Beneath the clear blue sky

Beneath the clear blue sky chapter 13

CHAPTER XIII

LIVING ON THE EDGE

'That bitch had it coming.' wiping her nose with the back of her hands. I smiled triumphantly in return. 'Turn on that fucking radio for me will you?' she pinched my ears to keep me awake. Goodness! what time is it? I look at my phone. Its fucking 11.35 pm and were on the loose. There was nothing in front of us but cars driven by late-night workers who I assume finished past their usual office hours and trucks on its way to deliver the milk tomorrow. Why does it have to be milk? I don't care.

I was tuning the radio when together in electric dreams by Human League came on. Hana quickly swatted my hands to stop me and immediately got into the vibe. I didn't know she was into this kind of music. In fact, I didn't know much about her. I don't know much about everyone in the campus except Sandy and Vina.

This is unexpected. I have never thought of sitting in the car as she drove 100 kilometres per hour and actually getting along. 'Thirsty?' she finally asked as she parked the car inappropriately across the 24 hour bottle shop. I nodded, afraid of what were about to do next. I heard a lot about Hana. Rumours in the campus. Gossips in our neighbourhood. But tonight I will let her be. I want to further understand her. I want her to be my friend.

'Were gonna go to that shop..' she fixed her eyes on the store. 'Just follow my instructions and everything will be smooth as a baby's butt ok?' she gave me a reassuring smile. I don't think that would help with my anxiety attack. How about Atarax? 'Come on! you only live once!' she gave me another nudge on my right shoulder. That should balance the pain. Hana put on her Black wig.

We entered with our last-minute plan to steal. We are two restless teenagers looking for trouble. The cashier with a yellow cap eyed Hana suspiciously. I asked the cashier for some map and pretended that we are two lost kids lost in Southport. 'Were driving across the country..' I tend borrow over-used lines I heard in the movies. But this is not like the movies! this is fucking real life. The cashier searched the boxes beneath the counter. It was Hana's cue. She managed to hide a bottle of Jack Daniels and two Bags of potato chips under her varsity jacket. 'No man..were out of maps..im not sure if we even sell maps as you noticed this is a bottle mart..and not a convenient store.' He gave me that stupid smile which made me feel dumb.

'Well if thats the case thank you for your help..my friend and I will be on our way..good bye' I sounded even more suspicious. What the hell was I thinking? Why did I even agreed to be involved in this?! It's too late to turn back now. We have to make this work. This got to work. I don't want to be caught. Thirsty teenage midnight thieves. That could be on the front page for tomorrow's news. I erased that thought from my mind. I need to focus. 'Thats unfortunate..well we should go' as Hana said these words a pack of potato chip slipped from her jacket. Shit. 'Hold it right there lady!' the cashier shouted with his eyes wide open.

'You fucking hold it. Roger.' a masked man pointed a gun at the cashier. 'How did you know my name?!' stunned by the incident he put his hands in the air. 'It says on your uniform..stupid! now give me all you've got in that cash register or I will blow your entire face!' the burglar is wasting no time. Hana and I looked at each other and we started for the backdoor exit. We got out alive.

Hana fired up the engine and drove as fast as she can. 'Shit that was so close.' She placed her palm on her forehead. I was still appalled by how quickly the tables have turned. 'Welcome to my world.' She laughed at me thinking that I enjoyed her company. I actually did it was awesome. I have never thought in a million years that Hana and I could kill time together. I opened the window and let my fingers play in the wind. 'I like these streets where the houses don't change.' She kept her left hand on the steering wheel and the other holding a bottle of jack. She knows I don't drink much so she got me orange juice.

There she was my new best friend lying beside me on the cold hood of the car. The heat from the headlights kept us warm. 'I never liked stars. They make you feel less deserving to live.' she pointed both her middle finger at the precious gems. 'They're perfect aren't they?' I coughed as Hana lit a cigarette stick. 'They are but they don't do much' she sniffed. 'You know that most of them are dead right?' I knew she don't read up on science but I just want to let her know.

'I would kill myself to look that pretty and high.' She took a death breath. I watched her as she gazed at the diamonds in the sky. I can feel her vulnerability. Hana must have had a rough couple of years since she lost both of her parents in the crossfire in the Middle East. They were good people. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were volunteers to give aid to the victims of the war. Tragedy strikes when they were abducted by the terrorist group and was used for ransom. Unfortunately, they were beheaded. Even after death their bodies were side by side and their hands were clenched together like a mother would hold her newborn's hands for the first time.

'I'm so over this life!' She stood up and took a huge gulp of whiskey down her throat. 'Aren't you over it?' She turned to me waiting for my response. I kept my eyes on her. 'I'm sick of it!' She threw the bottle beyond the edge of the cliff. The city lights illuminated her mascara running down her little Bambi eyes. She slowly pulled off her wig to reveal her natural hair. Hana have been keeping her thoughts to herself for a long time. I wish I could do something to vanish the pain away but there's nothing I could do for her but to be there and listen. Hana screamed at the top of her lungs. 'FUCK!' She wanted to be heard. So I let her.

'You must have thought that I am strange and suicidal.' She joked. 'Well I heard a lot of things and although I have seen you occasionally in campus I have never ever actually made a conversation with you,' I relaxed my shoulder. 'I never really know much about you' I added. 'Well now you know me very well and I am happy that you're here with me in this damn cold night.' She genuinely acknowledged my existence for the first time. A surge of pure joy flowed through my veins.

'You know that thing you're doing is bad for you right?' staring at her using cards to align the white powder. She inhaled the substance straight into her nose and brush off the excess with her fingers. 'This is the only thing that keeps me sane. This is my medication.' She tried to convince me but I don't believe her. 'I miss my parents. Lian, I miss them so much.' I gave her my shoulder to cry on. 'How can I keep up if that bitch is putting my medication away..' She started to sob. 'Who are you talking about?' I cleared my throat. 'My evil grandmother. They usually call her Mrs. Dubose.' My heart skipped a beat.