Chapter Text
Dylan.
I stare out the window and watch the trees quickly pass. Even though it’s still fairly early, it’s already getting dark outside. I notice how the clouds are packing together. It seems we’ll be getting a storm soon.
I can’t help but think that the weather seems to sense my mood and adjusts itself. There had been blistering heat and sunshine every other time I made this drive, just like I had been happy, excited and ready for an amazing summer. This year I am still excited for summer, yet already slightly sad because I know this year will be my last. And then there’s the fact that the last two weeks haven’t exactly been the greatest of my life. All kinds of emotions are swirling through my head at this moment, thus a storm seems perfectly appropriate.
“Excuse me, miss. Where did you say you were going again?”
The cab driver’s voice is louder than when he spoke before. When I avert my gaze from the window I notice his eyes are looking at me from his rear-view mirror. I wonder how many times he already asked this question, but I don’t bother asking. Instead I just give him my destination again.
He is surprised, just like the others were the years before. His eyes are back on the road, but through the mirror I can see him frowning when he hesitantly asks, “You do know that’s as middle of nowhere as it gets, right?”
I can’t suppress a smile. Same conversation every year. “Not right now, sir,” I politely assure him. “The Warped Tour festival has taken over the place for today.”
“Oh, that’s today? My daughter mentioned it a few weeks back. So that’s why she was so excited last night.”
I wonder what kind of father doesn’t know when his daughter is attending an event like Warped. I don’t mention it though, instead asking, “Is it her first time at Warped?”
“Yes, it is. Her friend went last year and convinced her to tag along this year. My wife and I weren’t too happy about it. But hey, they’re teenagers, what are you going to do about it, right?” He casts a quick look at me before continuing, “What about you? You flew all the way out here to see some bands? From England, right?”
“From London, yes,” I say with a smile. Of course my accent wouldn’t go unnoticed. “And I’ll actually be joining the crew. It’s my fifth year now and I absolutely love the work. Warped is pretty great. I’m sure your daughter’s day had been amazing so far.”
“Well it must have. If your first trip to America has made you keep coming back, this festival must be something special!” the driver says while letting out a short laugh.
My answering chuckle is rather grim. “My first trip to America wasn’t for Warped tour,” I admit.
The driver’s eyes quickly wander over me again before going back to the road. He clearly has had enough passengers over the years to know what my tone of voice indicates. “I’m sure my daughter will be waiting to tell me all about it when I get home,” he says as if the last part of our conversation never took place.
The rest of the ride is spend in silence. I spend my time staring at my reflection in the window. I wonder how the girl staring back at me would have turned out if she hadn’t met him six summers ago, hadn’t come to the states with him. Chances are I wouldn’t even be sitting here. After all, it was thanks to him that I learned to take a chance, to act on my desires. Of course, that was all before he broke my heart. Twice. Although that second time was my own fault as much as his. If I hadn’t gone to their show that night, if I hadn’t…
I force myself to stop thinking about him right there. It’s no use crying over spilled milk. What’s done is done. Instead I try to focus on the weeks ahead, the fun I’m going to have. It isn’t lost on me, however, that the rain has chosen this exact moment to start coming down.
It isn’t much later when the driver breaks the silence, announcing, “We have reached our destination, miss.”
When I look out the window I can see the familiar sight of trucks, buses, vans and people running around. And for the first time tonight I can feel a genuine smile break through. I am home again.