the familiar ones home.