Begin Again || Nate Maloley

|| Chapter 10

"Make a right turn down there," Nate directed.

"Down where?" I was annoyed. It felt like we were driving in circles around endless winding roads with every tree looking the same.

"Right there, you can't see?"

We were beginning to sound like an old married couple.

"You try driving in this. It's coming down hard right now or can you not see?" I gripped the steering wheel, trying not to reach over and choke him.

He shook his head. I could tell he wanted to respond with something rude. I turned down the street and saw the vintage-looking motel at the end of the road with two cars parked in the entire lot. I parked in front of the main office. Nate grabbed the spare umbrella in the backseat & ordered me to stay put while he went inside. I was tempted to drive off and leave him stranded. Maybe his dearest Sydney could pick him up off the side of the icy road. But I sighed and leaned back into the driver's seat, remembering to call Andrea and let her know the bad news.

Ring ring...

ANDREA: Hello? Liv, where are you?
ME: Funny story. That severe storm rolled in a little earlier than expected. I don't know if you...looked outside. Aaaand they closed the bridge saying it got too icy and unstable which- I mean, I don't know why they have an unstable bridge in the first place-
ANDREA: Get to the point.
ME: Of course. Long story short, we're stranded until it lets up and they re-open the bridge.
ANDREA: Are you kidding me? What about the keg?
ME: Fuck the keg, Andrea. Are you serious? How about a 'Oh well, stay safe guys'...none of that huh?
ANDREA: (sighs) Yeah...sorry. Well keep me posted and find a hotel or something.
ME: Yeah we found a motel called The Blue Deville. I wonder if that's...French.
ANDREA: Oh. Ew. That's where men went in the 50's to cheat on their wives.
ME: Oh...fun fact. Okay Nate's coming back, I'll text you.

Nate came up to the window holding a stack of towels and washcloths and told me to park all the way down to the second to last room. He decided to walk down even though the icy rain was coming in sideways.

I waited for him to unlock the door and then I hopped out, running inside. He switched on the lights and it's like we stepped into a time machine back to 1958. Clearly this motel either never cared to redecorate or they never made enough money. I'm betting on both.

"Great, one bed...again," I sighed.

"You'll survive," he replied.

"Will you? You know, since I'm a bitch and all."

He shook his head. "Sorry about callin' you that."

"It's whatever." I walked over to the TV and turned it on. The signal was screwy and there were only 5 working channels. Not to mention my phone barely had enough bars to allow me to go on my apps. And of course there was absolutely no WiFi. And the icing on the cake is that neither of us have our phone chargers. "This is it...this is where I die."

"Should've brought a book," he smiled like a smartass, pulling his small paperback copy of The Giver out the inner pocket of his jacket.

"Well I did but it's not exactly...here."

"That's too bad." He sits down on the bed with one leg up and one hanging off, opening his book to his previous spot.

I sat down in the retro-looking swivel chair by the table that was surprisingly comfortable. I kept sighing as I looked around for something to entertain myself with. It was raining too hard to go out and get the keg. But it's not like I needed anymore alcohol. Nate seemed pleased with himself and his book. Our speaking terms were wobbly. I got up and walked around, looking at the vintage artwork that hung on the walls. The wallpaper was yellow-striped and faded. When I went into the bathroom, it was decent to an extent. No counter space and a very small medicine cabinet, but it's not like we had any belongings anyway. They at least provided us with a small bar of soap and tiny bottles of lotion & shampoo; the only upgraded thing about this establishment.