Against my better judgment

Carmen showed up at nine-thirty with that look in her eyes — the one that usually means trouble. I was already in my sweatshirt and ready to crash with a cup of tea and my anatomy notes. But then she dangled her car keys and said something about needing to drive somewhere, anywhere, just to clear her head after the week she’d had.

Against my better judgment

Normally I would have talked us both out of it. Late night, tired, sensible Elena would have suggested we make tea and vent on the couch instead. But something about the way she was practically bouncing on her toes made me grab my jacket without thinking twice. Jake looked up from his museum research and just shook his head, probably wondering why his girlfriend suddenly decides to be impulsive at the worst possible times.

Carmen’s powers of persuasion in action

We drove for two hours through back roads I didn’t even know existed, windows down despite the November chill, Carmen’s terrible playlist on repeat. Talked about everything and nothing. Got lost twice. Found a twenty-four hour diner that served the greasiest fries I’ve ever eaten. Didn’t get home until after midnight, but somehow I feel more awake than I have all week.