Dreams

McDonald's

"We've been driving FOREVER," Alex says, throwing their hands behind their head, in an effort to stretch in the cramped car.

"Well, it IS a road trip," Piper says. "Be happy you didn't have to drive these past 30 miles - there's jack shit out here, just plains."

"Google Maps says there's a McDonald's 3 miles away," I said, holding up my phone. "We should stop there."

"Perfect," Alex says, excitedly. "We can stretch and grab something to eat."

"Sure! But one of you is switching with me after we eat," Piper says. "I'm tired of driving."

We pull up to McDonald's and jump out of the car. Piper throws the keys at me, signaling it being my turn to drive next. Alex stretches their arms and I do my best to stretch my back without hurting myself. Piper is already walking inside. Once Alex and I are feeling a little less tense, we follow her.

Piper waves to us from a table, we wave back and get in line.

"God I am hungry," Alex says. "I'm gonna get TWO Big Macs and a large fry. What are you gonna get?"

"Ummmmm," I say. "Maybe some nuggets."

"Oh that sounds good," Alex begins talking again, but I can barely hear them. "You.....get..... McFlurry. leave."

As they talk I look around. Something doesn't feel right... No! Something isn't right. I glance back at Piper, shoveling fries into her mouth, she seems to not notice.

Alex orders in front of me, but I can't comprehend any of the words.

What is this feeling? What's going on? Is it just anxiety? Dissociation? Is this all a dream?

"Hey! She's calling you," I hear someone behind me say.

"What?"

"Order your damn food," someone else says.

I apologize and quickly order some nuggets and fries. I pay and head to the side of the counter to wait for my food. Alex is there, waiting.

"What was that about?"

"I... guess I was just distracted?"

"Mmmm. Sure."

Alex's order is called. They grab their food and head to the table. I take the chance to get a cup of soda from the fountain. Just as I'm fastening the lid on, Alex taps my shoulder.

"She's gone," they say. "So is the car."

"What?"

"Piper! She left," they say. "She's not answering her phone, either."

The feeling from when I was in line creeps back in. I reach into my pocket for my phone.

"She won't answer me," Alex says again. "Why would she answer you?"

With my phone in one hand, I reach back into my pocket with the other hand. This time, I pull out the keys to the Impala. Alex's Impala, that they decided we should take on this road trip.

"Do you have another set of keys," I asked Alex.

"No? Why would I?"

"Then she must've made a copy of your car key."

A voice rings out:

"Order number 666!"

I glance at my receipt. That's me. I give the keys to Alex and go grab my food. Alex and I eat in silence, both of us probably wondering what happens next... All of our things were in the car. Why would Piper leave like that? What do we do now? We were stuck at a McDonald's in the middle of nowhere.

I finish off another nugget.

"So what now," Alex asks. I know they must be seething.

"I guess we get an uber to the nearest airport?"

Suddenly, someone screams outside. Alex gets up to check what it is, but I grab their wrist.

"What? Are you trying to get killed?"

"That's Piper's scream..."

I get up and follow Alex outside. They start saying something, but I can't hear much of it again.

"Dude.... have to.... now..... Piper is.... and you're....."

It feels like I blacked out. When I "wake up," I'm standing next to Piper and Alex, in... nothingness? My hearing comes back just in time to hear a voice say:

"Thank you for being here. We're going to have a lot of fun."