Fast Car, Chapter 2 - Fiction Friday

~This weeks Friday is a continuation of the story I started on last week. If you haven't already, go back and read that one before starting this one! Thank you!~

Chapter 2

Sydney had awoken to the smells of maple bacon and the sounds of her mom and sister singing along to Dolly Parton's Jolene in the kitchen. It really was like she had never left, as she remembered those cool summer mornings, Alison and herself sitting at the table watching their mom dance around in her navy-blue apron while cooking breakfast.   

She quietly walked into the kitchen, stopping in the doorway to take in the scene. It had been two years since she saw her sister Alison, when she came to visit Sydney in New York for a few days, yet nothing about her had changed, not even since they were teenagers. Her hair was still golden blonde with soft waves that framed her face so perfectly you'd think it was purposely done, but it wasn't. Alison was what they call a natural beauty. If Sydney was the type of girl who cared about things like that she might have envied her, but she wasn't. She admired her sister's beauty, almost finding humor in the ways it would make a person walking by do a double take.  

Rebecca, Sydney's mom, was even more beautiful than Alison. She had wavy strawberry blonde hair, a trait Sydney had wished she had acquired instead of the blonde hair she had to match her sisters. Rebecca was tall, and thin, with the legs of a dancer and the arms of a woman who had carried heavy trays of food piled high for 20 years to support her family. All three of them had green eyes, but Rebecca's were brighter, almost emerald in color. Her mother's looks certainly weren't the reason she had remained unmarried all these years.  

The two of them dancing around the kitchen, singing at the top of their lungs, was certainly a sight to see, one that Sydney hadn't realized she missed until this very moment.  

"Good morning sleepy head. What time did you get in?" Her mother asked, wrapping her arms around Sydney in a much-needed hug. She took a deep breath, breathing in her mother's sweet smell, vanilla and sunflowers, she thought.  

"A little before 3:00am I think. I was too tired to take notice of the time." She responded.  

"Too tired to even walk upstairs to your bedroom apparently." Alison chimed, as she extended her arms to her sister for a hug.  

"Leave your sister alone Alison, it was a long drive from New York." Rebecca scolded, playfully whacking a dish towel across Alison's butt. "Breakfast is done, so why don't you two set the table."  

Sydney and her sister busied themselves with setting out the plates and silverware, while Rebecca placed the food on the table buffet style. They made small talk while they ate, Sydney telling them about her job as a journalist working for a small magazine publication, and how it's not The New York Times, but everyone has to start somewhere. Alison going on and on about the wedding and every little detail she had planned, and how she just didn't know what she would do if something didn't go right.  

"Where is Mark this morning anyway?" Mark was Alison's fiancé. He worked as a lawyer in the town's only law firm, Stone Brook Law Associates. He was tall, blonde, handsome, and as far as Sydney could see, boring.  

"Off gulfing with his brothers of course. They go every Saturday morning." Alison smiled to herself.  

"How predictable." Sydney replied with a sarcastic, but joking tone.  

"Some of us like predictability Sydney." Alison responded, pressing her mouth into a hard line.  

"I was just joking Alison. Paul is a wonderful guy and I'm happy for you. You do know that right?" She may have her own opinions on her sister getting married so young, but ultimately, she was happy for her. Paul, albeit boring and predictable, was a good guy.  

"I know Syd." Alison said sharply.  

The three of them finished breakfast in silence. Sydney hadn't meant anything by her comment, but it was clear she rubbed her sister the wrong way. After cleaning up breakfast they moved into the living room.  

"I'm going to go grab my stuff from my car. I’ll be right back in." Sydney said as she walked out onto the big porch. She paused for a moment to breath in the fresh air. It was September, so it was cool but not cold. This was her favorite time of year and she was excited when her sister told her the wedding would be outside.  

Just as she reached her car, she heard the familiar roar of a car engine coming from down the street. Her heart started to race, as looked trying to focus on the yellow car slowly approaching her mother's house. It was Gage. He parked his Camaro behind her car, taking a beat before getting out. What was he doing here, she thought? She quickly turned back into her car, hoping he hadn't noticed her staring. He was carrying a black leather-bound folder as he approached her.   

"Hey there." His voice was a tone deeper then she remembered it.  

"Hey." She responded, trying not to fidget with her clothes. She was still wearing the clothes she had worn for the five-hour long drive and then slept in, black yoga pants and a pink Floyd t-shirt.  

"Gage! I forgot you were coming this morning!" Her mother called from the porch. She suspected that her mother had indeed not forgotten he was coming, but simply neglected to mention it.  

"That's okay Ms. Crest." He said as he made his way to her on the porch. Sydney followed, lugging her heavy suitcase with her.  

"Come on in Gage, we just finished breakfast but have tons of leftovers." Rebecca insisted.  

Sydney eyed her mother. It was no secret that in the four years since she had left Stone Brook, she hadn't managed to have a successful love life. Sure, she dated, but it was never serious. Sydney's mother would always find a way to bring up Gage during the conversations about who she was or wasn't dating. She figured this had to have been planned.  

"I'd love to Ms. Crest." He politely responded before turning to Sydney. Without saying anything he took the suitcase she had been struggling to get up the stairs and with ease carried it into the house. "I'm just going to go wash my hands real fast. Want me to put this in your old room for you?" He was looking right at her and she was finding it hard to breath let alone form words so instead she quickly nodded her head.  

Once he was upstairs, Sydney grabbed her mom's hand and pulled her into the kitchen.  

"Explain yourself mother."  

"Explain what?" Her mother responded, trying to hide a smile.  

"You know what mom! You could have told me he was coming over!" She was trying not to be to loud.  

"But where's the fun in that!" Rebecca teased.  

"Why is he even here?"  

"To discuss prices and such for taking photos at your sister's wedding next week."  

Sydney's mouth dropped open. "He's going to be at the wedding?"  

Before Rebecca could answer, Gage had made his way into the kitchen. Sydney hoped he hadn't heard any of that conversation.  

"I'm going to show shower and get dressed for the day mom. It was, um, nice seeing you Gage." She didn’t for a response.  

Walking back into her old room was like stepping into a time capsule. Nothing had changed at all. Not the bedding, a soft grey comforter with white cotton sheets. Not the pictures, or posters that hung on her wall, Pink Floyd, Tracy Chapman, and Rosie The Riveter We Can Do It. Even the many notebooks she had filled over the years with poems and stories remained untouched. Gage had placed her suitcase on the bed and she wondered for a moment what it was like for him to have stepped back into her room. The amount of times he had snuck in through her window and spent the night made her cheeks blush. When his dad would get too drunk and too angry, he would use the front door, and her mom would make a bed for him on the couch.  

Feeling too many emotions all at once she headed for the bathroom hoping a hot shower would help give her some clarity. She thought back to her mom saying he would be taking photos at Alison's wedding. She always hoped he would do something with his photography. He had a real talent for it and after spending a whole summer mowing everyone's lawns in town he had finally saved up enough to get himself a decent camera. Some of her best memories with him were of them off on a hike, him with his camera, and her trying to pose just right so he could get the best shot possible. She now wondered what he had done with all those photos.  

Now showered and dressed, choosing a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a white shirt, and a grey sweater, she was feeling much more confident. She threw on minimal makeup and threw her hair in a soft bun on top of her head.  

Gage and her mom were just walking into the living room as she made her way downstairs.  

"Ah Sydney, perfect timing! Alison and I have to go to the florist to take care of some final details, so I was thinking perhaps you could go with Gage to the venue over in Hollowgrove. I have the address right here." Rebecca said while pulling a small piece pf paper from her purse.  

"Ms. Crest, really, it's okay. I'm sure I can find the place just fine." Gage tried to object.  

"Yea mom, I'm not sure..." Sydney tried to interject.  

"Nonsense. Syd is the maid of honor and this is one of the responsibilities she has to take on. Besides, I'm sure you two have so much to catch up on and it's about an hour-long drive so you'll have plenty of time to do it!" She handed the address to Gage, and with that, they both knew there was no use in fighting it.  

"I'll drive." Gage said flatly, as they made their way out the door.  

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I hope you guys are enjoying this story! I like writing fiction, it's very different and challenges me in different ways! 

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- Fallon xo