Page 54 of First in Line

This time, she only hugs me. Nestled in her warm embrace, I smirk at Jackson, who rolls his eyes. I’ve always liked her, and I know she feels the same. I’ve been spending more time here these past few months because it’s better than the trailer.

Since she won’t be able to braid Jackson’s hair now that we’re moving across the country, she sat me down and taught me how to do cornrows myself. “Be glad he has loose coils,” she’d told me. “4a is much easier to braid than 4c.” I’m not as good as she is, and I doubt I will ever be, but it looks good enough. And Jackson says he likes it better when I do it because it doesn’t hurt as much.

After she lets me go, Jada holds me by the shoulders firmly. “We’ll see you for Christmas, alright? And if you can’t make the drive, we’ll come to Indiana.”

“I’d love that, yes.”

My mom was never really in the Christmas spirit, so it wasn’t a big thing for me. But for two years now, I’ve been discovering the joys of the holidays through Jackson’s family, and I really enjoy it.

When she sees we’re doing the goodbyes, my mom drops her cigarette out the window and comes up to me. It takes about five minutes until we’re able to get into Jackson’s car and leave.

“Finally,” Jax lets out as he drives off. “I thought they’d never let us go.”

“They’re just worried about us.” I open my window and stick my arm out to wave goodbye.

“I know, but we were supposed to leave a little earlier.”

Once we’re out of town and on a straighter road, he rests his free hand on my thigh, where my dress has ridden up.

“Alright, nine hours to go. Eight tomorrow.”

“I can drive, too.”

“Of course.”

“And I’ll be working on your Wikipedia page.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, now that you’re starting F4, I figure it’s a good time to get one up and running. If sponsors or scouts look into it, you’ll look more professional and legit.”

“That’s a good call, Evie.”

“And of course, we can also play car games, to pass the time.”

“I’m listening.”

“I know there’s the alphabet game, where we have to find each letter out there, in alphabetical order. Can’t be a plate, has to be on a sign or a truck or something.”

“Okay.”

“Then we could also play Would You Rather, Truth or Dare, Never Have I Ever… And we have music, too.”

I do it right away, plugging my phone into the car and starting a playlist.

“Seventeen hours of Lana Del Rey and Would You Rather… I’m not surviving this,” he teases.

“You ungrateful a-hole,” I protest, swatting his hand away from my thigh.

“I’m kidding, Evie. This is perfect”

Still a little vexed, I look for something I know he’ll like and press play.

“Better?” I mutter as the opening of Kendrick Lamar’s latest album fills the space.

“I didn’t mind the other song. But yes.” When he tries to take my hand, I let him, and we entwine our fingers together. “I can’t wait for us to have our own place. Just you and me.”

Just him and me, in Indiana, in our very own house… It sounds like a dream. I can’t believe this is my life. Having our own place will be amazing. We’ll be staying at a motel so we can visit a few houses and pick one.