Hello again! I'm really glad people are enjoying the story so far, and I'm always happy to read your comments and suggestions, they're really appreciated and welcome.

Without more to add, I leave you to read this new chapter, hoping you like it and hoping you don't hate the little changes I made to the story, LOL. Enjoy!

DECISIONS

They were out on the road, in the car Lea's grandpa had left her when he died, a red and white 70's Grand Torino, just like the one on the Starsky and Hutch show, the famous Stripped Tomato.

The trip was quiet, until Shaun let out "I like trees" while looking out the window and Lea was driving.

"Yeah?" What else do you like? Besides reading medical journals and being a surgeon" She teased him and chuckled but she wasn't really expecting Shaun's answer.

"I like you" He said, like it was no big deal, making Lea's mind stop for just a second, then she just played it cool, because she didn't really know what to reply to that.

"Well, who wouldn't? I'm very likable" She said, not wanting to make a big deal out of Shaun's words but the truth was, a lot of guys had told her they like her before, but it was only to get in her pants, with Shaun, it was different, because she knew he was honest and his words weren't full of bullshit, or at least she hoped.

"Why don't you like San Jose?" He asked, remembering her comment from earlier.

"Everyone is so competitive here. They're all in a rush to be the best at what they do and become one of Forbes 30 under 30 or make a million by their 30's, and if you don't want the same, they think you're a loser… I don't need a million dollars. I don't even think I need 90 thousand but…" She stopped talking and sighed, then changed the topic, after all, they were in that road trip to clear their heads, not to get deeper into their thoughts.

"You know what we need? Music. What kind of music do you like?" She asked but he immediately shook his head.

"No, I don't like music. No" He said still shaking his head and one could tell there was even some panic in his eyes.

"What?! Who doesn't like music, Shaun? You can't be serious. That's unacceptable! I get not liking the beach and I'm letting that pass because you're cute but, not liking music, I can't accept it." She shook her head.

"Are you being sarcastic?" Shaun looked at her wondering if she was serious or just teasing him.

"Nope, I'm being… I don't know what I'm being but still, my point stands. Music is amazing… I remember every important thing that has happened to me based on what song I was listening to at the time."

"I remember smells." He commented, then added "Like our parking garage smells like fabric softener, and when my brother died, it smelled like burnt food"

She was smiling but her smile faded away quickly at his last comment.

—God…— She thought and looked at him briefly before looking back at the road. "I'm so sorry… I had no idea, Shaun… How did he… if you don't mind me asking?"

Shaun went on to tell her some about his past, about how his brother had died in an accident and how Glassman had watched out for him ever since, because after Steve died, he never went back home.

Lea's heart broke a little, just imagining for a moment, a younger Shaun and his brother being mistreated by their dad and the pain he may have felt when his brother died, because at that moment, his brother was all Shaun had. Suddenly she felt bad about calling Glassman a jerk and knew that, when he said he worried about Shaun, he really meant it, and all his insisting about therapy was because he really just wanted the best for Shaun.

It hadn't cross Lea's mind that Shaun may have had such a rough childhood, if anything, she thought he probably was bullied in school, but from that to having shitty parents too, there was a big difference. She never understood how there could be such ruthless people in the world. Aren't parents supposed to take care of their children and make sure no one or nothing hurts them? Are they not supposed to want the best for their children? Are they not supposed to ensure their well being?

No parent is perfect and no one is born knowing how to be a good parent, she knew that, but why didn't his mom do anything? It infuriated her, but at the same time, she couldn't blame it all on his mom, she somehow understood that it's not always easy to get out of that kind of situation.

Her hands clenched the wheel since she was now upset, but she knew she had to calm down, after all and thankfully, all that was now in the past and Shaun was safe now. Thankfully Glassman took over and gave him a much better life and now he's an accomplished and happy young man working for his goals, because God knows what would have become of him if he had stayed with his parents.

"What are you smelling right now?" She asked wanting to move onto a happier note.

"Pine trees" He replied and she smiled inhaling and taking in the scent of the pine trees and wet soil from outside, and the smell of leather from the car seats. She was never going to forget that moment.

"I'll never forget that when we took a road trip and you told me about your family, it smelled like pine trees. But I also don't want you to ever forget that right after you told me, we were listening to…" She reached out to turn on the radio and searched through the channels for a good song that would lift their spirits.

Shape of You by Ed Sheeran was playing on one of the channels and Lea stopped searching, letting the song play.

"Ooh, this one is good! This is the one, Shaunie!" She said excitedly and grinned.

"Okay" Shaun said watching her, just processing everything and Lea started singing along to the song and dancing some on her seat, while driving at the same time.

"I'm in love with the shape of you

We push and pull like a magnet do

Although my heart is falling too

I'm in love with your body.

Last night you were in my room

And now my bedsheets smell like you

Every day discovering something brand new

I'm in love with your body

Oh I, Oh I, Oh I, Oh I

I'm in love with your body…"

The song kept playing and Lea kept singing along happily, grinning and glancing at Shaun every now and then. The smallest of smiles formed on his lips and he looked out through his window again, just enjoying the moment.

The song ended eventually and Lea lowered the volume of the radio, then talked some more about Shaun and why Glassman wanted him to go to therapy. Shaun told Lea that Glassman wanted him to be better at socializing and communicating with other people because he thought that was important for him in order to have a fulfilling life and maybe, in the future, find someone he could be with, because, after all Glassman was only getting older and he wasn't going to be able to be with Shaun his whole life to teach him stuff and guide him through life.

Lea understood Glassman's point of view and told Shaun that she agreed with him, but forcing him to go to therapy wasn't the way to go.

"We not only learn from our parents, you know? I mean, I know Glassman is not your dad but he is like a father figure to you. What I'm trying to say is, we can rely on friends too, to teach us about life and stuff. And getting out there is the best way to learn how to interact with people. Therapy or a life coach could help but only to an extent, because what are those lessons going to be for if you don't put them to practice in the real world?"

She left Shaun pondering that for a moment and she thought maybe she could help Shaun with all that. —That's what friends are for.— She said to herself in her mind.

The trip was so far going well, they stopped at a gas station, bought a few snacks at the convenience store and Lea joked with Shaun, telling him that it was his turn to drive because she was tired, but he told her that he didn't know how, because Glassman never let him try as he thought Shaun might get distracted and something bad could happen.

Lea had faith in Shaun, though. She thought he was capable of doing anything he set his mind to, even driving. —He's a surgeon, for fuck sake. I bet he can drive too!— She thought and handed him the keys of her car, then taught him how to drive.

He drove slowly around the parking lot, but was hesitant about getting out on the road because he said he could run over someone and kill them, yet, she managed to persuade him to get out there and keep driving. She even taught him how to burn rubber, but the fun quickly ended when he lost control of the car and they ended up on the side of the road with a stressed Shaun and gas leaking off the car. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Luckily no one got hurt, though.

—Bravo, Lea… You and your stupid ideas.— She though as she looked at the car and tried to make Shaun calm down as he was too upset and anxious about what had happened.

They ended up calling for road assistance and were taken to a motel nearby so they could get the car fixed, and Lea made sure Shaun knew what had happened wasn't his fault.

By the time they got to the motel, Lea realized there was a bar right next to it and she persuaded Shaun into going with her so they could eat something and have some drinks to forget about the incident. She soon learned that Shaun had never been drunk in his life which she found somewhat amusing, she also thought it was an experience anyone should live. It's not like she thought getting drunk was the only way for someone to have fun, but she thought it would somehow be a good way to get Shaun to losen up a little bit and have some fun like any other person.

She introduced him to his very first shot of tequila and was surprised by him saying he had liked it and wanted more.

"Tequila STAT" He said to the bar tender and Lea couldn't have been more excited.

"Ooh, this is going to be a great night" She grinned.

They ate, kept drinking and chatted about random things, and at some point during the night, they ended up singing and dancing to Loving Is Easy by Rex Orange County at the bar's karaoke, very out of tune and all, but no one cared, after all, isn't that the point of karaokes at bars? (LOL)

"Loving is easy.

You had me fucked up.

It used to be so hard to see.

Loving is easy, when everything's perfect.

Please don't change a single little thing for me."

"When you can't even hide it,

and it didn't take forever to find it,

I was all on my own,

almost glad to be alone,

until love came in, on time"

Lea had been drunk before, several times in her life, so she knew what number of drinks was her limit. That night, she was aware that she had lightly surpassed such number and, while she was still in almost all her senses, she told Shaun they should go back to their motel room, to get some rest, to which he agreed kinda reluctantly, because he was actually having fun at the karaoke, and so was Lea, but she wanted to be the responsible adult, so she thought it was time to go back to their room before she got even drunker, and she also didn't want Shaun to have to deal with her if she got super drunk.

"What was the thing Glassy wanted you to get… A what coach?" She asked with a giggle, talking nonsense by then time they were heading back to the motel.

"A life skills coach" He answered with a little nod.

"Right. I should become one of those" She said slurring some words and proudly added "I mean, in one day, I taught you how to play hooky from work, how to drive, how to drink and how to totally rock the house in karaoke."

"N-No, you did not teach me to drive very well. I crashed the car." He said shaking his head.

"Oohh, how dare you!" She said and chuckled. "You didn't crash, it was an accident! I mean, whoever designed that buffer zone with that huge rock in it, should be fired, you know?" She said as they walked to their room and Shaun was looking in his pockets for they key.

He found the key and unlocked the door but Lea stopped him from opening it all the way. "Hold it, hold it… This night can't end without me teaching you one more thing.

"What is it?" He asked curiously as they both stood out side the room.

"The proper way to end a date." She said with a smile and he looked at her nervously, for a second —What are you even doing, Lea?— The part of her that was still sober, thought, but maybe she was a bit more drunk than she expected?

"Tell me you hope I had a good time tonight. Go on" She added encouragingly.

"I hope you had a good time tonight" He repeated with a nervous smile.

"I did! I had a very nice time. You're really fun to sing karaoke with" She smiled at him and looked into his blue eyes the whole time. He smiled lightly and she added. "Now tell me I'm really fun too and that you hope we can do it again soon."

He repeated after her again and she grinned adding "Now you open the door for me" She signaled him and he pushed the door open "Okay, here's the trick… If I just walk in, don't bother trying for a second date. It's a swing and miss, happens to everyone, not a big deal… BUT, if I don't walk in right away and I just stand here in front of you like I don't really want go inside, like I'm doing right now, then you have to kiss me."

Shaun's eyes widened a bit he nervously made eye contact with her for a moment and hesitated.

"Kiss me, Shaun" She said and the small sober part of her that was sitting on a small chair in her brain, gasped and facepalmed herself in disbelief.

He nodded like following an order, then leaned over and pressed his lips against hers into an innocent kiss and Lea closed her eyes.

Maybe all this little game of teaching him life stuff was just product of her drunkenness, but she wasn't as drunk to not be aware of the spark that lighted up in that precise moment, and her drunk self couldn't help to think about the dream she had several nights ago. Part of her knew this was wrong in possibly so many ways, but she ignored it, because Shaun was just a friend she was helping, or that's what she told herself to sleep better at night.

Before long, Shaun pulled back breaking the kiss and Lea opened her eyes again, smiling at him. He smiled, too and looked excited about what just had happened.

"Have you ever done that before?" She asked.

"No, no, no" He said excitedly, flapping his hand in the air some and smiled, to what Lea chuckled thinking it was somewhat adorable.

"Well, you're pretty good at it. You wanna do it again?" She said grinning at him and he nodded. The little sober Lea in her mind basically, got up from her little chair and left, giving up.

"Yes, but…" Before Lea could ask "what?", Shaun ran into the room leaving her by the door. He headed to the bathroom, leaned over the toilet, and vomited.

—Oookay… enough life lessons for today.— She thought, hearing him gag in the bathroom. He little sober part of her brain came back and worried.

She walked into the room and stood outside the bathroom. Shaun had left the door slightly open and she slightly peeked in. "Everything okay in there?"

—What a stupid question, Lea. He's throwing up, so no, he's not okay!— She thought and roller her eyes at herself.

"I…ugh… don't come in" He managed to say with some embarrassment in his voice.

She walked to her bed and sat on it. Due to her own drunkenness, she wasn't sure if she should go into the bathroom to help Shaun or give him space like he had asked.

Shaun was in the bathroom's floor breathing heavily once he had vomited everything that his body rejected, and once he felt some energy come back to him, he pushed himself up on his feet and leaned over the sink to rinse his mouth.

By the time Shaun walked out of the bathroom, Lea was sitting on her bed changing into her pyjamas.

"Oh…" said Shaun and turned around, blushing some, to give Lea privacy as she changed her clothes. She chuckled at his reaction.

"It's okay, Shaun. As a doctor, I'm sure you've seen plenty naked or almost naked women… Do you feel better?"

Shaun kept facing the bathroom's door but couldn't help himself and took a look at Lea, briefly over the corner or his eye, then nodded at her comment and replied to her question. "I think I feel better."

"Well, that's good… I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have introduced you to tequila just yet" She said with some guilt in her voice as she pulled on an over-sized t-shirt.

"It's okay. I had fun" He admitted and Lea smiled, then he walked to his bag, pulled out his night clothes and walked back inside the bathroom to get changed.

Eventually they were both laying down on their beds and Shaun was looking up at the ceiling with his hands resting on his stomach, fingers intertwined, just thinking, until he blurted out "Steve would've liked you."

Lea looked at him and smiled. "I think I would've liked him too. And I think he would be very proud of you, Shaun."

He nodded slightly and rolled over "Good night, Lea."

"Good night, Shaun" She said and rolled over onto her side as well.

She had drunk some water to make up for the alcohol she drank that night, so she was a bit more sober at the time. She started thinking about everything that had happened that day and her conversations with Shaun. She realized she hadn't felt that happy and alive in a while.

He had asked her a question about her job that no one had really bothered to ask before "Do you like your job?" to which she answered "Not really" and it was the truth. She liked cars, but she liked building them, put them apart and then back together again, like her grandpa had taught her, but at work she'd only sit in meetings about building autonomous cars and the software that could make that possible, and although interesting, it wasn't fulfilling for her. They could pay her a million dollars a year and it still wouldn't be fulfilling for her, which she hated.

Her job came with a lot of benefits but also a lot of cons. The work environment was nice, specially for all the young workers there, and she had the chance to work from home every now and then, but a lot of times she had to be working long hours, hours spent sitting with her computer or laptop, coding. It paid good and the promotion she got offered paid even better, but she wasn't in there for the money. When she got in it, she had a different idea about what she would be doing, so she ended up disappointed.

She hadn't felt happy in a while and the times she was the happiest were back when she used to help grandpa Rod at the car shop, before she moved away for college, then she ended up in San Jose for work and her grandpa died a year ago, leaving her brother Donnie in charge of the shop.

She wanted to love her job as much as Shaun or other people loved theirs, she wanted to be happy doing what she loved, but she also knew there was adulthood, as in bills to pay and stuff like that. One could say, "If you don't like your job, just quit" but things aren't always as easy, she had thought about it many times before, but she was afraid. Who isn't afraid of failing? She knew that always thinking about failure wasn't good, because fear does't let you move on, and how will you really know if you'll succeed or actually fail at something if you don't do it, in the first place?

She sighed and rolled over again, unable to sleep.

Shaun was a great source of inspiration, he didn't have an easy childhood like the majority, and on top of that, he was autistic, which made things more complicated for him, yet, he never gave up and is still in the process of reaching his goal, which is to become a surgeon. Despite the misconceptions people have about autistic people and the bad treatment he's suffered along the years due to his condition, he's never given up to do what he loves, Lea loved and admired that. She knew that if she wanted the same, she had to take a leap of faith.

She eventually fell asleep and in the morning she woke up finding Shaun pacing around the room fiddling with his hands. She sat up on her bed with puffy eyes and messy hair; she frowned lightly while watching Shaun as she began to worry.

"Shaun? What's wrong?" She asked with a groggy voice.

"I feel disgusting…" He replied and she chuckled.

"It's called hungover. You'll be okay." She stretched out some and rubbed her eyes.

"You are never gonna want me to kiss you ever again." He said shaking his head.

—Shit. Right, we kissed last night…— she thought and her eyes widened slightly, then she mentally facepalmed herself, wondering why she had done that, and a little voice in her head said —Don't play dumb, you know why— then she sighed softly and looked at Shaun.

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. I'd kiss you again, right now, but I have terrible morning breath today." She let out a giggle and climbed off the bed. "I also need a shower" She added, grabbed a few things from her duffle bag and headed into the bathroom in some sort of rush. Shaun watched her as his pacing had stopped, then he sat on his own bed, thinking.

She had rushed into the bathroom because she wanted some privacy, to be alone with her thoughts for a moment, because she had a lot to process and think about, that morning.

She started the shower and sighed as her mind started to fill up with all that had happened the previous night, along with a mix of emotions. She knew if she was going to take a leap of faith and quit her job, she had to do it that day or else, she would chicken out like always, but then there was Shaun…

She couldn't tell if what had happened the night before had been product of her drunkenness or if she had been more sober that she thought and she had done all those things consciously, because if she had indeed be more conscious that she thought, then there was the kiss, the hand holding, the flirting, and the dream; all that could only mean one thing, her feelings for Shaun were more than those you have for a friend, and she didn't know what to do with that, or if she even wanted to do something about those feelings. She didn't feel ready.

Part of her didn't want to think about that option, she was already overthinking things, and she didn't want to back down again with her plan to go back to Hershey and follow her dream. So, instead, she had to think about how she was going to tell him that she was leaving town —Hey, I've flirted with you and we kissed last night but, I'm quitting my job and leaving town… Ugh, Lea…— She thought and shook her head sighing as she showered.

How was she going to drop that bomb on him after what had happened the past few days? —Will he hate me? I sure hate myself… Will he be happy for me? I hope so… Will he understand?…— She sighed again, feeling awful about the whole situation. She didn't want to hurt him, but she had to follow her own dreams, and she felt like it was then or never.

WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER…