Wildest Dreams

t we n t y - t wo

It was a weekend tonight and people were in the streets after a night out. Their presence made me feel safer and assured that I was wide awake. Still, I was running my way to the nearby gas station, only to stop once in a while to take a breather.

I went directly to the snack bar when I arrived and bought sweet snacks and a juice box of coffee to regain energy and quench my thirst after the long run. I was tempted to buy string cheese, but decided not to.

I was munching on a chocolate bar as I stood by the phone booth. There was no place I could stay for the night so I definitely need help.

I could call Glen but I lost a little trust on him when he agreed I was paranoid to say what is actually the truth. Back stabbing jerk.

I could call Nancy. We have the same nightmare, she would understand me better and I could use some talking at the moment.

I dropped a taped coin into the booth and dialed her number, silently hoping she would pick up instead of her mother. It rang a few times then finally—

"Hello?" Nancy sounded tired, sleep-deprived like me.

"Nancy, it's Maple!"

"Maple! Oh, I'm so glad you called!" She sounded relieved.

"I'm more glad that you answered. Listen, I need your help ASAP," I told her as I surveyed around the area.

"Are you okay? Is everything alright? Please tell me you are still fully alive and breathing."

"I am, at least I think I am. I just got in a little bit of trouble. Do you mind if I drop by?"

"Right now?"

"Yep, if that's okay. I need a place to stay for awhile."

"Sure, I'll wait for you at the door. Stay safe."

"Be there in... ten minutes?"

I placed the phone back on its case and pulled out the coin. After throwing away my trash, I hurried to Nancy's home.

#  #  #

I arrived in Elm Street with my feet and legs almost giving up. My chest heaved up and down as I walked on the grass towards the front door. My eyes glared at the one of the windows of the Lantz household, wishing the boy owning the room was having a good dream.

Before I could knock on the door, Nancy had open it. She pulled me in and gave me a tight hug, which I gratefully returned.

"What happened to your hair?" I asked Nancy after pulling away from the hug.

"Long story, but I think you gonna need to hear it," she answered. "Do you need a drink? You look like you ran at the relay."

"Something like that."

We chuckled then went to the kitchen. Nancy gave me a glass of water while she drank freshly brewed coffee. She brought her mug upstairs to her room.

"Your Mom's asleep, is she?" I asked, noticing it was unusually quiet inside the house.

"Knocked out." Nancy sipped again on her drink, she shuddered at the effect of the caffeine.

I nodded and took off my bag and jacket, placing it on the floor beside the closet. Nancy sat on the edge of the bed, relishing her coffee like it's her lifeline, while I stretched a bit to keep myself awake.