Nobody Likes The Gray Area

Finding Riley

After two hours, at 7, Huey pays a toll in New Jersey. Then, we stop at a visiting center for a break.

We both get out and stretch in the parking lot.

"We're back in Jersey," I say.
"We could've gone to get Riley before if I'd known his dumbass was Up North."
I laugh.

After using the bathroom, we get back in the car and take off again. This time, I take the wheel.

The skylines of each city we pass through is beautiful and unique, especially as we near Staten Island. Driving across the Brooklyn Bridge, we get a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty. I make Huey take a picture so I can post it on Instagram later (not that anyone really cares what I post).

By the time we make it into Queens, it's 9 o'clock and traffic is hectic. I quickly remember a vacation my family and I took to New York when I was eight. My dad also couldn't handle all the aggressive drivers and road rage.

Five blocks away from Riley's Marriot hotel, Huey looks at the GPS again.

"He's gone," he says.
"What?!"
"I can't tell where they went but it's in some alley a couple blocks away."
"OK," I release my breath with relief. "Maybe he's just walking around. I hope he's okay."
"He's not gonna be when I find 'em."
"C'mon, Huey, he's still young and adventurous."
"If you say so."

The GPS leads us to this supposed alley. It's hell trying to parallel park in all that traffic, but I manage to. We get out and go into the alley.

First, we see pink neon lights that read The Pink Diamond in cursive. Below that are a door and a bouncer.

I'm at a loss for words.

"...He's in a club?"
"A strip club," Huey corrects me. His face is stiff with suppressed fury.

Before the bouncer can see us, he takes my hand and pulls us away back to the car.

"How'd they get in?" I ask.
"They probably got fake ID's off Ed and Rummy or somethin'." He rests his chin on his fist to think. "...There's no other way inside. I'm gonna have to take out the bouncer."
"No!" I exclaim. "Are you crazy?!"
He rolls his eyes. "OK, fine."
"We should just wait for them to leave," I say. "Then..." —I glance to the side, wondering if I should crack the terrible joke— "we'll cash them ousside."

His face remains blank and unamused.

"I never wanna hear you make a Bhad Bhabie reference again."
I sigh, "It was a good joke."

We get back in the car. Huey reclines his seat and lies with his hands behind his head.

"I'm definitely not having kids," he says.
"Really?" I ask, concerned.
"I already have to chase Riley around. Imagine what it'd be like with a baby- Well, a baby wouldn't run away all the way to New York, but you get the point."
"I think if you had a kid, they would be really smart and mature." My eyes dance around. "...And cute."

He glances over at me and raises his eyebrow. Realizing how I sound, I become embarrassed.

"No, I didn't mean it like that! I just mean that you'd have a good child." I shrug.
"OK, Jazmine." He looks back up at the ceiling. "Maybe I'll feel differently over time."
"Yeah..."

I pull my seat back as well.

"Does Riley even have money to blow in there?" I ask.
"Hell no with his broke ass."
I laugh, "How did he even get up here with no car?"
"That's what I wanna know."

Lying in the front seat is pretty uncomfortable, so I crawl into the back instead.

"Come lie with me," I say.
"I've gotta keep track of his location."