How Long is Forever? Part 3/3 of Chapter 12

It was hot inside Noel's car as we sat there, waiting for traffic to go by. We were on our way to Lowes, yet again, to purchase some yellow paint for the designs carved into the panels. It was taking him a good amount of time to paint those things but deep down, I secretly wasn't complaining. To pass time, I took notice of the case of Cd's placed right next to my feet. I picked them up as Noel followed my move with his gaze. Looking through his Cd's I found lots of old, indies rock bands, some acoustics, and some music from the 60's and 70's. When I came across a Joni Mitchell Cd, I grinned, looking down at it, memories had come flooding back.

"You into Joni Mitchell?" He asked, letting his left arm fall to his left and dangle out the window.

"Uhm, yeah..well, I mean my Mom was..she'd play her all the time when I was a child so I was stuck having to listen to her but eventually, I grew into liking her music." But this was when things were quite peachy and smooth. Of course, Dad was still with us, and he would tease her for not growing out of her hippie days from when they met during the 80's. I mean of course, it was the 80's, but she still hadn't grown out of the 70's era.

"The first time I ever saw your Mom, was at a protest, but I thought she was just a weird hippie of a freak back then, but I secretly thought she was kind of cute." Dad would explain to me.

"Whatever! Honey, don't listen to your father, he had Gina Elbert on his arm that time. Remember that honey? You and Gina were voted sweetest couple of 89'." Mom pleaded, turning to me and then my Dad. "Huh. Wonder what made you let go of that pop tart." She would huff under her breath. And then my Dad would always get into these playful assumptions.

"You," He would say, poking her on the arm. "Were jealous, and I can see you still are." And then the pokes would turn into tickling wars where my Mom laughed, and begged him to stop, trying to grasp his hands. I let out a sigh, yeah, those were the good ol' days.

"Well, my Aunt listens to her a lot, even now." He said, his voice bringing me back. "I guess I grew to like some of her songs as well, which one is your favorite?"

"Help me." I said, turning my head to meet his gaze, giving a tiny smile.

"Hmm, that's a good one. I thought 'Both sides now' was pretty good." He answered, looking out at traffic. "Oh, and 'Big yellow taxi'." He added, looking back at me.

"Yeah, I thought her others were ok, but the one I really fell in love with was 'Help me'."

"Well it's on there, you should put it on."

Obeying, I laid the rest of the Cd's back on the ground before slipping the Cd into the slot on the radio. Within a few seconds and a few pushes of the button until it finally came to track 6, Joni's smooth voice and the splendid strums of her guitar softly dripped from the speakers. Like something came over me, I couldn't help but sing along, quietly though so Noel couldn't hear my nails on a blackboard of a voice.

"Help me, I think I'm falling in love again-"

"When I get that crazy feeling I know I'm in trouble again.." He sand out loud, regardless of his voice not sounding like an angel's. He looked at me, still singing. "Come on, don't be shy, I know you were singing too."

I chuckled and smiled, a bit embarrassed. I just watched in awe as he kept on singing, even with the windows rolled down. "Come on Destiney, show me your singer quality voice."

"Ha. You're funny." I rested my right cheek against my right palm as I sat my elbow on top of the open window. I looked back at him slowly, a smile forming on my face again. And I just couldn't help but sing from there.

"Cause I've seen some hot hot blazes come down to, smokin' ash!" We were a bit crazy now as he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. I didn't feel like myself...instead, I felt like my feet weren't planted firmly on the ground as I said it always was at that moment. There, with Noel. On a hot Saturday afternoon.

"But not like you love your freeeedooooom...Help me, I think I'm falling, too fast!" We sang, looking at each other until we couldn't take it anymore, and then we just burst out laughing, totally aware of people hearing us from inside of their own cars. Thankfully, the light turned green as Noel's car started to move, avoiding awkward stares from them.

"Your voice is pure art, why didn't you tell me?" He asked, trying to fight back a laugh.

"I know, but I wouldn't be talking, Mr. American Idol. I don't think you could get past Paula and Randy, much less with Simon."

"Ok, now that," He said, trying to look offended. "Hurts."

"Not as much as it hurt hearing your voice." I said, smiling back at him.

"Awww, thank you." He smiled back, placing his hand on his chest. I looked back at him. Changes, maybe it was time.