Squish's Storybook

Mad at Myself

I sat before my mirror and fiddled with my hair, freshly curled into neat little rings. I pinned it back from my face and only let a couple little flips fall from the arrangement.

I stood and turned, taking my hands down to hold the edge of the towel I had wrapped around myself. I opened the bathroom door and walked down the hall and into my bedroom.

The walls were practically covered in pictures and my windowsill was filled with a couple little trophies and several little plastic sand statues from festivals throughout the years. I shut my door and looked at the knee-length, blue dress that hung over it.

I dropped my towel and pulled on my slip. It felt like velvet against my skin as I reached for my dress. I pulled it from the hanger and unzipped the back. I stepped into it and squeezed it up and over my slip until I was able to feel the edge against my armpits.

I grinned and held the top and opened my door. "Mom, I need some help," I called out, using my newly free hand to attempt at zipping the zipper that was undone all the way down to my lower back. I would get it slightly, but it would almost seem to come undone.

Soon enough my mom was at the top of the stairs and looked down the hall at me. "Oh, Rosa, you look so beautiful," she gushed, quickly walking toward me. I felt myself run red as I turned my back to her.

"Could you help me? I'd rather not spend the whole night with my dress unzipped." I laughed and sucked in my breath as my mom zipped me up.

"Are you sure this is a good fit? It seems a little tight." I shrugged and turned back to face her.

"It feels fine, I mean, it's kind of tight... That's okay though! I look great, don't I?" I smiled even further and walked back into my room. "So what time is he going to be here again?"

"You told me 6:00, so any minute now. You sure procrastinated getting ready until the last second, didn't you?" She laughed and walked toward me, pulling me into a tight hug. "You're going to have to much fun."

I laughed as she let me go and walked down the hall. "Let me know when he gets here!" I sat on my chair and picked my phone up from my desk. I flip through my old messages and read through them, impatiently waiting for him to arrive.

Minutes passed and I walked out into the living room the moment he sent me the message.

"Hes just down the road. I'm going to meet him out there so we can get going! I don't want to be late!" I gave my mom a hug and grabbed my purse before she could even make me stop for a picture. I felt something brush against my arm as I rushed out the door

I ran outside just after slipping into my heels. They were tall and I wasn't quite used to them, but I was pretty good at moving in them. I went over and hopped into the passenger seat of his truck as it pulled to a stop in front of my house.

I smiled and looked over at him, his hair falling just short of being tucked behind his ears and his fair skin contrasting the stark black of his suit. "You look beautiful," he says, his eyes looking me over as he starts to head forward.

"And you look good, but I'd appreciate it if you focused more on the road than me," I laughed. I let my hand hang out the window and go through the wind as we drove down the narrow road.

"Well, it's hard to focus when there's something so lovely right next to me," he smirks, letting his right hand move behind me and rest on my back, his left hand still on the wheel.

I smiled and looked out the open window as we pulled to a stop at the intersection. We had a red light, although there were no other cars coming. We were turning right so he pulled toward the curb and watched to see if anyone was coming, just before he pulled out and began down the next road and toward the school. He seemed to struggle slightly with turning the wheel, but I didn't worry too much. It was an old truck and it couldn't be much of anything.

I grinned. "Were going to get there right on time! Just like we wanted." I fidgeted impatiently in my seat as we got closer and closer to the school. We began slowing to turn into the parking lot, but I was greeted with a shock as someone slammed into the back of the truck.

They were going at least 50 mph, which was far too fast for the road. I hit my head and then there was no pain. At least, not physical pain.

I looked at the shattered and torn truck that was now in the middle of the road. There were two other cars that were in almost as bad of shape. One had been hit by the truck when it was pushed forward, the innocent one. The other was the one that hit us, the irresponsible, idiotic one.

I saw the driver of the innocent car get out and pull out her phone, trying her best to call for help. I saw her hands shaking as she dialed. I saw her tears as she opened the doors of the truck, trying to check on us. Then again as she tried to open the doors of the other car.

I tried to move toward the car, but I couldn't. I was planted several yards away.

I turned my head to look around and I saw only one face. His.

I was able to move toward him. I spoke to him, "This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't so impatient." I cried out. He didn't look at me. He was fading. "I'm so sorry I rushed you. I'm so sorry, I just wanted to spend time with you. I love you, Aaron."

I was fading. Everything changed and I was in the truck again. This time in the bed as it drove down the road. It was about to turn during the red light, but I reached forward, through the open back window, and gripped the wheel, trying to keep it from turning.

"You can't do this! You'll get there too early! I love you, this can't happen to you!"

I was fading. Everything morphed into what appeared to be my home. I saw my mother, watching me as I ran out to the truck. I chased myself, reaching for my arm as I went through the front door. I couldn't grip myself. I still went out to the truck. I still climbed in.

"You idiot! You didn't even let mom get your picture. The last thing she'll remember is you running out to meet your date! You can't go so soon," I cried out and collapsed.

I was fading. Everything changed again. I was in my bedroom, watching myself try to zip my dress. I walked forward and did the simplest thing I could think of. I tried to unzip the dress. Tried to stall myself just long enough to make myself slow down.

I couldn't do anything. Mom still came up. She still zipped the dress.