The Party Girl // Zane Hijazi

Chapter 5: Toddy

I sat in the front seat of Toddy's truck, waiting for him to take me home. He opened the driver door, and got in, starting the engine with a roar. He slipped some sunglasses onto the bridge of his nose and backed out of the drive way.

"Just tell me where to go," he said with a smile. "Thanks so much for taking me," I said, rummaging through my bag to grab him some gas money. "Here," I said, handing him a ten dollar bill. He shook his head. "It's fine, really," he said. I shook my head. "No it's a pretty far drive," I tried to put it in the pocket of his board shorts, but he handed it right back. "Your company is currency here," he smiled, looking at me. I could feel my cheeks turning red. "So where are you from?" he asked. "Boston," I said, pulling up my address on google maps. "And you?" I looked over at him, examining his facial features. Small moles were speckled throughout his face, but so faint no one would really notice them. When he spoke, a small dimple under his eye creased, and became more prominent.

"Huntington originally," he said. "I can see that. You look like you belong here," I said. He laughed, and I handed him my phone so he could see where he was going. "So did you graduate from Yale?" he asked. I shook my head. "My ex-boyfriend was a maniac, and wouldn't let me live without reminding me what I had done to him, so I left. We were supposed to get married," I laughed nervously. "Oh shit really?" Toddy asked, turning out of the neighborhood. "Yeah, our parents set it up. I never really liked him," I said. Toddy gave a little laugh. "Well good thing you didn't marry him," he said, looking at me for a second then putting his eyes back on the road.

The rest of the car ride was full of small talk. Once we finally got to my building, I hesitated getting out. "Wanna come in? I have some killer weed," I said, facing him. He laughed, and took his sunglasses off. "I didn't peg you to be a stoner," I shrugged. "Theres a lot of things you dont know about me,"

He looked at me with a face I couldn't read. "Sure, I'll see what you've got city girl," I looked out the window looking for Max's car, or Jessica's car, and there was no sign of them.

He turned the car off, and followed me up the stairs and into my apartment. 

I opened the door to the apartment. "I don't think my roommates are home," I said as he walked in, looking around the apartment. "Nice place you have here," he said. "It's kinda messy I-"

Toddy grabbed my face and brought it to his with great force. I tried bringing my face back, but his lips covered mine. I put my hands on his abdomen, trying to separate us, but he cornered me, and made himself closer. "Toddy," I said, muffled. "Stop, please," panic rose in my cheeks. "Get off!" I said, finally pushing him off me. "C'mon city girl, I know you want it," he whispered, untucking my shirt, and putting his huge hands over my stomach. He kissed my neck and I tried to get his hands off me. I felt chills rise over my entire body. "Toddy, please," I said, tears starting to rise in my eyes. He continued to kiss my neck as I struggled to get him off me.

The front door opened, and I heard Max's voice. Toddy kept his hands on me, trying to catch my eyes with his.  Max came in talking on the phone and shut the front door,  and saw Toddy holding me against the wall. "Yeah hold on Mark-" Max said with his eyebrows furrowed. I pushed Toddy off me, and tucked my shirt back in. "Hey Bryn," he said, holding his phone away from his ear. Toddy's height came towering above Max's height which matched my 5'8" stance. Toddy faced Max, and bumped past him, shutting the door behind him. I felt a tear drop from my eye, and my hands shook furiously as I wiped it away, not letting Max see. I looked down, and picked up my purse I dropped. "Who was that?" Max asked, confused. I shook my head. "Just an old friend," I said, trying to walk back into my room. Max caught my arm. "What happened," I stared at him, and ripped my arm from my grip. "Nothing," I gritted through my teeth.

I unlocked my door, then shut it right behind me, locking it straight away. I could hear my heartbeat. Suddenly my breathing hitched, and I was panting like a dog. I ripped my shirt off, and slid down the door down to the floor sweating profusely. I grabbed the little orange pill bottle on my dresser above me, read the label, and threw it to the side. I did this with the seven bottles until I came to my anxiety medication. I held it in my hands, and heard the pills shaking with the pattern of my anxiety shakes. I dry swallowed two pills, and continued to pant. The Panting turned into crying. I felt my body start giving in, and I rolled into a ball, sobbing.

After 10 minutes of scream crying, I could hear people walking outside the door. I heard soft murmuring. "I don't know Josh- I don't. I came home from work and some guy was here,"

"Did you get a good look at him?" Josh asked.

"I've never seen him. I don't think she works with him either,"

I turned around and looked under the crack of the door. My breathing steadied, and feet came to my face. "Bryn?" Josh said, softly. "Bryn, are you ok?" I turned back around and faced my messy room.

I heard Josh tampering with the lock before getting the door open, and hitting me in the back with it.

I didn't move.

"Max, help me move her," he said sliding his body through the little crack in the door. Max followed, and they both lifted me, and sat me up on my bed. Once I saw Josh I had a full blown meltdown again. He pulled me in and held me as I cried. Max took his denim jacket off and wrapped it around my shoulders. "He tried to take advantage of me," I cried into Josh's shirt. "I told him no," I sobbed again. Josh's hands went up and down my spine.

"What's wrong?" I heard Jessica's concerned voice at the door, but I kept crying. The bed shifted where Max was sitting as he got up.

He pulled Jessica to the side and explained what happened, and I heard a gasp.  "Is she going to be ok?" she asked Max. Max was quiet, and Josh kept comforting me.

~

I sat on the rusted chair left on the porch by the last tenant, with a glass of water, and a big t-shirt smoking a cigarette. I looked out to the Hollywood hills, and felt nothing. "Hey," I heard behind me. I turned around and saw Jessica. I turned back around. "Hey," I said back. She sat in the other rusted chair next to me. "Bum one?" she asked. I bent down and grabbed the cigarette box I swore to my mom I threw away. She grabbed a camel from the pack and I lit it for her. We sat in silence for a bit until my phone rang. I let it ring then Jessica said, "Aren't you going to answer that?" I looked at her then looked at my phone. My brother Bradley's picture popped up. I was supposed to call him.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bryn, if mom or Kassidy asks, I'm in Seattle for work,"

"Why," I asked, emotionless. "I have business in New York, I can't have her snooping around,"

My brother always liked to brag about how he had "business" when in reality he was snorting coke off some girl's ass.

"K," was all I could force out.

He hung up before I could say bye.

I could feel Jessica looking at me as I fiddled with the hem of my shirt. The cigarette hung from my lips and I let the ash burn my legs. She grabbed my free hand and held it in her warm, small hand. I could feel the tears rise in my eyes, so I closed them.