Chapter 10: Smells Like Teen Spirt- Nirvana

Rikki and Zane's attempt to leave the Gold Coast for a day was not a singular failed attempt. The idea wasn't a bad one by any means, they just had to make sure they didn't get lost again. Only a few weeks later, another perfect opportunity presented itself and the new couple took advantage of it.

Zane made the right turn he missed last and the two were on their way. His iPod was sitting on the dashboard while Rikki had her legs propped up, flipping through her collection of CDs she had brought, trying to find an album to listen to next.

"What about Blink-182, Emema of the State?" Rikki asked.

"Which one is that again?" Zane asked earning another eye roll from Rikki. He was immune to her attitude.

"'What's My Age Again?'" Rikki said. "'All The Small Things'?"

Zane shook his head as if to tell her he didn't know what he was talking about. Rikki let out a groan.

"It's the album cover with the nurse on it?" Rikki said. "The porn star?"

"Oh, yeah, you should play that one." Zane said with a smirk.

"Of course that's the hint that gets you to remember the album." Rikki said as she pulled it out of its slot in her collection. "I thought you were going to listen to more of my music."

"I am!" Zane defended. "I only made that promise a week ago, you can't expect me to know all your favorites yet."

Rikki shook her head. "Good thing I don't have to learn your favorites."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Zane asked.

Rikki shrugged in response. "All of your stuff is so mainstream. Not that there's anything wrong with it but I'm sure I know it all just by listening to the radio at the JuiceNet."

"Really?" Zane asked. "You think you know all of my favorite songs?"

"Yeah," Rikki replied.

"All right." Zane said. "Care to challenge that?"

"Sure." Rikki said with a laugh.

"Okay," Zane said. "My CD collection is in the backseat. Why don't you grab it and take a look?"

Rikki grabbed the binder from the backseat and began flipping through it. He burned a lot of songs onto CDs so she had to insert the disc into the CD player to find out what song would be playing. So far, Rikki was killing the challenge. Zane probably should have brought more than Katy Perry and Maroon 5's greatest hits.

Rikki was laughing when he peeled off the main road toward a petrol station. She had no clue what town they were in but there was a small and charming air about it.

"I'll be back, I just need to get some petrol." Zane said. "Why don't you really dig deep and try to find something you don't know?"

"I'll do my best." Rikki said as she replaced the Backstreet Boys album in the binder. "But that will be an even harder challenge."

Zane rolled his eyes at her before closing the door. Rikki continued flipping through the booklet. It seemed to get more basic as she went on. She got to the last page, determined to win the contest. That was until she came across a disc she couldn't remember seeing before. She furrowed her eyebrows as something about it seemed very familiar. She remembered seeing the text a million times over. The disc displayed the same pattern as a pool would on a warm, sunny day.

"Find one you finally don't know?" Zane asked once he hopped in the car.

Rikki took a moment to respond. She was so close to winning this game, she couldn't let him know now. "No, I know these."

Zane took the binder from her hand, keeping the spot she was on booked with his finger.

"Let's see." He started. "You know Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson and you definitely know Nirvana."

Rikki sunk in her seat as discreetly as possible at his assumption. Zane didn't miss her natural reaction though. She had seen their logo before but she couldn't recall a song she knew by them.

"You don't know Nirvana?" Zane asked with wide eyes.

"I can't remember anything by them, okay?" Rikki exclaimed. "You found one album I don't know, congratulations."

"Oh, no, Rikki," Zane said. "This isn't just another album. You, of all people, should know this album."

"How should I know this album?" Rikki asked as he took it out of its sleeve.

"You'll see." Zane said as he inserted the disc into the CD player and pulled out of the petrol station.

Rikki knew from the first few seconds why she should know this band. The sound was very familiar to her but the song she couldn't pinpoint. The look on her face had to give her away as Zane burst out into laughter once the chorus hit.

"Look out!" Rikki warned as they were fast approaching a red light. Zane slammed the brakes on just in time.

"Sorry." He said as they sat at the stop. "It's just hilarious. It's like listening to rock music and not knowing who Elvis is."

"It can't be that bad." Rikki shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest

"It is." Zane said. "Ask anyone who knows anything about pop punk and they'll tell you all about Nirvana."

Rikki tried not to think much about the Nirvana incident for the rest of the day. Zane didn't bring it up again either. The next morning, the thought slipped into Rikki's mind when she saw Lewis sitting on a dock and listening to his CD player, a binder with his discs by his side. She walked up to him and ripped his headphones off without so much as a 'hello'.

"Rikki!" He exclaimed. "What the hell?"

"Cut the crap, I have a very important question to ask you." She said, taking a seat beside him after she made sure the dock was dry.

"What is it?" Lewis asked, taking her very seriously.

"We listen to the same bands, right?" Rikki asked.

"Yes." Lewis replied. He answered as if he was asking a question too.

"So you'd say you're a pop punk fan?" Rikki asked.

"Yeah, I suppose." Lewis said. "How is this important?"

"Have you ever heard of a band called Nirvana?" Rikki asked, ignoring his question.

"Oh, yeah they're one of my favorites!" Lewis said as if he were a kid in a candy store. He reached behind him for his binder. "I have all their albums, see? Bleach, Nevermind, In Utero-"

"Ugh, forget it." Rikki exclaimed as she stood from the dock and stormed off. Lewis shook his head in confusion. He would never fully understand Rikki.