After the race had finished and Dustin crossed the finish line, he was walking back to the campsite furiously with his parent's on either side of him, Allie and the girls were walking behind from a distance. Allie could tell that Dustin was frustrated from the outcome of the race in the way that he walked and talked. Also, she could see how angry he was by the way he was griping his right hand onto his racing helmet. Allie thought that if Dustin gripped any tighter, the helmet would shatter into a million pieces.
Kathleen: You were great honey.
Dustin: No I wasn't, I stalled out in the middle of the track.
There was a long pause as everyone kept walking forward, all Allie could hear was the sound of dirt kicking up from her feet and the sound of Dustin's heavy angered breathing. Kathleen put her hand on Dustin's back in a comforting manner just like any mother would do to calm her son down from whatever he was upset about.
Kathleen: It's almost dinner time, so let's go back to the camper and cool down. Ok?
Dustin suddenly stopped walking as he looked to his mother, Allie saw the almost devastated look on Dustin's face. She so desperately wanted to console him, but knew that she couldn't.
Dustin: I'm not hungry; I'm going to go put my car in the garage.
Dustin walked away with that same look that made Allie's heart sink, but she kept on walking to the camp sight to follow everyone in front of her.
**********
As time passed, dinner was made, a campfire was going inside the pit, people were seated at the picnic table and around the fire, but there was still no sign of Dustin. Allie was starting to worry that he was never going to come back.
Kathleen: Nicole honey, will you please bring this plate of food to your brother.
Kathleen said to Nicole sitting at the picnic table with Allie and Lola, with a paper plate of food in her hand. Nicole looked to her mom with a look as if to say; You're kidding me right?
Nicole: No way. If he wants to go hungry, he can.
HOW RUDE! Allie said to herself, along with thinking that Nicole is being selfish and everything else that went with that. Allie stood up from the table and grabbed the plate of food from Kathleen.
Allie: I'll take it to him Kathleen.
Kathleen: Thanks Allie.
Kathleen said with a smile on her face, then looked down at Nicole with a now-is-that-so-hard-type of look. Allie smiled to Kathleen as she turned and walked away hoping that where she was walking to was the right destination.
After asking around from some boys that looked to be about her age, whom noticeably checked her out -Disgusting Allie thought to herself of the boys- she found her way to the garage of where Dustin said he was going to be. Sure enough when Allie had walked inside, still with the plate of food in her hand, she found Dustin just sitting in the driver's side of his parked race car with a look on his face as if he was defeated.
Dustin didn't even notice that Allie was inside of the garage until he heard the passenger door open. As Allie slowly started to slide herself inside, being careful not to spill the food on her plate, all his thoughts went carelessly away.
Allie: Well, hello Mr. Sad Pants, my name is Allie and I like to smile.
Allie said with a playful smile on her face in hopes that it would cheer Dustin up, but he still had that look on his face as he silently stared straight forward. Allie knew that Dustin felt like a failure when there was no need to be. She wanted to throw her arms around him, but she restrained herself because she didn't want to make this moment awkward.
Allie: I brought you some food.
To fill the void, Allie waved the plate of food in front of Dustin's face as she used a sing-song voice to speak her words. Dustin just looked at the plate as if disgusted.
Dustin: No thanks.
Finally, Allie had enough of this pity party so she tried in the nicest way to let Dustin know that she was fed up with his routine.
Allie: Come on, it's just a race.
Dustin: Yeah, but Tony...
Allie: Who's Tony?
Dustin: Junior's brother.
Allie: Oh yeah.
As soon as Allie realized who Dustin was talking about, his face popped into her head. Now she could put a name to his face, for Lola of course. Then, she gave Dustin a sheepish smile in order to tell him to keep talking.
Dustin: He told me not to go towards the grass and I did.
Allie began to remember what had happened in the race before she ducked her head in Lola's lap. Before everything, she remembered how those two dumbass cars, as she recalls, had blocked Dustin in between them, forcing Dustin toward the grass.
Allie: You had no choice, those cars blocked you in.
Dustin: Yeah, but...
Even before Dustin could finish his sentence, Allie jumped back into conversation as if trying to get her point across to him.
Allie: So it wasn't your fault, and you got fourth place, that's still qualifying.
Dustin looked over to Allie with a look of wonder, a little impressed that she actually knew that fact. Dustin felt his cares fly away once again as he looked into her eyes.
Dustin: How did you know that?
Allie: I was listening to the announcer.
Allie smiled as if she was proud of herself, Dustin smiled along with her entirely forgetting what he was even so depressed about in the first place.
Allie: So now, can you please stop bruiting in here and come eat? Because you have to be hungry.
Dustin: Well, we both know that you're hungry.
Dustin smiled to himself, hoping again that he didn't offended her by talking about her eating habits. Then, he saw Allie playfully smile.
Allie: Yes, so that's why we need to get back right this instance.
As Allie and Dustin got themselves out of the car, Allie handed Dustin the plate of food just so she wouldn't have to hold it anymore, and resist the temptation.
As soon as they both had gotten back to the campsite, it was almost like they set something off because immediately everyone there started to stare at them. There was more off a glare for Nicole. Walking closer Allie and Dustin moved farther away from each other, and began to act like they weren't just talking and laughing with each other, but that they were just walking in silence together.
Allie resumed the position of her seat next to Lola at the picnic table, while Dustin sat across the table from Allie next to Nicole. Nicole moved over in disgust to the other end as soon as she saw her brother approaching the table.
Nicole: Are you done pouting?
Nicole said with a hint of hostility behind her voice. Instead, of retaliating and ruining the good mood he was now in, Dustin just sucked it up and smiled to his sister although not exactly wanting too.
Dustin: Yeah, thanks for asking Nicole.
Nicole just rolled her eyes not exactly caring that Dustin wasn't reciprocating to her like he always used to do. As Allie silently ate her food, she kept her face down and buried in her plate so no one could see the smile on her face. Allie was proud of Dustin for not fighting with his sister for once, she always felt bad when they fought.
**********
As the day grew into night, Allie found herself up top on the edge of the bed with Lola and Nicole sleeping next to her. But, instead of sleeping, Allie was having a nightmare of something that seemed to always reoccur in her dreams.
Allie, as young as she was or is, began seeing herself behind the wheel of a car with a boy that she always thought was like her identical twin and best friend. He was sitting nervously next to her in the passenger seat. She could hear the roar of engines as she and the other car with two boys that were obviously older than her, were lined up at a stop light that happened to be the color red. Once that light had turned green both cars went speeding off into the distance as if it was a race.
Suddenly, Allie felt her eyes rapidly open and her breath come shooting back to her as she sat straight up in the bed. She felt as if the room was hotter than it was when she had fallen asleep, and she became a little scared almost like she was a little kid again having a bad dream. That's exactly what it was, a bad dream, but the problem is that it really wasn't a dream that Allie had just made up in her mind one night, it was something that she can't seem to forget. Allie began to think that after all these years of not having the nightmare and waking up in a cold sweat like she had just now, was over.
The only person that could understand anything and everything was Lola, but she was asleep. Ever so gently, Allie began to shake Lola awake. She felt as if she was five years old again going into her parent's room and waking them up because of a nightmare that she had, but the problem is that this is real and her mother isn't here to comfort her like she has before.
Allie: Lola?
Even through her deep slumber, Lola felt a gently nudge on her back, then heard Allie's low muffled voice, but she figured whatever her friend wanted could wait until morning. Ignoring Allie, Lola just let out a moan as if to say Go Away! I'm sleeping, then rolled onto her side facing away from Allie.
Feeling a little disappointed, Allie just sat there in the bed wondering what to do. She decided that a little cool air on her face to get arid of the sweat that had formed on her forehead, would be best. As quietly as she could, so she wouldn't wake anyone up, Allie climbed herself down from the bed, then crept over to the camper door. Once she had opened the door, she was surprised to see Dustin already sitting out there on the step, she noticed he had become a little startled when she had opened the door.
Allie: Hey, what are you doing out here?
Allie said once she had closed the door behind her, then nervously folded her arms across her chest and stood up above Dustin; whom looked up at her from the bottom step. She even looks good in pajama's, Dustin thought as he looked to Allie whom was dressed in a pair of girl boxer shorts and a baseball t-shirt that had some writing on it that he couldn't make out in the darkness.
Dustin: Probably the same as you, I couldn't sleep.
That's far from, Allie thought to herself as she began to lower herself to sit next to Dustin on the step. Dustin, whom was also wearing a pair of shorts -basketball shorts- for pajamas, could feel the smooth skin on Allie's leg up against his and he knew that she could feel it to. Neither of them moved or wanted to.
Allie: Bad dream, so I don't want to go back to sleep.
Dustin: Do you want to talk about it, maybe then we'll talk through the night and you won't have to go back to sleep.
Allie sighed silently, while she feared what to say without out freaking Dustin out and making him run away before she even had a chance with him. But then again, Allie thought to herself, he did tell me and only me the truth about his sexual assault, so she turned to look at him as if to give him the ok to start asking questions.
Dustin: So, what was your dream about?
Allie: It's not exactly a dream; it's more like something that I keep reliving in my sleep.
Dustin: Do I want to know.
Dustin made a face as if he was scared, then he started to grin. Allie began to know that it was just a joke, she playfully nudged him on the shoulder.
Allie: Dustin, don't be mean.
Dustin suddenly became serious, almost apologetically, Allie thought to herself.
Dustin: Sorry. The best way to forget about something is to tell someone.
Allie took what Dustin said into consideration, and again she hesitated. Not because she was afraid to tell someone other than Lola, but she was afraid of what he might think of her after finding out what she did and what she can't run away from. At the same time, a different side of her felt like blurting everything out because just like he had, she felt a trust whenever she was with him. Maybe something a little more than trust. Now, she just had to figure out where to begin.
Allie: I didn't always live here, I moved back to Texas when I was in ninth grade.
Dustin: Where did you use to live?
Allie: Louisiana.
Allie's words were like ringing through Dustin's head, and for the first time he actually processed what she had said that first time.
Dustin: Wait... you said you moved back to Texas?
Allie: Yeah I was born here, and I lived here when I was younger because my parent's grew up here and meet each other in high school.
Dustin figured that by "high school," Allie meant the very high school that they go to themselves.
Allie: But, when I was like five years old we moved to Louisiana because my dad's mom lived out there. And, when she got sick we moved out there to take care of her, even my dad's sister and her family moved too.
Dustin: Why did you move back to Texas after all those years?
Allie: Because my cousin August back in Louisiana, that's a year older than me, went to jail and my parents didn't think it was the best environment for me to be around so we moved back here.
Dustin looked at Allie with wonder, not exactly understanding why that was such a bad thing to be reliving, but then realized that this was only the beginning of her story. Her life.
Dustin: And, that's what you keep reliving?
Allie: No, that's just the start of it.
Allie took a deep sigh before she went on, mostly to just give herself time in order to explain this story right. It's not exactly something that she likes to do. Humor yes, serious not so much.
Allie: The night August went to jail was the day he got his license. August and I were always close, we were like best friends. So, that night he called me and asked if I want to go for a joyride, I of course said yes and snuck out of my house and found him waiting outside in his mom's car.
Allie's eyes that were once locked to Dustin's, suddenly looked away and at anything but him. She covered her mouth with her hand trying so hard not to cry to herself.
Without hesitation, Dustin moved himself closer to Allie and placed his arm around her, he began to stroke her back in an effort of comfort. Dustin's touch felt so good to Allie and ultimately that's what made a tear stroll down her cheek, but she couldn't exactly enjoy his touch because she couldn't help but picture the event of what happened next on that night.
Dustin: Hey it's ok, take your time.
Still not willing to look at Dustin, Allie began to tell her story again as she looked off into the distance of the early morning. Dustin could hear a hint of sadness and something else that he didn't exactly want to think of, behind Allie's voice as she spoke again. He felt for her more than he knew he should because he knew that it was wrong to feel this way since she was Nicole's friend, so he just listened to Allie talk.
Allie: We drove up to a red stop light and at the light were these two older guys that challenged August and I to a race. So, stupid me asked if I could drive. August was hesitant at first because I only had my permit, but eventually he gave me the keys. Once that light turned green, the race was on, and to my surprise I was in the lead.
Allie's mood changed for a split second to almost happy with the thought of being behind the roaring engine of a car and winning a race. Dustin had to agree that was an amazing and indescribable feeling. But then, her mood had changed back as it became almost darker than it had before. Even though that split thought may have been happy, it was also the thought that turned her around, being behind the wheel was the reason, Allie knew of it.
Allie: But, the guy I was racing didn't particularly like that, so he tried running me off the road and when he did...
Allie took a moment to clear her throat, prepare herself for what she was about to say next. Dustin just patiently waited as he listened to Allie, then he noticed how her lower lip began to quiver hysterically.
Allie: This guy popped out of nowhere in front of the car, and even before I got out of the car, I could hear August telling me that he was dead.
Allie so desperately wanted to hold it in, keep her composure, but she couldn't do it anymore; she felt her salty tears streaming down her face. To her surprise, but at the same time not at all, Allie felt Dustin's muscular arms wrap securely around her now shaking body. Dustin's touch felt so right to Allie, she began to think of Dustin as her safe haven. Allie buried her head into Dustin's chest and became afraid that she might stain his shirt with her tears, but at this point she didn't give much into caring.
Dustin could feel Allie's soft hair brushing up against the bottom of his chin, smells like vanilla, and just let her cry while he let his arms wrapped tightly around her. When Allie's cries had soften, Dustin began to ask his question of wonder.
Dustin: What happened after that?
Allie sucked back her tears and began to wipe them away before they had the chance to dry under her eyes. As she released herself from where she thought she pathetically laid in Dustin's arms, she still kept herself sitting close so she could feel him against her. Dustin's arm was still placed gently on her back, acting as if it had nowhere else to go.
Allie: The other car was long gone, so it was just August and me standing there. He told me to run home like I had no idea of what had happened that night.
Dustin: Did you run?
Allie: I didn't want to, but I did.
Suddenly, Allie's face became sour and remorseful. She was full of regret, anger, and everything else that came with it, Dustin thought.
Allie: It's not fair, I should be the one in that jail cell, not him.
Dustin: Allie, he did it to protect you.
Do all guys think a like? Allie asked herself. She didn't know August's reasoning behind it all, she hasn't even spoken to him since that day, but she figured he would say something along those lines. The one regret she was always putting on herself was not talking to him anymore, even though she really wanted too.
Allie: Well then, he should protect me when it's his fault.
Dustin: Do you really think you would survive in jail?
Dustin said with a smile in his eyes and a playful tone behind his voice, hoping to lighten the mood with a joke.
Allie: What am I too much of a girl for jail? Would I become somebody's bitch?
Allie retreated as if offended, but with humor hidden inside of her voice; it's exactly what Dustin had hoped for.
Dustin: Possibly, and I don't think that an orange jumpsuit is really your style.
Allie: Yeah, orange isn't really one of my best colors. I'm more of an auburn type of girl.
Allie and Dustin busted out laughing, and then remembered that it wasn't just the two of them in the camp ground. It was early morning and they were sitting outside the camper of where everyone they knew was fast asleep, so they lowered their voices.
Dustin: Hey, I got you to smile.
Dustin grinned that beautiful grin of his, Allie thought to herself so she shyly grinned back. It didn't last long, her face became remorseful just like it had earlier when she talked about August and that night.
Allie: Yeah, but I still feel guilty.
Dustin: You shouldn't, because he's the one that chose to take the blame for you.
Dustin spoke in a calming tone, it made Allie began to wonder why she felt nervous about his reaction in the first place. Dustin's reaction made Allie start to feel safe again, but at the same time something different. She knew that it was wrong to feel that way, so she pushed it to the back of her mind just like all the other feelings, same feelings about Dustin, stayed and remained.
Allie: But I'm still the one that gets to relive it every night in my dreams, even to this day I can't get behind the driver's seat of a car.
Dustin: Is that why you were freaking out during my race when I stalled out?
Allie looked over at Dustin who had a grin on his face, with a look of nervousness. She was thinking, How did he see that? Well that's embarrassing.
Allie: You saw that?
Dustin: Yeah, you laid in Lola's lap.
Allie turned away from Dustin because she felt her face starting to turn red and didn't want him to see. Suddenly, the cool air that felt so nice breezing against Allie's skin, wasn't helping at all. She couldn't notice it anymore, it was like a heat wave had stormed through the air, but then Allie realized it was her becoming warm with embarrassment.
Allie: Yeah... Lola is the only person besides you that knows the truth.
Dustin: So, your family doesn't even know?
Dustin asked with surprise and shock shown behind his voice and on his face, he figured that Allie's mom would know the truth because she seemed to be close with her mother. But then again, he hasn't told his family the truth about him, only Allie knows. On another note, he's not that close to his own family.
Allie: If I ever told my mother, it would crush her. I thought Lola would be the only one I would tell, so don't go telling anyone.
Dustin knew that Allie could trust him, but it was typical to feel afraid after telling a big secret like that. He felt that way after he told his.
In order to convince her and make her feel better about it all, Dustin gave Allie a reassuring look.
Dustin: Allie, do you really think that I would tell someone?
Once Dustin had spoken his words, Allie thought of his secret and how he trusted her with it and it wasn't like she was running off to tell anyone. She felt kind of stupid for doubting him in the first place, in order to recover she reassured Dustin of her reasoning.
Allie: Of course not, but I still had to say it because you never know who your true friends are.
Dustin: Well, your secret's safe with me. I'm not the type of person to break a promise.
Allie: Thanks that's refreshing to hear.
As Allie looked off into the horizon, she noticed that the morning sun was starting to rise. She was surprised to see it, because it meant that she and Dustin were talking for longer than she had expected. The new morning sun is beautiful, Allie thought as she looked to the orange with a hue of red star in the sky.
Dustin didn't know if it was the lack of sleep that he had this night -more like morning- or the way that the morning sun shinned upon Allie's beautiful long brown hair, but he felt the need to kiss her right there and then. As soon as he heard her begin to speak again, he told himself to push the urge away.
Allie: The sun is starting to rise; I think we should get some sleep.
Dustin: I thought you didn't want to go back to sleep?
Dustin said with a sideways grin on his face, Allie soon began to remember why she had come out here in the first place.
Allie: It's more like you need some sleep speed racer.
Allie smiled to Dustin as she started to pick herself up from where she sat on the step. Dustin couldn't fight it anymore, the urge crept back up to him. With the sight of Allie walking back to the camper door, he couldn't bare to see her go without him doing exactly what he longed to do for he doesn't even know how long.
Dustin: Allie?
Just as Allie had placed her hand on the door handle, she heard Dustin say her name like it was a question. As she turned around, Dustin was picking himself up from where he sat on the step.
Allie: Yeah?
Dustin could hear his heart pounding inside his chest, but he knew that it was now or never. He stepped up to the same level that Allie was standing on, and looked nervously into her big blue eyes. Allie felt herself become nervous because she knew what was about to happen, she felt her breathing start to get staggered.
Do It! Dustin yelled at himself, then suddenly he pressed his lips against Allie's making them form around hers perfectly. Even before Allie had time to enjoy the kiss that she's been waiting for since she doesn't even know when, Dustin pulled himself away from her as he held his hand over his mouth and looked down sheepishly. Allie began to wonder, What did I do wrong? Am I a bad kisser?
Dustin: I'm sorry. I just had to.
Dustin didn't even look up as he spoke to her. Allie just grinned to herself thinking that it was so cute that Dustin was afraid of what he did, she wanted him to know that what he did was more than ok.
Allie: No it's ok; I was actually beginning to wonder when that was going to happen.
As seductively as she could, Allie titled her head up toward Dustin as she gently placed her hand on the side of his face. Dustin looked up from where he nervously stared at the ground and to Allie, whom had a smile surprisingly on her face. He began to understand that everything was alright, so once again he leaned into to kiss Allie, and this time she leaned into him until their lips meet. This time able to enjoy the kiss, Allie wrapped her arms around Dustin's neck with such joy, as he wrapped his arms around her waist gently touching her back.
As if coming back to reality, Allie heard in the distance the sound of breaking sticks, like in a horror movie when the two dumb kids making out are being watched by the killer. With such fright, Allie released herself from Dustin as she started looking around the campsite, squinting just to see something in the distance.
Allie: I think someone's out here.
Dustin started looking off into the distance of where Allie was scarcely looking, but all he could see was dirt, other RV campers, and trees. There was no one in sight, probably because everyone was sleeping, Dustin thought.
Dustin: Allie, no one's out here besides us.
Allie knew that Dustin was just trying to convince her so they could start kissing again -- Allie wasn't complaining -- but she swore that she saw a figure. It looked like there was a person hiding behind the tall tree in the distance, the exact place she was looking at. She told herself it was just her imagination, she didn't know if she convinced herself or not.
Allie: I think maybe we should go inside before someone wakes up and catches us.
Once the words rolled off her tongue, Allie hated herself for saying it because she knew that it was a fact of reality. Regretfully, Dustin had to agree even though he didn't exactly want to.
Dustin: Yeah, my parent's will most likely be up soon.
Allie turned to open the door, but before she opened it she turned back to Dustin and gave him one last kiss for what she hoped really wouldn't be their last. Allie looked back at Dustin and sideways smiled as she walked inside. Dustin just stood outside the now opened camper door smiling to himself, while touching his lips with his fingers. Dustin could feel Allie's kiss still lingering on his lips.
Once inside, Allie crept her way back up to the top bed where Lola and Nicole still slept soundlessly. As Allie got herself back under the covers, she heard Lola's sleepless voice. As she looked at her friend, Lola's eyes were still closed.
Lola: Where'd you go?
Allie: I went outside to get some air, go back to sleep.
Allie spoke in a low soothing voice as if she was just a part of Lola's dream, it worked like magic because Lola didn't even give a respond; she just went back to her slumber. As Allie rolled over onto her side away from Lola and to the camper door, she saw Dustin come walking in. Not taking their eyes and smiling lips off of each other, Dustin went back to his room and Allie finally wasn't afraid to shut her eyes.
***********
As the official morning rolled around -= 10 am -- Allie was woken up by the sweet aroma of breakfast food. She was so excited that she didn't even bother to gently wake Lola and Nicole up, who were still asleep. Still? Even with food getting colder by the second? Allie complained to herself.
Allie: Is that hash-browns I smell?
Allie asked herself as she sniffed around in the air like she had the first day she discovered the delicious buffet.
Allie: Lola, Nicole wake up!
Allie hit Nicole on her butt that you could visibly tell was a butt even under the blanket, then heard Nicole let out a moan; but she didn't even bother to open her eyes. When Allie went to hit Lola on the butt, she was surprised when Lola swatted her hand away because her eyes weren't even open. She's like a magic ninja, what... Allie playfully thought.
Lola: Go without us.
Lola managed to moan out loud, Allie was slightly disappointed that both her friends weren't partaking. Once she climbed herself down the ladder and planted her feet on the floor, she became positively pleasant.
Dustin had walked out of his room fully clothed unlike hours before when he and Allie had that wonderful moment together; unlike Dustin, she was still in her boxer shorts. Embarrassing! Allie said to herself as she started to dig through her massive duffle bag for a pair of jeans.
Dustin: Hey, where are you off to in such a hurry?
Dustin said trying to be nonchalant as he watched Allie pull a pair of blue jeans out from her bag. Even without them on her, Dustin knew that she was going to look amazing in them.
Allie: I'm going to get some breakfast, alone.
As Allie stood up holding the pair of jeans in her hands, she shot a glaring look back at Lola and Nicole on the top bed and put emphasis on the word alone. Allie knew that Lola and Nicole could feel her glaring stare even though they were "sleeping," because she saw a smile slide across Lola's closed eyed face and a muffled giggle come from Nicole.
Dustin: I'm hungry too, so if you don't mind I'll walk with you?
Allie looked back at Dustin as he spoke and a smiled slid across her face. She could see that Dustin wanted so bad to smiled back, but he didn't want Lola or Nicole to see. Allie began to realize that it was time to give her Oscar winning acting performance, so she shrugged as if she didn't have a care in the world when she started to speak.
Allie: Fine, I guess it's better than nothing, since my real friends are *dramatic voice* too tired. Just let me change into actual clothes first.
Allie went back to her bag and grabbed a shirt to go with her jeans, then closed herself inside the camper bathroom to change in private. When Allie had come out fully dressed in the pair of jeans, Dustin proved his point that she would look amazing in the jeans.
Allie threw her pajama's that she once wore back into her bag, then stood back up and looked to Dustin still standing in front of her where she last saw him.
Allie: Alright, let's go.
Allie walked in front of Dustin as they both walked out the camper. Dustin couldn't help but look down at Allie's ass, then looked back up before anyone could notice.
As the camper door closed, Nicole opened her eyes and rolled herself closer to Lola.
Nicole: Should I be worried about Allie and my brother?
Lola heard a hint of worry and also jealousy behind Nicole's voice as she asked her question, but Lola had nothing to worry about herself because she had full faith in her friend.
Lola: *with her eyes closed* Don't worry Allie's smart, she can tell the difference between an asshole and an actual person. Plus, you know Allie...
Lola poked one of her eyelids open as she kept the other one closed still, as she began to realize what she had just said out loud. Nicole didn't know Allie the way that Lola did, so she wouldn't be aware of what she was trying to imply by "you know Allie." Lola knew that Nicole was a little bit too wrapped up in herself to really notice the things and the quirks about someone, so she was going to have to explain it to her.
Lola: She's the friendliest person you'll probably ever meet. She always tries to make the best of every situation that she's in, but it doesn't mean that she actually likes the person. She's happy-go-lucky, so she stays happy no matter what for her own entertainment.
Nicole: Ok, good.
Nicole breathed a sigh of relief, then laid back down on the bed and closed her eyes.
Once Allie and Dustin walked outside, they saw Dustin's parents sitting at the picnic table with a plate of breakfast food for themselves. Kathleen's back was turned away from Allie and Dustin, but as soon as she heard the camper door open and close, she turned herself around and smiled at them both.
Allie looked at Kathleen's smile and became curious of why she was smiling the way she was, it wasn't like her usual smile that was always warm or welcoming, this smile was like she was giddy with excitement. Oh My God! Does she know? Was she the person that I saw this morning? Allie frantically asked herself. To play it off cool, she smiled back at Kathleen with what she hoped was a smile that didn't show a hidden meaning.
Allie: Good morning Kathleen, Rob.
Again Dustin's Father didn't say anything, he just looked up from his plate of food, smiled, then back down again. I am going to get you to talk if it's the last thing I do, Allie began to demand to herself, because after all she was dating his son now, or was she? Allie questioned herself.
Thankfully, Allie heard Kathleen's voice break into her frantic and everything that rhymes with that word, thoughts.
Kathleen: Where are you two going?
Dustin: Just going to get something for breakfast, Nicole and Lola are still sleeping.
Dustin reassured his parents, more like mother, staring curiously at him and Allie. Nice save, Allie said to herself, Dustin made it seem like nothing at all, just the way that they both wanted it to seem.
Allie and Dustin walked side by side, each wanting to hold each other's hand, but instead just looked at each other with knowing glances. When they were far enough away, and he knew that his mother wasn't looking still, Dustin grabbed Allie's hand as he pulled her behind a camper at the end of the lot. Behind the camper, Dustin placed Allie's back gently against the wall as he stood in front of her.
Allie: Dustin, what are you doing?
Dustin: No one can see us.
Dustin moved himself closer to Allie, and he put his hand on the side of her face. Allie knew exactly what was happening. Once their lips had touched, it was as if the two of them were off in their own private world. Heaven? Allie asked herself when they had released from the kiss. *Heaven- Bryan Adams*
Dustin: I didn't get a chance to say good morning.
Allie: Well, it's defiantly a good morning for Allie.
They grinned happily to each other, then Dustin grabbed Allie's hand again and pulled her forward, time to go already? Allie whined to herself. Allie and Dustin had dropped hands unwillingly as soon as they approached the breakfast buffet, because Junior was the server. As Junior saw them approaching the table, he remembered what he saw early this morning. It was both a curse and a gift in this case that he was an early riser, super early riser, almost like insomnia.
Early this morning as Junior was on his walk through the campsite, he stopped behind a tree as he saw in the distance two people, a guy and a girl kissing each other on the step of a camper. That camper looks like Nicole's? Junior remembered saying to himself, but he knew that the girl was not Nicole because Nicole's beautiful features were different from the girl he was looking at. Once Junior had realized who the girl really was and who the guy was, he had to do a double take. He even took off his glasses to clean them just in case his eyes were false, but when he put them back on his eyes were correct, it was Allie and Dustin kissing.
He had almost ruined the moment when he stepped on a broken stick lying in front of him on the ground. He thought that Allie had looked directly at him, but thankfully she didn't realize anything. And now, they were standing right here in the flesh as if nothing was said or done last night. Junior knew that if Nicole ever found out about this, she would be livid as per usual.
Junior: Good morning you two.
Allie looked to Junior after she had grabbed a plate for the buffet, he had the same smile as Kathleen had on her face this morning. Something weird was going on around here, but Allie didn't want to drink any of that juice.
Allie: Why are you looking at us like that?
Junior: Like what?
Junior said slyly, it really wasn't working for him, he can't pull devious off very well, Allie thought to herself. Dustin now was becoming curious of what Junior was up to or what he was even thinking in that mind of his.
Allie: Like you know something.
Junior: I saw you two this morning.
Suddenly, Allie felt everything she had left of her drop, her stomach, her heart, and even her plate, but thankfully it didn't break. Before even bothering to pick her plate up from the ground, Allie shot a look up to Dustin, who was already staring worryingly at her.
Almost automatically, Allie and Dustin both looked back to Junior with looks on the faces as if to say: what you talking about Willis? Junior?
Allie and Dustin: What?
Allie and Dustin both said in a sing-song type of voice with nervousness heard behind it, Allie added in a 'psh' noise to hers.
By that, Junior knew what he saw was the truth, his eyes weren't playing tricks on him.
Junior: By that look you two just gave each other, I know you know what I'm talking about.
For like the first time in her life, Allie had no idea of what to say. To fill the void, she picked her plate up from where it laid on the dirt ground; it was no good now so she just set it on the table. Allie looked to Dustin for help, but he had no idea of what to do either. As if coming to their rescue, Junior spoke the exact words they were searching to hear.
Junior: Don't worry I won't tell.
Allie sighed a sigh of relief, and then decided it was time to lighten the tension that was in the air at the moment. As a part of her joke, Allie hooked her thumb toward Dustin standing next to her.
Allie: Good, because otherwise he would run you over with his car.
Dustin: Yeah, I almost ran her over.
Dustin went along with Allie's joke, they laughed together as they remembered that first day they meet, maybe it was fate.
But Junior wasn't following, he just looked at Allie and Dustin as if to say WTF? Whatever turns you on I guess.
Allie: Long story.
Allie almost said thankfully to herself because that was one thing that Junior didn't know or have over them. She knew that she could trust Junior because well he was Junior, but it was all new to her having a secret boyfriend, whatever this was between her and Dustin.
When Allie had grabbed a new and clean plate, Junior dished her some food, then did the same for Dustin. When Allie and Dustin had walked back to the campsite, Dustin's parents were thankfully not in sight so they sat at the picnic table, across from each other. Allie began to pretend that she and Dustin were at a restaurant on their first date, but then she told her imagination to stop working in overdrive.
Allie: So... do you only have one race left?
Dustin: Yeah, this last race is the race that determines the weekend champion.
Allie: Well then, I won't say anything to jinx you.
Allie grinned to Dustin and just as he was about to grin back, Lola and Nicole had walked out of the camper almost like it was just to ruin the moment, Dustin knew that Nicole was capable of something like that.
Allie and Dustin's face suddenly went straight at the same time, almost like they were just sitting there in silence the whole time. They made it seem like nothing was going on but the sound of their forks hitting their plates. So it wouldn't be awkward or even noticeable, Allie turned around to look at Lola and Nicole walking down the camper step. She was beginning to love those steps, but as she thought of it she yelled at her imagination once again.
Allie: What's the story morning glory?
Before Lola gave Allie an answer, she started to rub her face as if to wake herself up. She's still sleepy? Allie asked herself.
Lola: I need coffee, is there any at the buffet?
Allie: Yes there is.
Allie said with a laugh. Once Nicole heard the word buffet, she let out a moan of disgust and folded her arms across her chest just like a five year old.
Nicole: I don't want to go over there.
Lola: Just come on.
Lola said annoyed, then grabbed Nicole's arm and pulled her towards the buffet table. Allie was surprised that Nicole didn't plant her feet into the ground and have Lola drag her over there, but then again that might get Nicole dirty and Nicole can't have that.
As the afternoon rolled around, Dustin, Allie, and everyone went to get ready for the race, Dustin came out in his racing suit that Allie had come to find herself going gaga inside over. He looks so freaking HOT! Allie said to herself. At Dustin's car his dad was walking around the car just like he had the other day to make sure everything was in place and ready for the race.
Dustin: Is it ready Dad?
Dustin asked his father that just happen to respond like he always did with a smile, but oh wait this time he gave two thumbs up. You're a party animal, Allie said with a laugh to herself. Allie put her hands on her hips and just smirked to herself as she thought Seriously? Just say something already?
Again to ruin the moment, Nicole started speaking. Allie began to think that ruining the moment was all Nicole was good for.
Nicole: Don't choke today Dustin.
Dustin: Thanks Nicole.
Dustin said without even looking at his sister because he knew that if he did, the annoyance in his voice would become something bigger than just that; and he knew it wouldn't please people, especially one in particular. Allie.
Kathleen: Ok, come along girls.
Lola and Nicole started to follow behind Nicole's parents, but
Allie just slowly walked backwards so she could stare and smile at Dustin; who happened to be smiling at her with wink of his eye. Allie felt her whole self just melt at that sight of Dustin winking at her, she desperately wanted to jump into his arms and kiss the crap out of him. But, she knew that she had to stop herself from losing control, especially when she heard Lola's voice calling her name.
Lola: Allie?
Allie: Sorry, I lost my shoe.
Good lie, Allie said to herself as she thought of it fast. Once Allie saw Lola turn around to look at her, she pretended as if she really did lose her flip-flop and was just putting it back on, in order to make it believable. When her shoe was back on, Allie ran to catch up to Lola and Nicole. Dustin watched Allie so gracefully walk away, he had to laugh to himself at what she had pretended to do, then he got inside of his car.
As Allie watched the race begin, she felt a little uneasy because of her past, but she tried filling her mind with happy thoughts. Dustin, Allie told herself to think. Thankfully this race was better than the last; it was as if Dustin was a whole different racer. Allie was pleased to see that Dustin did indeed have driving skills just like he had promised that day in his kitchen, it was like he was the blocker this time by not letting any cars pass him. Allie liked to think she was the cause of this, I have the kiss of magic, she convinced herself.
When the race had finished and Dustin crossed the finish line along with all the other race cars, the announcer had presented all the boys with their ranking of the weekend. Even though he had an amazing race, Dustin wasn't the winner but he still did pretty damn good. Second place, hell yeah!
As Dustin walked back to the campsite with his second place trophy in his hand, his helmet in the other, and a big smile on his face; he was being congratulated by his parents that walked on either side of him. Allie, Lola, and Nicole trailed behind mostly because Nicole was being a slow poke.
Kathleen: *hugging Dustin* Good job son.
Dustin: Thanks Mom.
Without anyone else seeing, Dustin looked behind him out of the corner of his eye at Allie, and smiled at her with his eyes. Allie did the same, but kept her lips together so a big grin wouldn't slide across her face for everyone to see. As Dustin turned straight forward, he took a peek over at his dad. His dad had saw the private moment between him and Allie, but Dustin knew that he had nothing to worry about, because his dad wouldn't say anything. It's not like his dad says anything at all really.
As Nicole walked in between Allie and Lola, she began to regret ever walking in the middle because she felt Allie's elbow nudged into her side. When Nicole gave Allie a glaring look, Allie just happened to look at her as if to say be nice to your brother, she knew of this because Allie twitched her head toward Dustin.
Nicole: Yeah, you were good I guess.
Dustin stopped walking as soon as he heard his sister's voice, but this time it was surprisingly not full of annoyance or hostility. Dustin soon realized that Allie had put Nicole up to it because a smile of satisfaction was shown on Allie's face. Dustin loved the way that Allie was trying to make amends between him and his sister, well try at least.
Dustin: Wow Nicole, that was actually kind of nice of you.
Nicole: Yeah, well I'm trying.
Nicole said with a shrug and a smile on her face, Dustin smiled back. Then, they both realized that they were having a brother sister moment, so they quickly looked away and told themselves that it was a one-time thing. Never going to happen again and that really was only the half of it.
Dustin: I'm going to go get my car, then we can start heading out.
Dustin informed everyone around him, then started walking away. As he walked away, he turned his head to look back at Allie and when he did, Allie turned to smile at him. There's a lot of smiling in this relationship or whatever it is, Allie thought to herself. Allie suddenly became startled as she heard Nicole's questioning voice.
Nicole: Allie, what are you smiling at?
Allie turned her head straight forward as she tried to think of the best thing to say. She felt the perspiration building up under her armpits as she was under pressure to come up with something good, because both Lola and Nicole were staring at her.
Allie: I umm... saw Junior's brother.
Lola: He can make anyone smile.
Lola said to herself as if she was some love sick puppy, Allie was almost afraid that Lola was going to let out a ridiculous love sigh like weird girls in movies do; but thankfully she didn't. Still, Allie smiled to herself because she knew what Lola was thinking.
Tony's charming, well-tanned, brown eyed, brown haired, face popped into Lola's head as she felt it melt her heart, something that she's never felt from any guy before. You'll most likely never see him again, Lola sighed to herself.
Nicole: Yeah, because he's so damn hot.
Again, Nicole had to ruin the moment, more like Lola's moment, Allie thought to herself while Lola thought that's offensive and derogatory, he's so much more than that, she already knew of this.
**********
The afternoon had past, the camper was hooked up to the back of Dustin's parent's truck, and bags were in the car tucked away for the next hour or two. Just like the ride up here, Allie sat in the passenger seat with Lola and Nicole sitting in the same seats in the back. This ride was different to Allie, because when she agreed to go for the weekend she just thought it would be a fun time to hang out with her friends, but something extraordinary happened. Me, Allie Jenner might actually have a boyfriend, she thought excitedly to herself. Allie didn't know exactly what was going to come of her and Dustin, but she was excited to let herself wonder. She could have never expected what the true outcome would be.
Dustin turned on the ignition to his car once he saw his parent's pull out of the lot, and again as the car had turned on Allie heard the sound of Kottonmouth Kings *Tangerine Sky* blasting from the speakers. She smiled a little to herself while thinking that she's going to have to get used to the sound of this music if her and Dustin were you know whatever. Allie was almost starting to be afraid of her thoughts, it was almost like she was freaking out inside not exactly knowing why.
Then thankfully, Allie heard Nicole's voice come from behind her, addressing both her and Lola.
Nicole: So did you two have fun this weekend?
Lola: Yeah I did, but when I get home I definitely need a shower.
As Lola said her words, she started to touch her hair then looked at the strains with a disgusted look. My hair is so gross and greasy, Lola disgustingly said to herself. As Nicole spoke back to, to Lola and only Lola this time, she had an apologetic look on her face.
Nicole: Yeah sorry, the shower doesn't really work in the camper. How about you Allie?
As Allie looked back to Nicole behind her in the seat, her eye caught Lola first. Lola was looking outside the window at the other campsites as they car drove passed, with a look on her face as if she was sad. Allie gathered that Lola was sad to leave not because of the fact that it was such a fun place, but because of who she happened to lay her pretty brown eyes on.
Allie: My favorite part was the food.
Nicole: Well, of course you would say that.
Nicole said with a playful laugh surprisingly not trying to mean about it at all, Allie heard Dustin also let out a little laugh.
Allie: Hey Lola, do you think you can hand me my pillow from the back?
Lola unbuckled herself as she leaned into the way back of the trunk to retrieve Allie's pillow that just happened to be sitting on top of her bag. When Allie had her red -favorite color- pillowcase covered pillow in her hands, she placed it up against the side of Dustin's driver's seat. She rested half on the divider between the two front seats and half on her pillow, she was acting as if her pillow was a shield from the back seat.
Lola: Allie, what are you doing?
Before Allie actually placed her head on the pillow, she looked back at Lola with her lips parted in order to give an answer to her question.
Allie: I don't want to put my seat back because Nicole is behind me.
As Allie said her name she looked over at Nicole, who made a face as if to say thank you for thinking of me, then she looked at the passenger seat window as she addressed it.
Allie: And, I don't want to put my pillow up against the window because that's very uncomfortable, so this is the way I'm deciding to lay down.
With his left hand securely on the steering wheel -just like a guy, Allie thought- Dustin looked from the road and down to Allie with a look as if to say Weirdo. Allie knew by now that he was just kidding when he did these things.
Dustin: Yeah, you're weird.
Dustin said before any of the other girls even had time to respond to Allie. Allie just let a sigh as she spoke, then tried positioning herself on the pillow the way that she wanted.
Allie: Story of my life.
Nicole: Dustin, don't call my friend weird.
There is the Nicole we all know, Allie thought to herself of Nicole's once again bitch tone toward her brother. This weekend hasn't changed anything, even though Allie hoped that it would've.
Dustin: Well she is.
Nicole didn't even have the effort to retaliate, she just slouched down into a comfortable position and closed her eyes. Lola did the same, but she kept her eyes opened and just looked dreamingly out of the window next to her.
Meanwhile in the front seat, Dustin began to realize that Allie position her pillow where it was for a reason because he suddenly felt Allie grab his right hand and intertwined her fingers with his. Dustin looked down at Allie, who was already looking up at him with a smile shown inside her blue eyes so he smiled at her. He soon began to curiously look to the backseat just in case Nicole or Lola were looking, but both of their eyes were closed. Lola tried keeping her eyes opened, but she started to feel them slowly wanting to shut.
Dustin looked back at the road with a smile still on his face, he felt like saying what he has heard in olden day movies Allie Jenner you have made me the happiest man in the world, with a southern accent because that's what he's heard, but he restrained himself from saying it out loud.