ON THE ROAD

Max

There I was, screwing up again.

It was past midnight and I was wandering in the streets, all alone. The chill breeze brought to me the smell of smoke, which was the sign that summer was soon to be back in California. Teenagers loved to pile up wood on the beach to create gigantic bonfires. Most years, someone would get hurt, but a severe third degree burn has never stopped anyone from having fun. I used to love attending those summer festivities, but I grew tired of spending my nights around American sweethearts.

One of these parties next to the ocean allowed me to meet Keith, my first serious boyfriend. He was everything I could dream of in a man: older, reckless and overall bad for me. The few months we went out together were enough to categorize me with the messed up in the eyes of our town and I liked the feeling of being accepted and loved by other outcasts.

Our short fling was passionate: we fought so much that I was constantly angry, but our love was so intense that it made up for all of the screams. We have never been on an official date, but he started calling me his girlfriend on that 4th of July. It was a hot day, where the air was so thick it could hardly enter your lungs. I arrived to the beach at ten and most of the little prissy kids were already passed out. I saw him instantly: laying down, eyes wide opened, in the middle of a sea of half dead bodies, idly smoking a joint, a bored look in his eyes. He didn't look at me until I rested my head on his chest. He didn't seem annoyed nor surprised by my behaviour but stared at me instantly with his ocean blue eyes. He asked me what I wanted but I didn't answered, simply stealing the joint from his fingers and inhaling the drug into my system. We left when there was nothing left to smoke and didn't talk much, letting our bodies discover each other. Four months later, I never saw him again. Four months later, I lost sight of what a full heart meant. Ever since, mine was always broken.

When I reached the park, my eyes could barely stay open. I managed to get to the closest bench and stared up at the stars for a few instants. Before I knew it, sleep had brought me into the peace of its stillness.

I woke up to the sound of birds mixed with a roar that I assumed was part of the dream I had just escaped from. I slowly lifted a lid and the sun burned my pupil. Still groggy from the short night I had, I jumped when a hand shook my arm.

"-Wake up Maxine."

I put a arm up above my eyes to protect them from the beaming morning sun.

"-It's time to escape this shithole."

A smile appeared on my face.

There she was, like an angel fallen from the sky, ready to save me. I had convinced her. Who said anger wasn't the right way the get what we want? The roar I could hear was the car that would allow me to leave this town.

"-Hallie... had a good night?"I asked innocently.

"-Get up, I want to leave before my parents wake up, it'll be easier for us to get out of town."

"-When you mean us, you mean me myself and I, right?

-Max, there is no way that I'll let your take my car. Let's go on an adventure.

-What are you talking about?"

I felt anger slowly starting to boil in my veins.

"-You were right, I need to learn what life really is about and I doubt I can do that here.

-You are not coming with me. No, there is no way. I asked for your car, not for a travel buddy!"

One of the things I used to love about her when we were kids was the way I could read every emotion she felt by looking into her eyes. That morning, I feared the look I saw.