Unbreakable

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

        “Come on Laura, we’ve GOT to celebrate!” Michelle squeals, making sure to emphasize the "got". She starts up her baby blue Jeep and we hop in.

“No way in hell.” I buckle up.  I can tell she not gonna budge on this one.

“Don’t be such a brat! I am throwing you a birthday party and you are going to like it!” She snaps.

“Fine.”

      Every year since fifth-grade, Michelle has thrown me a birthday party, and every year they turn out the same. She invites all her friend, mainly boys, that I hardly know, and for one night they all pretend that they are my bestfriends. We pull up to Health Camp, a greasy old diner we have been going to since seventh-grade. It probably has more rats than customers, but they've got the best burgers in town.

      "Hey girls!" Meg calls from behind the fryers. Meg, a charming old lady in her 60s, has worked here since the place opened in the 80s and even though shes only had 2 days off in her life, she is the sweetest old lady you’ve ever met.

"2 regular with an Oreo shake please.” Michelle calls back.

     We take our seats in our table in the back next to the poster of the Varsity Football team. Almost all their face are covered with unibrows or mustaches, a tradition we started for each time Michelle dumped one of them.

"So, where's this party gonna be at?"  I ask even though I know she won’t tell me.

"All I'm telling you is that it's going to be amazing, and considering you’ve chosen to stay here in this god-awful town for another four years, it's going to be our last birthday together.”

     Arghhh. I hate it when she says that. Ever since I told Michelle that I'm staying here for college she’s been begging me to reconsider and every chance she gets she reminds me that it is going to be our last “something” together and tries to guilt-trip me about it.

"You know it wasn't my first choice, but dad wants me to stay here. After that I'm outta here."

"Yeah, yeah I know I've heard it a trillion times.

"Here you go girls." Meg says as she places down our burgers and shakes.

“Thanks Meg.” We respond simultaneously.

“So girls what's the word on the street any new gossip you want to dish about?” she says as she pulls up a chair and wipes her grease stricken hands down the front of her apron.

“Other than the fact Laura’s still wants to stay here for college, not much.” Michelle chirps back.

“What?” She says in a high-pitched voice. “Sweetheart, take it from someone who knows, this towns like quicksand the minute you get a chance out, take it.”

     I want to be frustrated at her but I know she is just looking out for me. I take a bite into my burger and chew slowly, mainly because I don’t want to respond. Quite honestly I am getting sick and tired of people telling me what a bad decision it was to stay, if it wasn't for my father I would get out, but ever since he got cancer I try to do anything and everything that makes him happy. And who can blame me?

“Anyway,” I say trying to change the subject, “ I heard some new family just moved here a few days ago, what have you heard about it Mich?”

“Just that they’ve moved in over on Mcgrain, probably didn’t know too much about this hillbilly town or they would have never moved.” she says with a snort.

The rest of the night moves slowly, just like all the nights spent at Health Camp, and the only other people that come in are some 14 year old girls that use the bathroom.

We finish off our burgers and pay the bill. A strange flash of comfort swept over my like a thick blanket but I don’t know what from.

“Alright girls see you next time.” Meg yells for back behind the kitchen.

“Night!” We holler back.

     We walk out in the gravelly parking lot and spot the Jeep. Michelle hits a button on her keys and it starts up instantly. Luck bitch I think.

“You drive. I’m stuffed.” Michelle says as she tosses me the keys over her shoulder; I have always admired her aim.

“Ok, do you want to sleepover tonight?”  I ask hoping she will say yes, so I don't have to spend the night alone with my father again.

“Sure! I’ve been needing a popcorn infused Chick-flick marathon anyway.”  

     Relief washes over me; guilt quickly following. Lately, I have been having a hard time being around my father. My dad has always been my idol, I’ve always looked up to him as being that strong man I’ve never seen cry. Not even at my mother’s funeral. But chemo has taken a lot out of him, and lately when I am around I feel like I’m looking at something I’m not supposed to see, a he side of him he never wanted me to see. I have to be his rock now and I just don’t know if I can be.

       I swing myself into into the Jeep and buck up, just as quickly I turn up the radio and start singing (more like screaming) along. We pull out and head towards Michelle’s house.

     “You are making my ears bleed.” Michelle practically has to shouts, but with a roll of the eyes starts singing along with me. I suddenly got a rush of grief, this really was going to be “one of our last something’s together”, something I’m definitely going to miss. I shake it off just as quick as it comes, because this is going to be a great night. One we both are going to remember in the next years we spend separated. I was going to make sure of it. We dance and sing the rest of the way home and Michelle busts out the Macarena, one of my favorite dance moves she used to do in ninth-grade. We pull up to a stoplight and I laugh as I see how horribly bad Michelle’s moves really where.

Perfect. Everything was perfect.

      I look to left of me to tell Michelle something, and then it happened. Slo-mo. Michelle is laughing, singing, she looks breathtakingly beautiful as her blonde hair sways back and forth, tan skin glittering with light. She was literally glowing. But then I realize she was glowing. Light was actually beaming from her, but no, it wasn't her it was something behind her, what it was I couldn't tell. Then a loud sound, deafening. Then nothing.

Blackness.