The Boy I Used to Know {ON HOLD}

Chapter Seven

Chapter 7:

About a week after the party, I was driving, on my way home from a long day at work, and my crappy car decided to die on me. The diner I worked at was a few towns over. Normally, I wouldn't have taken a job so far away, but the family of a classmate owned it, and I really couldn't turn down a nice-paying job offer. I worked my ass off there, but the tips were worth it. It was really small, and there was only one route from there to where I lived: a lonely road surrounded by woods.

I tried to start the car over over and over again, willing it to work, but all I got was the sickly sputter of the motor. Muttering a slew of not-so-lady-like words, I threw open the door and made my way to the front of the car.

I flipped the hood, and just stared at what I assumed was the motor. It was surrounded by other seemingly grotesque contraptions. I let out a scream of frustration, and kicked the front bumper, wincing as the cold metal made contact with the thin material of my shoe.

Now in terrible pain, I hopped to the driver's side and grabbed my phone off the dash. And because my luck was absolute shit, there was no reception. I took the key out of ignition, and slammed the door shut. 

Cursing the name of AT&T, I was on the verge of having a panic attack because I was stranded. In the middle of nowhere. I could feel the way-too-fast flutter of my heart in my stomach, and it echoed loudly in my ears. Tears flooded my vision, and it was getting harder to breathe. I tried to remember what I was supposed to do to calm my pulse, but my head was clouded.

Calm down, Alison. Just calm down. You can do this.

I lowered myself to a crouch, covered my ears with my hands, and put my head between my knees. I sucked in a deep breath, trying to hold it in

1, 2, 3, 4--

My breath came out in a sporadic rush, setting my heart on a collision course. I let out a strangled sob, and tried to focus.

Realizing that I needed to do this in order to avoid a heart attack or passing out in the middle of the street, I took another deep breath and tried to hold it in for as long as I could. It lasted a bit longer than the first try. I did this repeatedly until the drumming of my heart began to slow. I breathed in through my nose, and out with my mouth. In. Out. In. Out.

Eventually, my head cleared, and the unwelcome threat of tears subsided. I stood, my joints popping on the way up. I gave a long, sad look at my car, and turned around, facing the opposite direction. I could only see the few feet of road in front of me, the long expanse of the asphalt disappearing into the night.

May you rest in peace, you piece of shit car.

Seeing as my only means of transportation and communication were out of commission, I didn't have many options. I could either sleep in my car and possibly be killed, or I could walk until I found reception or a gas station...and possibly be killed. My boss at the pharmacy had told me that if I missed another day of work, I'd be fired. If I stayed here, I still wouldn't have reception or a working car. Though it would probably be safer to wait until the next day, I really needed that job. So I opted for walking.

Still a bit shaken up, I followed the solid white lines that ran along the center of the road. Feeling like a massive idiot, I limped along, really wishing I hadn't taken my anger out on my foot. 

                                              *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I saw the lights of the gas station a little distance away, and I was overwhelmed with relief. I probably could've used my phone by then, but it had died a long ways back. I had walked in complete darkness for God knows how long. My entire body ached, but it was my foot that was killing me. It was getting harder to walk. 

When I reached the door, my heart plummeted. The lights inside were off.

It was closed.

I pressed my face up to the glass to see if I could spot some sort of life, to see if maybe, just maybe, someone was still there.  

Those big lights were only on because it wasn't one with those pumps that only worked if you paid at the cash register.

I made my way over the the pay phones on the side of the building. The reason it wasn't the first thing I did was because I didn't have any coins on me. I was getting desperate. And Even though I didn't have change, I hoped, god did I hope, that someone had left a quarter or two in the change compartment.

No such luck.

I picked up the receiver and pressed it to my ear. Nothing. Not even a dial tone. I really was an idiot. I should've just stayed at my car. At least I would've been warm, and sleeping in a place with locks.

I could no longer walk home because the pain in my foot had increased ten fold. I was scared. I was scared, I was hurting, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it.

I sat down on the grimy concrete and cried for while. I just sat there and cried, my face buried in my hands. 

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I whipped my head to the side, and there stood Erik. 

"Al, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you for hours." he said in a small voice, his eyes filled with nothing but concern and relief. Concern and relief for me.

A tried to answer, but what came out was a throaty cry. He immediately dropped down next to me and wrapped his arms around me, and I couldn't stop the flood of tears as I sobbed into his shoulder, my entire body quaking.

Rubbing a hand up and down my back, he whispered into my ear. "It's okay, Al. I'm here. Please don't cry." 

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Author's note:

I apologize for taking so long to update. Please don't kill me.

You guys are awesome, though. Thanks to all you for reading, voting, commenting, and fanning.

I really do appreaciate your feedback, even if it's negative.

I'm just happy you bothered reading it at all.

xoxo,

CROOKEDHEARTS (Sierra)