Snow Warnings (Warnings Triology, Vol. 1)

Chapter 2: Another Ruined Saturday Night

Marcus

While watching 'Bad Omens' at three in the night, with the warmest sheets ever and in the best position for the couch, my phone started vibrating.
'Someone was calling me, in the middle of the night. WHO WOULD CALL ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!?'
It was my cousin Robin.
'As always'.
If someone would call me in the best moments to tell me that they are in trouble, that someone would a hundred percent be Robin. No one can be annoying as him.
I picked the phone and I did an annoyed sigh and responded to the call.
<<Hi, this is Robin's best friend Mariam, are you Marcus?>>
<<He's drunk, bet?>> I said with annoyance.
<You guessed it>> the girl named Mariam in the call said it with tired tone.
<<Ok wait, I'll go take the car keys, while you two wait there>>.
<<Well we aren't in two...we are actually in three, and the other one is drunk too. Hehe>>. The girl in the call, Mariam then made a sigh mixed with awkward fake laughter.
'That's even fucking worse', but to not make Mariam upset i said:<<Ok, wait fifteen minutes and I'll be there>>.
'I hate my life', I mimicked with my mouth.
        
I finally reached the damn garage.
It was huge, seven plans, one of the biggest car parks here in London, even if the hygiene is quite discussible. The extern walls were full of ugly and hostile grafiti and some of them were really dirty. You could find at every corner dog poop.  
I entered inside.
'So gross as usual'.
The inside was even worse than the outside. And i really meant it. I don't think someone would survive here longer than a hour.
<<The least I deserve for this is a full week of vacation in Bahamas, Robin!>> I said to myself hating my cousin for making me do this.
The walls were all stinky, the floor had in some parts vomit, grafiti and even a dead rat.
I went inside the elevator.
It was dirty too, but it was the least dirty place of the garage.
I finally reached the second plan, I ran to the car.
I took the keys from the pants' pocket and I opened the car.
I went inside, I put some music and started driving to the bar to take Robin and his friends.

While driving the only good thing was watching London with those beautiful lights on the buildings.
The Big Ben and the Westminster Abbey were so beautiful.
After a few minutes, I was watching the breathtaking views.
And then a pigeon pooped on the car's glass.
'I am going to kill so bad that bird'.
I tried to breathe to not let the anger win on me.

I finally reached the bar. There was a a round blue table and a pair of seats before the entrance, on a seat there was my cousin Robin laying his head on the table next to a blonde girl that was sleeping on the table.
'Seems I'm going to sign 'a girl sleeping on a table' on the bingo card of this night'.
I opened the car door and Mariam approached me.
She was a bit chubby, but that didn't take any of her beauty, she had these curly brown hair, the color was similar to Robin's hair when he was fourteen before dying it platinum blonde. Her eyes were brown like coffee, the lips and the smile were really divine.
'Am I being a simp!?'
<<Oh hi, Marcus can you help to put in the car these two, please I really need it>>.
<<O-of course, M-Mariam>>
'Was I stuttering!? WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?'
<<Thanks Marcus, I'm happy that you giving me a hand>>
<<You are w-welc-come Mariam>>. I stuttered, again.
'The situation IS GETTING WORSE!? WHAT IS MAKING ME LIKE THIS!?'

After a few minutes I finally put Robin in the car without waking him up.
In the meanwhile, Mariam with the other girl's arm on her shoulder started speaking: <<Well sleepy Arya and I are going back home, goodnight Marcus and sorry for the interruption>>.
<<T-thanks>>. I responded.
She started taking the opposite way to go back home and I felt something like abstract acid going trough my stomach.
'Why am I feeling weird in this moment?'
From my mouth then casually some words came out:<<I can offer you a ride>>.
Mariam turned her shoulders and said with surprised tone:<<Really? Thanks Marcus, that is so sweet of you!>>
'Did I actually say that?'
I opened the car door and said:<<Come in>>.
<<Thanks>> Mariam answered.
I put the keys and I started driving.
There was for a few minutes some awkward silence.
Mariam finally broke the ice
<<So Robin is your cousin?>>
<<Yes, he is. In the good and the bad>>.
<<I know, Robin can be sometimes...like really aggressive with people, but he has a sweet side after all. Right?>>
<<Yeah. He can be lovely when he really wants to>>.
I watched a few seconds the rear view mirror and I recognized the girl sleeping behind with Robin.
<<Wait I know your other friend, I think we went at the same sailing course. Her name is...is...I'm trying to remember it. Wait her name is Arya! There we called her 'The Lesbian Sailor'>>.
Mariam chuckled a bit and then responded:<<Well I can't admit that you guys were wrong there>>.
We both bursted laughing. I was having fun with Mariam, while my cousin was sleeping in the back of the car after having lots of shots of tequila.
<<Well lately Arya is trying to have desperately money, I'm not sure for what they need>>.
<<Maybe for paying the taxes?>>
<<But she doesn't need desperately to pay taxes. She has a work, she goes to university and she is my roommate and the place we live is really cheap, so that is impossible>>.
Then Mariam sighs.
<<Sometimes I think Robin and Arya are always hiding something from me, like if I get to know it, something bad happens. Lately, they are being so secretive with me>>.
There were a but of silence then I responded:<<I can understand it Mariam, Robin is being secretive with me too. He changed a lot when he was fourteen, he dyed his hair, he slept a lot less than before and he became more conflicting with other people. I'm quite concerned about his health. I know him. He bottles up everything and does it again, and again and again until it's too late>>.
I stopped talking and took a deep breath and then continued from where I stopped
<<He had those platinum blonde hair for four years, I tried to ask him why he doesn't want to go back to his hair's natural color and he tried to avoid the question saying that he had an important call>>.
<<That's so strange>>
<<I know, right? It's not at all a 'Robin thing'>>
<<Fame really changed him>> Mariam said with concerned face.
<<And what do you think for what is your friend Arya is searching desperately money?>>
<<I hope it isn't anything like cigarettes or drugs. I would get worried sick if she started using substances>>.
Mariam then yawned a bit and started talking again
<<I know that Arya wouldn't do that stuff. She is my best friend, I know her better than anyone>>.
I smiled warmly to her trying to ease her mental tension.
The car arrived to Mariam and Arya's place.
<<Well seems it's time to say bye>> I said.
<<Goodnight, Marcus and still, thank you for the ride>>
Mariam got out from the car door and after a few second she took out Arya still sleeping and she carries her all the way to the house door.
Mariam looked at her back and then waved me.
I waved her back and then I continued driving.