In My Veins

I've Got A Story And I'm Trying To Tell It Right

Danielle finds herself aimlessly wandering around the small convenience store across the street from the hotel. She sighs when she feels her phone vibrate in her back pocket for the third time since leaving.

It’s Este calling. Again.

“What?” Danielle snips when she answers the phone.

“Where are you?”

“I’m still at the store,” Danielle whispers in frustration. “I told you the last two times when you called.”

Este huffs on the other end. “Well get your ass back here. I don’t want you out by yourself for too long.”

“Okay,” Danielle mumbles with an eye roll, sliding her phone back into her pocket. Este’s not going to let her or Alana go anywhere ever again. She sighs and continues to peruse the shelves, trying to find something to bribe Alana with. Her face practically lights up when she spots the Percy Pigs. She grabs five bags and hurries to the counter before Este can call her again.

The cashier tries to make small talk but Danielle’s not really listening. She’s staring out the window and does a double take when she spots Ricky lingering outside the shop. He’s angrily pacing around (with a black eye) and yelling on his cell phone.

“Anything else?”

Danielle shakes her head and looks back at the cashier. “What?”

“Anything else?”

“No.”

When she doesn’t move, the employee stares at her oddly. “You alright, miss? You’re not one of those patients who escaped from the mental hospital up the road, right?”

Danielle doesn’t respond. She’s too busy staring at Ricky.

“Oh my god. You are.”

“What?” Danielle finally responds. “No. Do you know that guy out there?”

“He’s a loser,” the cashier responds cattily. He rolls his eyes and studies Danielle as she intently gazes at Ricky. “Total junkie.”

That’s all Danielle needs to know. “Okay, thanks.”

She takes a deep breath and lingers around the slurpee machine just in case Ricky remembers her as Alana’s sister. But he seems too preoccupied with his cell phone conversation to notice. She carefully slips out of the store unnoticed and rushes across the street.

Este looks like she’s about to call the cops when she finally arrives back to the room.

“Finally!” the elder girl shouts in relief. She shuts the door behind Danielle and triple checks to make sure it’s locked.

“What’s wrong with you?” Danielle asks. “Are you having a breakdown?”

“Our little sister got jumped,” Este says matter-of-factly. “Do you think I’m going to let that happen to you?”

Danielle gives Este a reassuring hug and decides it’s not worth nitpicking at her over protectiveness. She tosses the bag of Percy Pigs down and peers around the living room curiously. “Where’s Alana?”

“In the bedroom,” Este all but whispers. “Just staring into space. Listen, I have to run and meet Dan, okay? I’m going to have him cancel everything for the rest of the week and make sure nothing gets out. Will you guys be okay?”

“Yes,” Danielle says smugly, giving Este a thumbs up. “I promise to lock the door after you leave and not let any strangers in.”

“You’re a bitch,” Este laughs, gently pushing Danielle’s shoulder. “I’ll be back soon.”