He Depends on You || Porter Robinson

Part Eight

The day Porter got an offer to go on tour with Tiesto was one I will never forget.

Porter had started get some major traction and even signed a record deal with OWSLA to produce his first album. Days were now spent at Porter's house playing video games and producing music. Multiple times a day Porter would thrust a pair of headphones into my hands and demand I give whatever new thing he was working on a listen. I felt proud that he valued my opinion so much. And I was happy to give him my uneducated, yet open and honest feedback.

He had been going into overdrive working on music, so I also felt it was my duty as his best friend to help get him out of the house every once in a while. And on this particular day, I had dragged him away from his computer and insisted we go for a drive. It was starting to warm up outside as spring was settling in. And driving with the windows down, singing along to our favorite songs was exactly what both of us needed. I glanced over and watched as Porter held his hand out the window, gently letting the air flow push it up and down. I smiled to myself and pulled off onto a dirt road.

"Wait where are you going?" Porter asked, trying to read the rusted street sign on the corner as it flew by.

"Well since we are outside for the first time in forever. I figured we'd have a real outdoor experience." I said with a smile.

"If this is your attempt at kidnapping me there are really easier ways to do it." He said with a chuckle and sat back into his seat.

"Oh trust me...if I were to kidnap you, you'd never see it coming." I smirked.

"Sneaky sneaky, Bug." He muttered. I just shrugged and kept my eyes on the road. A few moments of comfortable silence passed as the deep green of forest trees blurred by. Finally, I slowed the car as we pulled up to our destination.

"And voila!" I said in my best French accent as a small swimming hole came into view.

"Eno Quarry!" Porter exclaimed. I put the car in park and smiled at his genuine excitement, "Dude I haven't been here in fucking years." 

"I know! Me neither." I replied. "I figured I'd try to remind you of all the great things about this place so that you won't be so quick to leave it." I smiled shyly. Half kidding, but also half serious. There have been talks of Porter going on tour after tour recently. And although I was immensely proud of him, I couldn't help but feel a little anxious at the thought of my best and only friend leaving.

"Hey now," Porter said and turned to face me, "I'm not going anywhere without you."

I smiled and felt my heart swell. And although it was a nice thing to say, but I think we both knew that Porter might have no control over who comes along on his whirlwind musical journey across the world.

"Well, we all know you'd be a mess without me. It would be tragic, really." I said sarcastically as I lifted myself out of the car and shut the door. Breathing in the fresh air.

"Oh yeah for sure." Porter said with a chuckle.

We made our way down a small hill ending at the rocky banks of the pond. The water felt chilly but good on our toes. We sat on a pair of boulders just chatting about everything and nothing all at the same time. Suddenly Porter looked up over my shoulder and he broke out into a devilish grin.

"If I give you twenty bucks will you jump?" He asked. I gave him a confused expression and then turned around to see what he was looking at. In the short distance I could see a small group of people standing on top of a small cliff, all waiting to jump into the water. I felt my lips curl into a smile.

"Bet." I said excitedly and stood up. Porter looked at me with a surprised expression.

"Your unexpected daredevil streak never ceases to surprise me."