My Hometown Love

Chapter 39 – Car-aoke

Lexie’s P.O.V

I watched as Kevin gazed back and forth from me to the delicious piece of toast in front of him.

“So? Are you up to it?”, I asked again.

“Yeah. Of course.”, Kevin said before stuffing his mouth with the toast.

“What about your arm? I’ll be driving but are you sure the trip won’t be too strenuous for you?”, I asked as I pulled out a chair at the table and sat down.

“No problem. As long as I don’t use it, it’s fine.”, he assured.

“Where are you planning to go, honey?”, Mom asked.

“Just to Historical Jacksonville”, I replied before taking a sip of my glorious coffee.

“This is very sudden. How come?”, Dad curiously asked.

“Well, someone wise told me yesterday that I have to work towards my goal. So, I got up early this morning and decided on my next blog post.”, I replied before smiling at Kevin.

“That’s great sweetie. All the best. We’ll see you tonight.”, Mom replied as she picked up her handbag.

“Have fun you two.”, Dad said before planting a kiss on my forehead and patting Kevin’s back.

“Bye!”, I yelled as they closed the front door.

I turned to find Kevin admiring and devouring his toast.

“Oh my gosh. Get a room!”, I said as I acted disgusted.

“I would so get a room with this toast. This is amazing! I have never tasted a simple toast this glorious.”, Kevin said as he whimpered.

“Yeap. That is Mama Cooper’s secret breakfast toast recipe. It is guaranteed to make your tongue palate dance with pleasure.”, I said as I took another toast from the center of the table.

“I have got to get this recipe!”, Kevin says.

“Ha! You wish. She refuses to share the secret with me and I’m her only daughter.”, I said dejectedly.

“Maybe she’ll give it to Maria to feed her first grandchild. Then we can swipe it from Maria.”, Kevin said cunningly.

“Kevin, Kevin…. What happened to you?”, I say with pity as I shake my head disapprovingly.

“It’s the toast. It’s making me do things!”, Kevin replies fearfully.

We both burst out laughing as we finish our breakfast.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V.

We just pulled out of the driveway and were driving towards the old part of town. I looked over to Lexie driving. It’s funny how I still haven’t gotten used to the idea of her driving me. Not that women shouldn’t drive or anything. I always pictured myself driving her and taking her to beautiful places by surprise.

I looked down at my almost healed arm as I promised myself to get better soon so that I can shower this amazing girl with everything she deserves. 

“Shall we listen to some music?”, she suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

I nodded approvingly and watched her fiddle with the stereo system without taking her eyes away from the road.

A familiar song came on the radio and I couldn’t help humming along. It was ‘Why Did It Have to Be Me?’ from the Mamma Mia! Musical. I am such a sucker for musicals and this one was my favorite. I didn’t care that my friends and family thought I was weird or too ‘dramatic’ for knowing the lyrics of every song in both movies. I loved it and that was all that mattered.

I don’t know how it happened but suddenly I found myself singing along to the song, loudly and passionately.

“When you were lonely, you needed a man. Someone to lean on, well I understand. It’s only natural, but why did it have to be me?”, I sang out loud as I turned to look at Lexie dramatically.

She just stared at me with an uncomfortable and confused look all over her face. I should have taken this as a sign to stop but I didn’t. Instead, I continued singing along with full-on theatrics and passion, despite knowing that she is probably going to kick me out of the car anytime now.

“Nights can be empty, and nights can be cold. So you were looking for someone to hold. That’s only natural, but why did it have to be me?”, I sang at the top of my voice as I reached my hand to her and pointed back to myself melodramatically.

At this point, I was just waiting for her to yell or stop the car to kick me out. I turn to look at her serious face staring at the road as I leaned on the window staring out dejectedly.

“I was so lonesome, I was blue. I couldn’t help it, it had to be you and I always thought you knew the reason why.”, she continued as she turned to look at me with a cunning look.

My jaw dropped to the bottom of the car as I stared at this amazing girl becoming more and more the girl of my dreams every single day.

“I only wanted a, little love affair. Now I can see you are, beginning to care. But baby, believe me. It’s better, to forget me!”, we both sang together with excitement, moving closer to each other with each word.

We spent the next few minutes in our little bubble, taking turns to sing the remaining verses of the song joyfully.

Never would I have ever thought that I would find someone who knows the words to a song from a musical and sing it so passionately without worrying about what the other person might think. That too, in a girl that is stealing my heart day by day.

“Wow. I can’t believe you know the words to that song.”, I asked excitedly.

“Are you kidding me? I love that movie series. And The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, Into The Woods, The Phantom of the Opera, La La Land, and Sound of Music. Ultimately, if there is a musical movie, I’m there.”, she said calmly as she drove.

She failed to realize that with every movie name she named, she was making me swoon harder each time. By the time, she said she loves musical movies, I felt like I was going to faint. I quickly placed my face in front of the air-conditioning to cool my reddened face.

This girl is going to be the death of me.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V.

I saw Kevin suddenly put his face in front of the air-conditioning from the corner of my eye.

“Are you okay?”, I asked concerning his sudden actions.

“Oh yeah yeah. Just suddenly feeling hot. No worries.”, he said as he waved his hand to signal me to look forward and not at him.

“Okayyy?”, I replied.

He finally leaned back in the chair as he sighed deeply and mumbled something to himself.

“So, you’re a musical fan too?”, I asked, since he seemed very passionate about it.

“Yes. A very hardcore fan. I never thought I would find someone who loves it as much as I do.”, Kevin replied as he smiled to himself.

“Well, now I know who to drag along to anything related to musicals and theatre.”, I said as I reached over and squeezed his arm briefly.

“Well, we’ll see who drags whom.”, he said proudly.

“You know, I watched the live musical back in New York.”, I bragged.

“No way! That’s incredible and so not fair.”, he said shocked and upset at the same time.

“Aww don’t sulk mister. I’m sure we can go watch it sometime, together.”, I reassured him with a small sheepish smile.

We laughed it off and sighed deeply. We slowly sank into our own thoughts as I continued driving. We watched as the atmosphere of town change as soon as we passed by the signboard that said ‘Historical Jacksonville’.

The modern buildings were replaced with classic old buildings dating back to the olden days. Despite being ancient, the buildings were all preserved well.

“Funny how I haven’t been to this part of town recently. Last I remember, I probably came here when I was younger though. With my dad.”, he said before his face winced with anger.

Kevin’s face turned serious and moody as he looked out the window, probably trying to push out memories of his childhood with his dad.

“Well, there’s nothing much around this part of town anymore. Plus, the main town has everything we usually need.”, I said, desperate to change the sore subject.

He faked a smile through this stone-cold face.

“Oh look. We’re almost here.”, I said with a high pitch as I pulled into a rocky rustic road off the main road.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V

My mind was replaying my sweet childhood memories with my dad but every time I think of it, it gets replaced with the bad and evil memories of him during my later years.

I grinded my teeth silently as I wished my memories weren’t tainted by his behavior. Lexie’s voice snapped me back to reality as she turned into a rustic road. I shrugged off my thoughts as I curiously inspected the area.

The whole car started bumping up and down, including us. I don’t know whether it was us floating in the air before crashing down on our seats or the sounds we were making as we bounced up and down following the rhythm of the rock road, but I was amused.

I laughed to myself as I watched Lexie driving up to a barn-like area.

“So what’s the adventure today?”, he asked as curiously looked out the window.

“You’re going have to wait to find out.”, she said with suspense as she parked the car and got out.

Before I could attempt to remove my seat belt and open the door, Lexie opened the door and waited for me.

“Your highness, allow me.”, she said as she did a little bow.

“Why thank you.”, I replied in character as I jumped out of the car.

We walked up to the barn which was filled with lots and lots of hay everywhere. Funny how there was no one else to be found around here, except us.

“Hey Lex, knock knock!”, I asked jokingly.

“Who’s there?”, Lexie replied to amuse me.

“Hay you.”, I said.

“Hay you who?”, she replied exactly as planned.

“Hey yoohoo to you too!”, I shouted laughingly.

I looked up to the unimpressed Lexie who just stood there shaking her head disapprovingly.

“Too tacky?”, I ask.

Lexie just nodded silently as she patted on my back with pity. We reached the barn door and Lexie knocked on it.

Suddenly, the barn doors opened wide to reveal horses and wagons. I looked over to Lexie curiously, waiting for her to reveal what we’re about to do. Lexie beamed with joy and excitement as she prepared to tell me our adventure of the day.

“That’s right. We’re going on a horse-drawn wagon ride.”