Guardians

Chapter 1 - Road Trip

Breath in.

Breath out.

Repeat.

I kept breathing at a slow pace so I wouldn't hyperventilate. I couldn't handle the facts right now. My dream was becoming reality. I would soon meet my ultimate bias. Thank you, Universe! Oh my gosh! This cannot be happening. I MUST BE DREAMING! I pictured someone smacking me in the face with a shovel. Whoa. Relax Stanza. Calm down.

Breath in.

1. 2. 3.

Now breath out.

1. 2. 3.

"Who is Shin-E?" inquired Nessa naively, as she drove down the freeway.

"No, it's pronounced like shiny," Juli corrected, also a fan of SHINee, but Super Junior was her all-time favorite.

"Isn't that the name of your dog, Stanza?" Lena sarcastically questioned me. I looked over and caught a glimpse of her smiling evilly.

"Maybe." I smiled shyly. "Come on guys, stop doing this, it'll be fun." Truthfully, I had never gone to KCON which made me nervous and hoped it wouldn't be lame for my friends.

"Don't forget all the hot Korean celebrities!" Juli purred, wiggling in the seat, hitting me hard with her hips. At least I knew Juli was going to enjoy it.

"Ugh, Korean men aren't all that amazing!" cut in Soo Min, who broke up with her boyfriend in Korea before coming to the states. "I came to America for a reason. Besides, I've never been into Korean Pop. I prefer classical music." Soo Min stopped for a second to think. "How did you guys even get me to come?"

"Cause you secretly love me," I joked, "plus, we needed a car."

"Guys, if this is Soo Min's car then why are you making me drive?" Nessa's pure way of requesting to have someone else drive. Lena jabbed one of her long fingernails into Nessa's side. "Ow!" Nessa's eyes widened, rubbing her ribs.

"If you want, we can switch, I don't mind," Soo Min offered.

"Noo!" Juli, Lena, and I yelled. Soo Min and Nessa jumped from their seats. Soo Min twisted from the front passenger seat to face us. Her eyebrows raised, questioning our behavior.

"We mean, you already let us borrow your car the least we could do is drive and pay for the gas," Juli explained with no hint of a stutter. Lena and I exchanged a quick look making us reflect on our earlier experience with Soo Min's driving.

Before hitting the road for California, Soo Min picked up Juli first since they lived close. They came for me after so I could show her the way to Lena's and Nessa's house. While I showed Soo Min the way to Lena's house, it was clear her driving skills hadn't improved from the first time we hung out (Soo Min ran the side of her car into a cement pillar in a garage parking lot).

When we headed towards Nessa's house, Soo Min swerved through the other cars as if she were playing GTA causing us to almost run over a cyclist. Once we made it without killing anyone to Nessa's house, Juli grabbed Soo Min and insisted on letting one of us drive. Thankfully, we convinced Soo Min when we mentioned Nessa had experience driving to California.

"Obviously, we can't let Nessa drive long because we need her to drive more in California." Lena added, snapping me back into the conversation.

"How about Nessa pulls over and lets Lena drive, then Juli? I could drive before getting into Los Angeles since I know my way around a bit, too!" I suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement. We pulled over to the side, Lena and Nessa switched spots.

Finally on the road again, I shuttered from the flashback of Soo Min's horrible driving. Lena caught me through the rearview mirror and took her chance to bug me again.

Lena with her signature malicious smile asked, "What's the matter, Stan, a bit chilly?"

I rolled my eyes and smiled back sweetly. "Just a little, nothing a hoodie won't fix," I snapped back and quickly stuck my tongue out at her.

"I might as well relax," exhaled Soo Min, placing her bare feet on the dashboard. Juli's shoulders relaxed next to me at the same time. Soo Min whipped around making Juli instinctively lean back straight against the seat. "Are you sure you don't want me driving at all? We would get there faster," Soo Min's angelic voice teased.

"Yes, Sue, just enjoy the ride." I said, 100% sure Soo Min set us up.

"Okaaay," sang Soo Min, finally giving in and put her feet up again.

"Phew, this is going to be a long ride." Whispered Juli under her breath.

"You got that right!" Nessa lifted her hands in frustration, completely lost.

I smiled and stared out the window. This trip will be unforgettable, nothing could change that. In the end, memories are worth it, good or bad. I closed my eyes and unknowingly fell asleep. With one thought on my mind. Soon I would be in California only a few feet from him.