escape of my dreams.
***
I awoke to sunlight spilling across my bed through the blinds. I blinked, adjusting my eyes to the light, and looked at my alarm clock. It read ten fifteen a.m. in big red numbers. Shuffling out of my blankets, I stood up and grabbed my robe, putting it on before venturing out into the kitchen. I found a note on the counter.
Taylor,
I had to go to work today. Call me if you need anything. Relax and sleep.
Love,
Mom
Planning to do just that, I grabbed a bowl of cereal and went into the living room. Deciding I needed a good comedy, I put in the movie Easy A and settled onto the couch. I was about halfway through when I heard a knock on the door. I waited because no one was supposed to be coming; when there weren’t any plans, no one really knocked on the door. I heard another knock, so I went to the door and cautiously opened it.
Kyle was standing there, dressed in all black again. I froze for a moment, surprised; he was the last person I’d expected.
“Hi.”
“Uh, h-hi,” I stammered, still surprised.
“Will you come somewhere with me?” he asked as he watched me.
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise; I need you to trust me.” His eyes sparkled mischievously.
“A surprise? You don’t even know me.”
“Yup, just come with me,” he said confidently.
I bit my lip nervously, wondering how he could possibly have a surprise for me.
“Unless your boyfriend would have a problem with you hanging out with me…”
“No, he wouldn’t.” I locked my gaze on his, and thought for a minute. I could still hear the movie playing in the living room. I wasn’t doing anything exciting that I couldn’t do later.
“Why not?” I answered curiously. He grinned at me, transforming his face.
“So do you want to change?” He pointed at me. I looked down, suddenly embarrassed. I forgot that I had my robe on.
“Yes,” I almost yelled. “I’ll be right back.” I left him at the door.
I practically ran to my room and shut the door a little too hard. I grabbed a pair of jeans, a white tank top, and my jean jacket and quickly put them on. I brushed my hair and threw it up in a ponytail. I slid my feet into my white tennis shoes, grabbed my brown leather purse, and went back to the living room. I found him standing in the living room watching the movie I hadn’t turned off yet.
“Um, come right in.”
He looked up at me, looking a little guilty, but didn’t apologize.
“Ready?” he asked. I looked away from him, found the remote, and shut off the TV and movie. I went out the door, and he followed.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” I questioned as we walked toward his house.
“I graduated at the beginning of summer.”
“From here?” I racked my brain again to remember if I had seen him before but came up empty.
“No, my dad lives here, and I moved back in with him after I graduated. My mom moved us to LA when my parents divorced, and my dad stayed here. I went to school there, so I only got to spend time with him a little in the summers and maybe here and there during the year. I decided to spend more time with him and have a new start somewhere else,” he explained in more detail than I’d expected. Now I knew where he had gotten his nice tan complexion.
“Oh, wow. L.A. That must have been nice. “
“It was okay. I guess it just becomes less of a big deal when you live there for a long time.” He was now standing next to a sleek black car. I went to the passenger’s side as he swooped in and opened the door for me. I blushed, surprised, and got in, taking in the nice black leather interior. Then he shut my door, went around to the driver’s side, and got in.
“Yours?” I asked, still examining it.
“My dad’s. Not really my style.” He backed up and began driving.
How could this not be someone’s style? I wondered.
We both were silent, and I became nervous, not knowing where we were going or what we were doing. He reached his hand