The Truth

Lauren

The process was long but Jake and I had eventually snuck away and began on our road trip, we come upon an agreement where we would take turns in driving every 6 hours and he volunteered to go first as long as he could choose the radio station. I decided sleep was what I needed so I drifted off.

I was in an empty room, standing in front of a mirror and staring at myself, every so often someone close to me or someone that I knew would pass by, I would call Hello but they would never answer. A lady who looked young appeared beside me, we were very similar in looks but she was older, something strange was going on, I could see my reflection clearly and vividly but hers wasn't there. "Where is it!?" I asked, she didn't reply but just walk towards the mirror and step into it. She looked at me confused and then my reflection what happened next shocked me! She took my reflection by the hand and walked away, I was there, standing in front of a mirror with a reflection that ditched me! "RUDE"! I yelled after it as I watched it grow younger and younger as she walked away, I paused as I saw the lady you might have been my mother drop her off at an airport and leave.

"Vanessa" Jake sighed, waking me up, "It's your turn to drive" He whispered, I quietly switched to the driver's seat while Jake nodded off in the seat beside me. I turned off the radio to drive in silence, it was around 1 in the afternoon and I didn't dare close my eyes or even wink after that dream. I pulled to a starbucks drive through and got a double shot of espresso to wash out my drowsiness. I followed the satnav to the freeway and continued for about 2 miles until a hitchhiker with her thumb up distracted me on the edge of the road, I slowed down the car till I was perched next to her, I rolled down my window to speak, "Where are you headed to?" I asked,

"Salt Lake City, I know it's a long way but my uber refused to bring me any further cause I didn't have enough money" She answered in a strong accent,

"Hop in the back, we're headed to Maine and it's on the way" I smiled nicely, She quickly thanked me and got in the back. "What's your name?" I asked shaking her hand,

"I'm Lauren, You?"

"I'm Vanessa and this is my boyfriend Jake" I replied as I began to drive again. I found out that she was from Brighton England on a J1 for the summer, she was 20 years old and needed to catch a plain in Utah tomorrow. She kept me entertained and we joked for a while,

"So what are you and your boyfriend doing driving across the country" She laughed, asking me the most dreaded question,

"Well... Jake turned 18 several weeks ago so it's legal and I turn 18 tomorrow, but basically... I'm trying to find my birth mother and she told me she lived in Maine so here we are" I finished embarrassed,

"Cool! So were you in a home in Cali?" She questioned.

"No I got adopted when I was a baby, luckily but by a family that I didn't get along with in the slightest so I really pumped" I said excitedly. Time seemed to speed past and before I knew it we were at our first motel for the night, "Let me cover your room for the night, it's the least I could do" She offered, as she was gone I woke Jake up.

"Hey Jake! I nudged him awake, let's go to our room" I whispered,

He slumped out of the car tiredly, "Who's paying for the room?" He asked as I unlocked the door,

"I picked up an English girl off the highway looking to go to Utah and I knew we were passing through so I let her come with us" I explained, he took it quite well as I pushed open the door we both stood there awkwardly.

"Does she think we're that far into our relationship to be sharing a bed?" He whispered,

"We'll be fine!" I laughed. We got ready and hopped into the double bed and got cozy, it wasn't as awkward I thought it would be, our cold bodies lay close as we held hands and slowly drifted off to sleep.

My dream from earlier repeated itself over and over again in my single sleep until I was sick of it and forced myself to wake up, Jake's arms rested on my waist as I lifted mine from his neck, I quietly picked up my phone to check the time, 6:17. "Happy Birthday Vanessa" I whispered to myself as I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up. By 7 I went out in the cool air to find the closest cafe or diner, at last I came across a gas station and purchased three coffees and a special K box and a liter of milk, this will do perfect! I made my way back to the motel and placed the food on the counter as I quickly checked my phone, birthday wishes were flooding in from everybody, twitter, messages, snapchat and instagram. I woke Jake up and we ate and drank our breakfasts, He handed me a small wrapped box and wished me happy birthday and gave me a kiss.

I opened the small box to find a heart shaped necklace with an engraved E on the front, on the back was a small map of America with small dotted lines from Los Angeles to Maine, it was adorable, he put it on as I thanked him and gave him a long passionate kiss. There was a knock on our door from Lauren, she handed me a cupcake and gave me a hug as I gave her the coffee and thanked her. We decided it would be best to to get straight on the road seeming as Lauren had a plain to catch in 7 hours.

6 hours goes a lot faster than you'd imagine when you're having fun, the whole journey to Salt Lake was full of laughter and more terrible puns than a human could think of, I was gonna miss Lauren, she was so funny. We pulled outside the airport and helped her take out her luggage as we exchanged numbers and said our sad goodbyes, "Thanks for trusting a random girl off the highway" She laughed,

"My pleasure" I giggled as I pulled her in for another quick hug. She left and Jake and I made our way back to the car, "Happy yet sad birthday" I smiled as he placed his arm around my waist as we walked.

I knew the whole day would be stuck in a car, most would hate it but I think it's probably been the best birthday I've ever had.

(I know it's not the 1st of August but I was too lazy to write on time so lets pretend XD Thanks for reading <3)