Best Thing In Town

If there was one thing in the world that could bring me to hate someone in less than a matter of seconds it was forcing me up and out of my bed at the crack of dawn. Especially if the person doing the forcing was a crazy, physically and mentally, over-excited child... that is somehow able to drive a car.

Another thing that could bring me out of my cloud of hatred was forcing me into a car first thing in the morning. Who honestly enjoyed the jolt of bumpy roads and effort of supporting your body weight as you turned a corner first thing in the morning? Alex apparently. After he had rudely awoken me from a pretty good-nights slumber, Alex had pulled me out of bed and towards his car claiming we were going on our second date and it required reaching our destination when it was bright and early - if we wanted to have fun.

In my opinion, he was lucky that I had even bothered to attempt to look presentable, especially with the fact I was in a bad mood and still pondering my Brother's new talent in hiding secrets from me.

With the sound of him clearing his throat, I glanced up at Alex. My eyes were narrowed in his direction as I brought my legs up onto the car seat and made myself comfortable.

Diverting his eyes from the road he smiled warmly at the way I'd got comfortable in his car and decided it would be a good idea to begin a conversation as he gave the road his attention. "So, did you sleep okay?"

I scoffed and he looked back over at me in alarm. "I was sleeping fine, thank you. That was until you woke me up."

My voice came out a lot harsher than I had anticipated and Alex's eyes filled with guilt. Wincing, I looked away and frowned. All the kid was trying to do was make a day fun and exciting for me - for once - and here I was with my hackles up, ready to kill him because he had woken me up before noon.

"But I suppose I'm awake now, it's okay." Looking back I smiled as well as I could so early in the morning and he gratefully returned the gesture, probably aware I would much rather be in any form of bed, like it didn't even have to be my own, rather than in his car and on a motorway at that exact given moment.

"If you're still tired you can doze off for a bit if you want too?" He shrugged and I knew that deep down he didn't want me to go to sleep, but he didn't stop. "I mean you'll probably only get about an hour or so."

Honestly, I considered it. But there was a tiny Jade somewhere in the back of my mind that warped me into thinking that despite how lovely a nap sounded, I didn't want to be leaving Alex driving alone for the remainder of the journey to God-knows-where. Especially when he had planned whatever it was he had planned for me.

"No it's fine, really. I think I snore and that wouldn't be too good."

Alex began to chuckle and shook his head slowly, his eyes not once leaving the road. "Snoring really doesn't matter to me, Jade."

Feeling unfamiliar heat in my cheeks I resigned to looking out of my window. Over the next awkward beat of silence I'd managed to fully convince myself that falling asleep in Alex's car would be a bad idea; he would either tease me about my snoring or end up watching me whilst I slept, which was completely creepy.

"It's fine, I'm fine." I replied.

Fine, that one word that just managed to sum up absolutely everything a girl was thinking. The two little words 'I'm fine' could hold a thousand thoughts and luckily you were the only person able to hear them. If anyone and everyone could hear my thoughts the world would be a terrible place and I would be six foot under.

Realising silence had surrounded us, I coughed and felt an immediate need to break the silence. "Where are we going?" I asked, having already asked once or twice before.

"Wait and see." Alex replied for the millionth time.

Groaning, I slipped down in the seat as he tapped the side of his nose with his left index finger and poked his tongue out from the side of his mouth.

Trying to deter the conversation, Alex changed the subject before I could speak again. "How is your brother?"

My mouth parted at the fact he was asking about someone whom he'd never, ever met or would probably have the pleasure of meeting. It was a shock to my system and I managed to snap my mouth shut just before he glanced over to make sure I had heard him correctly.

"Tony? Oh, yeah, Tony - he's good, good as good can be... He's, ur-good! He is actually getting married."

"Really?" Alex's shock was evident. "How old is he?"

"Twelve... Twenty-six, who knows? But he's definitely still too young to be getting married if you ask me." I scoffed, almost bitterly. "... But do you know what? He didn't ask me. He didn't even tell me he was engaged. They've been engaged for a month and I have only just found out." I tried to breathe, treading carefully not to have a full on break-down in front of Alex. "What kind of a brother does that? I suppose, he did drive down to see me... but it's not hard to pick up a phone and ring someone, is it really? He claims he's in love though and that's a big thing coming from Tony; you can't just step in the way of love... oh god." I slapped my hand across my mouth and looked at Alex with wide eyes, realising I'd just spilt exactly how my Brother had managed to piss me off last night and, much, to my shame he was amused by my outburst.

"That was quite adorable."

I groaned.

"I agree though, twenty six is quite young. With the whole he didn't tell you thing, I'm sorry. I couldn't imagine doing that to my brother."

I nodded once, a thanks.

"Is she nice? You know, his fiancée?"

I frowned, was he asking me if I found the supposed love of my brothers life attractive, or did he genuinely mean is she nice... as in is she a nice person? It was hard to tell, especially after the entire phone incident.

"Erin is alright I suppose... I've only met her four times, I think, and each time she's been nothing but lovely and she has really nice legs." I gave him an answer for both the ways I had interpreted his question. Simply because I am a groovy person like that.

Again with the word groovy Jade!

"Ah, well if your brother likes her enough to marry her and you like her enough to say she has nice legs I'm sure all will be well in the end." Alex shot me a comforting smile and I stuck my tongue out back at him.

I wasn't upset, no, I was just annoyed I was the last to find out his secret. "I just wish he would have told me sooner." I shrugged indifferently and much to my surprise Alex hummed in agreement, just as he turned off down another road.

Unfortunately I had very bad navigational skills and so I still had absolutely no idea where we were or where we were going; especially if we were still in Towson. That place was still an unmade jig-saw in my mind.

Catching Alex smirking to himself I stared at him. "What?" I asked.

"I'm just thinking... I think that was the longest conversation you've ever willingly had with me."

"I think I'd like to beg to differ." I protested, crossing my arms across my chest. "When you harassed me I'm pretty sure that conversation lasted quite a while."

"Harassed!" Alex exclaimed in mock shock. "Oh, how you speech such lies, I did no such thing."

"You did too, if I can remember correctly, I recall you even stealing my phone." Chuckling, I toyed with Alex and hoped he'd realise I was trying to joke.

Fearing that he may have thought I was being serious and would be offended. Imagine, offending the first person to ever take full interest in me. Wouldn't that be- wait, no, no, I mean. I don't care if I offend Alex. Yeah. Lack of care.

Smirk still evident, Alex responded. "You got your phone back and I got myself a date."

"Right, so do you harrass every girl you want to take out?" I teased.

I caught Alex rolling his eyes, probably at my casual use of the word harass. "Nah, just you."

"I bet you say that to all the girls."

Looking towards me, Alex gave me a coy smile and shook his head.

That strange heat feeling filled my cheeks again as his deep brown eyes practically gleamed from the sunlight hitting them. They were remarkable.

I coughed and broke the tension we had somehow just created from a tiny, minuscule, almost ridiculous joke. Looking out of the front window I frowned, did we just have a moment?

No we didn't. Of course we didn't.

The engine suddenly cut. The keys came out. Alex turned around in his seat, gleaming at me with that big infectious smile and this big doe eyes. Slowly I turned my head to the left and then back to the right, finding a huge sign that stuck out like a sore thumb just as Alex cheerily said, "We're here."

ZOO.

The Zoo.

The God-damn Zoo.

I swear I could have screamed. Had he seriously woken me up at the breaking of dawn to take me to the zoo? And not even a well-known zoo. I hadn't once, in my life, heard of this place; but to the right of me Alex was grinning like he had just won the lottery.

"A second date, at the Zoo?" Really, I couldn't have sounded more disappointed if I tried.

"Why not?" Alex chirped like an excited child.

Welcome back Alex's twelve year old alter ego.

"The weather was lovely this morning. There's nothing wrong and more fun than being spontaneous."

Folding my arms across my chest I pouted; my idea of spontaneous involved getting out of the bed and running to the toilet before you wet yourself first thing in the morning. As for the weather was lovely, ha! The sky was almost black as full, grey, heavy rain clouds rolled across the pale sky.

Cocking an eyebrow I glanced down at my lack of clothing and sighed; I wasn't dressed for the Zoo or the rain. Catching my expression, Alex rolled his eyes and jumped out of the car, turning he stuck his head back in the door. "Live a little." And then he winked, removed his head and slammed the door shut.

Feeling the need to take him up on his words, I let out one long and strangled groan before following his lead. He had used reverse psychology against me and it had worked. Dammit.

With my arms crossed firmly against my chest I followed Alex towards the pay booth, just catching up with him as he asked the man behind the glass screen for; "Two adult tickets, please."

"All day, half day, annual?" The man droned off.

Alex looked at my face, to the sky and then at the board with a lift of times on it. It was almost ten am and I was certain if he dared to pay for an all-day ticket I would have murdered him right there. "We'll go for a half day ticket."

"I will never understand the half day ticket thing... why would anyone come to a Zoo for half a day?" The worker glared at Alex like he was stupid.

I scoffed, who did he think he was? Nobody was able to speak to Alex in such a way - except for me, of course. Oh, shit, was I being protecti- Too late.

"Oi! Hurry your ass up before I get your boss down here. If he wanted a half-assed, sarcastic response he would have asked you for one. Comprende, señor?"

Since when did I adopt Spanish? And was that even the correct way to say it. Wait, was that even Spanish?! Oh who cares, booth boy got my point and fumbled around on his computer.

"A half a-day ticket runs out at 1pm." The worker timidly stated.

"We shall take two of those then please." Alex smiled politely, I rolled my eyes.

Of course Alex would manage to be kind and polite to someone that. Delving into his wallet, I placed my hand over Alex's as he tried to pull his credit card out.

"No, I'm paying." He warned, removing my hand gently - I was glad he was abiding my no-touchy rule.

Grunting, I stepped back and allowed Alex to pay with his credit card. In return we were given two wrist bands which we both slipped on and then they allowed us to enter the zoo. Waving to our new friend the booth worker, Alex dipped his knees a little and whispered into my ear. "I didn't know you knew any foreign languages?"

"I don't." I muttered back, fumbling with my wrist band as I tried to loosen it; unfortunately pulling it too tight in the process of slipping it on with only one hand.

With a soft chuckle Alex took hold of my wrist and loosened the band with no difficulty. "I think you made the poor guy shit himself."

"Well then, he shouldn't have been so fucking rude, should he?" I huffed and walked through the entrance gate, Alex hot on my heels and waving a map around wildly.

"And where would madam like to go first?" Opening the leaflet, Alex pushed it in front of my face.

Scanning the page in boredom, I didn't really care and passed it back to Alex and told him my logical plan was that we start from the beginning and work our way around. He agreed and stuffed the paper into his pocket. We started walking aimlessly around the zoo, seeing first chimpanzees, then bird section, followed by the water animals; we then saw things such as giraffes, elephants, zebras and bongos.

I wanted to go to the reptile house but Alex argued that they creeped him out; he elaborated and I found out that he apparently had a friend whom owned a lizard which was huge and scared him. I laughed and we left the reptile house alone. All we had left was the lions and the tigers - my favourites. To say I had originally hated the idea, the Zoo wasn't all that bad and I seriously had enjoyed myself - and with Alex... he too wasn't all that strange. I liked him, almost.

With a grin Alex pointed to something behind a huge glass panel. "Look." He ordered and I followed his finger until I found myself staring at the most beautiful Tiger I had ever laid eyes on.

I cooed loudly at the creature and much to my surprise she stood up, revealing a pack of cubs; only making me coo a little more. We walked forwards until we were inches away from the glass, observing them from a close as we could get. Alex even snapped a photo of them and then out of nowhere, a loud rumble sounded and within seconds we were soaked from head to toe in cold, heavy rain. It was typical really, fucking typical. Women squealed and children laughed, men swore and I, Jade, groaned loudly and stomped my foot.

"You really just like to ruin my day, don't you? You inconsiderate asshole." I shouted over the sound of rain hitting the glass to no-one or nothing in particular and at that another rumble sounded followed by a flash of lightning; only making me shriek and jump back into Alex.

Catching me by my arm, he pulled me in close to him. "Come on, we'll get back to the car."

Pulling me along he groaned as he realised we were a good twenty minutes walk away from the car park. With the rain not letting up, we almost jogged back and once we were stood at the car; me shouting at Alex to get it open and him fumbling with his keys. We were soaked from head to toe and my whole body was shaking; it was absolutely freezing and I wasn't dressed for the weather.

Noticing my distress Alex finally unlocked the car and shoved me inside. He then ran around to the drivers seat, pulled himself inside and let out a long puff of air. The only sound now present was our heavy, laboured breathing from running what felt like a marathon.

"Fuck," I cried, rubbing my hands over my arms. "Fuck, I'm so cold!" I hadn't realised my teeth were chattering or that I was stuttering until panic filled Alex's eyes and he leaned into the back; fumbling around until he returned with one of his hoodies.

"Wear this." He threw the item into my lap and started up the cars engine so that he was able to turn the heating on.

If I wasn't freezing I'd have questioned how long the hoodie had been stuffed in the back of his car and why it was there, but instead, I pulled it on almost instantly and tried not to gasp as the smell of Alex's aftershave filled my nostrils.

Content, Alex started the journey home. Halfway there, his voice cut through the air. "I'm really sorry that today turned out to be shit. I guess I just wanted to try something new, I didn't want to be boring or stereotypical." His hands tightened around the wheel and his jaw clenched - was he angry?

"Hey," I mumbled, placing my hand on his upper-arm. "I mean the weather was a pile of crap, but today was really, really great." I told him, no lie present.

Alex was seething with himself, or at least upset but managed to nod his head at my comment; almost like he really didn't believe me.

"Seriously Alex, today was brilliant and I particularly liked the Tiger's. They're my favourite y'know? I've always loved them, even as a kid."

"I'm quite partial to a Giraffe." He replied, a smile slowly replacing the scowl.

Relaxing, he glanced over towards me and smiled so I removed my arm from his forearm and wrapped it back around my body; attempting the keep the heat inside of me whilst paying attention to the road. I'd always loved it when it rained; if you looked carefully enough you could sometime catch the raindrops bouncing off of the concrete and back into the air. Remarkable, I thought.

Our trip home soon came to an end and Alex pulled up outside of my apartment, cutting the engine and turning in his chair to fully face me. A small chuckled escaped from my lips at the sight of his damp clothes and pushed back, wet hair. Noticing my stare, he ran his fingers through his fringe and pulled his wet t-shirt away from his body, wincing as he let it go and it hit his chest.

"So I guess I'll see you soon?" He smiled, his eyes mirroring the sadness dancing in my own.

Before my brain could process anything, my mouth, once again, spoke before thinking things over with the rest of me. "Or you can come inside and dry up? I think Tony left some clothes last time he visited for a weekend... they might be big, but they can do?" I asked carefully and he nodded his head, because for the first time I'd actually suggested an idea that included us both.

"I think I'd like that."

I think, I might have blushed.

Notes

Fun fact; I've never even been to a Zoo :c