A Daydream Away

Chapter 7.5: Car-ride Home

Reese's POV:

"I don't really know about you guys, but I have had a long day filled with my almost-girlfriend being electrocuted and men in suits chasing me out of a bowling alley, so I'm going home," I said about to walk to my car.

"Do you mind taking Travis home?" Tanner asked me. "My mom wants me to stop at the grocery store on the way home to pick up some tampons." We all just stared at him silently asking him to elaborate. That didn't happen.

I glanced over at Travis who seemed to be blushing. "Yeah, um, s-sure." I stuttered out. I walked to my car, Travis in tow. It was silent when we got in the car and I could feel his eyes on me as I pulled out of the parking lot. 

"Do you want to talk?" He asked very quietly. I looked over at him and he was looking straight ahead at the road in front of us. I turned back to the wheel to pay attention to driving. " I feel like we haven't been talking to each other like we used to."

"I know," I said with a sigh. "I mean, we've both been busy with other stuff," I said trying to give an excuse. "You know you're still my best friend," I told him with a laugh.

That didn't seem to be the right thing to say. He just scoffed and looked out the passenger seat window. This is why, ladies and gentlemen, I could never be a counselor in any life I could have had. I am probably the most oblivious person when it comes to how people are feeling. It's a flaw, but at least I can admit it. 

"Travis, talk to me. You know how stupid I am." I said giving him a goofy smile. "Wanna go to our place?" 

He smiled and nodded. With that, I made a U-turn and drove towards Lake Insomnia.

The drive was silent on the way there. Once I pulled into a parking spot at the lake, we began the trek to the small cliff we always sit at that had the perfect view of the lake and the city's skyscrapers. We sat in more silence, just taking in the view. 

"Have you heard anything about Tiffany?" Travis asked breaking the silence. 

"No. I texted her phone so whoever reads it can let me know something." I replied. I grabbed a blade of grass and started tying knots in it to distract myself from worrying about her.

"I'm sorry," Travis replied, placing a hand on my back in a comforting way.

Travis' hand is warm on my back, as it always is. Travis is the only person I know who can comfort me. I'm obviously super close with Tanner, Stella, and Nelly, but Travis and I have always had an unspeakable bond. We only met last year, our sophomore year, in gym class. We have a similar build, so the coach had us be sparring partners in a wrestling unit. Neither of us could stop laughing while wrestling which sent us both to detention at the end of the day and we've been best friends ever since.

"It's okay. Honestly, I just don't want to think about it." I told him. After a long pause, I asked, "so, got any ladies in your corner?"

Travis chuckled and just shook his head no. "You know who I would tell if and when I ever get a girl."

"Me?"

"Nelly"

I punched him in the shoulder. 

"Nah dude. You know I would tell you first." Travis joked. "To be honest though, with all the shit that has been happening in this fucked up town, I don't think anyone is really looking to go out with anyone."

I sighed. He was right. Whatever happened to Tiffany was not normal, and to be honest, I am determined to find out what is going on. I turned to Travis. "Travis. We need to figure out what happened to Tiffany."

Travis' eyes went wide. "Dude, it was a common wire shortage. I don't think anything specifically made it happen."

"But it's not just Tiffany. What about Claire Rogers? And what about what just happened at the bowling alley? The government doesn't just randomly start chasing a bunch of teenagers out of nowhere."

"Look I get where you're coming from, but I'm sure Nelly's dad will figure it out. He was voted as mayor for a reason."

I looked out onto the lake below us and processed what he was saying. I just don't trust the government right now. With everything that has been happening, it seems like they are just happy enough to just sit on their asses and let more shit like this happen. I was not about to just stand back and let more people get injured and die.

"You're right I guess," I told Travis just to drop the conversation.

He smiled and patted my arm. "Good." He chuckled. "Now can we talk about happier things? Like how amazing Nelly's party is gonna be coming up?"

I nodded my head and laughed. It's about to be a rager.

"So do you want me to drive you home now?" I asked him.

He stared at me for a while before averting his eyes to the view ahead of us. "Honestly, let's just chill here for a while."

I smiled and agreed.

And there we sat listening to the birds, the bees, and the unspoken truth that this is exactly where we both wanted to be.

***

-ABBATHA