Rhenna

Twenty-five

      "Elin!" A loud BANG jerked me awake. I sat up and gasped. My head was spinning. I was cold. My body felt...wierd. "Hay, Elin. Are you okey? Answer me".
I frowned at the door.

Conn's voice was muffled by the thick wood, but it didnt deblate the worry in his tone.

My neck cracked as I glanced around. Apparently, I was lying in the bathtub. The water was still running and ice cold on my skin.
I shivered and quickly turned off the shower head.

Conn's voice flooded in again, but this time he was talking with someone else.

Is he calling the police?

The thought jarred me.

I scrambled out of the shower as fast as my feet would allow me too.

A soft knock came at the door followed with Dan's voice. "Hay champ. You okey in there. Conn says you've been locked up all morning".

What time was it?

I swallowed the lump in my throat and called out, "I'm fine! Sorry. I must've fallen asleep".

I shimmied on a pair of dark Jean's and a soft long sleeved turtle neck.

I flipped the lock on the door and barely two seconds later Conn barged in. His eyes were wide and his complexion was paler than usual.
Was he really that worried?

He let out a strangled breath when he saw that I was fine. "Shit Elin". He exhaled, "You look worse than a frost bitten vampire".

Huh?

I raised a questionable brow at him.

He motioned to my face.

I peered at myself in the mirror. Yes I did look pretty bad. My lips were a deep purplish colour and my skin was whiter then Conn's. I cringed against my reflection.
I looked more dead then alive.

"How long were you in the shower?" Conn asked.

I shrugged. I wasnt sure what time I got in, and i had no idea what time it was now.

"Come on out of there". Dan waved me out with a small smile.
I did as he asked (very slowly) since my feet were exposed the pain was 2x worse with each step. Conn was quick to notice.

Without consenting me first he ducked down and wrapped his arm under my own. My stomach twisted with disgust. It was silly.
His skin wasnt even touching mine.

He helped me along to the couch then gently set me down.

"Thanks". I murmered.

"Put your feet on the table". Conn said. I did as he asked.

He disappeared into the bathroom then returned a minute later with a first aid kit.
While he wrapped my feet Dan busied himself with asking me a few questions.
None of them were too serious, but a few had me coiling away.

------------------

The road was smooth beneath Conn's pickup truck. No jars. No headaches. It was nice.

A soft pop song was playing over the radio (the sort of song that gets stuck in your head for months!) I had never heard it before, but the tune was easy enough for me to hum with.

So there I was, lying straight across in the back of Conn's truck, humming softly and occasionally listening in on Dan and Conn's conversations.

That twinge of jealousy I had felt for Conn returning.

Dan was such a easy going man. I was betting 20 bucks (that's all I got) that he was a great dad/rolemodel for Conn.

Unlike my own dad.

I couldnt even tell you his name.

I felt myself deflate.

Man, I'm such a downer.

I rocked my head back and viewed the sky. It was a clear day with only a few dots of fluffy clouds in sight.

The good before the bad.

In a few weeks we'd be getting snow.

"You doing okey back there?" Conn asked.

"I'd be doing alot better if I knew where we were going".

Both Conn and Dan shared a look. Obviously they were holding some sort of silent conversation. One in which I was not involved.

Annoyed, I turned onto my side so that my back was facing them. "Wake me when we're there".

I wasnt sure why I even agreed to join them for their "mystery" run. Maybe out of guilt? I did waist a shit ton of their water. I also worried them.

When they asked I said yes without thinking it through.

All I wanted now was to be in bed, asleep.

-----------------

Someone shook me. On instinct I slapped their hands away and grumbled a quet "fuck off".

"We're here". Conn exclaimed.

It took me a moment to realize what he was talking about.

With an internal groan, I sluggishly sat up and looked around.

"Where is 'here'?"

We were parked infront of a long grey building with no windows, and a few graffitied walls. It was more of a giant ass shed than anything.

"Bumper cars!" Conn blurted throwing his arms out.

Seriously?

They dragged me all the way downtown for bumper cars. How childish could these guys be?

"This is lame". I murmered when I got out. I grabbed my crutches and stuffed them under my arms.
"You scared to get your butt whooped?" Conn asked with an amused smile.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "No".

Truth be told I had no idea how bumper cars worked. Were they peddled or was there an actual gas lever?

I shoved away my curiosity when we stepped inside.

The interior of the building was neon themed. All the lights were black led which gave the rooms a glow in the dark look.
No sunlight.
It wouldve been a bit claustrophobic if not for the wide stretch of room before me.

It was huge!

There was a circler floor made up of smooth cement in which the small bumper cars zigzagged and bashed into each other.
Framing the floor was a low waist wall with built in chairs.

They even had a cafeteria room off to the left and a small food booth.

"Cool right?" Conn asked.

When I didnt reply he tugged at my jacket and motioned towards a pay booth.

"Yknow, they've got laser tag and skating here too".

Laser tag?

"What's that?"

Conn frowned, obviously confused at to what I was asking, but then his face contorted into shock. "You dont know what laser tag is?"

The way he asked made me feel somewhat stupid. I slowly shook my head.

He gawked at me like I was some sort of alien from mars. "For real?! What, have you been doing with your life? Living under a rock I suppose".

I was surviving.

Conn shook his head. "The moment your feet are healed I'm taking you on a laser tag expedition".

I nonchalantly agreed to the idea. It sounded sorta of fun and I was curious to know what it was.

When we made it to the pay booth Conn and Dan both paid for me, despite my protests. Not that I had enough money anyways for the two hour session they signed for.

Who does bumper cars for two hours?!

"Let's get some food first". Dan proposed.

I wasnt very hungry (at all) but I still followed them to the food court.