"d-dance?"

Carson pulled over to the side of the road, just missing the large puddle of water. The sun was still shining brightly as it was still glued to the now pinkish and orange painted sky although the gray clouds had not left yet and still blotched the sky.

"Let's get out and I'll show you all the gear and pedals," Carson instructed, opening the car door and stepping out.

I stayed in the car, the shock still hadn't passed yet and I doubt it will soon. My heart thumped hard and beat rapidly, my hands coated in a thick layer of sweat. I'd known Carson long enough to know he wouldn't lie to me and yet I had still doubts whether he had been lying to me the whole time, despite having support from May as well. Was May lying too? It was so hard to work things out especially in a world so full of deceit and trickery.

I let out a shaky breath. Carson was going to teach me how to drive so I best shove the newly discovered information out of my head.

My hand shook slightly as I opened the door, stepping out onto the gravel ground.

"Come over here Iris," he shouted from the other side of the car. "I'll show you all the different functions."

I nodded, scurrying over to the driver's side to see Carson pulling the sleeve of his hoodie.

"What are you doing?" I questioned curiously as he took of his whole hoodie, revealing his army green t-shirt.

"I'm not oblivious. I saw you shivering before and in the car," Carson dictated, holding his hoodie out towards me. "Take it."

"No, thank you, I'm okay," I shook my head, pushing back the black hoodie.

"I'm not cold," he insisted honestly.
I somehow found the courage in my timidity and focus on his eyes. I watched as the small glittering specks danced around, surrounding by colours of the forevergreen trees after a rain shower and that colour showed honesty and I could see it clearly.

My lips used to be soft but now they were dry and cracked worse than the large crevices in the drought-struck desert due to my biting. I resulted to vaseline and lip balm but nothing could beat my teeth.

Now my teeth were back at its job as I shyly reached out, taking Carson's black hoodie. "Thank you."

I slipped my arm in the sleeves one each time, fishing my hand out from the endless fabric tunnel before pulling my head through and fixing my ponytail afterwards. Because of his six foot three height, his hoodie went down to my mid thigh, which showed how short I really was.

Carson beamed at my action and turned around, opening his car door again. He then had his right arm leaning on the opened door and his left hand was pointing to the car pedals, "That's the accelerator and that's— "

"The brakes," I cut him off, then my eyes widened a bit, realising my impolite mistake. "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off."
Carson merely raised his left brow and continued to the lever handle. "This is the—"

"Gear lever," I blurted. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Carson gave me a reassuring smile.

"Keep going," I ushered sheepishly, gesturing for him to continue, using my hands despite them being covered in the hoodie's sleeves because it was so long.

Carson turned back to the small letters on next to the lever, "P, R, D, N and L stands for--"

I couldn't help myself and allowed my mouth to move on its own; something that rarely happened. "Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Low."

Carson let his hand drop, turning his head slowly with a deadpan expression on his face. "You said you couldn't drive."

I nodded, a mute smile boarding my face, "Yes, that's true but I didn't say I was clueless about cars. I did study for the test, I just never went through with it."

"That means, you do know how to drive," he concluded, his voice filled with minor accusation.

I shook my head. "No, I've never actually gone behind the wheel before."

Carson smirked knowingly. "Well now's your chance hermosa."

I slowly backed away. "No, no, no. I'm good thank you. And isn't it illegal? My mum would yell at me anyway and you said you were going to teach me."

"Yes, it's illegal but who's going to find out? We're in the middle of nowhere. And my teaching does involves practical investigations, meaning you will be able to get behind the driver's wheel," Carson reached over and grabbed my arm, pulling me closer to him. He had his hands on my shoulders and pushed my gently towards the car regardless of my useless force against him.

After several seconds, I had my hands twitching nervously on the steering wheel and Carson was strapped in the passenger seat.

"Okay, so just gently push on the accelerator..." Carson instructed slowly and I did as he said.

The car slowly moved forwards and I saw that we were getting closer to the tree about twenty metres in front.

"Okay, good...now go a little faster," Carson guided,."If you check the speedometer, you'll see that you're only driving seven kilometres per hour."

I lifted the corner of my lips timidly. "Right, sorry."

"No need to be sorry. Just keep the steering wheel straight."

I nodded, grateful that we were driving in the opposite direction of the sun or else driving would be more troublesome.

I could hear the crunch of gravel from the rubber tires, even though we were still moving at an extremely slow pace and the car engine rumbled soundlessly.

Soon the tree in the distance sat right in front of the car.

"Oh my gosh," I breathed, taking my hands off the wheel, leaving two wet spots behind and leaning back into the seat.

Carson's deep laughter echoed throughout the car. "You did it."

"I did," I repeated, slapping both my hands on to each side of my face. "Oh my gosh."

"See, you can drive."

I turned over him with a blank expression, removing my hands and dropping them into my lap and staring directly at the tree in shock. "I drove ten metres in a straight line."

"And that is why you should be very proud."

"Thank you," I smiled.

Carson raised an eyebrow. "Now, do you think you can turn?"

An hour later, it was almost five and we were sitting next to each other on the hood of his car as we faced the sunset. The golden sun became an orange colour as it shot it's rays through the clouds, changing their colours to a darker red as the dark sky began overpowering the light.

A feeling of excitement and accomplishment flourished through my body and I felt like I was soaring through the skies.

It wasn't just because I achieved the skill of driving but because it was Carson who encouraged me to do so.

"Do you regret doing that?" Carson asked quietly beside me.

I smiled looking down and my muddied converse. "No."

Then I tilted my head up at the sky and breathed in a large breath and felt a wet droplet on my nose. I opened my eyes to see a dark cloud above me and more water droplets gradually fell. I took in another breath, opening my arms and leaning back on to the car's windscreen to openingly welcome the rain on to my skin.

I heard sounds beside me and opened my eyes to see Carson on my side of the car, on the gravel ground, his t-shirt completely soaked. "Come dance with me."

"D-Dance?" I asked, sitting back up and hugging my legs, confusion lacing my voice.

"You've never danced in the rain?" Carson asked, surprised.

"I've never danced, let alone in the rain," I mumbled, taking his hand and allowing him to help me down from the car.

He enveloped both of my hands in each of his and faced me, he began jumping up and down, skipping like a young child free of worries.

"Dance hermosa! Dance!" Carson shouted through laughter.
I did what he said, following his lead, my feet moving in sync with his and in the same direction. He spun me in circles skipped around, jumping in the large puddles as I laughed the whole time, while letting the rain immerse us fully.

I felt his warm hands enclose around my waist, lifting me up into the air and spinning me in circles, his laughter and my surprised shriek turned into giggles reiterating through the pouring rain.

"Carson!" I squealed, bursting with more laughter.

He slowly brought me down, bringing me close to his chest with an arm left around my back. Both of our chests rising and falling heavily and yet the smiles never left our faces. His eyes stared right into mine as he used his free hand to lift up my chin, "You're so beautiful. Never stop smiling."

a/n: ok i freakin love this chapter. so. cute.

vote and comment x