Short Story / Unsure

I rested one hand on the steering wheel as I gazed out at the rising sun. Maybe Jade was looking out her window at the same sight. She always mentioned to me how she never sat and watched the sun rise or set. I hoped the trip would give us a chance to do just that. My cellphone vibrated in my right pocket. It was my mom.
"Ma, I just left 5 minutes ago."
"I know, sweetheart. I was just making sure you have the directions to the hotel in Salt Lake City."
"You gave them to me before I left, they're in the front seat."
"Okay, I was just making sure." There was a silence and I heard my mom take a deep breath. "Grace, you be careful, okay?"
"Don't worry, I will."
"Promise me?"
I smiled. "I promise."

I pulled into Jade's driveway at 7:35AM. It was just enough time to not rush. I rang the doorbell and her mom answered.
"Hey there," she seemed to force a smile. "Jade is just finishing her packing. Come on in."
I followed Mrs. McCutchen's gesture and took a seat on their couch. I had been to their house many times, but each time the furniture would be moved. While this amused me, it mostly confused me.
"You are taking her to Ogal..?"
"Ogallala, Nebraska. My old home town."
"I see," she slowly chewed her gum. "And your mom knows, of course?"
I nodded. "She booked a hotel for us."
Mrs. McCutchen raised her eyebrows. "Uh huh. You don't mind if I have her number?"
I shook my head and quickly wrote it down for her. She folded it and put it in her pocket. I looked away from her, my palms starting to sweat. I rubbed them on my pants.
"You did all the check ups on your car then?"
I looked up and nodded. Her gaze pierced into my eyes. "Yeah, an oil change and a tune up."
She smiled lightly. I watch as she itched her chin, finally looking away from me. I wanted to bolt out of there so badly, but leaving without Jade would defeat the purpose of me coming over in the first place.
"Jade, honey!? Are you finished?" Mrs. McCutchen yelled toward the stairs.
"Yeah mom! I'll be down in a second!"
A chill ran down my spine. I watched the stairs, waiting for her to descend.
I met Jade about three years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles. She was 12 and I was 13. I was at the mall alone. My mom's idea of trying to get me to make friends. I just dragged along from store to store, bored out of my mind until I was hungry. And that's when I met Jade. Guess my mom knew what she was talking about. Jade walked right up to me while I was eating and introduced herself. She said no one deserves to eat alone. Those six words stuck with me forever, and so did she.
"Sorry it took me so long," she grinned dragging her suitcase. It made two thumps before it caught up with her and smacked her heels. She tumbled down the stairs, the suitcase falling on top of her.
I jumped up from the couch and ran over to her. "Jade, are you okay?" I lifted the suitcase and set it aside. She looked up at me laughing. My heart caught in my throat. Jade Nichole McCutchen. Her frizzy, curly brown locks covered her face and I watched as she blew the strands away revealing her green eyes. I once told her that they reminded me of my comforter. She laughed and called me a jerk. I didn't tell her I've had that blanket since I was 5 and would die without it.
She sat up and laughed, the bridge of her nose wrinkling, the freckle under her hairline disappearing into her forehead and her cheeks flushing red. I smiled and reached out my hand to help her up. She grasped it with her fingers. They were cold. They were always cold. And square. Perfectly square and long. Her ring finger had a freckle. Almost identical to the one under her hairline. But smaller, much smaller.
I reached down and picked up her glasses, the ones she hated and I loved. I gently put them on for her.
"Thanks," she smiled. "I'm such a klutz."
I shook myself out of my daze. "You think that's news?"
"Oh shut up!" She grinned as she shoved me.
Mrs. McCutchen grabbed Jade in a hug. "You be careful okay?" She let go of Jade and looked at the both of us. "Make sure you call me when you get to the hotel."
"Of course mom," she ran her fingers through her hair, breaking a few strands.
We stood in silence.
"Well," I shifted my weight back and forth. "We better get going." I started to walk towards the door. "Thank you Mrs. McCutchen for letting me do this."
She stared at me. Maybe even glaring. She looked me up and down. First my shoes, then my face. "Don't try anything funny," she hissed.
I felt the blood drain from my face. There was no way she could know. I scratched the back of my neck, trying to think of something to say. I watched Jade's brow furrow. She looked at me and then back at her mom.
I swallowed hard and coughed a reply. "Of course not, I'm very responsible Mrs. McCutchen," I reached over and grabbed Jade's suitcase. "I'll carry this out to the car."
Jade smiled. "Thanks, I'll be out in a second."
I nodded and walked away. The whole time I could feel her mom's eyes burning a hole in my back.

"Jeez. My mom does not know the meaning of 'we are going to run behind schedule'," she shut her door. "We aren't are we?"
I started to pull out. "We are right on time," I glanced in both directions, making sure there were no cars coming. "But you did cut it close. Oh, and put your seat belt on."
"I was just about to. Give me a chance to settle in," she laughed.
"I'm just trying to be safe. I don't want your mom to hate me more than she already does."
Jade flipped her hair and looked at me. God, I loved it when she did that.
"My mom doesn't hate you. If she did, would she let me go with you halfway across the country?"
Jade did have a point. "I guess not..."
"Right," she crossed her legs and leaned back in her seat.
"What about her telling me not to try anything funny?"
She looked down at her shoes and shrugged.
I gripped the steering wheel tighter as my heart started to pound. I wondered if Jade suspected me. What if she actually knows? I have never showed any indication of anything. There is no way she could know.
"It's way too quiet in here," she finally said.
"I have some CDs in the glove compartment," I reached over and opened it. "Put in Oval Opus. I haven't listened to them in ages."
"Hey, me either!" I could hear the smile in her voice. "I can't believe you still have this CD. I gave this to you when we first met."
"Like I would ever throw out Oval Opus."
"Good point. I'd probably kill you if I found out," she laughed and started to skip through the tracks, stopping on number six. Whisper. Our favorite song. I watched her sway back and forth to the beat. If it was my choice I would rather watch her than the road, but I wasn't in the mood to die.

"Jade, we're here," I reached over and lightly shook her.
"Mmm..." She groaned, twisting in her seat. I turned off the ignition and waited for her to wake up.
She was out cold when we left Las Vegas. I didn't blame her. I was wiped as well, but I knew I couldn't sleep just yet.
I brushed the hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. Even when she slept she glowed. I decided to let her sleep while I checked into the hotel.
When I got back to the car, I was surprised to see her sitting on the trunk, watching the sunset.
"Mind if I join?"
She shook her head, not taking her eyes off the sight. "Amazing," she breathed.
"Yeah, it is."
We sat in silence watching the sun turn from yellow to orange to red. The clouds slowly drifted across it, changing colors. Blue to purple to finally black.
Just as a few stars started to appear she rested her head on my shoulder. "I've always wanted to do this."
"I know," I snaked my arm around her waist, but quickly drew back.
"You knew?"
"Well yeah. I always remember what you tell me."
She sat up and looked at me. "I wish it would last longer."
I looked into her eyes, unsure of what to say. I wish it would last longer too? I wish you and I could sit here forever, your head on my shoulder, your breaths rolling across my neck...of course not. I couldn't say that.
She smiled her perfect smile, the beams of moonlight reflecting off her retainer. I smiled back and she rested her head on my shoulder again.

We walked into the hotel room. I tossed our suitcases near the window and plopped down on the bed. "I am so exhausted."
"Because sitting down is so difficult."
"Who was sleeping for half the trip?"
She smiled. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Right," I turned away from her. "Mcsnorypants."
"I'll show you mcsnorypants!" Before I had time to react, Jade tackled me off the bed and onto the floor.
"You jerk!" I started to laugh. "Get off me!" I immediately regretted my words.
"Fine, fine," she stood up and walked over to her suitcase. "I have to take a shower anyways."
I choked on my spit. "Shower?"
"I was stuck in a car for 9 hours," she sniffed her armpit. "I smell awful."
I started to feel beads of sweat form on my forehead. "Um, can't you use deodorant?"
"Grace, Psycho isn't real. I'll be fine."
I smiled slightly and nodded. "I know."
"Good," she threw her clothes over her shoulder and I watched as she walked to the bathroom.

The next morning I woke up sitting on the windowsill. I guess I had finally fallen asleep. Despite my initial exhaustion, I was up all night worrying about the weather. If it didn't go as the meteorologists had said it would, the trip would be ruined. I was counting on them to be right this time.
I looked over at Jade. She was sprawled out all over the bed, the covers thrown askew. I chuckled silently at the sight. Everytime I saw her like this, I wish she would never wake up.
I looked out the window and nearly screamed. It was snowing. It was actually snowing. I started shaking and I felt my blood start to rush through my body. I couldn't contain myself. I quickly shut the blinds and jumped on the bed.
"Come on!" I screamed. "We gotta get going!" I could feel my smile reach my ears.
"Where?" She looked up at me, her eyes half open.
I jumped off the bed. "Get dressed! Come on!"
"Alright. Alright."

Jade touched her eyes. "Why do I have to wear a blindfold?"
I tightened the knot and made faces in front of her to be sure she couldn't see anything. "Because. You can't see what's outside till I want you to."
She raised her eyebrows. "Why?"
"Jade," I put my hands on her shoulders. "This surprise is the main reason I've taken you out here."
She felt around for the bed and sat down. "I thought we took this trip so I could see where you used to live?"
I put my coat on. "Well yeah...but the main reason I took you isn't exactly my hometown. Although it contributes to it a whole lot."
"This is going to drive me nuts. What is it?" She reached over to touch me.
I grabbed her hand and helped her stand up. "You'll see. I promise."
We got out to the car and I helped her get in her seat. The snow was sticking perfectly and the way it was falling made me feel like I was in a snow globe.
I started the car and began to drive to Ogallala. After about 5 minutes Jade started to whine.
"Can I please take this off?" She sighed. "It's driving me crazy."
"Yeah. Of course." I started to smile. "Go ahead."
Jade slowly lifted the bandana over her head and opened her eyes.
"Oh. My. God," she pressed her face on the window. "I can't believe this!" She started to bounce around in her seat. "It's snowing!"
I laughed. "Yeah. That's what it's doin'."
"How did you- Why did you- oh my god!" Jade lunged over the armrest and grabbed me in the biggest hug. My insides turned to mush and I nearly ran off the road. "Thank you so much!" She pressed her forehead against the window and just stared.
Jade, in all her 15 years, has never once experienced a snowfall, let alone snow. I hoped for months that the weather would work out for our trip, and when the meteorologist said there would be a small snow storm over the Ogallala, Nebraska area, on December 17th, I thought I would piss myself.
Jade hated when I complained about it being so hot in California. She hated how I always said I missed the snow back in my hometown. She'd always tell me that I was lucky that I even got to experience it in the first place. But I told her she would experience all the wonders of it someday.
I could feel her impatience as she turned towards me and sighed. "Do we really have to wait until we get to your hometown before we get to go out and play in it?"
"Well technically no. But trust me, I think you might want to just watch it for a while."
She nodded and looked out the window again. "Okay, I trust you."

I started to recognized various landmarks. "Hey, we are almost there."
She turned and smiled at me. "You have no idea how happy I am. Seriously, thank you."
I felt my face turn red. "It's really no big deal."
She placed a hand on my shoulder. "It is."
I stopped breathing for a split second. "Well, we aren't going to get out at my house. I'm just going to drive by and to show it to you."
"Why?"
I laughed. "Well someone else lives there. I'm not too sure how much they'd appreciate us playing around in their yard."
She laughed too. "Might be just a little weird."
"We'll just go to the park. It's only two blocks away."
She grinned from ear to ear. "Okay."
We stopped by my house but didn't stay long. Now that I was so close to truly making Jade happy, I really wasn't interested in showing her my childhood home. I could kinda feel the same from her, but I wasn't sure.
When we got there, I parked the car in front of the open picnic area. We both sat silently and waited. I wasn't sure what we were waiting for. I turned the engine off and stared at her. She was still watching the snow fall. Then she looked at me.
"I'm scared."
I reached out and brushed the hair out of her eyes. "Why are you scared?" I froze, suddenly realizing the gesture I just made.
Jade blushed and tucked the rest of her hair behind her ear. "I'm just scared I won't like it," she glanced back out the window. "It's too pretty to hate."
I looked into her eyes and gently placed my hand on hers. "Trust me, okay? You'll love it."
She nodded and we both stepped out. When I looked over at her, her eyes were closed. I walked over to her and laughed. "Open your eyes."
She shooed me away. "Wait. I just want to feel it."
I closed my eyes with her, hoping that maybe we could connect for this small moment. Hoping that she would know how I was feeling.
I heard her laughter and I opened my eyes. She was spinning around in circles, her arms stretched and her tongue hanging out, probably hoping to catch a flake. I ran over to her and tackled her into the snow.
"Make a snow angel."
"I don't know how."
"Like this," I flapped my arms and legs and she followed my actions.
She stopped and looked at me. "Now what?"
"Well, we look at them."
She smiled and we both stood up to see our creations.
As we looked at our angels, I felt something I've never felt before. I wanted, more than anything, to be with her forever.
"Jade, I have to tell you something."
She turned and looked at me. The snow was still falling and it fell like slow-motion around her face. I couldn't speak. Everything I've ever loved about her just illuminated more than I could ever begin to describe.
She brushed a snowflake off my nose. "What is it, Grace?"
I froze. I could feel myself sink back into reality, falling away from my silly little dream. My heart beat faster, the fear of losing her, overwhelming me once more.
"Happy birthday."