"You can't be serious."

"Good news!" She grinned, wiggling her eyebrows. "I am."

I looked at her as though she was completely out of her mind. For all I knew, she could be. No one in their right mind would go here on purpose.

"You do this for fun?" I asked.

She simply nodded.

"Don't you have any friends?"

She scoffed. "I have lots of friends."

"People at the center don't count."

She shifted in her stance, pressed her lips together, and looked up at the sky. She appeared to be hesitating. I was about to tell her to forget it when she answered.

"I have one friend."

That was sad, and yet I wasn't surprised.

"Where are they?"

"Living their life," she answered, looking down on her feet.

"Why can't you look at me?"

"Hmm?" She looked at me with raised eyebrows, trying to act innocent.

My eyes turned to slits, seeing through her. I was about to open my mouth and interrogate her but then she swung her arms around and bounced forward.

"Let's go inside," she declared.

Without waiting for me, she walked into the establishment.

I studied the vintage store. It looked as old as the items they sold in the display window. With a sigh, I followed Meadow inside.

Good God, it even smelled old.

I was surprised there weren't any cobwebs hanging around.

"Isn't this awesome?" Meadow asked excitedly.

"No."

She gave me a look.

"They're old people clothes," I reasoned.

"Which means they have history," she argued, her hand softly brushing above the racks of clothes. It was as though every antiquity in a ten mile radius was cramped in here. "There are tons of stories behind each and every one of these, waiting to be told."

Yeah, not for me.

"Skip," I said, as I raised my arms and made an x sign.

She hung her head and pouted. "Come on, let's try on some!"

I glanced at the clothes that almost looked crusty and reeked like an old wooden wardrobe. I noticed some of them even still had stains.

No chance in hell.

"No."

"Why not?" she whined.

"Because it's gross and a waste of my time."

"I promise, it won't be."

"No."

"Believe in fairies. Believe in me."

What the fuck? "No."

"You ended up liking Casablanca," she reminded me.

The main reason I liked it was because there was a lot of drinking in the film. But a Mary Sue like her wouldn't understand that, which made me think...

"You gave that a shot," she added a-matter-of-factly.

Huh, a shot...

"Tell you what, I'll go along with this," I paused and picked up an old cane, before continuing, "if we go for drinks later."

She gasped, looking absolutely scandalized – just the reaction I expected. Then, she walked closer to me and whispered, "We're underaged! We're not allowed to drink yet!"

"I'll be eighteen next month," I pointed out.

"Still underaged."

"Technically, I'll be legal to drink in the UK."

She crossed her arms. "Sucks for you, pal. 'Cause we're in America."

"Alright, no deal." I put back the cane where I found it and started to walk away.

"Didn't expect you to be a quitter," Meadow called after me.

I shrugged. "I'm not. I just don't care."

"You're missing out."

"Good thing I don't have FOMO."

I was almost at the door when she spoke again.

"One drink!"

I stopped and slowly turned around. "One clothing costs one drink."

"Three full outfits."

"Two."

"One." She blinked in realization. "No, wait—"

I grinned. "Done."

Her mouth dropped open, as I walked back towards her. I would've laughed at her expression if I wasn't too distracted trying to maneuver through these random piles of books. I didn't want to knock them over and cause a disruption.

Although, I didn't think anyone would notice the difference.

"I don't have a fake ID," Meadow said, when I neared.

"Don't worry about it."

"Do you?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow. Judgment was all over her face, and I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes.

"I said, don't worry about it," I told her, turning my attention to the old display case with vintage accessories scattered inside. Seeing nothing that interested me, I leaned my elbow on the glass and looked at her. "Do your thing."

She huffed, looking as though I just challenged her. With one final glare, she went on for the hunt. I watched her go through racks and racks of old clothes. She was very strategic in choosing them as well. At some point, she would stop and look at me as if she was imagining what would look the worst on me.

In the end, she chose two outfits for me to try. She pushed me inside the changing room and handed me the first one. She had got to be fucking kidding me. It was from the 70s with bell bottom trousers and floral print button up.

"You're joking," I said.

"Nope," she replied in a cheerful tone, sounding very pleased with herself. "Aren't the colors pretty?"

"It's bright orange."

She laughed. "I know."

I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head.

Deal's a deal.

I put the clothes on, loathing every damn second of it. But this was a means to an end. I was going to drink my ass off later, and make sure she held her end of the bargain.

With a deep sigh, I swung the curtain open. I was expecting her to have her phone pointed at me to immortalize this moment, but she didn't.

I watched as Meadow's grey eyes lit up in genuine delight and a whole round of laughter escaped from her lips.

"I looked like a tv host from the seventies," I deadpanned.

She picked up the old cane I was playing with earlier and poised the head near her mouth like a microphone. Then, she cleared her throat.

"Introducing his highness, Alexander Ferguson, bringing you flowery delight with his sunny outfit and even sunnier personality."

I flashed her a sarcastic smile. "Hilarious."

She bowed. "Thank you."

I stared at her, before shaking my head in amusement.

Why couldn't I stay angry at her? She was clearly making fun of me, and yet her laugh was so contagious that I wanted to join in.

"Here," she said, handing me the second outfit. "I think you'll like this."

"Sure," I muttered, skeptical.

"I'm telling you."

I walked back inside the changing room and more than gladly took off the orange trousers. When I changed into the second set of clothes, I understood what she meant by me liking it. I had on a gray linen suit, complete with a vest and a blazer. She even found a paperboy cap to go with it.

I felt like I was one of the brothers in Peaky Blinders.

"So?" Meadow asked.

I stepped out and showed her. This time, I had a smirk on my face. When she saw me, a triumphant smile appeared. She crossed her arms, looking smug.

"I told you."

I nodded. "Yeah, okay."

"What are you this time?"

"I'm a Peaky fookin' Blinder," I grumbled, mimicking their accent and swag from the show. I had to admit, I was definitely feeling this one.

She blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing. Like I said, her laughter was incredibly contagious. Not being able to help myself, a small chuckle came out of me.

This was pointless and idiotic. And yet I couldn't deny the small part of me that had fun. But just like yesterday when she almost died from snorting that milkshake...

It was Meadow who made this ludicrous activity worthwhile.

* * * * *

"I can't believe we're doing this," Meadow whispered, sounding out of breath as she shut the passenger door.

"Don't tell me this is your first time sneaking out," I said, putting the car on gear and going on our way.

"It isn't," she replied.

"And I thought you were a stickler for rules."

"If I was, would I sneak out and drink with you in the middle of the night?"

I shrugged. "I could be very charming."

She didn't say anything and just looked around my car, as if she was searching for something. I let her do that for a couple of minutes before I spoke.

"What is it?"

"Where are the cans of beer?"

"I don't like beer."

"Then what are we drinking?"

"Whiskey."

She made a face. "That's an old man's drink."

"It's not."

"That's what my grandfather drinks."

"He has good taste."

"Where did you even get the alcohol?"

Bribery went a long way. "I have my ways."

She watched me suspiciously, while I continued driving along an empty road. It was weird how at night, Mount Valley transformed into this ghost town. It was opposite with New York City, where somehow it thrived during night time.

It wasn't long before we arrived at our destination.

"We're drinking at the park?" Meadow asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Kristine told me about this place," I explained. She said it had a view of the New York City skyline.

"Did she also tell you it's illegal to drink here?"

I put the car in park, before saying, "We're already breaking the rules. Why not break a few more?" I went out of the car, and then to the trunk to get the liquor bottle. It was my go-to drink because it was available practically anywhere.

"What's that?" she asked, climbing out of the car.

"Meadow... Sorry, what's your last name?"

"Buckley."

"Meadow Buckley, meet my special friend, Jack Daniels." I brought out the bottle and showed it to her. "He's a very good company."

She looked at me skeptically. "I'm sure."

We proceeded to occupy one of the benches facing the river and stared at the city lights of my home. It looked bright and beautiful from afar. I couldn't help but admire it even though I'd seen it this way a thousand times before.

"Do you miss it?"

"Yeah," I breathed out, before drinking from the bottle.

I wished I was there, walking in the streets alongside people who looked fresh out of the shower because their night was only starting.

"Aren't you allowed to go home?"

I sighed. "Not until my mother is satisfied with my volunteer work here."

I handed Meadow the bottle, and she only looked at it in her hands. It seemed as if she was sizing it up.

"Straight to the throat," I advised. "Don't let it linger in your mouth."

She took a deep breath, before murmuring something. My eyes turned to slits as I tried to decipher what she was saying. As realization dawned, a smile stretched across my lips in amusement.

"Are you praying?" I asked.

She immediately stopped. "No."

I burst out laughing. "You totally were."

"I was asking for guidance."

Studying her, I realized something. "This isn't... your first time drinking... is it?"

Instead of answering, she chugged the bottle.

My eyes widened. "Whoa there."

Her face scrunched in disgust. "That does not taste good—at all," she declared, giving me back the bottle. "What is that?"

"Whiskey," I chuckled, before taking another drink.

"I feel woozy."

"That's quick." Definitely a lightweight.

She leaned back in her seat, stared at the skyline, and her lips stretched into a soft smile. "What's it like living in the city?"

"Fast-paced," I answered instantly. "You never run out of things to do."

"Is that why you hate it here? 'Cause we like to take things slow?"

"I don't like wasting my time."

"It's not a waste if you're enjoying yourself."

She grabbed the bottle from me this time and drank. I didn't stop her. I watched as she returned the bottle to me, got to her feet, and spread her arms like a bird before twirling around. A part of me wished that kind of buzz kicked in me that quickly.

She grinned, moving her body slow. "My sister and I do this thing where we play old ballads and dance in slow motion."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"It doesn't make any sense."

"Why does everything have to make sense? Can't we just do anything for the sake of it and have fun?"

I only stared at her.

"You sank your grandpa's ship or boat or whatever it was," she reasoned. "Does that make sense? No."

"That was an accident," I argued.

"That's probably why you're so bored all the time," she added, like she didn't hear me. "You don't make the best of what's in front of you."

"So what if I don't like staying still? I prefer to always be on the go."

"Are you lost?"

"No."

She shrugged. "Sounds like you are."

"I'm not. I just..." ...don't know where I'm going.

Meadow continued to sway as she waited for me to answer.

"I don't know..." I finally said, before drinking more.

She was still waiting for me to continue, though. Her grey eyes stayed on me as she moved to a melody that didn't exist.

"It's like I'm looking for something," I admitted. "But I don't know what it is."

She looked thoughtful as my words sunk in. "Hmm, maybe that's why you haven't found what you're looking for. You're always moving, always preoccupied, always looking forward to the next exciting thing." She swung her long skirt, raising her hands towards the sky.

I didn't reply. I liked to think I took risks in order to live to the fullest. Was there more to life than just trying to do as many new things as possible?

"But have you ever really lived in the moment?" she asked. "If you did, you might be able to find what you're looking for." Her eyes closed and her body swayed, dancing along with the cold breeze of a summer's night.

I liked trying new things, so why not try this? Instead of living to the fullest, why shouldn't I try living in the moment?

I chugged the bottle. This was the stupidest thing ever but I stood up and walked to her, anyway. Fuck it. I was blaming this on the alcohol.

I started to dance in slow motion.

Meadow's eyes landed on me, and she burst out laughing – even harder than she did earlier at the vintage store. I couldn't help the smile that creeped up to my lips at how fucking ridiculous I must have looked.

"Move your hands like this," she said, waving her hands in demonstration.

I imitated her, causing her to have another round of laughter.

"Good!" she encouraged me.

"This is so stupid," I muttered, even though I kept doing it.

"But it's fun!"

I shook my head in disbelief, grinning despite myself and trying not to think about what I was doing.

"Okay!" She stood still and clapped. "You need a reward." She got her phone out and played a song. "Now..." She jumped and whipped her head. "Let loose!"

I closed my eyes and shook my hands, getting rid of my rationality and just going with it. I spread my feet apart and pretended to be playing the guitar, banging my head like a rock star would. Meadow laughed, and played the drums.

I jammed out. She sang out loud, or yelled more like.

"Sitting out the weekend~ Couldn't do it again~ Say you want it right now~ But I wouldn't know how~"

"Hey! Who's there?"

There was someone with a flashlight walking towards us. We froze and exchanged looks, before glancing at the direction of the security personnel.

Meadow smiled mischievously. "Here, Off—"

I covered her mouth and crouched. "Do you want to get in trouble?"

She nodded, making me chuckle at her sudden change of personality.

"We're going to make a run for it," I told her.

She said something so I loosened my hand, and was able to hear the rest of her sentence. "—wanna rub his big round belly for luck."

Christ. "No."

She pouted. "Pooper."

I ignored her. "When I say run, you run."

She sighed, then nodded.

I glanced at the security guard still searching for us, flashing his light at the dark spaces. When he turned his back on us, I took that as our cue.

"Run!" I hissed.

Meadow hurried to the car, while I grabbed the bottle from the bench and ran. I handed the bottle to Meadow, keyed the ignition, and backed out of the parking lot. She sank into the passenger seat, hugging the bottle to her.

"Why don't you have a roof?"

"It's a convertible," I murmured, as I focused on driving away.

She peeked behind us. "That was close!"

I nodded, my heart beating fast.

It wasn't like this was my first time getting caught doing something I shouldn't, but I couldn't afford to get in trouble here. And if I was being honest, I didn't wanna get Meadow in trouble as well.

Suddenly, she laughed. I glanced at her, and her expression made me grin.

"That was fun," she admitted, drinking from the bottle again and making a face. So much for one drink per outfit. "Urgh, the taste doesn't get better. But I'm starting to care less about it."

"I have water in the back. You should drink some."

"Oh, turn here!" she exclaimed, pointing to the right.

I followed her directions until we were in front of a huge water tower. I looked up at the rusty looking thing, before turning to her.

"What are we doing here?"

She grinned at me. "We're going to go stargazing!"

I raised eyebrows. "Up there?"

"Yup!" She got out of the car, leaving the bottle behind.

Yeah, I had to stop drinking.

I had that little buzz I wanted, and I didn't want to push my limit. I still needed to drive and take Meadow home. I got out of the car and grabbed the water bottle from the trunk, then followed her to the tower.

She stepped on a rock and almost lost her balance.

"Whoa there," I murmured, holding her waist. "I don't think it's safe for you to go up there in your state."

"Shh." She put a finger on my lips to shut me up. "I've done this a million times."

"Drink some water first," I told her.

She drank half the bottle before going to the ladder, and I followed behind her. She climbed up without stopping. And when she reached the top, she spread her arms and took a deep breath.

"Welcome to Mount Valley!"

I looked at the view of the town. It was dead and quiet, most of the lights that were turned on were just street lights. Meadow sat down on the dirty metal flooring, leaned her back on the tank, and looked up at the night sky.

I sat down beside her. "You really love it here."

"It's my home. It's familiar and safe."

"So why do you only have one friend?"

She sighed. "I just suck at making new friends. That one friend I have, he's been my friend since I was five. Anything new and unfamiliar scares me off."

"I'm new and unfamiliar."

She looked at me. "And you scare me."

"Yet you're spending time with me."

"I thought you could help me be more outgoing."

I tilted my head. "You want to be more outgoing?"

She nodded and looked away. "If I was, maybe I'd be good enough."

"Good enough for who?"

"Everybody," she said, closing her eyes. "Anybody."

I stared at her, trying to figure her out.

"I love my sister," she continued, with a sigh. "But sometimes, I hate how people only see me as an extension of her."

I didn't speak, letting her vent. She looked like she needed to air it out. She let out a small laugh and looked up.

"I guess I'm just not enough for anyone."

I turned my attention to the street lights, before telling her, "You should be more confident in yourself."

"What's there to be confident about?"

"You're not so bad, you know."

She shook her head. "It's just hard when..." she trailed off, and averted her eyes.

"When...?" I urged.

"When you don't feel like you're good enough to the person who matters most."

I gazed at her, wondering what person made her feel this way. "At the end of the day, you only need to be enough for yourself."

Her eyes locked with mine, and I stared right back. It might just be the moonlight reflecting on her face, but I was slightly struck at how solemn she looked tonight.

Without so much as a warning, she closed her eyes and rested her head on my shoulder. I masked my surprise, careful not to move.

"Hey, Anders."

"Yeah?"

"You're not so bad yourself," she said quietly.

The corner of my lips quirked up.

She suddenly giggled. "Anders."

"Hmm?"

"I'm gonna tell you a secret."

I waited.

"I just farted on you," she confessed, before laughing out loud.

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

One thing was for sure. With Meadow around...

Life in this small town would never be dull.

_____________

Would you rather live in the moment or live to the fullest?

#NotForNothingWP