Check, Please?

Chapter 14

I jolted awake.

I stared at the ceiling above me.

My fan turned slowly over my head, casting shadows along the walls that would shorten and lengthen with each time one of the fan panels would pass the window.  It wasn’t daylight that was shining through my curtains, but rather a dim light from the street.  I tapped the home button on my phone beside me which Harry plugged into my charger before he left me the day before.  It was 1:57am. 

I knew that I had gone to bed almost immediately after Harry laid me down when we got back from the reunion but I didn’t expect myself to wake up this early in the morning.  Maybe 5 or 6, but definitely not 2.  My mind was racing and wouldn’t let me rest.  I couldn’t help but think about my mother and Therese.

“That bitch,” I whispered, shaking my head when I remembered Therese delicately digging her fingers into the black fabric, building up the suspense for me before she ripped the sheet off of the car.  I hadn’t remembered how horribly beat up the car was.  Anyone who might have seen the wrecked car without having much context might have thought that the driver was dead.  Since I was so drunk at the time, I didn’t tense up my muscles when we collided with the other cars.  Since I didn’t tense up (or Harry), the doctor said we were at risk for less injury.  It just all seemed so backwards.

I rubbed my sore lower back as I stood up from my bed.  I tiptoed around the room and searched through the darkness for a pair of sweats and Harry’s old hoodie.  I threw on a black beanie over the top of my hair and let the rest of my hair fall limply over my shoulders.  I slipped my Keds over my heels quickly and looked across the hall.  Harry’s room was dark.  I peered into the room and on the bed and spotted a shadow that looked like a mixture of his body and numerous pillows.  I didn’t hear him breathing, but I continued down the hallway anyways, thinking maybe he was sleeping with his face in the pillow.  When I got to the kitchen, I slid my hands all up and down the counter, searching for the keys to the Celica.  When the cold metal brushed my fingers, I wrapped my whole hand around the keys and tried to pick them up without them jingling. 
It had been so long since I felt the need to sneak anywhere that I was getting physically tired.  My toes were beginning to hurt from me standing on them for so long.  I stepped across the kitchen and onto the welcome mat before the front door, causing the wood panels of the floor to squeak.

“Scotlan?”

“JESUS-” I screamed and whipped around, pressing my back to the front door and dropping the keys. “What, Harry? What?”

I strained my eyes to see his silhouette as he rose from the couch.  “What are you doing?” He asked quietly.

I sighed heavily. “I just… I don’t know.  I can’t sleep.  I can’t stop thinking about my mom.”

Harry walked to me and wrapped his arms around my neck.  He kissed my forehead and backed up to look at me as if he could even though we were in the dark. “Were you going for a drive? Do you want me to come?”

For an instance, I thought about telling Harry no.  But when I thought about it, I hadn’t driven in years.  Maybe it was safer if he did come.  I nodded, and despite not being able to see me, Harry walked down the hall and put some clothes on.  Moments later, he reemerged in front of me with my wallet.  “You might need your license.” 

I giggled half-heartedly and took my wallet from him.  Harry opened the door for me and followed me into the garage.  He had a few other things in his hands, but I couldn't tell what they were because we kept the lights off.

It felt weird sitting on the left side of the car with the wheel in front of me and the pedals beneath my feet.  Before cranking the car, I pushed lightly on the gas and break.