The Long Road to Winter

Chapter 1

I awoke the loud blaring drone of my alarm clock telling me to get up and embrace the day like all the days before. It read 10:00 AM. I cut off the alarm and pushed my covers off revealing my pale half naked body in only by black boxer-briefs. I stood up and stumbled over to my closet and grabbed my clothes for the day. I then staggered over to the bathroom across the hall from my room. I took a quick 15 minute shower and got dressed. I grabbed my laptop bag and jacket and walked out the door locking it behind me. I walked down the porch steps and looked at my car, my brother's old 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle. That car was my brothers prized possession. On his death bed in the hospital he told me "Nathan, you are the only one I trust with her, I know you'll take care of her, please do." hours, just hours before he died and he was still worried about that damn car. I'd hope he'd proud of me if he was still around, hell he probably would have moved down here with me if he could have, but that was Sean for you. Always caring about others instead of himself and up for a good adventure. He was selfless to the grave. I walked over to the drivers side door and opened it. I threw my bag into the passengers side seat and sat down in the drivers seat. I turned the key in the ignition and the car roared to life. I shifted it into reverse and pulled it out of my driveway as I started my hour long commute to college.

I pulled my car off the highway just outside Lovingston at a Vito's Italian Resurant for meet a friend for lunch because it was Wednesday so my classes were all afternoon it was 11:30AM and my classes started at 2:00PM. I saw her walk trough the door, Mia Wilson. She was stunning. She strutted over to my table elegantly.

"Hey Nathan!" she said in an excited tone with her southern accent as she sat down "How have you been." she said.

"Hey Mia!" I said nervously scratching my neck awkwardly "I've been good, how have you been, how are studies"

"They're going we..." she began to say before being cut off by the waiter asking for our order.

He looked to be around 17 and did not seem to happy to be at work. His overall demeanor was in enthused and he had a not-giving-a-shit attitude. He was wearing a black beanie, a pair of thick rimmed "hipster" glasses, and a diamond nose ring that were both probably fake.

"We would like two beers and a large pizza." I said kindly.

"Whatever." the kid said as he walked to the kitchen, probably trying to sound "cool" and "edgy" for his friends in the wait staff. I looked back at Mia.

"What a brat." she said clearly annoyed by the kid's rude manner.

"Yea, that kid looked like someone had took a golf club to his fucking windshield, stole his Chainsmokers CD, and spilled his Starbucks caramel macchiato." I said mildly angered by the kid's rude manner. "And since when has it been cool to wear fake 'nerd' glasses, that would have gotten you bullied back in my day."

Just then, almost instantaneously Mia burst out laughing "Oh my god! You sound like a 80 year old man." she said almost in tears.

"Yea I probably should have worded that better, but am I right." I said laughing slightly as well

She started laughing harder "You really should have worded that better, but yes I see your point."

Just then the rude kid came back over with the pizza and beers and put them down on the table without saying a word

"Douche." I muttered to myself. 

"So, do you like the beer?" I said seeing Mia drinking the beer. It was some kind of Virginia brewed stuff I had never heard of.

"It's tastes prett..." she began to say before we heard a vehicle skid off the road. We looked out the window and saw the SUV coming straight toward us. I launched myself across the table grabbing Mia and pulling us both to the floor in front of the booth directly behind us. The Jeep Grand Cherokee slammed through the wall and knocked the table and all of its contents across the room. The SUV came to a abrupt halt when it slammed into the bar, knocking all the alcohol off the counter. I stood up wobbly legged, with adrenaline pumping through me I looked through the hole in the wall where our booth used to be then looked at the car and walked over to it. I opened the driver's side door. There was a man who looked to be around 40, he was slightly chubby, had a tan Carhart jacket, and he was covered in blood on the left side of his body. He lunged out of the car at me and slammed me down to the floor. I shoved wit all my might both kicking and pushing him off of me. I gave one heaving push and launched him into the bar. I quickly sprang up and grabbed a shard of glass off the ground. I shoved the glass into the balding man's head. The man went limp and fell over. I slid down on the side of the counter sitting down with my knees at my chest and put my face into my now bloody hands. what had I done, I had just killed a man in cold blood. Why the fuck did I do that? I started crying into my hands. Just then Mia grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet. I fell back down my legs giving out under me. I looked at my leg seeing a large piece of glass sticking straight through my left leg.

"Shit." Mia said looking at my leg. Mia lifted me again slowly and helped me out to the Chevelle. I limped up to the driver's side supporting myself on the hood of the car. I dug the keys out of my pocket and unlocked the door.

"You cannot be serious, you are not driving on that leg." Mia said looking at me like I was stupid for thinking I could drive my car.

"I can still fucking drive, what the fuck do you think, I'm disabled and can't drive now." I said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Yes that's exactly what I think Nathan, give me the fucking keys we need to go and you won't be able to press the gas without being in great pain and bleeding to death, you keep that first aid kit in the back, right?" she said. I nodded. "Good, patch yourself up and I'll drive us to your house." She said.

Finally I couldn't disagree, she was right so I reluctantly gave her the keys and limped to the passenger's side door and got in. The car roared to life and sped out of the Vito's parking lot, back towards Amherst.

What the fuck is going on I thought over and over passing by the wreckage scattered across the highway.