She didn't trust her own eyes as she eased back down to the floor. Hopes and doubts flooded her mind as to who it was waiting outside for her. Without hesitation, she took the needle from the record and placed it to the side. Silence filled the room except for the faint hum of the car engine outside. A bit of courage seemed to sink its way from her shoulders to her hands as she walked with crossed arms towards the door.
A second knock startled her, yet she closed her eyes for a moment of peace and extended a hand towards the door handle. Fear gripped her ownly briefly before realizing who waited for her. "Jaimie?I could barely recognize you," said Jewel pitifully. She realized how anxious she had gotten only after hearing her question aloud.
"Yes! I have something to show you," Jaimie excitedly stated. "And what the hell are you doing in my apartment? Feeling sorry for yourself? Come on, we're going for a ride!" All of the self-pity Jewel built up whilst drinking alone faded in Jaimie's presence. The love she felt towards her friend could doust any fear. She was certainly rare.
Half-smiling, Jewel gave in, "let me get my jacket." Jaimie moved to the driver's side to wait for Jewel to come out. She slipped Parliaments from her pocket and gently placed one on the edge of her lips. As she lit the cigarette, she turned right to stare at the doorway, still anticipating Jewel to come out any moment. "Did I leave anything to drink inside?" she thought to herself. The high she had been riding out all day dimmed long before she pulled into the parking lot. "Fuck it, I'll see what she's doing."
Jaimie's intentions were obvious and so was her need to avoid sobriety. She flicked the cigarette and approached the ajar door. Jewel had changed her clothes and lain four shots beside Jaimie's vanity. Laughing light heartedly, "Shoulda known you were in here trying to get real cute and drunk." Jewel burst with laughter already having downed whiskeys all evening. Adoration and inibriation was written all over their faces. Within a few moments, Jaimie imagined all the possible things that could happen tonight.
The reflection she cast in the vanity calmed her for a moment before Jewel urged on, "Alright love, where are you taking us?" "Someplace where we can actually see the night sky. Streetlights are everywhere and hiding my surprise from you," Jaimie slyly stated. Jaimie recognized but paid no mind to Jewel's puzzled look. "What in the world..." Jewel thought to herself and then eased towards the door. She turned the lock and looked back to see if Jaimie was following. She could tell Jaimie's imagination was carrying her into unexplored emotions.
Jewel neared the passenger side of the car, pacing her movements so Jaimie would get in first. "Still can't believe your parents got you this car. This is a lot just for moving closer to them," Jewel stated bluntly. Jaimie ran her left hand across the hood of the car as she approached the driver's seat. "Yeah, I'm still star struck. I mean c'mon, it's a fucking Aston Martin," Jaimie insisted with a peculiar anxiousness. She recalled her last trip to the cinema with her father. In the last scene of the film, a handsome young man drives one off a cliff. Exciting memories of sharing with her father, what the car meant to her, and Jewel's presence sank into Jaimie's heart.
She playfully stared at Jewel, wide-eyed with manic intent. A short, relieving laugh erupted from the two girls and each reached for the other's hand. The glass was suddenly showing signs of rain. Attention was elsewhere before a gust of wind cooled the sweat on their skin. "Let's get out of all this light," Jaimie informed Jewel as she let go of her hand and opened her palm. "What?" Jewel asked bewildered. "My keys, miss" Jaimie humorously suggested. Jewel laughed at her own drunken confusion and presented the keys with a kiss on the hand. Jaimie just shook her head and anticipated what would become of the night.
The key to the DB4 felt unique amongst others she didn't have use for. Jewel eased her right arm out of the window to feel the rain at the very instant Jaimie started the engine. With closed eyes, she felt the vibrations in the car and rain making its way over her skin. She didn't see Jaimie in this instant, adoring her, holding onto each second as if their time together would cease. Jewel flashed a smile in her direction, "I'm ready when you are" still closing her eyes.
