5: Carpe Diem

Kadyn POV

The low rumbling coming from the bulky engine made most of us doze off soon enough. Briana, Dylan, and I were the only ones who remained awake. 

Ralph was the first to fall asleep, even though Jaanai was a real pain in the ass, she came prepared for everything. She has all types of pain reliever medications In her over-the-shoulder bag. For instance, Ralph took Ibuprofen while I took some Advil. I'm glad it's working for one of us. 

I was very surprised my gunshot wound that Simon stitched up held together during our mini fight with the law. 

Simon.

He was one of the good ones. Maya probably liked him. 

Then there are some forbidden children that I have absolutely no idea how she handled, let alone become friends with them. 

Briana is an annoying, unethical optimist who lets one negative thought make her go coo-coo for awhile. 

Alex is a bitch that thinks she's badass whenever someone makes her mad. She honestly just seems overdramatic. 

Hunter is one big cry baby. 

Jack can't defend himself for shit especially against his girlfriend that never shuts up. 

The only ones that I can still stand are Dylan and Ralph. Tate is getting really close to being on my bad side with all his lies and statistics. 

I could tell Simon's death was really impacting Dylan. I can't begin to understand his grief but just thinking about talking to someone for years and then finally having a chance to meet them in person but it gets taken from you before you can even grasp the concept of having the ability to save them is heart shattering. 

"Dylan I can drive." I whispered.

"No it's okay it's keeping my mind off things. Besides we're pulling over soon for you can strip the radio. We can switch then if you'd like." He replied even quieter back.

"Yes please, Dylan I want to talk." Briana spoke up. 

"Sounds good." I concluded while ignoring Briana's comment. 

"Tell me what's on your mind." I heard Briana demand.

"He's driving." I simply stated.

"Not him. You." She looked intrigued.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Your eyebrows rise when you are thinking, you also bite your lip or cheek a lot." She answered. 

"Well your observant aren't you?" I said sarcastically. 

"She even observes texts somehow. She always knew what I was feeling. Through a screen!? Isn't that crazy!?" Dylan jumped into the conversation. 

"Yea crazy." I closed my eyes.

"You never answered me." She said. I could picture her crossing her arms. 

"Not planning on it cupcake." I sighed. 

I heard her sigh even louder in response. 

"Why don't you sleep?" I asked her.

"I can't. Too much adrenaline in me right now. I have never felt this way before." She replied quietly. 

"You'll get used to it now that we're literally wanted." I laughed. 

"It doesn't feel bad, just not used to it." She added. 

I wanted to stop talking to her, she reminded me so much of Maya. So oblivious to the dangers around her. I can't allow to feel anything towards her. I wouldn't be able to handle another death that could've been prevented with life lessons and ground rules. 

"It's late and extremely dark. You can come out of the van with us and get some air if you're still up Briana." Dylan offered. 

"Sounds good." She replied. 

Then I tried to relax and fall asleep for I can become the driver as soon as possible. 

________________________________________________________________________________

Dylan POV

My brain chose to ignore my dads advice of paying full attention to the car and road when driving, to think about Simon, the way his body fell. The sound of the gun. How does someone do that? Just shoot a kid with no hesitation. Sure it's the law, but he was talking to them, he wasn't even a threat at that given moment. 

I was in the van. I could've started driving already. I could've saved him. Nothing was in my way. Why didn't I move fast enough? What was I waiting for? 

A big bump pulled me out of my thoughts making me realize I'm far in the woods now, I hope I didn't damage anything by driving over tree stumps. 

"Briana, wake Kadyn, this is a good spot." I whispered while turning around in my seat to look at them. 

The other forbidden children. My family. All of them were using each other as pillows to try to sleep away their heavy souls. 

Briana shook Kadyn's shoulder very gently since he has extremely fast reflexes. I wonder how he even knows half the stuff he does since he grew up in a compound that tries to make you feel normal. Maya told us all about him. He just doesn't know that yet. 

We piled out of the van, Kadyn got some tools from the area they were all sleeping in and jumped in the front seat to become a mechanic for a little bit. 

Briana leaned on the hood and was gazing at the sky. I decided to join her. 

"Under better circumstances, I would say It's great to finally meet you." I stated while leaning on the hood right next to her.

"I'm still saying it's great to finally meet you. It was fine until...they found us. You should've seen it! We were all dancing, singing, laughing. It was amazing. I actually felt..."

"Like you belonged." I finished for her. I felt the same way even though I missed those cherished moments. Just being in their presence was a relief. They were people who accepted your life. Of course it felt good. 

"Yeah. You look just how I pictured you." She smirked.

"Yeah?" I questioned.

"Yeah from the goofy ears to the big feet." She giggled.

It was good to hear something else than car noises and negative sounds. 

"Hey that wasn't nice." I laughed back.

"You walked right into it what else was I supposed to do?" She smiled.

"You look just like you described yourself. From the ponytail to the short height." I retaliated.

"Thank you." She replied sincerely.

"Thank you?" 

"Yeah you complimented my writing skills." She scoffed. 

I smiled. If only this was legal for us to do. I would kill to be able to talk to her in person everyday, to get a relief from any pain I felt for a few moments, but it's always going to come back to the life or death risk it brings. 

"Dylan Carpe Diem." She said suddenly.

"What?" I became confused.

"Your mood just changed drastically. You are thinking about things that have happened or aren't happening yet. Seize the moment. Live in the present." She explained while using drastic hand motions. Oliver uses them too. I think it's an Italian thing. 

"I am?" I replied unsure.

"No you aren't. You were laughing with me. Then there was silence. Then I could physically feel the sadness overcoming you." She rolled her eyes.

"No you couldn't" I said crossing my arms.

"Okay maybe not, but I noticed it." She said quickly.

"It's hard to seize the moment when every other moment is something I would do everything to but seize it." I sighed.

"That's exactly your problem. You are thinking about the other moments. Just think about this one. We are surrounded by beauty, you are talking to one of your friends in person for the first time, and no one is in danger." She finished. 

"Yeah, I guess it is a pretty good moment to seize." I agreed. 

"Get in the van the radios out, I put it far in the woods. So when they come looking for us using the van's tracking number. They'll have to search for it. When they find it, it won't even be us. They'll be so pissed." Kadyn said while laughing.

Briana and I looked at each other and smiled while climbing back into the van.

"Damn it's cramped in here." I groaned trying to fit in between Tate and Briana.

"Shhh." Tate answered sharply.

"Someone's grouchy." I whispered to Briana.

"I mean everyone is trying to sleep after running for their lives so he has a point." She replied with no sense of taking the joke.

The back of the van wasn't so bad, it just smelled and if you had claustrophobic issues this would not be ideal. 

Kadyn started speeding down the backroads leading back towards the West side of the world.

"There's a sky window!" Briana screeched. 

"Yeah so?" I asked while trying to get comfortable enough to sleep.

"Kadyn open it for a sec." She ignored me.

"If it makes you shut up." He answered while clicking a button on the dashboard. 

"My brothers have always told me about our Dad letting them do this. I thought I would never be able to try it." She was jumping up and down in her seat. 

When the roof was open she bolted up sticking her whole upper body through it. 

"Dylan, stop her!?" Kadyn tried to yell over the wind. 

The fresh air did feel good in the hot sweaty van that's for sure. 

"Keep that speed up Kadyn!!!" She screamed into the air making it sound like a fading echo. 

I smiled.

"What the hell is she doing!?" Professor Kadyn sounded very frustrated. 

"Carpe diem Kadyn...Carpe Diem." I said while closing my eyes.

"CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME!!!" were the last words my ears picked up that night.