On Saturday morning, Allie waited patiently inside of her house with her packed black duffle bag in the entry way, until a blue Chevy Cobalt pulled up into her driveway. Allie always felt as if that blue car suited Lola just right, it was small and pretty just like her. Sure enough, when Allie got into the passenger seat of Lola's car she could smell the sweet aroma of coffee. Lola had the large sized coffee that looked as if she bought it from a gas station, placed securely in her front cup holder.
Pulling up to the house that she has come to know so well, Allie felt excitement build up inside of her and she didn't know exactly what the reason was, it could be many things. Allie saw a black truck with a camper attached to the back of it parked on the street in front of Nicole's house, she remembered seeing that car parked inside of the garage almost every time she had come over to the house. When Allie and Lola had walked up the driveway to see Dustin's Jeep Wrangler parked in front of them they both set their duffle bags on the ground, then Kathleen came out of the front door of the house with a smile shown on her face.
Kathleen: Hey girls, I'm glad you could make it.
Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, Allie saw Dustin walk out of the opened door garage with a slightly smaller duffle bag then hers in his hands. Before walking over to the back of his car, Dustin gave Allie a knowing glance. They both quickly looked away before anyone could realize what was done.
Lola had caught a glance of a smile on Allie's face, so she furrowed her eyebrows at her in wonder. To play it off as if she was just making weird faces, she started making different faces at Lola to make her laugh. Lola wasn't in the mood to laugh, she just let out a groan at Allie as if she was a dog who was ready to attack.
Allie: *as if talking to a baby* Are you miss grumpy pants this morning? You won't even laugh at Allie's funny faces.
Lola: *sarcastically* You're special.
Allie: That's what my mom tells me.
Lola had to admit what Allie said was funny, so she let out a laugh. Allie was happy that she finally got her friend to laugh, she was mostly happy that she made it seem like that she was trying to do that the whole time, instead of making googly eyes at Dustin.
Kathleen: Girls, you can put your stuff in the back of Dustin's car.
Dustin turned around sternly from where he was placing his duffle bag in the trunk of his car, and gave his mom a look as if he was disgusted. When he started to speak, Allie could hear the same tone of manner in his voice. Allie secretly hoped that it was just a part of their I-Hate-You act, and he wasn't actually mad.
Dustin: What?
Kathleen: Dustin, Nicole and her friends are going with you.
Allie didn't knew whether to be excited or disappointed by this conversation, because for one she was riding in the same car as Dustin, and two Dustin seemed to be starting a fight with his mom about this. Kathleen spoke back to Dustin in an almost annoyed authoritative voice, Allie didn't think Kathleen had it in her to raise her voice at anyone.
Before Dustin could give any answer to his mom, he saw Nicole walk out of the garage with a duffle bag in her hand, out of the corner of his own eye. From a distance, Allie could see the sneering glare form in Dustin's eyes.
Dustin: You probably put her up to this.
As she walked passed her brother, Nicole gave Dustin an annoyed type of smirk while sticking her tongue half way out of her own mouth at him. Dustin just rolled his eyes and looked away from Nicole, obviously not amused.
Nicole: I didn't do anything, so stop complaining.
Like the blonde that she is, Allie thought, Nicole cocked her head to the side as if just recognizing the conversation that was going on around her. And to her surprise, she got herself involved without any knowledge, it was an automatic reflex for Nicole.
Nicole: Wait, what are you complaining about?
Kathleen: You and your friends are riding in Dustin's car.
Nicole dropped her bag to the ground as she fiercely put her hands on her hips while letting out a deep moan, clearly displaying that she was less than satisfied with her mother's decision. Nicole's small green eyes were looking disappointingly forward.
Nicole: But Mom...
Everyone in hearing distance could clearly hear a loud and noticeable whine in the front of Nicole's voice; Kathleen just took a deep breath to calm herself down before she started speaking to Nicole, who was acting like a complete child. How does she put up with her? Allie thought in her head about Kathleen acting so calmly to her daughter.
Kathleen: I'm sorry honey, but there's no room for all three of you. The truck's back seat is too small and it's also carrying the camper.
Kathleen spoke in her authoritative voice once again that Allie never knew she had in her, so finally Nicole caved in and brought her hands to her side releasing herself from her angered position.
Nicole: Fine, but I'm not sitting in the front.
Feeling like everything was solved, Kathleen walked down the driveway and to the passenger side of the parked truck in the street. When her mother was out of view, Nicole snapped her eyes toward Allie and Lola letting them know it's time to speak up.
Before Allie could say No Way Jose! or something along those lines, Lola looked to her with those big brown pleading eyes of her. Allie figured that it was only her to step up to the plate, she secretly liked the odds of stepping up to that plate.
Allie: I will, I guess.
Allie had no idea why, but she raised her right hand. You're not in grade school anymore Allie, you don't have to raise your hand to speak, she said to herself; then nervously let her hand fall down to her side.
Dustin put his hand over his mouth so he could laugh in silence at Allie's nervous display of her hand in the air.
Dustin: Now that we have that all figured out, can we start loading everything in?
As soon as Allie heard Dustin say his words, she leaned down to the ground so she could grab her duffle bag. Before she could even reach the handles of the bag, Dustin made his was generously over to her and grabbed the bag from the ground.
Dustin: I got that.
Allie gave Dustin a quick thankful smile before he turned from her view to put her duffle bag securely in the trunk of his Jeep. Nicole walked over to Allie and stood next to her, with her arms folded across her chest.
Nicole: My brother is sooo... crushing on you.
Allie thought of that possibility in her head, she slowly started to smile to herself and touched her hair just like she was a little nervous girl again. But then out of the corner of her eye, she saw both Nicole and Lola staring at her so she told herself; get back on track, girl, and brought herself back to her routine of hating Dustin in front of Nicole.
Allie: Ew!! Ok now that's gross.
Just like a ninja, Allie thought, Dustin came walking back up to her, but this time grabbing Lola's duffle bag from the ground. Allie began to feel horrible for what she had just said because she knew that he heard her every word. Despite that fact, she had to think quickly before she started apologizing right in front of Nicole and blowing everything.
Allie: Would you look at that, he's crushing on Lola now too.
Allie jokingly tapped Lola on the tip of her nose as she said her name. It was maybe going a little too far with her joke, because Lola just put her hands on her hips and gave Allie an evil glare that she usually only reserved for her mother. Allie nervously looked away from Lola, who would if she could, shoot death rays at her.
Allie: Ok, sorry.
Allie put her hands up in the air as if to surrender so Lola would know that she meant nothing by it.
While closing the trunk door of his Jeep, Dustin smiled to himself knowing that Allie was only being funny. He had to admit she was good with her humor.
When Dustin reached the driver's side of the door to his car and placed his hand on the door handle, he was stopped once again by Nicole. She had her hands on her hips and an annoyed tone in her voice.
Nicole: Umm... Dustin aren't you going to put my bag in the trunk?
Dustin cocked his head to the side and started to think to himself for a small moment, then shock his head no.
Dustin: You have two hands, don't you?
Nicole: So, you'll do it for my friends but not me?
Dustin: Yeah. Because unlike you, your friends are actually decent people. You, you're just a bitch.
Nicole dropped her mouth opened so far that Allie thought a bug was going to fly inside. Dustin gave Nicole a little evil smirk as he opened the car door and hopped right inside.
While Allie and Lola started walking toward the car not exactly knowing what it is they should do, Nicole picked her own duffle bag up from the ground. In an angered manner, she opened the back of Dustin's Jeep to stuff her bag inside; all the while mutter something that Allie could not make out, under her breath. Allie figured it was something she would not like her mom to hear her say out loud.
Lola made her way to the back seat behind Dustin, while Allie and a still angered Nicole made their way to the other side of the car. Nicole forcefully got in the car slamming the door once she was seated, but Allie hesitated a little before she even grabbed the passenger door handle. Stop being such a baby, Allie told herself, then got into the car and seated herself as calmly as she could.
When Allie turned straight forward in her seat away from Nicole behind her, she saw Nicole's dad walk out of the garage. Allie began to forget that he even existed, but just like every situation she's ever been in, Allie felt the need to talk so she began speaking towards Nicole's dad through her open window.
Allie: Drive safe.
Allie said with a smile on her face hoping for some kind of vocalization from Nicole's dad, but to her disappointment he just smiled back at her as he made his way over to the truck. Allie turned back to looked at both Lola and Nicole with a questionable look on her face.
Allie: Ok, have you ever heard him talk?
Lola: No, can't say that I have.
Lola said with a questionable look on her face and also in her tone of voice.
Dustin could see in his review mirror that Nicole was about to pipe into the conversation, so he quickly cut in.
Dustin: Hey, if you girls are done talking I'd really like to get going.
Allie: Aye, Aye, Caption.
Allie brought her right hand up to her forehead and saluted Dustin, Dustin let himself laugh out loud just like everybody else in the car. That wasn't the only reason Dustin was laughing to himself, She looks so damn cute, he thought as he was laughing.
Dustin turned on the ignition, he loved the way the engine purred and the sound of his favorite band playing in the background. As he looked over to Allie sitting next to him, she looked slightly amused. *Hit That- Kottonmouth Kings plays*
Allie: You listen to Kottonmouth Kings?
Dustin: Yeah, I like them.
Allie: What are you like a stoner or something?
Allie said was humor behind her voice to let Dustin know. Nicole could sense something going on in the front seat and the attention that Allie seemed to always get, so she decided to cut into the conversation that seemed way too playful for her brother and her friend.
Nicole: I wouldn't doubt it.
Nicole said with a snarl behind her voice as she leaned herself up to the front seat and out stretched her hand toward Dustin's radio. Dustin was quick to Nicole's moves, before she could reach the radio dial he slapped her hand away and raised one finger at her like the little child she is.
Nicole: Dustin!!!
And bitch-zilla returns, Dustin thought to himself as he heard a snotty whine to her voice. Nicole glared at Dustin as she sat back down in her seat, rubbing her hand with a pouting look on her face.
Dustin: No one is allowed to touch my stereo, you know that.
Nicole: But we're girls.
Nicole emphasized the word girls as she rolled her eyeballs all around the car from her, to Lola, then to Allie.
Nicole: We don't want to listen to Kottonmouth Kings the whole ride.
Dustin: My car, my music.
As Allie looked to Dustin and he looked straight at her, she gave him a look as if to plead for something. Dustin almost forgot that Lola and Nicole were in the car, but when he did he had to settle down and breathe.
Allie: Dustin, how long does it take to get there?
Dustin: About two hours.
Allie: So then for the first hour, we can listen to your music, then for the last hour we can listen to whatever us girls want.
Dustin began thinking to himself, Allie took it as a no so she inter-twined her fingers together in a pleading manner. If she wasn't in the car she would be on her knee's groveling, so instead she gave Dustin the best puppy dog look she has ever given with her blue eyes, she usually only used this tactic on her mother.
Allie: P-P-P-lease Dustin?
That face, Dustin said to himself of Allie's face that he just couldn't seem to resist. Allie took her bottom lip and placed it over her top lip just like a little kid would do to their parent's just to get their way. That's what Allie was trying to do with Dustin.
Allie: Dustin, I can't put my lip out any further.
Dustin: Yeah because if you stick your lip out any farther a bird will come and poop on it.
Dustin smirked at his own joke. Allie untwined her fingers, put her lips into a disgusted opened mouth position, and leaned back in her seat as she still looked at Dustin.
Allie: Ew!!! *cocking her head* My Grandma used to say that.
After Allie imaged that disgusting picture Dustin had just described in her head, she resumed her pleading and groveling position as she had before.
Allie: But, please Dustin.
Looking at her face again, Dustin couldn't help but feel his insides turned to Jell-O. He had no choice but to cave in to Allie.
Dustin: Fine, but once we get into the races, we are turning it back to my music because I can't have the guys thinking I listen to girly music.
Allie rolled her eyes and sat back in her seat, then began to shake her head slightly as she turned her head to look at Dustin.
Allie: You're such a guy.
Dustin: Is that what I am?
Allie and Dustin smirked at each other as if enjoying their own inside joke, but decided not to pursue anything further so no one in the car would suddenly realize what they were doing was flirty with each other -even if they didn't know it themselves-. Too late, Lola had already begun to worry inside, sensing something between the two of them that really shouldn't exist.
Suddenly, all four heads turned to look at Nicole's dad's truck in the street because they heard a loud honk come from it. That's the loudest thing about that man, Allie thought to herself of Nicole's dad in the driver's seat.
Dustin: My dad wants to get going.
He's my dad too, Nicole felt like blurting out but felt like it would be childish even for her, she just silently rolled her eyes or so she thought. Lola saw Nicole annoyingly do so, so she rolled her eyes too thinking that Nicole's behavior in the car is quite pathetic. If Allie saw what was going on in the backseat of the car, she would roll her eyes also, but she was too concerned about being in the front seat with Dustin.
As Dustin put his Jeep into reverse and started to back out of the drive way, Allie heard the roar of the truck's engine and watched it as it went driving off even before Dustin reached the bottom of the drive way. Soon, they were off on the two hour drive with Dustin following behind his father's truck with the camper attached to it.
**********
As the first hour on the road passed, the windows were all rolled up because Dustin had turned on the air conditioning and the radio dial was turned to a station that the girls chose. Allie listened to the soft music of something by what sounded to be Demi Lovato's "Catch Me" in the background and nothing but that, because Lola and Nicole were sleeping soundlessly in the backseat. Allie turned around in her seat to see both Lola and Nicole slumped down and their heads perched on the car windows on the side that they sat.
Allie smiled to herself, not exactly knowing why. Maybe it was because Lola and Nicole looked so peaceful, or because they were finally asleep, while she and Dustin were the only two awake.
Allie: They're finally asleep.
Dustin: Thank God! I think I can still hear Nicole's voice ringing in my ear.
Dustin said was a hint of annoyance in his voice as he took his hand to his right ear and began to rub it as if it was in pain. Allie just nudged Dustin slightly on the arm.
Allie: Be nice, she's your sister.
Dustin: So? She's not nice to me.
Dustin said in a convincing tone, so Allie began to think to herself knowing that he had a point.
Allie: *turning her head in wonder* True. So... forget what I just said.
A moment of silence fell between the two, it took time for Dustin to collect himself for what he was about to seriously ask Allie. Dustin quickly glanced at Allie, then back to the road with a look of not exactly knowing what he wants to ask or what he wants the answer to be.
Dustin: *hushed tone* Why are you friends with her??
Dustin was afraid of how Allie would take that question, but to his surprise she looked as if she was thinking of a logical answer for it. When Allie spoke, her voice was also in a hushed tone like Dustin had used earlier; just in case Nicole was really awake. Allie didn't want Nicole to hear their conversation.
Allie: Because Lola and I have nothing better to do.
A smile slid across Allie's face so Dustin knew that is was just a joke. Dustin silently laughed to himself, then looked back to Allie with a serious look.
Dustin: Come on Allie, for real. You're a nice girl, she's not, so why would you want to be friends with her?
This time Allie really thought to herself of what she could say, and then finally she said the only truthful answer she could think of.
Allie: I don't know, we just befriended her and it's not like we're going to leave her friendless in a new school.
Dustin: By we, do you mean you and Lola?
Allie: Yes, me and Lola.
As Allie said her name, she looked back at Lola still sleeping in the backseat. Then back to Dustin, who glanced from her to the road again with another question in his mind.
Dustin: So, she's your best friend?
Allie: Yes, we've been friends our whole lives.
Dustin: Then, have you told her about us hanging out?
Allie didn't look back at her friend this time, she just looked down to her pair of shorts that she is wearing with guilt in her eyes. She started to pick at the piece of string that was hanging off the end for a distraction.
Allie: No. I want to but I don't know how, and then there's Nicole, it's just...
Allie's words began to trail off as she had no idea of how to finish or what she even wanted to say. She stopped trying to find the words when she heard Dustin fill in the blank perfectly with just one simple word.
Dustin: Complicated.
Allie: Exactly.
Silence fell between the two as neither of them knew what else to say, and once again Allie listened to the radio in the background of an artist that she knew wasn't Demi Lovato anymore *Untouched- The Veronica's*. Then, as if feeling it for the first time, Allie felt her bladder about to burst. She never felt the need to pee earlier because she was busy talking to Dustin. Her cares went away as they talked, but now they were back.
Allie: So... Dustin, do you think we can make a pit stop?
Dustin: Why? Do you have to go to the bathroom?
How'd you know? Allie thought to herself in her head as Dustin spoke with a smirk shown on his face.
Allie: Yes, I have to pee like a racehorse.
Dustin: I'll just call my mom to tell her that we're stopping. Dustin said as he started to pull his cell phone out of his front pocket. This time, Allie looked to Dustin with a smirk on her face and spoke with a jokingly tone of voice.
Allie: Oh how cute, you have to call your mommy.
Dustin: Yes I do.
Dustin laughed at his own response, then dialed his mom's number. After two rings Dustin's mom picked up the phone, so he informed her of the reason for the call.
Dustin: Hey mom, we're going to stop at a gas station because Allie has to go pee.
Allie looked to Dustin with a shocked opened mouth expression and made a noise as if she was offended.
Allie: Thanks.
Dustin just gave Allie a sideways smirk as he kept the phone up to his right ear, eyes on the road, and his left hand on the steering wheel. Then, began speaking to his mom again.
Dustin: Ok, bye mom.
Dustin hung up the phone just as he turned into the parking lot of the gas station. Allie looked out her window and noticed that Nicole's dad and mom in the truck, kept their steady speed down the highway that Dustin's car was just on.
Allie: Aren't your parent's stopping with us?
Dustin: No, they want to keep going so they can set the camper up before we get there.
Allie gave Dustin a look as if she was convinced, then she clicked her seat belt off and turned to the backseat.
Allie: Should we wake them?
Dustin looked to the backseat, but unlike Allie who was looking at Lola, he looked to Nicole sleeping. He began to like her that way, so he didn't want to ruin his good mood with the likes of Nicole being awake again.
Dustin: Not Nicole, she gets crabby when she's woken up unexpectedly.
Allie rolled her eyes and scuffed to herself because of what Dustin said.
Allie: No surprise there.
As Allie spoke her next words, she began to gently tap Lola on her leg, just in order to see if she would wake up peacefully.
Allie: Lola, you awake?
Surprisingly, Lola began speaking to Allie, but still held her same position of sleep and kept her eyes closed. The only thing that she managed to do was wave her right hand forward.
Lola: You two go ahead.
Allie was surprised that Lola even knew what they were doing and almost feared that she had heard the entire conversation between her and Dustin. Instead of contemplating it, she decided to just let it go and followed Dustin by opening the door to get out of the car. Just as Allie put one foot down on the black tarred ground, she heard Lola's voice call out from behind her.
Lola: But, get me a coffee.
Allie stuck her head back into the opened door of the car and looked questionably at Lola. She still looked as if she was sleeping, but Allie knew she was awake.
Allie: Really??
Lola: Don't question it; you know how I like my coffee.
Lola said with her eyes still closed, and then Allie responded back in a sing-song voice.
Allie: Ok.
Once inside the gas station, Allie searched the walls for a sign that said restroom. When she finally found the sign, she went straight into the bathroom locking the door tightly behind her. While he waited for Allie to get out of the bathroom, Dustin went over to the isle in the gas station that had munch-able food. Not even five minutes later, he saw Allie come walking out of the bathroom. She really did have to pee like a race horse, Dustin thought to himself of how fast Allie went in and came out of the bathroom.
Allie saw Dustin over by the food isle, but she went over to the coffee first and grabbed the biggest cup she could find for Lola. Allie was a pro at making coffee the way that Lola liked it, black coffee mixed with French vanilla and a hint of hazel nut cream, pure sugar as Allie liked to consider it.
After mixing, Allie put the plastic lid offered by the gas station, tightly on top of the Styrofoam coffee cup. Even before Allie had approached him, Dustin started speaking to her just so he wouldn't lose his nerve.
Dustin: Allie, do you want anything to eat??
Allie: Did you really just ask me that??
Allie said as she approached Dustin in the food isle. Dustin looked from the packaged snack his hand was just inching to grab, and to Allie with a look as if he was convinced.
Dustin: Yeah, dumb question. You probably want everything in this store.
Allie suddenly cocked her head sideways at Dustin and looked to him as if offended, but not exactly knowing what to be offended about.
Allie: Dustin, is that a fat joke??
Dustin dropped his hands off the packaged snack he was about to take off the rack, and looked to Allie with what she thought made him seem like he just shit his pants from what she said. As he spoke, he began to stutter his words.
Allie started laughing out loud not just to herself so she could let Dustin know that is was just a joke. He calmed himself down and began to laugh a little too, but not exactly knowing how much to laugh.
Allie: You know I would if I could.
Allie grabbed a bag of Gardetto's -her favorite snack- then as Dustin walked with a bag of M&M's in his hand towards the cash register, Allie walked in the opposite direction.
Dustin almost made his way up to the cash register when he realized that Allie wasn't walking behind him. He turned back around to see Allie staring aimlessly at the refrigerated section with an endless amount of soda to choice from in front of her.
Dustin: You're really getting something to drink.
Putting her bag of Gardetto's in her mouth so she could have a free hand to grab a bottle of cherry coke because she had hot coffee in the other, Allie walked over to Dustin. As she approached, he instantly grabbed the bag of Gardetto's from her mouth. He did so because he knew she had some witty remark to say, and he didn't want her to attempt to speak while she had something muffling her sound.
Allie: I'm getting something to drink so I can wash my food down.
Dustin: If you have to pee, we're not stopping again.
Allie: Well, aren't we almost there?
Dustin: Yeah... maybe an hour or so out.
Dustin said once he and Allie got behind the other customer in line at the cash register, he wasn't totally convinced and wondered what Allie's point was.
Allie: Then, I can just pee when we get there.
Dustin: *shrugs shoulders as if convinced*
As the customer ahead of them had paid for their items, Allie and Dustin both set their items on the counter. Once Allie had nothing left in her hands, she started to pull dollar bills out of the front pocket of her shorts. Suddenly, Allie felt Dustin's hand on hers as if to stop her from doing something.
Dustin: Don't worry, I got this.
Allie stopped fishing for dollar bills in her pocket and looked up at Dustin with a remorseful type of look in her eyes.
Allie: You don't have to do that.
Dustin: I want to.
After hearing the price of the items, Dustin placed his money on the counter for the cashier. Then, he grabbed his snack and Allie's snack so Allie could hold Lola's coffee and her cherry coke in her hands.
Walking out of the store first, Dustin held the door opened for Allie to walk out without having trouble with the drinks in her hand. Allie gave Dustin a look as if to say Thank you good sir, and attempted to curtsy as she walked passed him. As Allie walked out of the gas station, Dustin closed the door behind her, then before he could do it for her, Allie was opening her passenger side of the car. She had placed her cherry coke bottle on top of the car as she began to open the door.
Dustin: I would've gotten that for you.
Allie: Beat you to it.
Allie said with a slight smile on her face, then took the cherry coke off as she seated herself inside of the car. Slightly disappointed, Dustin followed by getting into the driver's seat of the car.
Once Dustin was seated in the car, Allie placed her cherry coke in between her bare-naked legs, feeling the coldness of the soda, then stuck out her opposite hand from the coffee hand toward Dustin. With that gesture she was saying; Gimme, because he still had her bag of gardetto's in his hand.
Allie: Ok, now give me my food.
Slowly Dustin started to place Allie's packaged snack in her opened palm. Just as she was about to clasp her hand closed on the package, Dustin quickly pulled it away and out of Allie's reach. Every time Allie tried to grab for her food, Dustin would just pull it away quickly. It went on like that for a good minute before Allie started to playfully get frustrated.
Allie: Dustin, stop before I pour this very HOT coffee down your pants.
Allie put emphasis on the word hot because the coffee was fresh and well, hot. Suddenly, Lola woke up from her deep sleep as Allie said her words. She plunged her hand toward her coffee that Allie held in the air slightly toward Dustin.
Lola: Please don't, I need it.
Lola grabbed the coffee from Allie's hand and brought it back with both her hands cupped firmly on it as she sat back in her seat. Having the sweet aroma of coffee fill her nostrils, she took a giant sip and sighed silently in satisfaction. Allie looked back at her friend thinking, she can drink coffee in her sleep? because Lola had her eyes closed as she sipped on her coffee happily.
When Allie looked back to Dustin, he had her packaged snack placed in front of her. Allie was a little hesitant at first, but when she grabbed her snack, Dustin didn't pull it back so she gave him a look of satisfaction.
Allie: Thank You.
**********
As a an hour or so passed by, Allie had finished half the bag of her gardetto's and all her cherry coke, while Dustin turned the radio to his CD player and the rap group Kottonmouth Kings *Things I Do Part II* blared. By this time everybody in the car was awake and looking out the window at the surroundings, except Nicole who didn't even bother looking out the window because she annoyingly has seen it all before. Around her, Allie saw booths with all different people lining up at it to sign what looked like a clipboard and behind the table were adults that looked to judges of some sort. Also, a bunch of different guys that looked to be around Dustin's age were dressed in racing jump suits with all different numbers, names, and colors on them. As Dustin kept on driving, he came into the campsite where Allie saw all different types of campers; small, big, different colored, and families of different sizes gathered around.
Dustin pulled his car around to his camper that his parent's had already set up perfectly, then put his Wrangler into park.
Nicole: Finally we're here.
Nicole grabbed her door handle and practically jumped out of the car, while Lola just slowly got out feeling relieved to be stretching her legs again; Allie and Dustin were the last to get their selves out of the car. As Allie began to unbuckle her seatbelt, Dustin looked at her with a look as if he was just about to say the best joke in the entire world.
Dustin: You don't have to pee again do you?
Allie: No....
Allie made a 'pff' type of noise, but Dustin wasn't having it so Allie suddenly let her face fall into a sulk.
Allie: Maybe.
Allie quickly got out of the car before Dustin could give her any other type of look, then walked over to Lola and Nicole at the back of the car. Nicole opened Dustin's trunk to his Wrangler and started to pull her duffle bag out from the pile.
Dustin: Well, I'm going to go sign in.
Dustin said as he walked to the back his Wrangler, Nicole just gave him a sneering look as if to say; I don't care. Allie rolled her eyes in annoyance at Nicole, then started to pull her duffle bag out of the back along with Lola.
As Dustin walked away to go sign in at the booth, Allie watched the way that he moved -mostly his ass- then quickly looked back to the duffle in her hand before anyone could catch her at what she was doing.
Suddenly, Allie's head jerked forward and she started to sniff the air just like a dog would. She smelled not one, but different sorts of food, good food. Nicole noticed Allie's sudden behavior and gave her a questionable look.
Nicole: What are you doing?
Lola: She smells food.
Lola answered for her friend who still sniffed the air, she knew that behavior very well because Allie was always tending to smell food from a mile away. She was used to it by now, it was normal for Lola to witness what Allie was doing.
Allie: I do, but where is it coming from?
Nicole: There's a buffet around here somewhere.
Allie shot her head back to Nicole and looked at her with those wide blue eyes of hers. Nicole was starting to catch on to Allie's questionable behavior.
Allie: Well then, what are we standing around here for?
Allie said excitedly, Lola and Nicole laughed to themselves. Then, Nicole leaned her head passed Allie and looked to her mother that was putting a red table cloth on the picnic table that was placed in front of the camper.
Nicole: Mom, we're going to the buffet.
Kathleen: Ok girls.
Kathleen said with a smile on her face, then after Nicole had closed the trunk of the Wrangler, and all three girls just dropped their duffle bags on the ground by the car, they made their way over to the buffet. Allie had Nicole and Lola on either side of her, but somehow Nicole still managed to lead the way.
As they arrived to the buffet, Allie felt as if she was in heaven with all the different food placed all around a long lengthen table. There was warm food, and there was cold food, then randomly Allie recognized one of the servers of the buffet. He was the same slightly dorky guy that had come up to Nicole in the school cafeteria the other day.
Allie: Junior? What are you doing here?
Junior stood behind a steaming buffet tray with rubber gloves on both his hands, and held a metal tong in his hand. When he heard his name being said, he looked to the source it was coming from and saw someone that he actually knew them and they have said something other than Hey Dork to him. A friendly smile slid across Junior's face, he was always good for that, Allie thought of Junior's nice smile.
Junior: What are you doing here?
Allie heard slight delight behind Junior's question that she just happened to ask herself earlier. Allie got the sense that she might be the first friendly face to actually talk to him like a friend, all day.
Allie: Nicole's brother races here.
As Allie said her name, she took her index and pointed to Nicole. Junior followed Allie's finger as he suddenly saw Nicole standing on Allie's left. Just like every time before he felt his stomach start to flip flop, and his palms became sweaty under his rubber serving gloves.
Junior: Hey Nicole.
Junior's voice started to shake as he spoke. Nicole just smiled quickly as if not interested, but didn't say anything back, she tried looking everywhere but at him. Allie nonchalantly took her elbow and nudged Nicole in the side, Nicole gave Allie a quick glare even though she got why Allie had done it.
Nicole: Hi Junior.
Nicole said with a hint of annoyance in her voice. This time, Junior got the idea so he turned his attention back to Allie, whom had asked him a question that he still hadn't answered.
Junior: Anyways... I'm here because my younger brother also races, and I help cook.
As Junior said the word cook, he looked around the buffet table. Allie watched Junior's eyes and got the idea that he cooked maybe all or just some of the items. Either way, Allie was impressed and excited at the same time.
Allie: I think you just became my new best friend.
Standing next to Allie was Lola, who let out a laugh because she knew what her friend meant it. Nicole was a different story because she wasn't liking the fact that her new friend was making nice to the dorkiest kid in the school that always seemed to melt to goo when she came around. Usually Nicole would like the attention, but not from somebody that looked like Junior, Pizza face with glasses, Nicole thought to herself.
After hearing Allie's kind words that he knew were the farthest from a joke, he smiled and held his tongs toward the steaming food in front of him. Junior knew that Allie wasn't just trying to be nice by her words because he knew that Allie had a sense of humor. He also knew that she wasn't the type to act rude or stuck up, she'd been this way since the time he first met her in grade school.
Junior: So, what would you like?
Allie: How about a little bit of everything.
At first Junior thought Allie was just messing with him to be funny. But, when he saw the hungry smile on Allie's face, he knew she wasn't kidding.
While walking back to the camper, Allie felt as if the food was going to fall off her plate. I knew I should've gotten two plates. Allie took basically everything from the buffet and put it on her single plate. She felt like a pig as she looked to Lola who seemed to have just the right amount for a serving size of food on her plate, then became disappointed -- more like annoyed -- as she looked to Nicole's plate with one single piece of dessert. It seemed as if Nicole took the smallest piece of dessert and set it on her plate.
Nicole: How weird is it that Junior's here?
Nicole said out of the blue. When Allie and Lola looked to her, she seemed to be staring off into space or off in her own little world.
Why do you even seem to care? Allie wondered to herself because if Nicole didn't care, then she wouldn't pay it any mind.
Nicole: He's like stalking me.
Suddenly, Nicole came back to reality as Allie looked to her with a visible look of slight annoyance. What Nicole couldn't see is Lola silently rolling her eyes.
Allie: He's not stalking you! But, you could have been a little nicer and taken more than a brownie.
Nicole: Well, there wasn't enough food left after you dished up.
Allie felt the hostility inside of Nicole's voice and sensed that Nicole secretly was calling her fat. Allie wasn't about to let that get to her.
Allie: It looked so good, so I had to take it and be nice.
Nicole: Well, I didn't want him to think I like him.
Both Allie and Lola let out a little scuff from their throats at how ridiculous Nicole sounds.
Allie: He wouldn't think that. Nicole, you really need to learn a thing or two about guys.
Allie said to Nicole whom now glared at her just as all three girls reached the camper, and began to sit down at the picnic table that was now draped in a table cloth that Kathleen had placed on. Even before Allie had a chance to sit down, Dustin came walking up behind her and snatched a French fry from her plate.
Allie: Hey!
While popping the French fry into his mouth, Dustin started walking backwards towards the parked camper. He wanted to get a good look at Allie's face that was glaring playfully at him.
Nicole: What? Like you?
Nicole said in a snooty tone under her breath, but not exactly quietly because Lola looked at her from across the table with a look as if to say I know you didn't just say that bitch. Allie also heard Nicole say something, so she turned her head away from Dustin to look at Nicole with a look as if offended and confusion.
Allie: Excuse Me?!?
Allie felt as if two people were talking to her at once because she started to hear Dustin's slightly laughing voice in front of her. Her head started to spin with the commotion.
Dustin: Sorry Allie, I was hungry.
Allie couldn't even enjoy Dustin's meal ticket grin in secret because she was too concerned with what she believed Nicole had said or meant to say in that bitch tone of hers. Allie was just about to say something back to Nicole, but she was cut off by Kathleen's pleasant voice.
Kathleen: Nicole?
Nicole: Yeah...
Nicole annoyingly turned her head to her mother that was standing outside the camper door. It was just enough time for Allie to look to her best friend sitting next to her with a look at if to say; you heard her too right? Lola raised her eyebrows and shook her head in agreement as if hearing what Allie was thinking.
Kathleen: Can you and your friends put your stuff in the camper?
Nicole: Yes mom.
Nicole started to get herself up from the picnic table, so Allie and Lola did the same. Allie was too wrapped up in her thoughts to even care that she was leaving her plate of food alone at the picnic table. All three girls walked over to Dustin's car where they left their duffle bags laying on the ground before they went off to the buffet, and then followed Nicole into the camper.
As Allie walked into the camper with her duffle bag in hand she looked around to see a kitchenette area, a lounging area with a television posted on the wall, a sitting table that just like any other camper looked as if it folded down into a bed. Also, Allie saw a door for the smallest bathroom that she's ever seen, a door for a room to sleep, then a bed area above. But what Allie didn't know, was what was held in the door behind her because it was closed so she couldn't see what was inside of it.
Nicole: We will be sleeping on the bed up top.
Nicole pointed above her to the bed area with a latter attached to it. Allie figured it was there in order to get up there, It's like a bunk bed, sort of. She couldn't exactly see the size of the bed up top, but to her it didn't look all that big so she kind of looked to Nicole with a questionable look.
Allie: It can fit all three of us?
Nicole: Yeah it's huge! Take a look if you want.
Nicole said with reassurance on her face, Allie didn't want to just take Nicole's word for it so she dropped her bag on the ground as she walked up to the top of the latter. To Allie's surprise the bed up top was huge! Just like Nicole had said. To Allie it looked as if it was a King sized bed, she was going to like sleeping on it.
Allie: Yeah, this will do.
Nicole: Good.
Nicole said with a satisfied smile on her face as Allie climbed herself down from the latter and to the floor again.
Nicole: We can just put our stuff on the floor for now.
Nicole put her duffle bag on the floor and leaned it up against the wall so it would be out of the way, Allie and Lola followed her lead. Nicole suddenly became annoyed as she began to hear her mother's voice once again.
Kathleen: Nicole, can you come out here please?
Nicole: Get Dustin to do it, whatever it is, because I'm with my friends.
Allie felt a little awkward standing there in the camper listening to Nicole and her mother yell back and forth. Well... mostly Nicole yelled and Kathleen used her ever so calm and pleasant voice.
Kathleen: No. He's getting ready for his race.
Nicole: Fine.
Nicole let out a deep frustrated sigh as she walked out of the camper, leaving Allie and Lola inside alone. Allie felt as if it was the perfect timing to say what was on her mind to Lola, but just in case she kept her voice slightly low.
Allie: So... how bitchy was Nicole's comment to me?
Lola's face suddenly became smug like, almost like the face she had made when Nicole first said the comment at the picnic table.
Lola: Very! But maybe she's just jealous.
Lola said with a hint of humor behind her voice. Allie just stared at her with disbelief and let a little snort come out of her.
Allie: Why would she be jealous of me?
Lola: Because she sees that Dustin kind of likes you.
Allie knew that it had to be a joke, but a part of her and she wasn't too sure how much of that part wanted it to be the truth. To play it off cool so Lola wouldn't suspect anything, Allie acted as if she was disgusted about the statement.
Allie: EW! No he doesn't.
Lola gave Allie a look at if to say; Come on, you know it's true. Allie began to realize that Lola wasn't joking and also began to wonder if Lola's knows something that she doesn't. Allie decided to shake that worried thought out of her head as she gave Lola a look like she was caving into something she had said.
Allie: Ok, I guess.
Lola: But, all she has is Junior to like her.
Lola made a face as if shameful of what she said, Allie felt bad, but she had to agree with that.
Allie: Oh sad! But, I wouldn't want Junior all over me either.
Lola: See! She's just jealous.
Allie began to feel good about herself that Nicole was jealous of her and that there was a possibility of Dustin actually liking her.
Suddenly, both Allie and Lola heard the closed door behind Allie begin to open. When Allie turned around to face the door, she saw Dustin come out of the room dressed in a red and black jump suit. He looks so good in his jump suit, Allie said as she began to smile to herself, but then snapped out of it and thought of something funny and/or cute to say.
Allie: *mockingly* Ooooo... you look cute.
Dustin: Thanks.
Allie heard a hint of nervousness behind Dustin's voice and saw his sheepish smile that made her take what Lola had said into full consideration. Dustin felt like a dork when he came out of his room and saw Allie standing there with Lola, and the way he said thanks made him want to go hide under a rock for the rest of the day.
To avoid Allie seeing his deer caught in the head lights nervous look, he grabbed his helmet from where it laid on the seat cushion of the table. Allie hadn't even noticed Dustin's helmet lying there until he picked it up, it matches his suit, Allie thought as she looked to the helmet in Dustin's hands. Dustin didn't know what else to do with himself, so he just walked right out of the camper telling himself to finally relax and breathe. When Dustin was gone, Allie turned back to Lola and saw a big grin across her face.
Lola: Look at how nervous he got, he so likes you.
Allie: Shut Up!
Allie rolled her eyes as she turned and walked out of the camper, Lola soon followed while laughing to herself. Dustin felt himself get nervous again as he saw Allie walk out of the camper behind him so he spoke before he could make a fool of himself again. He just hoped that his voice wouldn't start to shake with his nerves.
Dustin: So, are we ready to go to the races? It starts soon?
Kathleen: Are you girls ready?
Kathleen said to Nicole -- who now stood next to her friends -- all three girls just shook their heads yes. Just like earlier, Allie walked with Lola and Nicole on either side while Dustin led the way and his parents trailed behind him. As they all approached Dustin's race car Allie thought that it was just like a race car you would see for NASCAR with different sponsors on it and a racing number in big black print. 8, what a good number, Allie thought to herself as she looked to Dustin's red and black race car.
As soon as he approached the car, Dustin's dad started to walk around the car looking intently at it every inch. Once in a while checking to make sure that something on the car was secure and in the right place.
Dustin: Dad, you do this every time, my car is fine.
Kathleen: Dustin, he just has to make sure, you know your father.
Kathleen reassured her son, Allie thought about what Kathleen said and wondered if Dustin's dad actually talked at all to her, because maybe he only talked in secret. Allie thought to herself and let her mind wonder of how boring it would be to have a silent husband. If a guy wanted to be with her, he had to be anything but silent because that's who she was. Suddenly, Allie was thrown out of her wonderment because she felt the touch of Lola's hand on her arm and also heard Lola make a noise as if her breath was taken away. Allie turned her head to look confusingly at her friend that had a love struck look on her face.
When Allie looked to where Lola was looking, she saw Nicole also looking at the boy walking their way. The boy looked to be about their age, he was dressed in a blue and black racing jump suit, he was tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He almost reminded Allie of Junior, but just a little cuter. As the boy approached, he flashed his pearly whites towards the girls staring at him. To Allie it looked as if he was just flashing his smile toward Lola, who was smiling a little to herself in amusement.
Dustin also saw the boy walking towards them, but instead recognized him as if he was an old friend. Just like guys do, Dustin and the boy slapped their hands together and patted each other on the back.
Tony: Hey man! I haven't seen you since the Nebraska race.
Dustin: Yeah, we moved down to Plano, Texas.
Suddenly the boy that seemed to be old friends with Dustin, made a face as if he just realized something.
Tony: Oh, then you probably go to school with my older brother.
Dustin: Yeah, actually I have a couple classes with him.
Nicole was intrigued in the conversation, more like the guy so as she was listening to the conversation she began to wonder. She spoke in order for the boy to look at her.
Nicole: Who's your brother?
Just like Nicole wanted, the boy began looking at her but not in the way that she wanted him to. She wanted them to lock eyes and feel a connection, but it wasn't the case. Soon I will make it that way, Nicole thought to herself.
Tony: Junior, he's the cook at the buffet.
After hearing that unexpected piece of information, Nicole's mouth dropped in shock. Allie picked it back up for her. As the question and/or word popped into her head, Lola felt herself begin to say it out loud.
Lola: *curiously* Really?
Lola nervously smiled as the boy turned and looked at her unlike the way he looked at Nicole, it was like he was nervous to smile at her too. Allie bit her bottom lip so a big smile wouldn't slide across her face. She couldn't help but want to smile because she knew that there was some kind of attraction going on between her friend and this boy. She just laughed silently to herself instead.
Just like the bitch that she was, Nicole ruined Lola's moment and Allie's a little too, by leaning into both girls and spoke with a whispered tone. To Allie, it wasn't a whisper at all.
Nicole: Well, now we know who the hot one in the family is.
Allie prayed to God that Junior's brother didn't just hear what Nicole said, but she saw the glare towards Nicole in the corner of his eye. Allie began to hate Nicole's big loud mouth.
Like the life saver that she was, Allie heard Kathleen's voice addressing all three girls.
Kathleen: Come on girls, let's go sit down.
As Nicole's parents started to walk towards the stands of where there was a big crowded of people watching the race track, Nicole and Lola were the first to follow. As Lola walked passed Junior's brother, she looked at his back and noticed the name Tony written across it in black letters.
Allie slowly walked behind as she looked to Dustin before catching up to her friends, whom had already walked a quarter away from where she stood.
Allie: Good luck, don't crash!
Allie put emphasis on the word crash, it made Dustin laugh out loud because he knew that she was just trying to be funny.
Dustin: Thanks for the tip.
Allie: Anytime.
Before Allie caught up with Lola and Nicole in front of her, she gave Dustin a smirk. It made Dustin go crazy for her and smile bright to himself.
Tony looked to Allie walking away, then back to Dustin in front of him and could just tell that something was going on.
Tony: Is she your girl?
Dustin sighed to himself with disappointment before he began speaking to Tony with the answer to his question, he wished this wasn't the answer.
Dustin: I wish. She's my sister's friend.
Tony: Your sister, she's...
Tony was at a loss for words not knowing how to describe her. Inside he was hoping that Dustin's sister was the rude blonde girl, not the girl with beautiful long brown hair and brown eyes.
Dustin: The bitchy blonde.
Dustin reassured his friend; Tony smiled, thanking god that it wasn't the girl that had caught his eye.
Tony: Good, because I thought the dark haired beauty next to your girl was cute.
Dustin liked the sound of his girl for Allie; he only wished that it was true.
Dustin: That's Lola.
Tony: She's even got a beautiful name.
Tony began to stare off into space remembering the way that Lola looked staring back at him. Then, suddenly snapped out of it because Dustin was looking at him with a smile on his face as if he thought that he was crazy or something. He decided it was time to change the subject.
Tony: So... for the races, this track is a little different than the one in Nebraska.
Dustin: What do I need to know?
Dustin felt himself get suddenly serious as he spoke to Tony, it was almost like they were doing some secret mission of some sort that only they could know about.
Tony: Just don't go towards the grass on the edge of the track, because that's where the maniac driver's like to block in other driver's.
Dustin: Ok, thanks.
Tony: You're welcome. Hey, good luck out there man.
Tony said as he started to walk away pointing his helmet toward Dustin, just like a race car driver or any kind of racer would do.
Dustin: Yeah, you too.
Dustin said before Tony had walked away, then he got settled into his car that felt almost like home to him.
**********
As the races began to start, Allie sat on the end of the bleachers next to Lola with Nicole's parents sitting on the opposite end of her. On the black tarred race track, Allie saw all the different colored and sponsored cars lined up at the starting line. Then, she saw the number seven red and black car, Dustin's car; Allie felt her eyes smile. Just like NASCAR, Allie thought to herself as she saw a man with headphones over his ears dressed in a striped shirt wave a checkered flag to indicate the start of the race. Allie could hear the loud roar of the race cars engines as they started to race around the track, all at different speed.
Dustin felt the impact against his lungs as his car went speeding off, that feeling was the most amazing to him. As he started, Dustin was ahead of almost everybody, but out of nowhere came two cars speeding up to him. Dustin felt a sketchy feeling in his stomach knowing that these were the guys that Tony was talking about. Before he could get around them, he found himself trapped in a bind between the two maniac cars. As Dustin looked out his left car window, he noticed that his left wheels were just inches from the green grass on the edge of the track. This is exactly what Tony said not to do, Dustin said angrily to himself.
Dustin had no idea of what to do to get himself out of the bind, so without any choice he began to drift closer to the grass because there was no way that the two cars were going to let him go farther on the actual track itself. Soon, Dustin felt his tires losing grip of where they were going, and as he tried to control his steering wheel he realized that he had no more control. When the maniac car that boxed Dustin in from behind went speeding passed him, Dustin's race car spun and stalled out in the middle of the track. His car turned around the opposite way that the car was supposed to drive towards, and saw out of his windshield the cars that were once behind him were coming straight his way.
Allie felt her heart pounding a mile a minute as she watched Dustin get boxed in by two Dumbass Cars -she thought- then stall out in the middle of the track with other race cars speeding straight for him. Allie could just see it happening, Dustin's car getting hit, then going up into flames. She couldn't watch this anymore, so she used Lola's back as her shield as she suddenly curled herself up in her friend's lap. Lola began to rub Allie's back in order to comfort her, she began to say shh... under her breath so only Allie could hear.
Allie: Oh my god! I can't watch.
Nicole saw Allie scarcely curl up into Lola, so she looked over with a questionable look.
Nicole: What's her problem?
What do I say, Lie, Lola said to herself as she thought of what to say to a staring Nicole, without actually telling the truth. Lola was the only one that knew why Allie was really freaking out.
Lola: She has a thing with cars. Your brother almost hit her, remember?
Nicole: Oh yeah.
Nicole said as if convinced, Lola thankfully sighed silently to herself knowing that Nicole would believe anything.