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(A HUGE thanks to Ahsoka-2Sabers for writing the story and coming up with the idea for this video! Check her out on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Ahsoka-2Sabers )
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Maire is rambling a mile and minute again. Having been her friend since college, you know that means she’s nervous. You glance at her through the rearview from the backseat, but she’s focused on the road. With all the snow, it’s a good thing she is.
The new member of your company and the cause of Marie’s rambling stares out the window, ignoring the whole spiel of the surf shop you used to own. You frown at the rudeness. Gradually, Marie takes the hint and fades to silence. Jason finally tears his gaze from the window to look at her.
“And what?”
“What do you mean ‘what’?” Marie snaps. “Listen to me. I’ve been speed talking for about fifteen kilometers now. I talk when I’m nervous–I mean I talk like this when I’m nervous… I’m going to shut up now.”
“No. Don’t do that. I haven’t talked to anybody in awhile.”
“Yeah, but we’re not talking. I’m talking. You’ve said like ten words since we left Zurich.”
Jason shrugs. “Well, I’m listening to you. It’s relaxing.”
You raise an eyebrow at this. A man willing to listen rather than hear the sound of their own voice? A rare breed indeed.
“I haven’t slept in awhile and… I have this headache. It’s like a constant thing inside my head. And it’s just started to move to the background so… keep going.” He smiles and you have to admit it’s kind of adorable. “Really. If you want, please keep talking.”
Then Marie smiles and you can see her cheeks flush pink. You roll your eyes, already feeling like the third wheel in a cheesy romcom. Girl meets boy in Zurich. Boy pays girl a huge sum of money to drive him to Paris. Boy and girl fall in love.
Marie reaches for the radio. “What kind of music do you like?”
Suddenly, Jason seems embarrassed. “Um, you know what, nevermind.”
“No. It's fine. Tell me.” She switches through a few stations. “What do you want to listen to?”
“I don't know.” With each insistence, Jason appears to grow more uncomfortable. Who knew choosing music could be so complicated?
“Come on. It's not that hard. What do you like? Tell me.”
“I don't know,” Jason repeats this time with finality.
The mood killed, Marie turns off the radio and sits in stony silence for a moment.
“Who pays twenty thousand dollars for a ride to Paris?” she finally asks the burning question also on your mind.
Jason is quiet until he throws his hands in the air in surrender and swears. “I can’t remember anything that happened before two weeks ago.”
“Lucky you.”
“No. I'm serious. I don't know who I am. I don't know where I'm going. None of it.”
Marie laughs. “What, like amnesia?”
“Yes.”
“Amnesia?”
“Yes,” Jason repeats just as seriously as the first.
Marie glances at you through the rearview finally, eyes full of disbelief. “Great.”
Girl meets boy in Zurich. Boy pays girl twenty thousand dollars for a ride to Paris. Girl and boy fall in love. Boy has amnesia. Now you really feel like the plucky third wheel in a romantic drama. And they just had their angsty argument scene. You can still feel the tension simmering in the air.
To help it some, Marie chooses the music herself. Classical music fills the awkward silence. Not your usual choice of road trip music, but probably best to soothe Jason’s headache.
After a few hours of this, you decide it’s time for the outgoing best friend to intervene. You barely know Jason, but he seems sweet and available. And Marie seems to really like him. You swing your legs out of your lounging position in the backseat and pop your head between the two young lovers, startling them.
“I’m starving. Let’s get some gas and something to eat, and then I can switch with you, Marie.”
Jason’s stomach seems to agree with your idea, so Marie flicks the turn signal and merges off the highway. There’s a gas station and café not far from here and you have a coffee with your name on it.