FLORIDA, 2019
Buzzzzzz. Buzzzzzz.
What the, and I cannot stress this enough, actual hell.
I roll over to face my bedside table and lift my iPhone to see an unknown number calling me. I end the call and roll back to my normal sleeping side, glad that that moment of suffering ended as quickly as it started.
Buzzzzzz. Buzzzzzz.
Are you kidding me?
I roll back over to my phone and recognize the same unknown number that called me moments before. I glance at the time to see the harrowing numbers of 1:55 AM starring back at me. This better be good.
I answer the call, "Hello?"
"YOU ANSWERED!! YOU GUYS, SHE ANSWERED!!"
"And I'm about to hang up—"
"WAIT, NO, DON'T," They yell back into the phone, and I retreat from the screaming, "It's me!! Todd!"
"Todd?" I sit up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes with my free hand, "Why the hell are you calling me?"
"I have a reason, I promise," He pauses, "Uber is super expensive right now—"
"No."
"Hunter!!" He cries, "Please!!"
"Todd, it's about to be two freaking AM, I have church in the morning. Please. Let. Me. Go. To. Bed," I groan. I hear light shuffling on the phone and muffled yelling before a different voice comes through.
"How's it goin', Hunter?"
"Please let me go to bed."
"It's Nolan," He says. "Can you pretty please with cherries on top pick us up from this party?"
"No."
"Really? Be a lot cooler if you did."
"Just get an Uber," I say, looking up at the ceiling.
"They're charging forty-two dollars right now," He pauses, "But I have a feeling you would do it for free."
"Nope, forty-two dollars sounds reasonable," I continue, "Listen, I'm going to bed."
"Okay, wait, never mind I found my keys anyway—"
My heart stops for just a moment.
"I'm picking you up."
"Seriously?"
"You've been drinking. You're not driving home drunk. Send me your location."
"God, I love that song—"
"Nolan. I'm not joking."
"You're the best!! Thank you!!" He hangs up the phone and I'm left in my bed, slowly no longer regretting answering the phone because who knows what would happen if I didn't pick up.
^ ^ ^
"Hey I'm here where are you?"
"Inside!! Come in!1"
"Get your asses outside right now"
"Ok fine jeez"
I look at the text from Todd and put my phone down before roll down my window to face what I'm assuming is Marilyn's home: a modern mansion with tacky statues leading down their driveway to the front door. Partying college kids pour out of the front door. One couple makes out by a Greek statue of who I'm guessing is Aphrodite while a guy throws up in a bush ten feet away from them.
YOU ARE READING
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK || ONGOING
Romance"What are you doing here?" I look from the window to Nolan. The light from his bright phone screen casts shadows on his face. "Ummm, picking you guys up?" "No, no," he shakes his head, "like why are you in Pelican Cove? Aren't you in college? Don...
