The Drive

As you pull out of the driveway you notice Elsie rooting around in her small hand purse. "I think I've only got about twenty bucks so..."

"No worries El. I've got it tonight." You happened to be flush at the moment.

"Oh...thank you Jesse." She puts her purse away and folds her hands on her lap. There was a tension in the air that usually wasn't there. As you look over you are taken once more with how good she looked. She was going to make some lucky man very happy someday.

"Hey, why don't you find us some tunes." You request.

She nods then snaps her fingers. "I've got just the thing!" Reaching back into her purse she pulls out a small mp3 player. "I just downloaded a mix of anime soundtrack music. Do you mind?"

You shrug. "Sure. Sounds good." She plugs it into your car stereo.

As the first few notes hit you laugh out loud. "Ha ha ha! Totoro! We used to watch that all the time. Remember?"

She laughs with a surprised expression. "Oh my god! Of course, how could I forget! I had no idea that would come on first! Ha ha ha. God, I loved that movie!"

You both begin singing along to the old song, you both knew it by heart having watched the movie together countless times. "Totoro Totoro. Totoro Totoro." You crank the volume as the upbeat music swells. "Who leaves the seeds...for you to find..."

As you hit the freeway the two of you are singing together loud and proud. The windows are open and it is a lovely Saturday evening. People from neighboring cars give you looks as they pass by, 'crazy kids' they are probably thinking. You laugh and sing and share the wonderful moment and wonderful memories together. As the song wraps up you are both on top of the world.

This sets the mood for the rest of the drive. You talk, you discuss the different songs and the movies they came from, you sing along when you can. You both had always been close and you shared similar tastes and interests making the conversation so effortless and easy as you drive. You keep stealing glances at her. So pretty. You catch her doing the same to you.

The minutes fly by and you are actually disappointed when you see city limits sign appear up ahead.