We thanked Elizabeth for breakfast.

“I’ll be back. I am going to go get my bag. Meet you at the car.” I told Allen. He smiled and nodded. He walked himself to the sturdy wooden door and I headed towards the stairs. As I hopped up the stairs two-by-two, I turned back and glanced at him. Allen had paused and was staring at the photos. The one with the girl in yellow in particular, had caught his eye.

“Hmmm,” I whispered. Then I turned and ran up the stairs. It wasn’t raining anymore but I wished it was. I love the rain. People think that’s weird, but I didn’t care.

Allen was staring at that photo. I wondered what he had been thinking. Had he recognized the gentleman, or the little girl? I desperately wanted to know. But there was no way that I was going to ask him. Absolutely no way that I would talk to him about it. It was too personal.

I got to my room and threw open my door. I wasn’t surprised that my room was messy. It was always messy. It gave me something to think about and it was a great distraction. I picked up my blue grey bag and put it over my shoulder. I flew back down the stairs and into the hallway with all of the photographs.

“Lillian!” Called Elizabeth. I abruptly stopped, irritated. She came walking, slow as usual into the hallway with a smile.

“Have a nice day at school. Be kind to that boy, Allen, ok? He’s a good guy…a good guy. Just give him a chance. Give yourself a chance.”

“Myself?” I questioned coldly. I had nothing to give myself. Why a chance? A chance for what? A chance to kill another?

As if reading my mind, she replied, “A chance to have a new friend. A chance for a new life. Now, catch up to him, dear.” I thought of her words and nodded. I didn’t deserve the chance, but for Elizabeth’s sake I was going to show her that I had heard her at least. I opened the door and tapped through the puddles until I got to Allen’s little black car.

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I watched the rain intermittently flick off the windshield, quietly enjoying the scent of dust and pine which was the aroma of Allen’s car. The rain had stopped and then started again since we had left my house. I glanced over at his hands, gently rotating the wheel to the right as we rounded the corner. It was quiet. I watched Allen. His eyes never left the road. They seemed deeply concentrated, but his grip on the wheel was so light it was apparent that he was calm.

“You’re really good at this; I mean you’re really intense about this, aren’t you?” I remarked.

Never looking up from the road, he casually answered, “Driving or being your friend?” His words caught me off-guard. I paused and considered my next answer. I hadn’t realized that he was so intense about friendship. However, Allen really was very persistent. He showed up at my house that morning. I remembered Elizabeth’s words and sighed.

“Both.”

Chuckling smugly, Allen said, “I am a natural.” He looked over at me and his blue eyes flashed mischievously behind his glasses. Suddenly he let go of the wheel and put his hands behind his head. Allen hummed a quick little tune. Time started to slow down for me…and I started to panic.

Neilan looked over at me, one hand on the wheel, and a smile on his face. His bobble-head dancing-bear bobbed its head rhythmically as we drove over a bump on the road. I clapped my hands as he reached to turn up the radio.

“Come sail away, come sail away, come and sail away with me!!” We sang Styx’s song loudly and then erupted into laughter. All of a sudden, there were bright lights…a truck was driving straight for us. Neilan snatched up the wheels, as Styx continued their song without our voices. I saw the trepidation in his eyes as he glanced at me. He spun the wheel, fast as he could, trying to escape the oncoming truck.

“Hold tight, Lily,” he hollered above Styx, “Cover your eyes!” I closed my eyes and screamed in terror.

“Please, stop the car,” I whispered, feeling tears in my eyes. Allen sat up and put both hands on the wheel.

“I don’t understand, Lily,” He answered me.

“My name is Lillian- Now stop the car!!” I yelled. He pulled the car to a slow stop on the side of the road. As he put the car in park, I leaped out of the car. I felt the tears flooding down my cheeks and my eyes got hot. I knelt in the soft wet grass, shaking.

“Lillian, I’m sorry.” Allen said as he got out of the car. He walked over to me and put on of his hands on the back of his neck as he let out a sigh.

“Honestly, I am a good driver. I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t you, Allen.” I cried. I pounded a fist into the sopping ground and I felt my arm muscles tense. The rain dripped onto my sweatshirt and drenched my hair.

“Then what?” He asked, touching my shoulder compassionately. I shook my head. I took a deep breath and wiped away my tears. My moment of tears had passed, but I knew I was still a wreck. I knew I couldn’t return into his car. I just remained silent.

“Let’s walk. It’s not far.” He suggested. I hadn’t even mentioned that I couldn’t be in his car. Before I could say anything Allen had walked away. I watched him silently as he retrieved out bags. He reached his hand out to me and pulled me to my feet. Allen carried both of our bags, and guided me down the road with an umbrella in his other hand. He raised the umbrella above our heads. I was too stunned to speak. Allen was a natural at being my friend. Even if I hadn’t asked for him.