I would like to thank Jordann_burns for the wonderful cover she made above. I can't find her account but she has a service on the forums that offer free book covers. You should check it out she's a good artist.

I didn't realize I drifted off to sleep until my ears made out a slurping sound of an empty beverage from the back of the car that startled me from my slumber.

I raised my leaning head from the chair and craned my neck as I wiped sweats dripping from my neck and forehead. The car then halted, and I rubbed my eyes with my hands to take away my sleepiness.

"Is that the corner we are looking for?" The slurping sound became much audible as I heard it right through my ear. I turned my head and here we go again. Nico's face is so close to mine that we almost touched each other's noses.

Ladies and gentlemen. Once again, I am short of breath. I met his eyes for the second time today and instantly I found myself floating and sucked into the daydream of his hazel brown eyes that was more mesmerizing at this time because of the sun hitting it. I let out a small breath for I didn't realize I was holding it for so long.

Geez, I think I need to keep my distance from Nico starting today, or else I might die in shortness of breath because even the breathing techniques my therapist taught me is not working.

I need to fucking figure out what's going on with me? Maybe I already do and I am just in denial. Because, hello? Why Nico? I mean, he can be, right? Oh, God, please help me.

I let out a groan inside my head. My mind is running wild and I don't know if I like what I am feeling or not. I think I need to talk this out to Luna at some time.

Nico's gaze landed on my lips, cutting me off from my thoughts. I tried to gulp, but my own oxygen strangled my neck. His lips formed a smile, and I am surprised that despite the rapid beating of my heart and the stifling feeling in my lungs I managed to not faint.

"Are you aware that you have a drool mark on your mouth?" My eyes widened, and I covered my mouth with my hands as Nico beamed a mischievous grin, "Ha! Just kidding!" I felt the warmth of his breath on my face as he flicked my forehead. I let out a groan of pain and Nico laughed his way out of the car.

You know, I think, I take back everything I said a while ago. Maybe the reason why I catch my breath with Nico is that because he is literally killing me with annoyance and vexation even before he does it to me. And reality check who would fall for someone who makes fun of you?

That's right, no one!

I hope so. I let out a sigh of frustration. I think I really need to talk this out to Luna.

Setting aside this disturbing thought of mine. Rage sprung up in me when I heard Nico's irritating laugh outside the car.

I balled my hand into fists and as I opened the car door; I yanked his neck and pulled him as equal as my height and grabbed his hair, pulling it like the way I did to him at the tree tunnel at the campsite.

"One thing you got to know is to never piss off a person who just woke up from a slumber. Haven't you learned your lesson yet when I splashed that milk on your face?" I clenched my teeth as I continued to pull his hair. Despite the force I am exerting on his hair, Nico still managed to laugh as he says sorry to me simultaneously.

"Easy there, love birds. Why don't the two of you sort this out in a proper way?" We both looked at Kayden, who had an amused smile plastered on his face.

I let go of Nico's hair and straightened my body as he did the same, "Why don't you sort out the silent treatment going on between you and Luna?" I backfired him.

Kayden's face fell down, "I'm working on it okay?" He replied with an annoyed tone. "Now, why don't the two of you get over with everything and just admit you liked each other?" My backfire to Kayden rebounded to me and an awkward silence fell between Nico and I as Kayden walked away from us.

"We don't like each other," I uttered just to ease the silence between us.

"You think?" Nico's response made my disturbing feelings towards him more jumbled. Why is he having a second thought to that? They always say women are complicated, but I think men too.

I gathered enough courage to look up to him, "Duh, of course, I hate you," I said trying to keep a steady sassy tone.

He formed another grin of mischievousness on his lips, "Well, the more you hate, the more you love."

I bowed my head down as I a warm burning sensation spread across my face as if I have come face to face with the sun, and right at that moment I knew I looked like a fucking tomato, "That's not true," I said and walked away hoping that what I just said is not really true.

Apparently, Nico was still not over teasing me, "Hey, did you just blushed?" he asked behind me.

And stupid me, instead of ignoring him, I replied the stupidest excuse a person could ever reply in a situation like this, "I'm allergic to the sun!"

"That's a lame excuse, you know?" I sensed Nico's smile. When I did not reply anymore, I heard him running behind me and he put his arms around my neck and ruffled my hair, "Alright, I am sorry. I was just kidding." And he flashed a smile at me.

I felt ease when he said he was just kidding, but I knew somewhere within I wished he wasn't kidding at all.

The Standin' on the Corner Memorabilia was a complete genius masterpiece. From afar you can perceive a two-story brick building with windows on its first floor and the second floor to where between it was scribbled Winslow Arizona with a star separating the two words.

In front of the building was a bronze statue of a man standing on a lamppost by the corner with a guitar on his hand and on the other side, there was a flatbed Ford. There were also a few men singing Eagles' songs with their guitars and portable microphones.

At first, you'll think that the building was real, but when you get close to it, it was a fucking realistic painting and it was fucking awesome.

I made my way to a gift shop across the memorabilia to shield my skin from the sun. Luna and Erin were at a diner just across the street, buying some ice cream, and that left me with the four guys.

I watched the four guys from the gift shop together with the singing men as Kayden, William and Damien were laughing at each other as they mimicked the statue with William's guitar and taking pictures of themselves.

Meanwhile, Nico was running his hands through the brick painting, taking in every detail of the artwork. And I wondered what Nico wanted to be in the future.

Looking back, I always noticed his love for artworks. Liked how he admired the colors painted outside the Roxy Theater. The fascinating paintings on the ceiling of Griffith's Observatory and now I am looking at him as he expresses his admiration on the brick painting.

I never saw any drawings that were from Nico, but I remember the amazing mask he painted at Olvera Street and I think there are more of his masterpieces inside that notebook he was always scribbling with passion. And if he really loves art so much, I wish he will become a fantastic artist in the future.

The sultriness of the weather became unbearable to me, so I went inside the gift shop to give myself some cool air. Obviously, the shop was filled with souvenirs related to Route 66, but there is one item that caught my attention.

I walked towards the rack where the sticker was hanging, and I took it and smiled. I read it with my mind.

Well, I'm a-running down the road. Tryin' to loosen my load.

I think this is a lyric from the song of the Eagles' where the memorabilia outside was inspired from.

And it somehow mirrors us. Seven individuals who have loads of issues with them and trying to loosen those by running down the road with a travel bucket list they have.

"You want to buy those?" I looked beside me and saw Nico eyeing the sticker I am holding.

"No. I was just looking at it." I smiled at him and returned the sticker on the rack. As much as I want to buy that sticker, I couldn't, since we are short in money and I don't want to use Luna's credit card just for a sticker.

I heard a knock on the gift shop door and saw Luna with sunglasses on by the glass window, motioning for me to go outside. As soon as I stepped foot on the ground, she handed me an ice cream she bought for me.

"Thank you," I said to her as she stood beside me and I saw Erin eating her ice cream quietly by the bench with Damien. "So, how long do you plan to give Kayden the silent treatment?" I asked her as the men singing by the memorabilia finished singing Hotel California.

Before Luna can answer back, Kayden's voice echoed through the microphone just as Nico exited the gift shop.

"What the hell is he doing?" Nico asked beside me as I saw William from across, getting ready with his guitar.

"I have no freaking idea," I replied to him.

Kayden put the microphone on his lips, "Good afternoon, everyone." His voice echoed as other people who were scattered around the area stopped what they were doing to look at Kayden's direction.

"So, I don't do this at most times, in fact, I think this is the first time I will ever do this. I am not a good singer, but I have a decent voice. And I would like to sing a song as an apology to this girl I know so that she'll already stop torturing me with her silent treatment."

Nico and I exchanged glances. Is this really happening? And Kayden is doing it with William?

I looked at Luna to find some expression from her at the occurring event in front of us, but the sunglasses she was wearing prevented me from seeing her reaction.

"Oh, Kayden, you're fucked." I looked at Nico.

"What do you mean?"

"You know, Kayden is not the type of guy who will go this far for a girl. Maybe he did once, but eventually, they broke up, and as far as I can remember that was the only relationship he treasured the most. Anyway, back to the point. Kayden is more of a career-oriented guy rather than the one who does this kind of thing. And seeing him like this again, I think his rare side of love switched on again and I think Luna has something to do with that."

I looked at Luna once more who was still giving a dull reaction with Kayden's effort and William strummed his guitar as background music while Kayden gives out his speech.

"Oh, by the way. Here." Nico handed me a paper bag. I gave him a confused look, and I dug my hand inside to reveal the sticker I was looking at from the gift shop.

My eyes widened, and I looked up to him, "You didn't have to and where did you even get money to buy this?"

"I have extra money and don't bother yourself with that. Take that as an apology from teasing you a while ago." He once again flashed his beaming smile and switched his gaze to Kayden and William who were now getting ready for their show.

I felt my heart skip a beat. And I think it's my turn to say this.

I am fucked.