| Chapter 4 |
| �Freedom, finally!� AJ bellowed as the kicked the doors open. �Now, where do you wanna go? I need FOOD!� �I don�t have a clue, I don�t live here. What�s close?� Kat answered. �There�s lots of fast food. I�m thinking that�s our best bet this time of night.� She checked her watch. Almost 11:30. AJ continued. �Drive thrus are good, less chance of being hassled�but�can we take your car? � Kat agreed with some trepidation. She didn�t know her way around very well, and didn�t really want to drive. She was also still feeling the effects from the alcohol a couple hours ago. Besides, she was also still very nervous. On the other hand, she had heard tales about his bad driving habits, and wasn�t entirely sure she wanted him behind the wheel of her car. He decided for her when he saw her white Toyota Corolla. �Sweet! Now this is what I call incognito!� He grabbed the keys from her hand and opened the passenger side door for her. �We can drive around all night in this, and nobody will ever pay any attention to us! How much gas ya got?� he asked, closed her door then walked quickly to the other side of the car. He slid into the driver�s seat. She guessed she had about half a tank. �That�d get us about halfway up the coast�� he eyed her with an evil grin. The look on her face reflected pure terror. �Nah, just kidding! We�ll get our food and I�ll take you on a tour of the neighborhood. Show you Kev�s house. Maybe drive up into the hills. Sound cool?� Kat readily agreed. She was curious to see Kevin�s house. She definitely wanted to see Alex�s house, too, and immediately wondered why he didn�t mention driving past it. She thought she�d read it wasn�t too far from Kevin�s. She�d ask him later. |
| They survived the McDonald�s drive thru with only a few stares and giggles from the mostly female employees. Then, with the bag of munchies by their sides, AJ began the narrated tour. He drove up and down several streets, pointing out landmarks. A pool hall he really liked on Sunset. His friend�s bungalow on Grace Avenue. �Good buddy of mine lives there. He built a recording studio in his backyard. He lets me use his stuff. I go there to chill sometimes, just write and record stuff by myself. Nice and quiet.� Further up a winding road, he slowed the car in front of a huge estate. �Kev�s place.� Kat pointed and commented on the 10-foot high fence. �What can I say�the dude likes his privacy, I guess!� AJ quipped. �And there�s his pool house. Lots of room, just like a regular house in there.� They continued up the hill, and Katrina caught glimpses here and there of the famous �HOLLYWOOD� sign. The whole thing seemed a little bit surreal. She looked over at him driving her car. It didn�t seem like it could be true. She stayed quiet for most of the drive, just enjoying his presence, listening to his almost incessant chatter. He didn�t seem to be expecting her to add much to the conversation, and she just liked hearing his voice. She looked at him as he shoved a huge fistful of french fries into his mouth; he then grinned at her through them. She laughed heartily. She couldn�t ever remember being so attracted to someone so quickly. He was so funny, so normal�and yet so NOT normal. She was smitten. She wondered if he was going to kiss her. She couldn�t wait to find out. AJ chose a gravel and dirt covered road and drove it slowly and carefully. �Wait till you see�� he paused as he maneuvered a slight corner, ��this.� That instant, the entire city came into view right below them. Katrina gasped. It was absolutely breathtaking. AJ took the car out of gear and pulled on the parking brake. He turned off the ignition and the lights. They were parked precariously close to the edge of a cliff, bit she never even noticed. |
|