Claws

Chapter Four

      "Alexis! Wake up!" Adrian sings.

"Itsmydayofflemmelone," I mumble into my pillow.

"It is your day off! It's my day off too! So we have to go do something!"

"Nooooo...." I groan, as he drags me off the couch. "I don't wanna! I wanna rest!" I pulled my beanie father down.

"Alexis, come on! Let's go to the beach!"

"What's the beach?" I asked. He took a step back and looked at me.

"Seriously?" Then a mischievous smile spread across his face. "You'll find out today!"

"Is this beach place safe for weirdos like me?"

"Well, most people wear swimsuits, but I have a feeling you're not gonna be in a bikini anytime soon." Adrian answered. I decided not to tell him I didn't know what a bikini is.

"Well, as long as I don't have to take off my mask or anything."

"Oh, uh... Well, it might be an issue... Um, what if we uh... No, I think we can still go."

"What?"

"Never mind. Go get in the car."

"We have a car?"

"Uh, maybe?"

"Adrian!"

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Now go, go, go!"

A few minutes later, I find myself inside a car for the first time. It has cloth seats, towels strewn on the floor, random trash piled up in corners, and is absolutely amazing. Adrian climbs in next to me and starts the car.

"Seatbelts!" he sings. He pulls a gray band from behind his seat and fastens it across his body with a click. I look behind my seat and find the same thing, and struggle just a bit with the click mechanism. Then we go, the radio on and blasting music.

Soon the landscape changes to a small town with wooden houses instead of the towering downtown skyscrapers. Then I see water up ahead, and Adrian pulls the car into a parking lot on a hill above the sand that touches the water. He reaches down, one handed, and releases his seatbelt with a pop. The gray band flies back behind the seat. I reach down one handed as well, and pull. But, uh, mine doesn't come loose. I pull harder. I reach down with both hands and pull. I look down, but all I see is a box with a red top that it fastens into. I loosen the seatbelt and jerk on it. It flies back against me, rubbing against my neck. I jerk forward out of desperation to get out, and the seatbelt stops me short.

"Adrian, help me!" I call. I don't know if he can hear me outside the car. But he comes over with a white cream on his nose and opens my door.

"What do you need help with?" He asks, a laugh dancing underneath his voice.

"I can't- I can't get out." I say, feeling stupid.

"Oh my gosh, Alexis. Here." He reaches across my body so close I press back into my seat. He presses down on the red part of the box, which it turns out is a button. My seatbelt flies back and smacks me in the face.

"Ow!" I shout, reaching my hands to my face. I find myself blocked by the mask. "Adrian, that wasn't funny!" Adrian is standing outside the car, doubled over laughing.

"I'm- Sorry I forgot to warn you!" He laughs, wiping away imaginary tears. I scowl under my mask.

"Whatever."