In Riptides

06 | stalled

N A T E 

"Ollie get his head out the window in case he barfs again."

"No way, dude. Haven't you seen Hereditary?"

"I'm fine, you guys," Blake drawls next to him. "Take me back to the party. I wanna go back."

"You're going home."

"C'mon, man, please! I'm good, all right?" He leans into the front, trying to grasp the wheel. "I wanna go back!"

I push him away. "You trying to make me have another accident?"

He's back like a boomerang, reaching over me. "It's New Year's! Why've you all got sticks up your asses? C'mon turn around—"

Alex leaves the passenger seat and grabs him, slamming him into the backseat with a smack to the forehead. "Sit still and quit whining! You're lucky we didn't leave you passed out in puke! You're the one who went too hard and turned into a vomit water fountain, so just shut the hell up be grateful we got your stupid drunk ass outta there before it went viral!"

She returns to her seat and slumps down, crossing her arms and looking straight ahead like she's been doing since we left. I was surprised she asked me for a ride home with the others, but it's the least I owe her.

Keeping Blake quiet works for a while, but it's only a matter of time until he's forgotten having the fear of god put in him by Alex.

"Taco truck!" he exclaims, pressing his face to the glass. "Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck! Please Nate! Please!"

"No, dude. I still have to go back to the party and find Lia after I drop you guys off. Stopping is just gonna add time."

He persists with his incessant begging, having reached the drunk level of five-year-old and overactive puppy.

"I could go for a taco," Alex interjects. My eyes dart to her, but she's still facing ahead.

"Yeah, me too," Ollie chimes in. "It'll only add a few minutes, right?"

"Right," I sigh, making a U-turn.

Once they all have their tacos, Alex holds hers for approximately ten seconds before she scrunches her mouth. "You know what? I don't really feel like one anymore."

She gives it to Blake and turns on her heel, pacing back to the car.

"Did you piss her off or something?" Ollie quietly asks as we follow.

"Is it that obvious?"

"I guess it shouldn't be when it's like the natural status quo now." He snickers along with Blake, and I can't say shit because he's completely right.

At Blake's house, Ollie decides to crash there, and I'm thankful to have at least one less trip to make, checking the time again.

"You sure you don't want to go home?" Alex asks him through the window. "You know his tractor-snoring's gonna keep you up all night."

"Nah I'm good," Ollie says as Blake stumbles behind him, falling on the grass. "Someone should make sure he actually makes it into the new year alive."

When we're driving again, Alex turns back into a statue. Arms crossed, facing ahead. Not a word. I let her stew until we're at the end of the block.

"You're really not going to talk to me?" I ask.

Nothing.

"The silent treatment's a little overplayed, don't you think?"

She heaves out a long, steady huff. "What would you like to talk about, Nate? Leaving me high and dry?" her voice cracks and the anger pours in droves. "Literally detaching from my face and chasing after another girl like I turned into a ghost? Is that a good topic choice?"