He smiles over at her. "Little bit north of where I live is protected state land, nothing but trees and orv and atv trails." He turns left, passing by lots of forest area until it all turns to farmland again. They drive for 2 miles before coming to more trees. 8th mile is covered by trees but then switches back to farm land for the next mile and a half. They come up to a main road and turn right at it. "Oh I just realized something. We are about to see why it is called a winter and water wonderland here." As he drives the sky slowly becomes bright as a pastel painting. The clouds shining reds, blues and purples and every shade in between, the sun heading down seems to glow brighter and stronger, the sky only seeming to get even more beautiful before vanishing altogether. Tyler switches his headlights on and continues driving.

Ele's mouth dropped open in shock as she watched the sky change, she planted her hands on the dashboard and leaned as far forward as the seatbelt would let her. It was the first time in her life she had ever seen something so spectacular and breath taking that it nearly broke her heart. How could she have gone her entire life without seeing this beauty? As the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky turned to the blue shades of night, Ele sat back in her and couldn't help the small tear that escaped her eyes.

"That was beyond beautiful... There's no words for that."

"Let me tell you. It is another experience to see it happen over a lake." He smiles. "We are about an hour and a half from one of the biggest lakes on the planet. You get out on it at sunset way out where you cannot see land, it is truly magical. The lake shines with blues and greens, reds and purples, every color you can imagine. Lake smooth like glass, no other boats out there, 10, 15, maybe 20 miles out. You might as well be in another world." He smiles and keeps driving, coming up to a sweeping curve.

"That sounds so strange,"

Ele admitted, looking at Tyler as he drove confidently through the twists and turns of the road. He handled the beastly truck with ease, and Ele couldn't help but be impressed, she had a hard time keeping a sedan on the road... Obviously.

"To not have people around. All my life I've only known sound and noise. I've never lived outside the city, so this is all foreign to me."

"Where I live we have plenty of people nearby but the social interaction is light, you can go a week or more without seeing your neighbors. They are there if you need help but otherwise you live by yourself." He comes up on an intersection that is laid out in a very unique fashion. He comes around a curve in the road, one comes up at a curve to meet the center of the curve, the road from the other side goes down and to the right but the main road continues around then goes down hill. He follows the downhill section and passes a dollar general, a convenience store, a small 2 pump gas station and an ice cream place. Behind the ice cream place would be a far down river that Ele would not see from her side. The little town feeling quite quaint and looking pretty unique. He quickly passes through, coming up to a bridge that crosses an 8th mile wide river that sits the same distance below the bridge itself.

He crosses the bridge bouncing from the waviness in the concrete on it. As he hits the regular road surface again it smooths out. They drive through woods once again for a distance before coming up to another bridge that opens up to a frozen lake on one side, the other side being unfrozen with ducks and geese hanging out in it still. "For some reason the side of the lake you are on has a hard time freezing. These ducks and geese stick around pretty much all year because they have the water." Her side having a marina on it though everything had been put up for the winter. He continues driving across the bridge coming up to a sweeping curve once again. He follows it uphill and turns left onto a couple of s curves down the back road. They come back up to the lake with a pond on the opposite side of the road from it and a bridge stretching between them.

Ele was thoroughly enjoying the ride, taking pictures every so often and watching the world go by. She had never really thought that places like this actually existed, sure she had seen it in movies and TV, but those could be faked in a studio. What she saw in front of her was surreal, and Ele found herself wishing she wouldn't have to leave in just a couple weeks.

After a while though, Ele's eyes began drooping and she rested her head back on the headrest. The day had taken all of Ele's energy out of her, and her pain medication was wearing off so her head was beginning to pound again. Closing her eyes, Ele let the rocking of the truck, music, and warmth lull her into sleep.

He drives for a while before finally coming home. He starts driving up to his garage, hitting a button to open the door. He drives inside surrounded by a bunch of vehicles. "Hey, Ele, we are at my place." He says shutting his truck off. He hops out and walks around to her side.

Tyler's voice broke through Ele's dozing and she sat up straight, blinking the sleep from her eyes. For a moment she forgot where she was, then realized that this must be Tyler's house. When he opened her door, Ele slid down from the seat and looked at the cars,

"Are all of these yours?"

She asked. It seemed as though Tyler was made out of surprises, with one being piled on top of another.

"Yes they are." He says with a smile. "All built and modified by me." Next to her would be a 1986 camaro with massive tires on it that puts the back end up in the air. "You are standing next to my pride and joy. Maybe if you ever come back after getting well I can take you for a little cruise in it."

Ele smiled and nodded,

"Well don't forget, I'll be joining you at work for at least the next two weeks, so you never know what could happen!"

She laughed, then gestured to Tyler,

"So you just have to pick up the voucher then we're off again?"

"Yes you will but problem is this car in its current configuration only gets about 7 to 8 miles per gallon and only has a 12 gallon fuel cell." He chuckles. "It is beyond fun but only good for short trips." Seeing the gesture he nods his head. "Yeah, you wanna come in with me?" He asks smiling.

At Tyler's suggestion, Ele bit her lip, suddenly feeling hesitant. It was one thing to accept a ride from him to where she needed to go, but he was asking her to go into an enclosed space where exits could be locked. At least outside Ele could still run if Tyler actually turned out to be a weirdo.

"Is that appropriate?"

She asked, trying not to be rude. Clasping her hands in front of her, Ele shook her head,

"I know you're a good guy, and you've been so helpful and kind, but I'll stay out here for now."

"It's fine. I will be just a few minutes. If you wanna get in the van you can wait in there cuz that is what we will be taking." He walks into the house, taking a few minutes to grab what he needs. He comes out, wearing a new shirt and shorts. He walks over to the minivan and opens the door to it. He hops in and flips a switch, the van raises up into the air. He sticks the key in and fires it up. "You ready?"

Ele decided to do that while she waited, going to the minivan and climbing into the front seat. When Tyler came back she raised an eye brow at his choice of attire,

"It's below freezing out here! Why on this good green earth are you wearing shorts?!"

She gaped, astonished. Ele herself was bundled up in a knit long sleeve, fleece lined leggings, snow boots, a pull over sweater, and a water-proof jacket with a scarf and gloves as well. To see Tyler in just a shirt and shorts made Ele shiver.

"You will see soon enough." He laughs and turns the heater on. "Alright, lets get going." He takes off once again. He drives down the road for a while before coming up to a series of bends, after coming around the first bend they pass the animal shelter and up to an airport runway. "This airport here runs drag races for street legal vehicles twice a year. Just a couple months from now I will either be running my camaro or the truck." He drives past it and comes up around the bend by the sewage plant for the town and follows the bend around coming into town. "You hungry or thirsty?"

"Both!"

Ele said, bouncing in her seat a little. It had been quite a long time since they had eaten and Ele's stomach was growling again.

"Somewhere with orange juice, please!"

He thinks for a minute. "How long has it been since you have been to a coffee shop? I mean a mom and pop type place, not like starbucks." He continues through town, coming up to one of only 3 lights in the entire town.

Ele tried to hide her smile, but failed miserably. Looking out the window and pretending to ignore Tyler's question, Ele said,

"I plead the fifth."

In truth, Ele had never gone to a mom and pop coffee shop. There were a few hipster places, organic shops, artisan... And of course Starbucks, but that was it.

"There is a little christian family run coffee shop on the way to the resort. It is called Northern Expresso. They only have 5 drinks to choose from, none are espresso. They have hot chocolate, chocolate milk, coffee, milk and orange juice." He chuckles. "They are open until 8 so we will be cutting it close."

"Wait, then why do they call it Expresso?"

Eke asked, mildly horrified. She basically ran on caffeinated drinks, so if she was,unable to get a decent latte in town she would have some choice, not very Christian approved, words to say.