HIGHWAY 16 | Short Story

The Omen

A/N: Highway 16 is an actual, dangerous highway in British Columbia, Canada. However, the story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this story are fictitious. Any similarity with fictitious events or characters is purely coincidental.

"I'm sorry," Allison whined before throwing herself at the toilet bowl, retching into the porcelain basin.

Eliya held Allison's blonde hair back so it wouldn't get in the way of her vomit. Loud music from the other room shook the bathroom walls and the golden framed picture rattled against the vibrations.

"It's fine," Eliya grimaced. The sound of Allison throwing up over the music made bile rise in Eliya's throat.

"It's my fault. I was supposed to drive you home." Allison turned her head to look at Eliya. Her mascara was a mess and Eliya felt a tinge of guilt for allowing her friend to get so intoxicated.

"We'll have to get you home first, Ali. I'll call you a taxi."

Once Allison was finished ridding her body of liquor, Eliya helped her stumbling friend out of the bathroom and through the bodies of dancing people. The thumping music faded behind as they headed outside. A yellow cab sat on the side of the road, the engine still running. The sidewalk lit up in a rhythmic glow whenever the turn signal blinked on.

"Come on." Eliya led a staggering Allison over to the taxi. She opened the back door and Allison climbed into the cab. Eliya had borrowed Allison's phone to call the cab and was now placing it safely back in the pocket of her friend's jacket. Closing the door, Eliya then made her way over to the driver's side where she read him Allison's address. She dug into her pocket and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill before handing it to the driver. "Please get her home safe."

The driver gave her a nod and pulled onto the road. Eliya watched as the taillights disappeared from sight.

"The was the last of my money." She let out a sigh and headed back inside. There was the nagging question of how the hell she would get herself home but she decided to ignore it for now. After helping Allison, her hands felt dirty. She didn't think any vomit had actually gotten on her hands, but she couldn't be sure of that. Even Allison's breath made her cringe. Eliya chose to live a life free of any drugs and alcohol. She didn't want to be a part of the stereotypes. But, Allison was a social butterfly and she loved the party scene. And, as her best friend, Eliya couldn't leave her to go alone. She was always taking care of her and making sure she was safe.

Eliya headed into the bathroom again and began washing her hands. She stepped back into the room of partying people as she dried her hands on her pants.

"Rough night?" Turning her head to locate the voice, Eliya was caught off guard as a young man approached her. She recognized him as a friend of Allison's brother, Alex. Alex was four years older than Allison and he didn't mind Eliya. He often allowed her to stay the night with Allison when their parents were out of town. She remembered seeing the young man a few times at Allison's house. Ron was his name?

He had been surrounded by a group of people playing drinking games earlier while Eliya and Allison were relatively invisible for most of the night. The two girls were minors, Allison at seventeen and Eliya at sixteen.

Allison had heard about a party happening in town. Allison's brother's friend was the host but Alex had been too sick to attend but that didn't stop Allison from wanting to go. Before now, the two had not been approached by anyone else which didn't seem surprising. Everyone was at least nineteen and Eliya didn't think she looked older than seventeen.

"Uh, yeah. I guess." Eliya smiled awkwardly at the young man. She couldn't help but notice his attractive features. Whenever she did see him with Alex she would admire his looks. Tonight his dark hair looked disheveled and messy yet it still managed to look presentable. Freckles dusted his nose and cheeks from the summer sun.