Dreams

16 - Erica

I got to my first class of the day early to talk to Michelle. When I found her, I walked up to her and got her attention. Before I could say anything, she stole the words right out of my mouth: "Hey, I haven't heard from Erica in a couple days, do you know anything?"

And by a couple, she meant 2. Which was very strange, because neither of us had even gone 12 hours without hearing something from Erica.

"No, I was just going to ask you the same thing. I think something's wrong," I replied, setting my bag down next to hers. "Are you free after school?"

"Yeah. We gonna go to her house?" Michelle asked.

"Yup. See you in a bit." I replied. We had a long time until 3:00 pm.

When the time came, Michelle and I rushed out of trigonometry and to my car, headed to Erica's house across town. It was a quiet ride, both of us worried and not in the mood to sing along. We arrived at her neighborhood, and turned onto her street, looking ahead to see if her car was there. Instead of her red '99 junker, we found a police car in its place.

"Should we go in?" I asked. Michelle nodded, even though we both knew we wouldn't be able to talk to her grandmother. I parked on the side of the road, and turned my car off. We got out and walked to the front door, in which the police officer was already standing with a stony face. She looked as if she had delivered bad news to one too many people today already. Michelle asked if it was a bad time to visit. The officer simply nodded and waved us off. Rude. We walked back to my car anyway, craning our necks up to see inside Erica's window, which was usually open. It was closed, and the blinds were shut as well.

Michelle got to the car first, and wiped a tear from her eye when she thought I wasn't looking. I pretended not to notice, getting in my own seat and starting the car. We were turning in the cul de sac when Michelle said, "So I know we agreed not to assume anything for our own sanity, but... Do you think she did it again?" I knew what she meant by it, I just didn't want it to be real.

"No, and you know we can't assume anything with Erica because she's a wild card. Sometimes she does things without telling anyone, and a police officer being at her house isn't that uncommon, so I think it's okay. Noise complaints are a real  thing in this neighborhood. If that's not it, then she probably just went MIA and her grandma freaked out," I said, trying to tell myself that was the truth as well. Michelle slowly nodded, not quite convinced. I didn't think she would be. I stopped at the end of the street.

"Have you noticed how quiet Lauren has been recently? I think she might know something about what's happened," I said, turning to Michelle. She nodded, staring into space. Out of the blue, she looked up and to the left.

"Go left. I think I know where she might be," she said, indicating the way with her hand. I turned, realizing what she meant as well. The cemetery. It was Erica's favorite place to go when she needed some quiet away from every loud thing in her life. I turned into the drive, going around the circle when something stopped me in my tracks. Erica's car was sitting its usual spot, right by the empty field on the south side. I parked behind it, and Michelle jumped out of my car, putting her hands to her mouth in shock.

Erica's car was absolutely destroyed. Scratched to hell, the back bumper crushed inward, and most of the windows were blown in. It was obvious what happened. Michelle inched around the left, and I went to the right side. No one was there. Michelle gasped in the corner of my imagination, and I looked through to her side, seeing what gave her the reaction. The steering wheel was slick and shiny, and I knew what had happened. I looked up at the sky and willed myself not to cry, but it was obvious I wouldn't get my wish.

Michelle ran over to me and hugged me hard. I could see her heart breaking for her best friend, and felt my own doing the very same. Briefly, the thought ran through my mind that there was no logical way for the car to be here with no driver, but I didn't act on it. Later, maybe.