Clearer

Chapter 6

I backed out of my parking spot and started driving out of the parking lot. I decided that we have to stop at the bar first so she won't get as drunk if she's there. I headed onto the main road and looked over at Luke. It's like he's never drove around such an empty place. He looked in awe. I put my eyes back on the road and turned up the music to get rid of the awkward silence.

After about two songs, Luke turned down the music, looked at me, and said, "Do you have any idea where your mum could be?"

"Well, she's either at the bar or our house. We're heading to the bar first so she won't be as drunk when we get her if she is there." I replied and Luke simply shook his head showing he understood.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"In America. In Utah. Why? Why here? Why didn't you stay in Australia?"

"I wanted something new."

"Oh." I said awkwardly.

"Yeah." He sighed.

I finally pulled into the familiar parking lot of the bar. I have been here so many times to pick up my mom, my aunt, my grandma before she died of a stroke, almost everyone in my family has been picked up by me from this dreaded building.

I pulled into the parking lot and parked my car. I took the keys out of the ignition and opened my door and stepped out. Luke followed.

"What are you doing?" I turned and asked.

"Coming with you, what else?" He replied pulling his pack of smokes out, once again.

"No." I said, trying to hold in my yell.

"You don't think you're really going in there alone, do you?" He asked, pointing to the building and taking another step towards me.

I took a step back and said, "I've been in there many times by myself. I can handle this. And if you follow me, I'll tell the owner you're trying to rape me or something." I threatened.

"Oh, trust me, it wouldn't be rape. You would like it." He replied with a wink.

"Get back in the car now or I will run in there yelling for help."

"You wouldn't do su-"

"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP PLEASE!" I screamed, starting to run to the building. I looked back to see Luke running to my car and sitting in the passenger seat. He was shooting my death glares. I stuck my tongue out at him and he tried to hold back a smile and nodded his head.

I turned away to hide the small smile on my face and opened the door to the bar. It was eight o'clock in the evening now and the bar was starting to get busy.

"Oh, hey, Maddy! To what do I owe the plessure?" The owner, JoLee, said to me with a friendly smile on her face.

The old man sitting at the bar looked up at me and turned to JoLee and asked, "What is such a young lady doing in this bar? She doesn't belong in here."

"She's a close friend." JoLee replied while getting the man another beer.

I walked up to the counter and talked to JoLee for a bit, forgetting that I was on a mission to find my mother. She asked me how I've been and how the funeral went and how my moms been and that's when I remembered.

"Hey, speaking of my mom, has she came in here at all today?" I asked.

"Uhm, not that I can remember. Why? What happened?" JoLee asked.

"Oh it's nothing. She just ran off earlier and I'm trying to find her."

"Oh, well, she might have snuck past me and went into the bathroom. Why don't you go check, honey?"

"Alright, thanks, Jo." I smiled.

I started making my way through the crowd to the bathrooms. I got grabbed my a couple men who offered me a dance and a beer but I declined as poilitly as I could, walking away as fast as I could. I also felt my ass get grabbed multiple times.

Finally, I made it to the bathroom. I opened up the door and the first thing I heard was sex moans. I rolled my eyes and looked under the stalls to see if there were any sparkly black heels. There weren't.

I sighed and walked back into the crowd. Jo must have saw me walking out without my mom because she yelled, "Don't worry sweetheart, you'll find her soon!" I didn't smile at her though, I just walked out the door.

Once I was out, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in and a deep breath out, trying not to freak out. I sat there for a couple seconds and finally decided I should get back to Luke. He's been out here for almost 15 minutes now without any air conditioning in the car because I took the keys, not trusting him with my car. He's probably having a heat stroke even though it's finally getting dark and it is very close autumn, it's still summertime.

When the car got into view from around the building, I saw Luke wasn't in the car, but pacing back and forth by the car, running his hands through his hair. I sat and watched him for a moment.

He was wearing the same clothes that he did at the funeral, black skinny jeans and a flannel shirt. I thought he would've taken off the flannel by now, he has another white shirt on under it. I wonder if you can see his tattoos through it.

I started walking towards the car and he must have heard my footsteps on the dirt road because he stopped pacing, leaned against the car, crossed his arms, and looked at me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"You were in there for a long time and the car got hot so I decided I needed to get out of there." He said, acting as he hasn't been pacing.

"Mmhm." I said and headed to the drivers side.

"No sign of her?"

"Nope." I said, getting in the car.

"We'll find her soon." He said, also taking his seat.

"Yeah." I started the car and we got back on the road.

I pulled out my cigarettes, stuck one in my mouth, rolled down then window, and lit it.

"I thought there was no smoking in the car..." Luke said.

"On special occasions we can."

"So I can too?"

"Yeah."

"Hey, what's with the short answers?"

"Luke, I need to focus on the road. We have about a thirty minute drive to my house. Get comfortable."

I looked over at him and he looked down like a child that just got yelled at for stealing another child's candy. He reached for the volume on the stereo and turned it up loud enough so neither of us could feel the urge to talk. I really hope she's home. This is going to be a long drive.

A.N: AYY NEW CHAPTER ALREADY!! MY MIND IS ON A ROLL!