found / mgc

chapter six - long drive

I walked to the bathroom to avoid this situation and grabbed a few painkillers because I am sure he won't feel good in the morning. When I closed the bathroom cabinet door I saw Michael standing really close to me, which made me jump.

"I'm not going to hurt you, geez," he said as he put his big hands around my waist "I just want a hug."

I felt so tiny in his arms. Serious grip, cheek to the hair and eyes closed.

Michael's hugs mattered, and made him impossible to resist.

After a few moments of hugging in the middle of his bathroom, Michael gave me his car keys.

"Why do I feel like we're not going to Mc Donalds'?"

"Because we are not." I said as I put my hands on the steering wheel "We are going to the petrol station in which Susan was last seen."

"Are you crazy?" He raised his voice "I don't want a crazy person to drive my car. You are not dragging me in this."

"We are really deep in 'this' because you dragged us both in 'this'. It's just two hours away." I said but he didn't respond. He was looking out the window as the house just started to look like a little unimportant dot in the distance.

I stopped the car "Please, Michael." He looked at me, angry "I can't sleep at night, okay? I am scared. I do not know what to do anymore. I feel guilty."

"Keep driving."

I just drove and drove. I don't know what we will do if we find her. Michael is drunk and I am the weakest person in the world, we can't fight those guys. We also have no guns or whatever.

That's what happens when you don't overthink.

"So" he tried to find his words "Did you and Luke have sex?"

I felt like my face was a deep red colour and I could feel my heart beating 10 times faster. Girls blush, sometimes, because they are alive, half wishing they were dead to save the shame.

"Sorry" He said as he realised that I was dying from embarrassment.

"We did it."

"What?"

"I'm not going to say that again."

"I can't believe Luke had sex with a girl." He said laughing.

I rolled my eyes.

"I trust him."

"Do you trust me?"

I am asking myself the same thing.

"Not that much." I laughed.

He started laughing again "I kind of understand why Luke likes you. You are cool."

Because I wanted this conversation about Luke to stop, I didn't say anything.

On our way to the petrol station I had to stop the car twice because Michael had to vomit. Everytime I feel that smell, the hand of the devil takes me back to that night. I think time stopped since then. I feel like I am stuck in that moment.

Also, as we got closer and closer to the petrol station my knees were weak and my vision became more blurry. I thought about 500 times to say "fuck it" and drive back home, because I couldn't do this now, especially when Michael is drunk.

After the third stop Michael felt better (he also had vomit on his jeans but I tried to ignore it) and I felt stronger. I can do this. I am going to this for Susan, for myself, for Michael and last but not least, for Mark's and the other hundreads of students' Halloween party.

I parked Michael's car when we reached our destination. I felt sorry for having to carry him around with me, I haven't even thought that he is sick. I just wanted his car and I didn't care. I guess I understand now why he called me a "princess" back then.

I could see through the glass at the petrol station and there was a teenager reading something, working, and nobody else.

Are you kidding me?

"I'll go alone" I said "They're not here anymore." I said before he could tell me how stupid I am. I could feel a tear rolling down my cheek. I tried to stop myself from crying for too long.

He just looked at me. I think he wanted to tell me everything was going to be fine, but it wasn't. And I think we both reached the point where we know that. This situation is too much. We are teenagers. Our only problems were crushes and clothes. All of a sudden this happened, and it hit us like a tsunami.

I gave him a fake smile and got out of the car. It was extremely cold. I looked around carefully. I also looked back and saw Michael vomiting again. If things were normal, I would probably laugh.

The boy working there gave me a really weird look when I entered. He was probably thinking what girl on earth is at a petrol station, on a school day, at 2 in the morning.

I grabbed some snacks, a soda and a magazine.

"5.99" He said

"I need to ask you something." I handed him the money "There was a girl here with two men and a women."

He thought about it before he answered "Yeah, they were in a hurry."

"Okay. Can you tell me what they were talking about?"

"Sorry, are you a police officer?"

I rolled my eyes "Please. I am trying to find her."

"I don't trust you."

I rolled my eyes again.