Absent

Chapter 6: Not-so-charming stories

Whatever got into me and crashed my prudence is forcing me to climb into his motorcycle.

"Well? Am I a kidnapper to you?" Alex asks. I shake my head, because that's not why I'm hesitating. Then again, why am I hesitating?

I sigh, but ultimately jump in behind him and place my arms around his waist. I hear the hint of a laugh, but not pay attention to it. He drives far away from Bellavista, and against all appearances, I'm comfortable with him, and not at all scared.

Until I notice where does he make a turn.

"Prison?" I say, with my head against his neck, so I'm whispering to his ear. He forgot to bring his helmet.

"Yeah."

I hold on tighter to him, wondering what could we possibly have to do in a prison.

A sign reads Prison Facilities in this area. Then another: Please do not pick up hitch-hikers in this area. They're almost warnings so we don't continue, for us to turn around, for me to forget about Alex. I just swallow my red-alert instincts.

We arrive to the prison and almost instantly my mood dies and I feel trapped. The entrance building is covered with guards wandering around with loaded guns, with tools in hand, and flashlights for the night. One of them, as threatening as the rest, comes to search us.

"Reason for your visit?"

"My father's an inmate. I'm here for the monthly visit."

"And her?"

"She's my step-sister."

"Is it true?"

"Yes." I answer quickly. He steels a glimpse at me, but doesn't question this.

"Identifications."

We present them to him (luckily I always carry it with me.) He runs some tests and we fill some papers. He allows us to advance, with a guard at our heels. I have no time whatsoever to ask Alex about what we just said, so I remain silent as we walk through corridors to the cafeteria.

Another guard speaks with the one that was following us. They talk under their breaths the whole time.

"Harrison Magalski!" He calls for a man in orange suit, with his hands on handcuffs. A fourth guard unlocks this, and Harrison Magalski walks towards us in one of the tables.

Magalski... Where have I heard that before?

Harrison Magalski wastes no time in presentation, already knowing his son. So he speaks only to me.

"Who are you?" He asks with a hoarse voice.

I look at Alex for confirmation. Am I supposed to tell Harrison Magalski the truth? Alex nods his head.

"My name's Heather Peacock."

"Peacock... Yeah. Are you the Peacock that I struck with my car?" He asks accusingly.

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah... Yeah, it was you, wasn't it?"

"You were the drunk driving the car?" I respond, comprehending at last.

"Well, hell yeah I was, and you're the fucking reason I'm at the prison! Fuck you, child-"

"-Dad, enough." Alex tries to calm his father down, but Harrison Magalski is standing up and facing me. I'm shocked. He could kill me in one movement, but he prefers to insult me verbally.

The guards notice the disturb and in a second they're around us, pushing the man back into his cell, probably gaining hours of punishment for his behavior.

I let Alex carry me away, because I'm lost in thought.

He drives us back to his house. The cook from last time notices something weird about me. "Where you two been at?"

"I took her to meet my dad."

That wakes me up. I free myself from his grip, and fight to catch my breath.

"Why the hell didn't you mention this before?! Your father is Harrison Magalski!" I scream at him, pacing across the bakery shop. He understands my need to be the one accusing.

"Heather, we just met. But I've been waiting all this time, waiting for you to wake up to bring you to my father. You deserved to see each other," He responds, a little too cocky.

"I needed to decide that! You took me there blindly, but it needed to be my call! I won't ever go back there." Then, I realize.. "So we weren't dating? Why the hell would you lie to me! And what the hell was that about testing how much I remember?" I could destroy every furniture in this establishment if he doesn't answer right now.

"I just wanted to see how your memory was doing, that's all. I would've just told you who my father was if you weren't so... Easily confused by lies. It was a test, and you failed, so I had to hand you the truth in the most direct way..."

"-You make no sense! And now I just can't trust you in anything."

He seems ashamed and taken aback, but I'm too mad at him to stop. I turn around before this fight continues and decide to return home, where no one gives a damn about me; where I can be invisible; where I can forget about Alexander Magalski.