high tide (J.M)

lock and shriek

As Arlo stirred awake she yawned. The girl stretched out her limbs and reached for her phone which sat on her night stand.

Mindlessly she went to check social media only to discover she had no service.

"Fuck off." She groaned putting her phone back on her night stand.

The girl sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the wall for several minutes before actually standing up. Once her bed was made she went into her bathroom.

She showered and got ready for the day, doing what she could to avoid having to actually look at the hurricanes aftermath.

But she couldn't wait any longer so she opened her windows and pushed aside the shutters.

Trash, tree limbs, soaked shores, metal, and  plenty of other debris decorated the land now. Arlo closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the salt smell wavered in the air just barely.

Not wanting to be stuck in her room anymore, Arlo headed straight for her door. But it didn't budge. Confused, the girl moved around the lock, nothing. She rattled the handle several times, still nothing. She now slammed her body against the door while turning the handle but nothing changed.

"Mom! My doors stuck?" Arlo yelled.

Arlo's bathroom door had gotten stuck before due to crooked doorways and the house shifting. She just assumed somehow the storm caused the house to shift.

"Mom! Hello?" She now gave the door several loud smacks.

"LET ME OUT!" she practically shrieked.

Her heartbeat sped up. The girl had a problem with being trapped in places or not being able to leave. She had a habit of walking out or away from things she didn't like.

An hour had passed and Arlo was panicking and stuck in her room.

• • •

John B and JJ had just gotten ready for the day when John B made a quick decision.

"We should invite Arlo." He said.

"What? Why?" JJ said confused.

"It wouldn't hurt." John B said.

In all truth and reality, the boy just wanted to know what she buried but also why she was so secretive.

"Uh okay?" JJ gave the boy a look.

And so the two drove to Arlo's before heading out on the boat.

Once parking they walked to the front door where JJ rang the doorbell. It only took a few moments before the door was opened.

It was Ms. Claimont with an obviously fake smile.

"How can I help you boys?"

"Uh, we were wondering if Arlo was home?" John B smiled.

"Uh yeah, she's up in her room. I'll go get her." Her mother gulped before heading up the steps.

The boys shared a look.

As Arlo's mom unlocked the door she quickly rose to her feet and watched the door handle twist before opening. It opened painfully slow and Arlo quickly went to run out.

But instead her mother harshly grabbed her face.

"Don't say a damn thing." Her mother muttered with threatening eyes and Arlo nodded as best as she could.

"Honey some of your friends are at the door for you." Her mother said with a smile and normal voice before letting the girl go.

She practically sprinted down the steps and to the door.

"Uh hey." She said playing it off as if she were confused, not thankful they were there.

"You want to go out fishing in the marsh with the crew?" JJ smiled trying to play nice.

"Uh, I don't-" she began but John B cut her off.

"Please Arlo, just once, we won't take no for an answer." John B said with a grin.

He leaned onto his knees pretending to beg.

The girl normally would have said no, but the possibility of getting locked up again was overwhelming.

"Okay okay, fine. I'll go." She said embarrassed by John B's theatrics.

"Yes!" He cheered.

"I'll change really quick." She laughed and headed back upstairs.

The girl headed to her closet and stripped out of her jeans and ratty t-shirt. She tied on her black bikini top and bottoms along with some old Levi shorts, sandals, an old baseball cap and a white T-shirt. She grabbed her phone and wallet before shoving her small switchblade in her pocket.

The girl quickly rushed downstairs and out the door.

The two boys turned to look at the girl.

"You ready?" John b grinned.

"Unfortunately." She joked.

The boys and Arlo walked across the road and climbed in John's beat up Volkswagen.

It smelled like marsh water and weed but Arlo didn't mind all that much.

JJ turned up the radio while he sat in passenger and John drove. Arlo closed her eyes  and took deep breaths.

Nothing was wrong, she was just trying to enjoy the moment. Trying to remember how it felt in that warm second.

As they arrived at John B's, JJ opened the door for Arlo and held out his hand for her to take. She held his hand for stability before stepping out of the van but quickly let go. The three walked to the boat. This time John B offered a hand to help her.

Arlo sat at the front of the boat enjoying the view while the boys stood at the steering wheel.

Arlo couldn't really hear anything they said until the approached the docks of the cut and JJ started walking around the boat.

" Sure hope Guffy's boat didn't sink. He doesn't have insurance." JJ said.

Arlo turned to look at the boys as they spoke.

" Yeah." John said mindlessly.

"Hi, Miss Amy! You guys get through it?" John B called out to a woman on one of the docks.

"Still here." The woman replied

"She totally looked at me." JJ grinned

"I saw it." John B responded before shaking his head at Arlo once JJ turned.

The girl laughed a bit but quickly resumed to her usual quiet and mysterious front.

"Dude, look at this place."

"Agatha, what did you do?" JJ said louder than necessary.

"She is a crazy lady."

"Hard-core." JJ nodded.

The boys continued talking but the girl paid no mind.

She was too busy in her own little world.