CHOICES #Wattys2016 #Hidden Gems

Chapter 3

The image vanished from the table and he slumped in the chair trying to find something in the all white space to fix his attention on. He sat up and stared about again.

"Hey! Medi-whatever, what happens now?" There was nothing but silence but it didn't seem silent to Vincent. He couldn't fathom the sensation but while it was quiet it somehow 'felt' noisy—not loud, just—music! He could hear music and he glanced down at the table to see another slice of his life swirling into focus.

The car radio was blaring a rock tune into the starry night and the couple in the front seat was involved in a groping, passionate wrestle. Vincent leaned closer and uttered a small gasp of surprise. It was his best friend, Benny and Ginny! He watched, as they grew more and more frantic, seeking openings and fumbling with clothing parts.

The scene shifted to another car climbing a winding road through a stand of tall evergreens and emerging onto a bare plateau spotted with various cars parked randomly around the perimeter.

Behind the wheel Vincent saw himself looking eagerly for his friend's car. After his grandfather had intervened, Vincent was granted the use of the family car once again, and he was using it to keep a date he had long dreamt about. Ginny had made it clear she wanted to see him and Benny had offered to drive her to the plateau since he was going there with his own girlfriend anyway. It had saved Vincent a long run across town, which meant more time with Ginny.

His headlights picked out Benny's car and he could see the shadows inside as he pulled up alongside.

He climbed out, opened the passenger door on Benny's car, and looked down at Ginny looking up at him while Benny, grunting on top of her, had his head buried in her bare chest. Vincent was speechless he let go of the handle and stepped back unable to comprehend what he was looking at. Ginny pushed her fingers into Benny's head and rolled it side to side as she grinned wickedly up at Vincent.

He fled back to his car and tore dangerously from the parking area, tossing gravel and dirt into the air and prompting complaining honks from various cars. She had done it to him again only this time it was more than a tease; it was deliberately cruel. The car swayed dangerously down the winding road and at the bottom, instead of stopping, he swung right out onto the through road and clipped the rear fender of a passing car.

Vincent remembered the incident with a revived anger and regret. He had turned down a chance to see Maria at the local mall for his anticipated meeting with Ginny, and in the end not only learned a hard lesson but an expensive one. He sat back in the chair as the image dissolved and thought back to the following days.

His father had forbidden him to renew his license and was even forced to sell the car to help pay for the damages. Life with his grandparents became strained and life fell another notch on the misery scale. His friendship with Benny had ended abruptly the following week at school with Vincent breaking the smug face with a vicious closed fist smash.

The last thing he heard about Benny and Ginny was that she had publicly been blamed for everything and wound up being snubbed by her group. That pretty much left Benny as her only friend, a convenience he used to his advantage and her detriment. She became the go to screw for his buddies, leaving her wearing her accepted lifestyle like a billboard until her availability and desirability waned.

He got up again and tried finding a way out of the lounge but as before, he walked and walked without getting anywhere. Finally he cried out for the man he'd met to come and free him from his memories.

"Just a few more, Vincent. Be patient."

The voice echoed around him but he saw no one and frustrated, he sat back down and held his head in his hands. The next sound was an old favourite song of his and he remembered when it was last played and he looked into the table and saw himself with his new bride, Maria, dancing to the applause of family and friends. He leaned forward and relived a moment from his wedding day.