It’s early in the morning on a Sunday, the 5 AM kind of early when nobody is awake except for the guy who picks up garbage, and the birds that peck at my window for some reason instead of chirping. I kind of hate them, but they also remind me of Ronnie, hence the kind of; because I kind of like them too.

I grab my luggage and say goodbye. Goodbye to the empty room where my brother and his girlfriend should’ve been fast asleep, goodbye to the ivory bottles of beer laid out like little soldier men across the dinner table.

I say goodbye.

“Goodbye, Stephanie.”

As I open the door and step foot outside, the first thing I see is Ronnie. He waves at me from the front of his pickup truck.

“Stolen, or borrowed?” I ask him as I give the hard tire a kick.

“Borrowed, of course.” Tapping the wheel, he starts. “Although…” His eyes follow me as I hop into the seat next to his. “I wouldn’t say the same about the merchandise.” Ronnie frowns. “You totally didn’t warn them, did you?”

I shrug. “Dude, they barely even remember I exist.”

“Well, okay… Suit yourself.” Ronnie clears his throat. He turns his key, already in the ignition, and revs the engine. “Where to?” He asks.

“I… I want to cut my hair.” I say.

Ronnie pops a lollipop in his mouth. “All right,” he says, “out of town it is then. But first, we really need to stop by a convenience store.”

I raise a brow. “Why?”

He points to an empty packet of gum between us. “I’ve run out of these babies.”

I sigh. “If you don’t get diabetes by the time you’re thirty, remind me to give you ten dollars.”

Ronnie gives my shoulder a playful hit. “Hey!” He shouts. “Respect your elders!

I punch back. “Even if we’re just one week apart?”

“One week is enough to change a life.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Crossing my arms, I roll my eyes. “Just keep your eyes on the road, pops, I don’t want to die yet.”