Seize the Day

The spring day was warm and bright, with few puffs of cloud to dot the sky. A cooling breeze blew threw the California highway, though that remained unnoticed by Amelia as she drove her .cherry red Mustang with purpose and without clear destination. She sang along with whatever played on the radio, but mostly thought.

Thought about the week before, how distressing and chaotic it was.

With a heavy sigh, the young woman decided to not allow those memories to ruin her mood again. After all, she preferred the co.fort of forgetting.

As she drove along the empty highway, she be ame aware of the intersection ahead. Though seemingly out of place and devoid of other cars, she slowed.

How silly, she decided as she crawled toward the intersection. There was no one in sight, and a ticket would mean nothing to her.

Picking up speed, she noticed a shadow pass over her. Above, a large hawk soar. Smiling, Amelia watched the bird, confident in her driving enough to be sure she wouldn't run off the road and I to the desert dirt.

Then a horn pierced the tranquility of the area like a bullet. The sound had barely startled her into turning to her right when a large SUV slammed into her smaller Mustang. She was thrown toward the passanger seat as the larger vehicle shoved the smaller across the intersection. Gripping the steering wheel tight, Amelia shut her eyes and hoped her car wouldn't roll.

Her Mustang being a convertible, obviously a roll would be deadly.

Finally, the screech and squeal of metal and rubber on asphalt subsided and gave way to complete silence.

Amelia opened her eyes and let go of the wheel as the driver flew from the SUV frantically.

"Oh my God!" He yellex. "Are you alright?" In seconds, he was helping the stunned Amelia out of the totalled Mustang.

Leaning I to him for support, she nodded. "Yeah," she breathed.

The other passengers of the SUV hurried to them, a man with messy hair and a blond woman. They were apologizing and talking too fast.

Amelia lightly pushed the first man away and smiled at the three. "I'm fine. I won't sue or anything. "

The blonde woman said, "But your car, it's wrecked."

Amelia shrugged. "Yeah. It would appear so."

"You're not hurt?" The messy haired man asked.

The young woman noticed how attractive the man was, but shoved further thought on that subject away. "No, I'm really alright. Honestly."

The three pressed on only a while longer before deciding to believe the girl. They gave her their names: Jimmy, Brian, and Val.

Oddly, they gave Amelia an expectant look after naming themselves. She shrugged it off. Did they expect her to know them? They also glanced at her shirt a few times in confusion. The girl thought maybe they were also fans of Avenged Sevenfold.

But she dismissed their odd behaviour.

Jimmy spoke first after the silence during the odd glances. "Where were you heading?"

"Nowhere in particular." Amelia gave a soft laugh.

Val offered, "We can give you a out of here. We were on our way to San Francisco. My sister and the rest of us were following. They should get here soon."

Amelia blinked at the blonde. "You want to take me to San Francisco?"

"Why not?" Jimmy grinned. "This road leads us straight there, and we kinda owe you."

She thought a moment. Then, "Fine. Sounds good, I guess."

The three looked slightly relieved.

Soon, a Denali drove up to them. After a brief exchange, Amelia learned that the newcomers were the "rest" of the three. And like their friends, they gave Amelia and odd look. It seemed to her as if they thought she should know them. But why?

Then the answer came in the form of an irritated Michelle, twin to Val. "Oh, goody. Now we get to travel with a fan."

Amelia rose a brow. "Fan?"

"I didn't stutter."

Val glared at her sister.

Matt clarified. "She doesn't like interacting with our fans much."

Amelia was still confused. "Your fans?"

Zacky looked stunned. "Aren't you a fan of Avenged Sevenfold? "

"Well yeah, bu..." she trailed off, catching on. "Wait, you guys are Avenged Sevenfold? " Upon receiving their nods and voiced confirmation, she said, "Wow. I am honoured to meet you all. I love your music."

"Duh." Michelle rolled her eyes at Amelia.

Ignoring that gesture, Brian asked, "How did you not recognize us?"

"Simple." The girl smiled. "I listen to your music, but I've never seen pictures of you guys or watched videis and whatnot. I merely listen to the music."

The group exchanged glances. Deciding that was a good answer, they started filing back into the Denali. Matt drove, Val took the passenger seat. Behind them, sat Zacky and Johnny. In the very back, Amelia sat between Brian and Michelle. Jimmy seated himself on the floor between the guitarist and bassist.

As they hit the road toward the popular northern :Californian city, Michelle whispered a strange phrase to Amelia.

"Good to see you're in good health."

Notes