Getting Away and Wondering Why

"I'm going out," Shawn said, opening the apartment door.

"Where to?" Jack asked, looking up for a brief second from his English paper.

"George," Shawn replied. "An old friend from the trailer park," he added, knowing it would validate the lie.

Jack nodded and returned to his laptop.

Shawn pressed the elevator button, and fumbled through his jean pockets to find his car keys. The elevator door opened, and he stepped inside.

He leaned back against the wall. What was he doing? He hadn't even talked to Stacey in five years. He had had a dream last night about her. He just remembered her face, and that was enough to coax his out of the apartment to go visit her. He was an impulsive guy. These sorts of things didn't really have reasons.

He sighed in relief at the sight of the empty lobby. He didn't want to have to explain where he was going to anyone else, especially not Angela. He knew without a doubt that she wouldn't understand why, despite his friendly intentions.

Silently, he walked out onto the sidewalk, and found his car. Jack's father, his stepfather, had given it to him. He had refused it at first, but then thought better of it after he realized he honestly needed a car badly, and would never be able to pay for it himself.

Shawn jammed the key into the lock and opened the door. The drive to Stacey's house was only twenty minutes. He would have time to think of a logistical reason why he was coming to visit her on the way.