A Ride To Remember
1018 Words
The night air outside the concert venue still shimmered with leftover excitement.
Laughter echoed in the distance, footsteps scattered across the pavement, and faint chatter from lingering fans mixed with the fading echo of the final song. The crowd had mostly disappeared now, leaving behind a few street vendors packing up and a couple of people still waiting for rides.
Neon lights flickered softly against the wet-looking pavement, and the cool breeze carried hints of popcorn, perfume, and rain-soaked concrete.
Ava and Bethany stood under a dim streetlight, clutching their tote bags and slowly coming down from the high of the night.
Ava’s heart was still racing.
But not because of the concert anymore.
She checked her phone and groaned loudly.
“Beth… Beth, look. We missed the last bus.”
Her voice cracked slightly with panic.
“Oh no, we’re going to be stuck here.”
Bethany barely reacted. She tilted her head, calm as ever.
“Ava, relax. We’ve survived worse than this.”
Then, like it was nothing, she pulled out her phone.
“I’ll call Jake. He works nearby. He can come get us.”
Ava froze completely.
Jake.
Just hearing his name was enough to short-circuit her brain.
Her stomach flipped instantly, and suddenly the cold night air felt way too warm. She tried to act normal, tried to breathe normally, tried to be a functioning human being, but none of it worked.
Because now there was a chance she would see him.
Tonight.
After the concert.
Looking like this.
Bethany walked a few steps away while the call connected, acting like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Ava, meanwhile, was not okay.
Her heart was racing for no reason at all. Absolutely none.
It was just Jake.
Just her longtime, very quiet, very annoying crush.
Nothing serious.
Definitely nothing serious.
Bethany came back smiling. “He’s on his way.”
Ava cleared her throat. “Cool. Great. Amazing. I’m fine.”
Bethany squinted at her. “You’re shaking.”
“I’m not.”
“You are literally vibrating.”
“I’m cold.”
“It’s warm outside.”
Ava stopped talking.
Bethany just smiled knowingly and sat on the curb.
A few minutes later, headlights cut through the dark road.
A silver car pulled up.
Jake leaned slightly out the window. “Hey.”
Bethany waved immediately. “Finally.”
Ava stood very slowly. Too slowly. Like her legs forgot how to work.
She climbed into the back seat, sitting stiffly like the car might explode if she moved wrong.
Jake glanced at her through the mirror. “Hey, Ava.”
Her voice almost disappeared. “Hi.”
Bethany had to physically stop herself from laughing.
The car started moving, smooth and quiet under the streetlights.
For a while, it was peaceful.
Then Bethany leaned forward. “So… how’s Cynthia doing, Jakey?”
Jake’s hands tightened subtly on the steering wheel.
A pause.
Then,
“Actually… we broke up.”
Silence.
Bethany sat up instantly.
“What? When? Why? What happened?”
Jake exhaled slowly.
“She cheated on me.”
Bethany gasped.
“Oh my God, Jake… I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”
Jake shrugged like it didn’t bother him, even though it clearly did.
“Thanks, Bluey.”
Ava didn’t say anything.
But something dangerous happened inside her chest.
A small smile.
Unwanted.
Uncontrolled.
The thought that he was single now hit differently than it should have.
Bethany immediately nudged her foot under the seat.
Ava jerked slightly.
Bethany leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t make it obvious.”
Ava almost choked.
“I am not making anything obvious. I’m just… happy for him. He deserves better.”
Bethany gave her a look that said everything.
Ava shoved her lightly.
“Shut up.”
Jake glanced at them through the mirror, amused.
“What are you two whispering about back there?”
“Nothing,” they said in perfect unison.
Jake chuckled.
“Sure.”
A little later, he turned into a small diner glowing with warm yellow light.
“I’m starving. Let’s eat,” he said.
Inside, the air was warm and smelled like fries, pancakes, and comfort.
The place was almost empty.
Just quiet music, soft lighting, and the feeling of the world slowing down.
They slid into a booth.
Jake sat across from Ava.
Bethany, of course, sat beside Ava and immediately started nudging her again.
Ava tried to focus on the menu.
She really did.
But Jake sitting across from her made it impossible to think properly.
Finally, she spoke.
“Um… sorry about your breakup. Really. That must’ve sucked.”
Jake looked up at her.
Properly.
His expression softened.
“Thanks, Ava. That actually means a lot.”
Her chest tightened instantly.
His voice was calm. Warm. Real.
She looked down quickly before she embarrassed herself.
The meal went on with random conversations.
School.
Work.
The concert.
Music.
Jokes.
Every time Jake laughed, Ava felt her brain malfunction a little more.
Every time he looked at her, she had to physically remind herself how to breathe.
Bethany watched everything like it was the best entertainment of her life.
After they finished eating, they got back into the car.
The night felt quieter now.
Softer.
Slower.
When they reached Ava’s street, Jake slowed down.
“I’ll drop you off first, Ava.”
She nodded.
“Thanks, Jake.”
She stepped out reluctantly, like leaving too soon was illegal.
“Goodnight,” she added softly.
“Goodnight, Ava,” he replied.
She walked to her door.
And only looked back once.
Maybe twice.
Normal behavior.
Bethany watched from the car, smirking to herself.
When Ava disappeared inside, Bethany leaned back in her seat.
“She is so obvious,” she said.
Jake didn’t look away from the road.
“Obvious about what?”
Bethany smiled.
“Nothing.”
“Mm.”
The car moved again into the night.
And somewhere behind them, Ava stood inside her house longer than necessary, replaying every second of the ride she was absolutely not supposed to be overthinking.
- Writer
