west

for now.
the final version




apologies
addictions
confessions
emotions
secrets
truths
memories
fantasies
realities

It was all coming down, his favorite memories, his innocence his friends his family it was all crashing down. His girlfriend was always crying during their most intimate moments. His frustration grew bigger and harder, his child like frustrations grew. He talked to an old friend who understood and wanted to hold him, late at night she prays that he will be alright. But nothing is ever alright. He stays up all night thinking. Promises are exchanged of their long journey west, no money, a favorite band, and no destination except away from where they are at. His mother in her house is asleep, while his father is still crying. As the world sleeps hie is still crying. Best friends, old lovers, teenagers, and dreamers come in contact with their harsh realities. And she watched, she couldn't do anything but listen when he felt like speaking. And watch when he wasn't looking.



hey.
hello?
Its me.
hey.
I cant take this anymore.
take what?
I cant do it any longer...can I come get you?
sure. she pauses. how much money do you have?

enough.


lets get out of here.


He picked her up in his sisters old explorer. She remembers when his sister drove it. And there it began. They headed west, they had no idea where west was, but they went there.

do you remember when we would talk about this trip in 9th grade?
yeah.
I thought about it so much, I cant believe this is actually happening, right now. this is actually happening.
I know, I never thought it would be this soon.
They stare, as they drive, the mood feels tense, he wants to spill. he speaks;
wheres that CD?

She grins and quickly climbs into the back seat over bags and pillows, she comes back with a stack of CD cases

which one?

He motions for her to take the wheel, their on a long road surrounded by desert and red rock. He takes the CD and puts it in the CD player, the cool music calms the road and everything fades into the background. he starts to cry, she listens. he cries. They talk about how good things where when they where younger. The sun begins to set, the cotton candy skies surrounds them. Soon their driving fast and singing loudly out the windows their voices echo, the wind blows their hair, and they finally feel free, that song comes on, they still sing. they sing that line that she loves. He turns to her, he stares. Time stops. and the both stare. They have a smile in their eye. They keep singing.
It starts to get dark, they pull into a gas station, she goes inside. he leans against the car holding the gas pump. The breeze kisses his face, he closes his eyes and breathes.
He breathes.
She comes back holding candy bars chips and a coffee.

Wheres mine?
I could only hold one.
How am I supposed to stay awake?
Ill keep you awake. why else would I get coffee?

She smiles, He smiles back at her. They both laugh and start up the car. They drive on a windy road surrounded by rocks and cliffs. It reminds her of Christmas road trips with her family. It reminds him of driving to funerals. It reminds both of them when they wished they where together.

They pull of to the side of the road. She's already ahead. she walks around the grass. He comes back from behind the car holding a blanket and a bottle of wine.
whats that?
a blanket.
no the other thing.
I stole it.
from who?
my dad.
he drinks?
apparently.
theres a sense of sadness in his voice, but he's used to the reality. He spreads the blanket out and they stare at the stars while they talk, both taking turns drinking from the bottle. She speaks;
Do you remember that one summer when we would talk like this?
how could I forget.
I haven't felt this way in so long. I love you.

I love you too.
Your my best friend.
I know I am.
brat.

She smiles and turns to him, he makes fun of her and messes up her hair and they playfully hit and laugh at each other. She gets up and offers him her hand. He picks up the blanket, they leave the empty bottle. They stumble around with their arms slung around each other. They climb into the back seat, they settle on top of all their stuff, they aren't comfortable, but their too drunk to care. They lay next to each other and talk until their words stop making sense and fall asleep. She wakes up to the cold blue air that fills the car. She wraps the blanket around her shoulders and climbs out the sun roof. The smell of cigarettes wakes him. He sees the ends of the blanket hanging from the ceiling, He still smells like alcohol. He changes into a thin white shirt and climbs up the sunroof. They don't speak. she's staring off, the sun is coming up. They both watch. He reaches over her and grabs the box of cigarettes, she doesn't care, She hands him the lighter still looking out into the sky. And there they sit.
watching
hoping
dreaming
living.
together they felt safe. they dodged what was crashing down
and there they where Free.
and nothing seemed to faze them.