Once again, thanks for all the reviews. Your kindness is overwhelming and never ceases to put a smile on my face. This is day one of their little adventure- sort of uneventful but it had to be done to ease the story in. Next chapter will be cuter Miam.
Disclaimer- I don't own these characters or the places that are mentioned. The song lyrics are "We Can Go Anywhere" by Jesse McCartney.

Towards the Sun
Chapter 1

You know that sun is shining
We'll keep driving
Doesn't matter where
'Cause we got that open highway
Leading our way
As long as you are there
We can go anywhere

If calling it "satisfying" isn't enough to describe the feelings that are fluttering inside of Miley, then complete liberation and freedom should do the trick. There is a sense of deliverance, rescue, and salvation that is knocking on her bones and awakening her inner being. She feels alive and it has kindled a dauntless flame.

The stereo is on loud and the windows are down with the wind sweeping through her short sun-kissed hair, but it isn't what's happening now that is making her excited-it's what will. Visions of glistening waters, a quiet city, and old wise people bustle around her brain. Liam smiles from the driver's seat, recognizing her glowing frenzy, and takes her hand into his and squeezes it.
"I'll be you sidekick through it all."

This is day one of their week-long escape. After dinner last night, Miley called her parents and explained their impending endeavors- without room for negotiation. She said, "I'm eighteen now. This will be my first test into the real world and Liam will be with me. I've got to learn how to handle myself outside of LA. I just really need a break and a moment to think about everything, like who I am and where I belong. I thought I knew these things already but I don't."

"I trust you Miley," her mother sighed through the phone, "I just hope you find what you're looking for."

And after that they packed their bags with only what they thought they'd need; nothing more, nothing less. Miley had tossed in toiletries, jeans, a bikini, and some shirts, and carefully packed the book and her passport on top. By morning, they were on the road.

Now they're heading south, about two hours from the Mexican border, and Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits album is on replay for the second time. It's midafternoon and she notices how the sky is brightening into an orange glow with ripples of purple clouds floating around like big fish in the sea. She lets her arm rest out the window and her legs are stretched out before her on the dashboard and it looks as if she's bathing in the glory of the road. There are giant trees along both sides of the highway, creating a path and direction of some sort, and Miley can hear them whispering. They are blowing magical words into her ears and she smiles and breathes in deeply.

"Do you think we should stop for a few things?" Liam asks, "There's an exit coming up."

"Yeah definitely," Miley responds and so they pull off the raging road and follow signs for Venice Beach. Liam continues driving the truck through winding back streets like they're inside some sort of twisted water slide, until they're spilled out into the center of a very quant beach town.

There is a long drag of open street where vendors dot the sidewalks and where some people are just simply walking together. Eclectic stores line the sidewalk on one side of Maine Street and face the rolling blue ocean on the opposite side. As they drive by Miley spots a man with a bushy beard slumped against a shop whistling through his harmonica, and then a couple walking out of a vegan restaurant with peace written all over their faces. Miley smiles brightly at the sight of these simple people and yearns to live more like them.

"There's a parking spot," she points to an empty space, and pulls on her shoes. They get out of the truck and Liam shuffles over to her side and puts his arm around her as they begin walking down the sidewalk. There are stores with everything organic and natural you could possibly desire. There are surf shops and outside sitting and people friendly enough to nod their head to greet you as you walk by. They feel very comfortable in this atmosphere and it closes in on them like a warm blanket.

"This looks rad," Liam states as they stop in front of a place called Ocean Blue Company. Little wooden carvings and candles etch the windows as they look in. It's the kind of store that looks as if Africa, India, and the 1960's were tossed together, shaken up, and poured out into a fantastic mix of earth, music, and art. The bells on the door handle jingle behind them when they step through the doors, and they are immediately overwhelmed with the thick smell of incenses. Tibetan prayer flags line the ceiling and eclectic musical instruments sit in baskets. Miley looks around through the shelves and sifts through sandalwood soaps, bowls, and Himalayan salt lamps. She breathes in the Egyptian Musk fragrance and smiles again to herself because it is all just so peaceful.

"How bout we get this little dude," Liam laughs from behind her. He has a small Buddha figurine in the palm of his hand and it looks as if it's smiling at Miley with his fat belly and intuitive expression. She leans in and rubs his belly, "It's supposed to be good luck," she laughs and turns away to look through all the other trinkets when she gasps.

"It's perfect," she murmurs and picks up an old Polaroid camera with the gentleness of her fingertips. It is black with white lining and has a leather neck strap still attached to it. It feels good in her hands, like it is finding its purpose within her pulse, and she takes it and a handful of film up to the counter where Liam is standing with his Buddha.

"Wow," he says with a smirk at her arms full of the camera and canisters of film. She releases everything next to the register and smiles satisfyingly.

"This is how we'll tell our kids of all that we did," she says, "Through pictures."

He smiles at the thought of "our kids" and kisses the top of her head. The lady scans all their purchases, but she can't help but glance up at the young lovers in front of her.

"Are you from around here?" she asks. She has dyed-red hair that is tucked under a knit beanie and the brightest green eyes you've ever seen.

"Nope just visiting," Miley smiles nonchalantly and takes their shopping bag before any more conversation could be risked.

They leave the store quickly in an escape to be unseen, and head down the sidewalk. A harmonious sound creeps into Miley's ears and she immediately recognizes the man they had driven by earlier. He has a faded baseball cap pulled over his forehead and his eyes shut within the passion of his music. His jeans and t-shirt that says "Surf4Peace 2004" are a bit raggedy and he smells like smoke but he just pulls that harmonica over his lips as if he was born doing it. Miley is quite captivated by him. It's obvious that he lives for his music and nothing else- not food, clothes, or a purposeful home. She looks at him and their eyes connect for just a moment until they close again and seep into the sound of his song. Liam drops a generous 20 dollar bill into an empty bean can that sits next to his foot. The man then looks up from beneath his cap and nods as a gesture of thanks towards them. And Miley feels good about herself.

"He was good wasn't he," Liam comments as they walk off.

"I loved it," Miley smiles.

"So where to now?" he asks as they reach his truck. They get in and Miley sighs, "I don't know."

She takes the book out of her bag, opens it up and reads, "It says 'let your conscious be your guide'. Well what if I can't even read my conscious? I mean, in the book Elizabeth went to such crazy places like Italy and India and Indonesia.. But what even brought her there? Food? Hot guys? I don't want any of that, I just… I just need the sun."

"I hear there's a pretty big sun in Tijuana," Liam opts humorously, but with seriousness just as much.

"Tijuana, Mexico?" Miley questions as she pulls out her new camera and loads in a role of film. "That sounds sunny."

She raises the camera up to her face and takes a picture of the Buddha that is now sitting quite contently on the dashboard. The undeveloped photo slides out and she watches as the image gradually fades into view; first just a general outline and then the color starts to seep in. And then it is all there, like a double image with the photograph in her hands and the real thing in front of her, and it enchants her because it's like everything is getting clearer for her too.

December 20, 2010

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it."

On our drive down south, we stopped at this hippie town. It brought me peace and love and a beautiful old camera that will document this trip. It is nice to be out of LA but that feeling of incompleteness is still in me. It is only the first day though. Maybe once we cross the border, all this uncertainty will stay on this side and the new me will be waiting on the other.

Love & Stars,
Miley