She was so pretty, I wondered why people didn't look back at her. Of course, her beauty was more subtle than those girls with curves just where they should be and long silky hair, but she was indeed worth a second look. As we walked around the circus, I noticed how invisible we were. I had always been used to being known by everyone in my town and I never could go anywhere without being stopped at least twice by people who simply wanted to catch up. Here, I felt like the world swallowed us into its shadow. I shared my thoughts with Max.
« Yeah, isn't it nice », she answered with a content sigh.
« I mean, it's alright, but it's unusual. Would you rather live in a place where people don't even care you exist? »
« Hallie, you need to learn that nobody ever really cares about you and if they do, they won't show it to you by having small talk with you once in awhile. I would much rather have only two people who really cared and not having anyone else even know I'm alive than being known. If I was famous, I would probably kill myself. I understand the celebrities who overdose: they need a shitload of good stuff to forget how fucked their lives are. »
I stayed silent, swallowing her words.
« Hallie, are you scared of being alone? »
« Scared? No, not really. Do I like it? Definitely not! »
« Well, you'll need to work on that. »
« Why? I won't be alone. Remember, I'm not staying with you in New York, I'm going back to my friends and family. »
A strange look of pained amusement passed in a blink on her face, but I didn't try to analyse it.
« I know, Hallie. But, no matter what happens in the next few days, you'll eventually need to face being alone and if you've never practiced, you'll turn crazy. I've seen it and trust me, it's not a hole you want to fall down into. »
« You know what, I think you're right. My mother has no idea where her daughter is and she hasn't even tried calling me to find where I am! Same thing for my friends; Gracie has tried texting me a few times, but without any answer, she didn't even worry a little. And Rupi, she might as well have disappeared from Earth's surface. »
Another weird look passed on Max's face. This time, I didn't let it slip.
« Max, what's going on? »
« Absolutely nothing. Want to try the arcade? »
« Maxine, answer me. »
« Shut up Hallie, you're getting on my nerves. »
The thing that annoyed me the most was people trying to lie right to my face.
« Maxine Haragon, I'm so done with your bullshit and your shitty attitude! You're always hiding things to me, you're always mad, you're always treating me like an animal and I can't handle it anymore! »
« I don't have secrets Hallie! »
« Oh yeah, so you're sober? That's weird since I can still clearly remember the pills that fell all ove our hotel room on the first morning! »
Her face flushed out of anger and she stepped a foot closer to me.
« Fuck you Hallie! Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you! You've never lived anything: you have this perfect little life and you don't know what demons are... »
« Stop using the argument of my perfect life! »
A little group of people had started gathering around us to hear more of our argument. I hated the attention, but I would't let her go that easily.
YOU ARE READING
ON THE ROAD
Teen FictionHallie has never been the type of girl to run away from her problems... and she's never had much: good grades, religious parents and a small group of wise friends has made her the picture perfect girl. Maxine has never had that chance. Growing up on...
