Earbuds

Isn't what I'd Imagined

          Before I know it. Grace's mom is pulling into my driveway. My heart starts racing immediately. Maybe I do like her. Maybe it isn't so bad. I try to reason with myself. If I am gay, I'm staying in the closet where I'm safe. I will try to process everything later, but right now there are two people outside waiting on me. 

          I hop into the back of the car, right beside me is Peyton sitting in the middle. 

"How are you, Scarlett?" Grace's mom stops to turn around and look at me. She smiles and I smile back.

"I'm fine, thanks for letting me come over this weekend." Peyton remains motionless. I look at her to see she has been looking at me the whole time. I look back at Grace's mom. 

"Aw your welcome sweetheart. Now, we have a 30 minute itinerary to get back home. I hope you girls buckle up, cause they're saying there's going to be a bad storm ahead." Her voice suddenly becomes serious. I started to buckle then realized Peyton wasn't so I decided not to either.

          We just leave my street when Grace's mom turns on the radio and I'm taken aback at the horrible music choice. I notice movement from Peyton and quickly turn to her. To my surprise she is holding out an earbud to me. I take it and smile to her gratefully. She comes really close to me and whispers "I thought you might of lost yours again." I chuckle a little before nodding my head. 

          Grace's mom was right. It got real stormy real fast. Everything was peaceful, I was about to go to sleep when all the sudden I hear a loud scream. Peyton and I jump up but everything is happening to fast. All I see it a huge tree fall right in front of us and Grace's mom starts turning but it's all too fast. I was thrown on top of Peyton, we grabbed each other desperately. I think the car turned over, cause before I new it, my back was slammed against the top of the car along with Peyton now on top of me. We are both thrown to the side when we both hit the door and it comes off and we fall out onto the ground. 

          It hurt. The breath was completely knocked out of me, all I could do was lay there, paralyzed, then everything went black. 

          I woke up. The first thing I realize was the woods around me, and a long, unending road a couple feet in front of me. Then I remember everything. 

          "Peyton!!" I exclaim, the word jumped out of my mouth. "Shhh. Calm down, I'm right here." I turned around to find the girl positioned into a ball against a tree, no farther than 4 feet. 

          "S-sorry." I choke out than slowly sit up to take in my surroundings. I look at her, and she looks at me. After about 5 minutes of staring at each other, her facial expression changes. Then, I understand why. 

          "Where is Grace's mother..." I look at around in worry. "Alive, if she's lucky." I look at her and she gets up, walks over to me, and offers me a hand. I gladly take her hand and rise up.   

          "So, what now.." She asked, knowing I have not a clue. 

          "Maybe we start walking, try to find some help." Then the thought hit me. "Wait.. what day is it??" I looked at her as if to expect her to know. 

          "It's still Friday. You passed out after we fell outta the car.." I looked back in front of us. "Oh. Right. How-how long was I out?" She shrugged. "I lost my phone, but if I had to estimate I would say about 3 hours. It'll be getting dark soon." I look up to the sky. She's right. we start walking without saying anything. At least we are together, and alone at that, but this isn't what I'd imagined.