Where Are You Going Lindee?

PART 2 - MIKE

Mike was different from the other guys. 

He was around my age and he wasn’t as welcoming as the rest. He barely acknowledged my presence when Jake called him over to introduce us. All I got was a nod and a “Hey”. He didn’t even tell me his name much less look up from the drink he was holding in his hand.

I didn’t need more drama in my life so I quickly left him and went running after Jake.

“Hey, wait up!”

“What’s up, Lindee? Didn’t go so well with Mike?”

“The guy’s retarded, he didn’t even look at me. What’s his story?”

“Mike’s cool, he’s like a diesel engine, takes a bit longer to warm up.”

“Diesel pollutes the environment and we don’t need any more of that.”

“Whatever Lindee, chill out, have a few more drinks.”

And so I did. I grabbed the tequila bottle from Jake and started chugging it down. 

“Hey, slow down Linds! You gotta leave some for the rest of us!”

I looked at him, laughed and headed towards the other side of the room where the other guys were having a heated debate on which movies had the best soundtrack.

I stood on the table and yelled with a slight slur to my voice, “Shut up and quit your mindless debates! We all  fuckin’ knooow it’s Judgment Night!” 

I raised my bottle with a whoop and immediately, someone yelled  back: “Fuck yea, play that shit motherfucker!”.

That’s how it usually goes at one of these parties, someone puts on a tune that everyone can relate to and sooner or later we all get lost in the music together. More than the booze and liquor, I think this is the moment I look forward to the most. It makes us feel like a single unit and I find that reassuring.

A few seconds later, the familiar intro of Helmet and House Of Pain’s “Just Another Victim” began to fill the room and everyone started to bob their heads, throwing ridiculous mock gang signs with their drinks and cigarettes in hand

I took the opportunity to grab the empty couch and shut my eyes. I knew where this was going next…Sonic Youth.

I began to relax and lean back. 

After a couple of songs, I felt the weight of the couch begin to shift. I peered open my eyes and caught a glimpse of a bald head settling down on the opposite end. It was whatshisface…miserable diesel engine friend of Jake….Mike! Shit, just my luck and what the hell is he fiddling with? 

I decided to ignore him and pretend he wasn’t there. I took a long drag of my cigarette and grabbed the cold bottle of beer that was on the table. After a couple of sips, I heard someone mumble “Want some?”. I turned my head to the right and saw Mike with his mouth against a pipe that was almost as big as a muffler.

“What the eff man? How did you even drag that thing here? That is seriously the biggest bong I have ever seen! How can you even wrap your lips around that tip?” He looked at me with half-open bloodshot eyes and a knowing smile. “Don’t even start dude, I’m not like that.” 

He answered me with a “tsss!”

“Whatever, I don’t have time for this.” I slowly began to get up and leave but then he grabbed my arm gently and said “ Why you so touchy? I was only kidding.” 

“You’re weird.” 

“I know, so are you. Come here and keep me company.” 

“Fine.” 

He handed me the bong. I took a large hit and kept it in for a few seconds and then I began to cough uncontrollably. 

“Easy on that stuff girl, that’s some premium grade shit. One hit can get you blown.” 

“No way, I may be frail but I can hold my own”

“We’ll see.”

My eyes started to glaze over and I began to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. “This is some good stuff man”

“I told you”

“You’re not so bad after all…”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought you were an asshole but you actually might have some potential.”

He took a sip of his beer, looked me in the eye and replied in a dead-serious tone: “Lisa, I have more fucking potential than every prick in this room combined” and then he sprayed his beer all over himself and we both burst out laughing. 

In between breaths, I said “It’s Lindee!”

“What?” 

“My name’s Lindee not Lisa.”

“Okay, Lisa”

“You’re impossible.”

“Wanna get out of here Lin-dee?”

“What you have in mind?”

“Follow me.”

I followed him out the front door, across the front lawn. The weather was nice, clear clouds and a cool breeze.

“Where are we going?”

“To my bike”

I looked to where he was pointing and saw a street bike. 

“No way”

“What, all of a sudden you’re scared now?”

“Of course not, I’ve just never been on a bike before, I don’t know how to ride one.”

“Don’t worry about that, just hold on and enjoy the ride.”

“Okaay…”

“Hop on and wrap your arms around my waist.”

I don’t know if it was the weed but the moment my body leaned against his, I felt a strong invisible connection. I didn’t want to let go and I prayed for the first time after a long time that wherever we were going was far away.