“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you need to breathe. Trust. Let go and see what happens. ”

-Mandy Hale

I look at the page again. The numbers blur into each other and I can’t make sense of anything. It’s a haze.

I renew my focus and try to solve the math problem. I am halfway through, and I know how to solve it. It’s easy. Then something happens. I get lost.

I look at the clock. Two hours down, and it’s 12 o’clock. I still have loads of homework due. I won’t be able to finish it even if I stay awake till three in the morning.

I yawn, push back my chair, and stand up. I stretch and look at my study table. It is a mess. I have jumped from one subject to another hoping I will be focused enough to do some learning. No use.

I throw myself on my bed. Tick-tock, tick-tock. The clock keeps spinning, the time keeps running. I am still lost. I have to do something about it.

I pick up my phone, find the contact I am looking for and hit call. The phone rings, once, twice, thrice.

Then Oliver Carlson answers.

“Heyo!” I say cheerfully, “Whatcha doing?”

Oliver takes several seconds to reply, “Where’d you get my number?”

“Hehe,” I reply, “A magician never reveals their secret.”

I can feel Oliver rolling his eyes from the other side. I smile.

“Go to sleep,” Oliver says and I know he is going to hang up.

“Really, Oliver. It’s only 12. Who sleeps at 12? Talk to me,” I say.

Oliver makes a sound, like he is really annoyed, “Look, I don’t have time for this, alright? Find someone else for your midnight adventure.”

He hangs up.

Wait, midnight adventure? What does that mean?

I blink. An idea is swirling in my head. I look at the clock again. It’s 5 minutes past midnight. My eyes go wide and I contemplate again. My heart is beating too fast and I can feel the excitement in my body. I haven’t felt like this in a while. This is going to be so much fun.

I stuff my pillows under my covers. I turn off the light and put on my shoes. Thankfully I kept them in my room for my ‘midnight adventure’. Then I open my window. I step out on the roof and climb until I find the tree. I set my hand on the tree and with the other I hold the drainage pipe on the side of the house. Then I set my foot on the wall and slowly, step by step, climb down.

Five minutes of struggling later, I am on the ground. I wipe my sweat with my hoodie and duck down so I can’t be seen from the inside of the house. Then I crawl through the lawn, open the front gate, and run.

My hair is flying in the night air. I have spring in my step. I am free.

I walk all the way to Carlson house. Reaching there, I fish my phone out of my pocket and hit call.

Oliver Carlson is up for the biggest surprise in his life. He is the one who gave me the idea, so it's all thanks to him.

Oliver receives the call and groans right after, “What did I tell you?”

“You told me to go on a midnight adventure. So here I am, in front of your house. Come down,” I say tapping my foot.

I am so excited I can’t hide it. It’s in my voice.

Oliver curses, mumbles some profanities, and says, “No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did. All thanks to you. Now, will you come down or not? Or, I’ll have my midnight adventure alone, and who knows what will happen to me in the dark of the night. Then you’ll be all guilty because-”

“Shut up, I am on my way,” Oliver says and I hear some shuffles on the other side.

I can barely stand straight. I shift my weight from one foot to the other and sway in place. Soon the front door opens and a figure walks out. His steps are quick as he reaches the front gate and opens it, coming towards me.

Oliver Carlson in a gray hoodie and jeans, his brows knitted together and his mouth set into a frown. He is annoyed like he always is. I smile brightly.

“What a shame, you’re not in your boxers,” I say.

Oliver gives me a look. “What are you here for? Are you crazy?”

“Like you said, yes I am crazy. But this has nothing to do with that. It was your idea and I am just following through. So, Oliver Carlson, ready for our little adventure?” I ask.

Oliver takes a step forward towards me. He places both of his hands in my shoulder. I look up and meet his eyes. His blonde hair is sticking out from his hoodie and even though he is frowning and everything, he looks cute.

I bite my lips so I don’t laugh out loud.

Oliver has other ideas. He shakes me like a salt shaker, “What is wrong with you?”

What is wrong with me? What is wrong with me? I ask myself the same question every day, every night. But tonight is not the time for this. Tonight I am going to have fun.

“Everything,” I answer. Sliding his hands down from my shoulders, I wrap my fingers around his and take a step backward.

“Let’s go Oliver. Life is short and you only get to live once. It’s not everyday you’ll have a girl waiting outside your house, calling you out for a night-long adventure. Things like this happen only once. So, take your chance,” I reason.

Oliver stares at me for a few seconds, then shakes his head, “I am going to regret this.”

I turn around and let go of one of his hands. Keeping the other firmly attached to one of mine, I pull him forward with me, “I will make sure you don’t. ”

I walk forward while taking hold of Oliver’s hand firmly. Because who knows? if I don’t hold his hand, he might turn around and run for his life.

“So, what are we gonna do?” I ask, “First off, I think I want to break into our school, then maybe a few houses. How about our teachers’? Hmm, then we can go to the park, visit a restaurant because I feel hungry, oh! and don’t forget about the lake. I’m planning to take a swim,” I finish, and my body jerks back. I collide with Oliver.

Oliver is standing still with horror written all over his face, his eyes wide with fear and apprehension. He believes me. Oliver really believes I will do all of that, including taking a swim in the middle of the night. Just how crazy does he think I actually am?

I snort,“Don’t piss your pants, Oli. I am not gonna do that.”

Oliver releases a sigh of relief and I smile, “You really thought I would, huh?”

“When it comes to you, I assume the worst,” Oliver says and steps forward. Then we are moving, with my hands still clasped in his.

“Why, thank you,” I bow and smile a little.

We walk in silence and I sway our hands with every step, back and forth, back and forth. Oliver stops me by making his grip on my hand tighter. I look forward and almost squeal.

“Pops’ is open!” I say.

“Pops’ is open 24/7,” Oliver says, as a matter of fact.

I let go of him and walk inside. He follows me, shaking his head. I order tater tots, because tater tots are one of the best foods in the world, and Pops’ tater tots are the best. I wait for my order and poke Oliver in the ribs. He rolls his eyes.

“What were you doing anyway until I dragged you here with me?” I ask, leaning on my hands, with my elbow resting on the counter.

We are sitting on stools in front of the counter and Oliver is watching the coffee machine with an absolute interest like he had never seen one before. I think I look more interesting than a coffee machine, but never mind.

“None of your business,” Oliver replies.

I roll my eyes and mock him, “nOnE oF yOuR bUsInEsS.”

My tater tots arrive, and I grab the bag and head for the door. The tater tots are so warm and so good, I moan. I pick one and throw one at Oliver, he ducks away.

“How dare you waste a tater tot!” I accuse him.

“I don’t like it?” Oliver replies.

“Have you ever tried one at least?” I say while finishing half of the packet in one go.

Oliver watches me eating like a caveman. He narrows his eyes, “Once or twice.”

“Once or twice, your head. Catch!” I throw one again.

This time Oliver catches it with his mouth. He slowly chews and I watch him with amusement.

“I can’t believe you lived all your life without trying this potato goodness,” I shake my head in disappointment.

Oliver shrugs, “It’s not that good. Small balls of potato coated in oil.”

I open and close my mouth like a fish out of water. “I thought I could like you. I really thought.”

I shake my head and dig in my tots . Turning to Oliver I say again, “It’s really good. Honestly speaking, you’re missing out.”

Oliver shrugs like he doesn't care.

“Eat ’till your heart’s content,” Oliver says.

“I am,” I reply.

After a few steps, we turn the corner. I don't have any idea where we are going. I am just going wherever my feet are taking me.

The night around is dark and the wind is blowing to and fro. I let my ponytail lose and enjoy the night weather. The air smells like freedom.

There are small alleys here and there. The houses are scattered, lit with dim lights, and the moths around the lamp posts are the only living thing other than us.

“You’ve been to this neighbourhood before?” I ask, looking around.

Oliver does the same and shakes his head no.

“Neither have I,” I reply.

We keep walking. As we walk further, the streets turn darker. The moon isn't enough, and for some reason, all the street lights are off in this alley.

Oliver turns around a little then looks at me, “I think someone is following us. ”

I stop mid-step in surprise, but Oliver pushes me gently. “Keep walking, ” he whispers.

I try to turn around a little, but Oliver grabs the hand that I’m using to grab the packet of tots, “I said, keep walking. ”

I swallow and take my tots in my other hand. We keep walking and I swear the alley becomes somehow narrower. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears.

Then I also hear the footsteps behind us. Oh crap.

“Hey, kiddos,” someone says.

My heart starts beating staccato in my chest. I freeze.

“Don’t stop,” Oliver says and drags me forward with him.

“Kids, I said something to you,” calls the same voice behind us.

I am going to pee.

“You are bad kids. Stalling around in our area in the middle of the night. You are very bad kids,” says the voice. It is closer now. Whoever that man is, he is getting closer.

And for some reason, my body is shutting down on me. My feet are freezing up. My heart is pounding.

I glance sideways at Oliver. His jaw is clenched. He grabs my hand so tight I think it will form a bruise. I can hear his breathing.

“Stop and turn around,” demands the man.

I don’t know what I’m going to do. I look up at Oliver. Oliver blinks and then looks at me. Nodding, he turns around and so do I.

In the shadow of the night, I can see a man of around forty years old. He has a round face and stubble. He has a smirk on his face, flashing his yellowish teeth. But that's not what made me almost pee myself. It is the revolver in his hand.

An actual black shiny revolver. A real one.

We are in very big trouble. This man is going to kill us. He is a psychopath. Even if he doesn’t and somehow we survive this, Oliver is going to kill me later.

But, right now, we have a bigger problem.

“You know what happens to bad kids who walk around in the middle of the night?” the guys asks.

Oliver and I choose to stay silent.

“They lose things. Things like limbs. Sometimes money, sometimes clothes, sometimes their minds,” The guy says cocking his head.

Oliver wants to break my wrist. He is grabbing me really tight.

“However, you are lucky. I only need what you have with you. Turn everything over and then run like good kids and go home,” The guy says twirling his revolver in his hand, “but if you behave like a bad kid, you know what will happen.”

I do not have any money on me. I only have these tater tots. And I don’t know what Oliver has on him.

“Umm,” I say, my voice coming out like a cat or something. I don’t know, but that’s not me. “I only have these?”

I don’t know why that sounded like a question.

The guy gives me a look and then starts laughing a full belly bolstering laugh.

Oliver whispers beside me, “When you get my signal, you will run like your life is at stake. Which it clearly is. ”

I gulp.

“Do you know who I am?” Oliver speaks, loud and authoritative. I flinch in surprise. He never sounded like that before.

The guy raises a busy eyebrow, “Why would I need to know?”

“You would need to know,” Oliver says and moves a little. Just a little bit behind that it is almost inconspicuous. I feel it because he is grabbing my hand. Because I am smart, I step behind a little too.

“I am a Carlson. Do you know what that means?” Oliver says almost threateningly, “If you lay a finger on me, you’ll be dead before you can spell your own name. ”

Oliver didn’t just threaten a man with a revolver.

“My father will hunt you down and feed you to the dogs. Do you hear me? So while you have time, run like a clever man, and don’t look back. You hit on the wrong kids today. ”

The guy looks at us credulously. I’d be doing the same if I wasn’t stepping back while Oliver keeps the man busy with his foul mouth.

“I have people with me all the time. Right now, I have my bodyguards around the corner,” Oliver says.

I am pretty far away from the man, but he is too busy to notice. I’m just waiting for the signal.

“So, think before you do something you’ll regret,” Oliver says. Then he looks over the man’s shoulder as if to look behind him, “They’re here. Oh no! You’re a dead man.”

Then, in a flash, the guy turns his back. Oliver turns around and he doesn’t need to say anything.

I run.

*****