Stray Hearts // Charlie Gillespie

28

"Is cow tipping a good thing or a bad thing?" I hear Owen ask.

We were in the car driving to Nashville. We started driving at midnight and it's four thirty.

I was trying to sleep in the back, but the guys were talking about something weird. "I'm gonna say it's a bad thing." Charlie answered him.

I had my head on his lap, listening to their conversation.

"Well I'm gonna say a bad thing, but what if you're an extra terrestrial?" Owen asked, I can tell his eyebrow was raised.

"How many extra terrestrials have Instagram?" Charlie asked with a light laugh. He was rubbing my arm to keep me calm.

"You'd be surprised." Owen tell him. We were leading while Jasper followed us and Jeremy was following Jasper.

Their conversation was kinda interesting. "It's intergalactical-gram apparently." Warren joined in.

"When they say, 'yeah we posted on ig' they mean that and not Instagram." He made up.

"But that's probably still owned by Facebook, I guess." Charlie spoke. "Do fish have faces?" Owen asked making me giggle.

I sat up because sleeping is pointless at this point. "What are you on about?" I ask grabbing an energy drink.

"Earlier Charlie said aliens were fish." I looked at my boyfriend to see his face was red.

"I said they may be." Charlie defended himself. "It'd be called fishbook wouldn't it?" Owen asked.

"It wouldn't be called Facebook." He kept his eyes on the road as he talked.

I took a drink of my Red Bull and listened to their conversation. "Well, there you go." Warren spoke up.

"We're gonna need to get gas soon." I heard Jasper say over the walkie talkie.

We thought it would be fun to get walkie talkies so if we needed gas, bathroom break, or get food, we can talk through there.

"Okay, I think there's an exit coming up." Jeremy spoke.

"Owen say something." It was like he forgot so he grabbed his walkie talkie.

"Jeremy is in fact, correct." We all giggled as we looked at him strangely.

We took the next exit and went to the nearest gas station.

We were in Arizona and had about an hour and a half drive to Phoenix. We all piled out of the car, stretching.

Owen plugged his car in so it could charge while everyone else gets gas. We all looked rough from the lack of sleep.

"I can take the next shift so you don't have to drive anymore." Warren told Owen as he sat on the concrete.

Owen thanked him as I went over to Charlie. I wrapped my arms around him as he did the same to me.

"You feeling okay?" I ask as he nodded. "Yeah, how're you feeling?" He rubbed my back, making me smile. 

"I'm feeling good." We all hung out there for ten minutes so Owen could get his car charged. "Owen, hurry up!" Jeremy groaned.

"I'm charging my car, hold on." I couldn't help but laugh, I don't know why I found it funny.

Owen works on his car while we all pile in. Charlie helped in as Owen finally got in.

Charlie unplugged the car as we work his Netflix. "Charlie, we got it working. Come back inside." Owen told him.

"I don't wanna come back in." We both shake our heads. "Okay?" Owen joked as Charlie got into the back with me.

We started driving as Netflix played on his screen. We were going to binge watch Julie and the Phantoms.

"Your hair is so short in it." I tell Charlie as we watch it. "Holy shit, that's you guys." Warren glanced at the screen.

Owen and Charlie sang whenever a song would play. But Owen ended up falling asleep in the passenger seat.

Warren didn't mind driving. He claims it helps his urges to not smoke. Owen told him to not smoke in here and he's been respecting it.

By the time we got to Phoenix, it was five in the morning. The sun was rising so it looked absolutely beautiful.

Warren was driving but kept glancing at the sunrise. "Taylor, you have to get a picture of this." Warren spoke softly.

He didn't want to wake Owen. And Charlie had just fallen asleep too so it was just us awake. He turned off Netflix so he could listen to music.

I took a picture of it while Warren grabbed the walkie talkie. "I hope everyone is seeing this sunrise." Warren spoke.

I wonder who was still awake and who was asleep. "It looks gorgeous over the city." I heard Jeremy speak.

"I'm gonna have to agree on that one." Lilli spoke afterwards. I guess she was now driving. I looked over at Charlie to see him peacefully asleep.

He had his head on the window as his mouth was lightly open. The sun was shining on his face and it made him look good.

"I know that face." Warren spoke to me, he was glancing at me through the mirror. I look at him confused.

"What face?" I ask. "You love him don't you?" I blush as I look outside.

We were exiting Phoenix. If calculations are right, then we should have a days worth of travel ahead of us.

"I really do. It gets stronger every day." I tell him honestly. I could see him smile a little.

"I like him too, but if he hurts you, he'll have to meet Rick and Dick." I looked at him confused. He then showed me his fists that he named.

I couldn't help but laugh at him. I could see Owen and Charlie stir, but they didn't wake.

I'm honestly happy that we're making this trip, even though it's a thirty hour car ride.

It's worth it for the music festival. I'm happy that we all get along with each other and we get to spend time like this with each other.

I start thinking about what if I didn't go to the singles club. I wouldn't have met Charlie. I wouldn't have fallen in love.

And I wouldn't be going on this road trip. I'm so thankful that Jasper and Lauren signed me up for it.

Because if they didn't, I wouldn't be looking at my future.

And my future is Charlie.