-Victor.-
I feel the sun burning my right arm leaning against the open car window. The wind ruffles my hair off as I feel the salty taste of my lips, it's logical since we are at 33 degrees and I'm melting in sweat. Had I known a few weeks ago that I would be taking the road trip of my life today, I would never have believed it. At the thought, my stomach clenches. I am thousands of kilometers away from Benji, and still feel him closer than ever. I miss him and at the same time I don't. It is as if a part of me is glad to be so far from Creekwood, from my hard times and the pain I caused, even though my great love story, so subtly baptized by Simon, started there. One that caused so much suffering yet so much happiness. I hope Mia is fine, I truly do. But if I didn't acted the way I did the night of the spring fling ball, I probably would have lost everything. I hope one day she can forgive me, I shouldn't have made her carry one more dead weight without at least telling her before. I still believe she's amazing.
My thoughts go from one side to another. Going from the last time I saw Andrew escorting my then girlfriend, to Benji's lips brushing mine a second time. Yeah, they have been moments of crisis, moments of intense emotion and sadness. The nerve to remember keeps me alive, expectant and ready for what is to come, either good or bad. I may have gotten a little used to the feeling but taking an emotional punch is never easy for anyone, no matter how many times you've been hit. I start to feel nauseous until Pilar looks at me disapprovingly from the other side of the back seat. Surely she has seen my changing face as the different thoughts have attacked me all the way here. She hasn't had it easy either and I understand her annoyance, even when the trip has been good for her, I know that Pilar will never be entirely happy. And I'm sorry I can't do anything to fill that void of hers. Even, I think she has learned to live with it, the only thing missing is that we get used to its eternal existence.
"Pop" makes the chewing gum she has been chewing ever since we passed the eleventh toll booth ... she has been with it for three hours. She won't stop until she ends with the strip entirely. That's how persistent the Salazars are, clinging to something until they can't take it anymore. It reminds me of my parents' marriage. Lengthened until it broke, and it didn't matter if it broke, they retrieved the pieces, glued them together, and kept pulling. It was a chronicle of an announced separation. Damn, I must stop over-thinking things and enjoy the ride. While paying attention to the road I realize that it has been a long time since I saw such a blue sky. Not even when we lived back in Texas. As we move forward many clouds begin to infest it and the broad lines of indigo become thin and almost invisible. I can't help but smile, they look like pencil strokes made by Benji.
I smile like a fool and fall back into how warm his love makes me feel. I need him and mentally, I have him by my side. I'm caught in the reverie until the voice of my cousin behind the wheel, Leon, startles me.
"Hey, Victor. What do you always make a fool of or do you just not like being with us?," he says, disguising his words, softening the insult.
I just smirk and let a soft chuckle out. I will not let it affect me.
You know, I deserve this break. Starting now, I will simply limit my mind to go blank, enjoy the radio at full volume and stay happy. I deserve to be happy. Now it remains to know what awaits us at the end of the journey. We are in Mexico. What could go wrong?
YOU ARE READING
Love, Victor: Summer Nights by A. Torres and O. Alexander.
Teen FictionCover by Mary C. Written by A. Torres and O. Alexander