“Bye mom, bye dad!” I call loudly, to be heard throughout the house wherever they are.

            “Where are you going?” my mom emerges from the kitchen, drying her hands with a dish towel. She must have been washing the dishes or something.

            “I’m going to Eryn’s to hang out, probably do a bit of studying for our last exams coming up soon. I’ll probably stay the night so don’t wait up,” I inform her. Okay, let me leave now.

            “Okay, be safe. See you tomorrow,” she smiles before returning to the kitchen.

            I say my goodbyes, yelling to my dad somewhere in the house a goodbye as well. I close the door behind me and let out the breath I’d been holding for so long. I lied to my mother. Again. I quickly pull my phone out of my pocket and text my friend Eryn.

            If my parents ask you, I’m at your house studying and spending the night tonight..

            This is normally what I do when I lie to my parents about where I’m going and what I’m doing.

            Will you tell me where you’re going when you lie to your parents? She responds moments later.

            I respond with a simple ‘no’ and a laughing emoji before walking down my driveway with my hands in my pockets. I walk around the corner to the little corner store not far from my house. As I walk closer, I see the familar black car that is always there, waiting, when I come here. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face when I see the man leaning against the passanger door. His hair is unstyled today, his black hair draping over his eyes.

            “Hey babe,” he greets as I approach him.

            “Hey,” I greet him before kissing him. “How’s your day?”

            “Better now,” he smiles at me. “Let’s go,” he speaks as he opens the passanger door for me.

            “Where are we going today?” I ask him as he enters his own side and starts the car. He almost never tells me where he takes me. There’s the odd time he actually does tell me but, usually, about eighty percent of the time it’s a surprise. It always makes me feel anxious but I’ve almost become used to it now as it’s just become the norm.

            “Today I thought we’d do something you’ve wanted to do for a while,” he smiles as we drive away from the curb.

            “What do you mean?” I ask.

            “You’ll see.” I see a smirk slowly spread across his lips as he continues driving to our mystery destination.