ON THE ROAD

Hallie

That day, we drove for more than nine hours straight.

We left all worries and heated discussions in Nevada and made our way to Utah in a cheerful mood. Maxine and I talked and laughed for hours, before she fell asleep, using my sweater as a neck pillow. I tried to keep my eyes on the road, but they were constantly drawn to her face, which looked so much more peaceful and careless when she was asleep.

I was slowly humming to a French song which, according to what I learned during the class I had taken in freshman year, was all about a man cheating on the singer (s/o to Avec elle by Marie-Mai, my jam when I was eight), when Maxine's voice made me jump:

« Remember when we went clubbing? »

« Yeah, it's been like six days. »

« It seems like an eternity... »

She paused for a few seconds, apparently thinking about the way our trip felt like we had fallen into a time capsule that made everyday go by so fast yet so slow.

« Bref, I want us to go back tonight.»

« Clubbing? I don't think so... »

« C'mon, we had fun last time! Say yes, say yes! »

Her childish manners made me laugh.

« I liked you better when you were sleeping », I groaned half-joking.

« Great! We'll go at around ten. »

« I don't recall saying yes... »

« Well I do, maybe we would need to get you into the hospital if you keep on losing your memory... »

« If that meant not going to the club tonight, I'm all for it. »

« Please? »

Of course I would agree to it, we both knew it. Maxine had a pouty mouth, trying to make me pity her, but her sparkly eyes showed she knew the outcome of this conversation. I was tempted not to go to prove a point - which point, I don't know - but I remembered the fun we had last time and couldn't help but shake my head in agreement.

"Great, we'll have the time of our lives."

If foreshadowing was as obvious in life as it is in movies, I would've never entered that club.

_______________________________________________

Things were good for less than five minutes before everything went south, like birds migrating for winter.

"I'll go ahead and get us something to drink", yelled Maxine to me to be heard over the loud music blasting from voluminous speakers.

"Virgin for me!"

"You're a virgin?"repeated Maxine.

"No alcool in my drink, please."

"I have no idea what you're telling me. I'll bring you back a sex-on-the-beach!"

I rolled my eyes as I watched her leave. She walked like she owned the place but had no idea what to do with it. Her shoulders were drawn back, her chin held high, but her fierce look was in opposition to her hesitant walk.

I stayed still, an obstacle for rocking bodies, for a minute. Two. Three.
When she had been gone for over six minutes, I started walking in direction of the bar. I looked around to spot a mass of dark hair, but could barely see anything with all of the lights blinding me. I walked towards the restroom and my heart dropped to the floor. My throat felt dry, my tongue felt heavy, my head felt dizzy.

Her back pressed against the wall, Maxine was teasing a tall man with a quirky smile. She pretended to lean forward, before purposely turning her head to mutter words I couldn't understand into the boy's ear. I wished I wasn't disgusted. I wished I wasn't disappointed. But most importantly, I wished I was surprised.

My feet felt glued to the floor. I could feel the world moving around the me, but mine was frozen still, focused on the scene in front of my eyes. When Maxine pushed her tongue down the man's throat, the same tongue that had been teasing mine less than twenty-four hours before, I felt like I was going to be sick. I pushed my way to the door and ran down the stairs. It felt way better to escape with her hand tucked in mine rather than alone with tears streaming down my cheeks.

It felt as if ever since I had admitted my feelings about her to myself, everything went wrong and she kept on tormenting my heart. The sound of my heels echoed in the silence of the night and, after running for a few minutes, I let myself sink to the floor. My back was pressed against the same wall as Maxine's was. She was somewhere, on the opposite side of the wall, moaning somebody's name and I wished so badly I could trade place with him. I knew I was foolish to be needy of a girl like her who would never give me any stable love, but my heart was weak and no gym membership could make it stronger.

My sobbing covered the sound of his first few words. When I looked up, I saw through my tears a tall man all in black.

« Sorry? »I asked.

« May I help you? »repeated the man.

« No, I'm alright. »

He walked one step closer and I instinctively tried to back off, but the wall forbid me to get any further. The man's eyes were glossy and burned with a flame that I didn't like.

« Are you scared baby girl? »

« Don't get any closer to me... »

« Baby girl, don't be scared of daddy. »

His words made me realize how empty and hollow this alley was. He walked closer to me as I was standing up and grabbed my shoulders.

« Let go », I squeaked.

« Oh, trust me, when I find a girl like you, I ain't letting go. »

His voice was sickly sweet.

I tried to escape from his touch, but in a blink, he turned me around and put one arm around my throat and pressed his other hand over my mouth.

« How does it feel to be so helpless? »

I was furiously trying to get his arm off with mine before he could choke me to death, but I was too weak. At that moment, I wished I had listened during my defense techniques class.

« It's just you and me baby », he muttered into my left ear.

And I fell into unconsciousness.

When anyone tries to teach you defense techniques, please listen. I wish nobody would ever have to use them, but unfortunately there are crazy beings everywhere. You'll gossip about the pretty boy later, better be prepared than sorry.