Behind the veil

Jared

I was looking out of the window uninterested in the ongoing party at some guy’s place from college. I almost didn’t even notice when two slim smooth arms hugged me from behind because they didn’t belong to Jessica. I was forced to turn around and look at who it was as she started kissing my neck. It was some girl I didn’t know and she was pretty drunk to be held accountable for her actions at the moment so I grabbed her arms and pulled her away from myself.
She moaned and tried to grasp me back to her but I held her firmly and I appreciated her looks. With dark brown eyes and long brown hair she was a sweet looking girl and way too drunk for her own good.
“Where do you live?” I asked her as I pulled her towards the front entrance of the house.
“Why do care?” she whispered and managed to sound angry which made me chuckle silently. I guess she really wanted to a make out with the back of my head, well too bad because I am madly in love with a red mess of hair and hot temper named Jessica. Controlling my sad smile I tried again. “Can you give me directions to your place please? I am going to drop you home.”
She fumbled in my arms as I dragged her towards my beaten up truck, but once I placed her in my front seat she quickly adjusted herself in a comfortable position. I circled around my car and took the car out of park.
“Who do you think you are, stupid guy?”
“Enough with the attitude! You are pissing me off now. Let me be stupid and drop you home and you can thank me later when you are sober enough to start making sense again.” I growled as my patience went out the window.
Her eyes grew wide and she seemed frightened. Good for her.
“Take first right and then second right” she said weakly.
We drove in silence and my mind started wandering back towards my girl. I have no idea how to make things work anymore.
“Stop, that green door right there is my house!” She abruptly exclaimed pulling me out of my reverie second time tonight.
After parking the car in her front drive, I walked towards her side and helped her out of the car but before I could guide her towards the door she fell sick all over my shoes. Pulling her hair up I cringed internally but offered her a smile when she looked at me worriedly.
“Feeling better now?” I asked her keeping my expressions friendly and almost failing, almost.
She nodded in response and started towards the house so I helped her until the door opened and she went inside. The elderly woman, presumably her mother was giving me a look and was about to shut the door in my face when the girl mumbled her thank you in my general direction. Before I could form a response the door was shut in my face.
It didn’t hurt that she lived just a block away from my home because I don’t think I can walk in her puke for much longer.
“Isn’t she a little younger than you to play around with?” asked a taunting voice from behind me as I was briskly walking back to my car.
Ugh. I have had my share of drama for one night so whoever it was really had it coming. I turned around and came face to face with Caroline Steve. Seriously God? Her? I looked above my head at the stars and rolled my eyes.
“What’s your deal?” I seethed at her. Let me just tell you how much I dislike this girl. She is childish, self centered, spoiled little brat. Also she lives three houses down from me since we were little kids and her father moved to our neighborhood. Her kid brothers are friends with Allen and Alex, my kid brothers and her sister was in the same grade as my sister Rose so our families are fairly close.
“Huh, nothing,” She scoffed and made a face which depicted her disgust which I really didn’t gave a damn about. Ignoring her snarky presence I turned to leave but she stood in my way deliberately.
“What do you want?” I asked while giving her a death stare.
“Stay the hell away from her. She is my best friend’s kid cousin, visiting her for a few weeks with her mom.” She was practically shaking from anger spitting the words out. Okay, that explained why I didn’t know her because I know everyone around here. It also explains why I just dropped her at Sarah’s place.
After the shitty day that I had and my soggy shoes which were making me sick now, I didn’t need this. But the passion and resolution in her eyes about scaring me away looked kinda cute so I decided to respond somewhat politely. It came as a huge effort as I am not known for my politeness.
“She was drunk at a party at my friend’s place where she tried to kiss me, I figured she was young to even have drunk that much and I got her home. That’s it.” I offered peacefully.
She eyed me suspiciously, while her mouth opened and closed as if she was struggling with what to say next.
“okay.” That’s all she offered. After passing her a nod, I turned around and opened the front door. I saw her in the rear view, walking in my direction as I drove away.
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Someone was sitting in my driveway but it wasn’t visible from the end of the street as the lights were out and it was dark outside my house. As I came closer my breath grew shallow because I made out red even in the dark and it blew me away.
As I pulled up in front of my house I didn’t know what to do next. I couldn’t move or tear my eyes away from her sobbing shoulders so I just sat there after killing my engine.
She stood up and glided over to my front seat and wrapped her arms around her tucked knees. We sat like that for a long time in utter silence because there was nothing I could offer her to make her feel better.
Looking at her now brought so many memories to the front lobe of my mind. There is something about endings that make you go back in time towards the beginning. Life is like this chain of events rushing after each other and ending just in time for new cycles to start. Sometimes we try and prolong any particular cycle because it used to make us so happy that we are not ready to let it go yet but the only result is being hurt. If chain of life is disturbed, cycles are prolonged, door are not closed and nailed shut than our memories become ghosts that haunt us. The realization dawned on me that the look on Jessica’s face is of being haunted.
I liked her when I first saw her and started caring for her shortly after that so right now, seeing her haunted is making me miserable. i will do anything to change the look on her face, with that thought I up and left her alone in the car. Each step was so heavy as if I am walking through tons of sludge. I braved my way until my front door was closed behind me and then my knees caved. I sat down with my back on the door and punched the floor. Hard.