No matter how much she runs, Laura is stuck in an endless loop of her past. With a transfer of school and a curly-haired boy who seems to be wherever she goes, it's a matter of time she realizes that her universe ceases at the sight of him-and runni...
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THE FIRST OFFICIAL STOPWAS MAD GREEK CAFÉ, where we ate food like we hadn't been fed in years. Saganaki and numerous other Greek favorites were put in front of us, and the change of menu was both alarming and exciting. My mind was still slightly distant from the others, playing the last conversation I had with Evan over and over—to the point that Stella had started to realize how out of touch I was getting.
"Hey, you okay?"
We were meandering around the spot a little, while Leo put his photography skills to test by capturing all the Greek statues on display. I grinned at her. "Yes, just a little exhausted."
"Nap a little when we hit the road, then."
The second spot were the Carlsbad flower fields, a location which made us travel an extra hour. Xavier was driving, now—and Evan sat at shotgun, and we hadn't spoken in the café or after that. I couldn't fall asleep with all the chatter resuming at the back seat, and he still met my gaze from the rearview mirror when we jammed to more tunes, even passing me a smile.
I didn't quite return it.
When we reached the fields, everyone hopped out of the car in a heartbeat. The best part about road trips was the impromptu stoppages and figuring out things together, I was sure—and the flowers which seemed to bloom till infinity only made us more eager. I examined the humongous gate in front of me, an unconscious smile tugging on my lips.
"Oh, my God," Stella spoke, voice pitched. My feet got rooted to the spot whereas everybody moved further away, and someone nudged me slightly to get me out of my trance.
"Laura."
I shook my head at him. "Sorry."
He motioned for me to lead the way, eye shining. "You're tired, I suppose?"
The sunlight shone on his features, the blue in his eyes becoming emerald due to the golden sky. His hands were pressed together and eyebrows drawn—he looked nervous. I had never seen him nervous.
"A little," I paused, before walking adjacent to him. I then pointed at Xavier, and said, "He's getting the tickets."
His gaze didn't falter. "I know. What's up with you?"
We had moved into the incessant rows of flowers now, the smell overpowering my senses. I ignored his question altogether, hands behind my back and smile intact for Stella and Chloe who were slowly retreating backwards to us. "Laura, look at these," Chloe pointed at the pink Ranunculus, grinning widely. "This is giving me so much serotonin."
Evan just stood between us, poise fixed and eyes distant. Stella laughed at the way he acted, and then nudged me by the elbow. "Important talk, babe?"
"No—" "Yes," Evan said at the same time, before coughing. "Well, we were getting to that."
Chloe slapped her hands to her mouth, eyes wide. "Okay, okay, we'll leave," she grabbed Stella by the arm, while the latter narrowed her eyes at me. "But we'd like the context, Laura."
