"What the hell" I knocked over Alex's lamp, which crashed to the floor with a shatter.
"Jay, I- I mean, this is not what you think" Alex grabbed her green throw pillow to shield her bare chest- don't know why, nothing I haven't seen before- and started to stutter again.
"Shut up! Just, shut the hell up! What were you thinking" I pointed at him. "If you say anything, I will rip your eyes out, right here, right now."
Toby looked at me with a shocked expression. Actually, he looked like he was going to shit his pants- if he had any on- and just cowered in the corner of Alex's bed.
Usually, the knowledge that I had just scared the crap out of someone gave me a sense of accomplishment. Not today. Not after finding geek patrol with my girlfriend.
Well, now ex-girlfriend. "You are such a bitch! I can't believe you" I punched her wall, which left a small hole in the drywall. My hand hurt like hell- I was probably bleeding- but I didn't care. "Slut" I screamed as I tore down her stairs. I slammed her front door behind me.
I climbed into my Accord. As I slammed the door shut, I saw the lillies I had just bought for her. I left them in the car by accident. Good thing, too. I threw them out of my sunroof as I sped away, almost red-lining my car.
I had been driving for about an hour when I realized that it was dark already. I didn't know where I was, and there weren't any street signs. I didn't recognize this part of Toronto, I realized. I was really shaken up by what I had just seen. Geez, Alex . . . and that nerd. I couldn't beleve it! I didn't understand it. How could she?
All of a sudden, I saw a figure in the road. A girl. I slammed on my brakes and jerked the steering wheel as my car started to slide on the wet pavement. When did it start raining? I thought to myself.
My car slid to a stop. I quickly got out, leaving the engine still running, and hurried over to the ditch. The girl was lying there. Did I just kill somebody? I asked myself. No, I reasoned, my car didn't hit her. I reached out my hand and leaned down. Asked if she was okay. No answer. She reached up and grabbed my hand. I pulled her up. She put her arms around my neck, as if to hold herself up.
I was face to face with Paige Michalchuk. I let go of her in my state of shock.
"Ow! Ow ow ow" She held onto my neck harder, almost pulling me down in the ditch.
"Hey, let's not strangle me here" I was concerned about her, but didn't want to go flying into the ditch. I mean, she was covered in mud and bits of grass. Through it all, it was funny- I had never seen Paige look less than perfect. Right now, however, she looked, well, real. Not all perfect and plastic. Real. And, real dirty.
She made some snide comment. I considered leaving her here, but- believe it or not- I actually have a conscience. It ended up with her in my car. I turned up the stereo so that she couldn't make some snide remark about my car or my attitude or whatever she wanted to degrade me about, but I decided that, if we were stuck together, we might as well try to get along. Besides, I was lost, and if she could point me in the right direction, that would be cool. Not that I'd ever admit that to her, or anything.
No talking. Fine. I wasn't going to admit that I didn't know where we were. "I'm hungry" I said, and pulled into the little roadside diner on my left. I'd never heard of it before, but I figured, hey- they must be able to give me some directions. And, I was hungry. She gave me an icy look. "Hey" I started"I'm hungry, and you're stuck with me. Deal with it."
"How can you think of food at a time like this" Paige sat up, then winced in pain. "Well, maybe they'll have some ice. My ankle's not getting any better in here" she muttered. I saw her reach down to rub her ankle.
I pulled my car into the parking lot and cut the lights. I had just shut the engine off when I heard Paige say"ooh, pretty" I looked over and saw her holding a lily. I wanted to snatch it from her hand- it made me think about the earlier events at Alex's house- but I stopped. Her face was streaked with dirt, her perfect clothes were caked in dried mud with strands of grass clinging to her jacket and hair, and- judging by the amount of whining and crying she was doing over her ankle- she was in some pain. And, the flower made her smile. Not her usual condesending, I'm-better-than-you smile, but an actual smile. There was something about that innocense that shone through her usually snobby face that reminded me of my little sister. It made me feel like I almost connected with her. Almost.
"Okay, Princess, put the flower in your hair and let's get something to eat. It will go with all the grass that's already in there."
She rolled her eyes at me, but I saw a faint smile. "How do you propose I get from your car to the front door"
I sighed. "Can't you hop"
She looked at me with this are you serious? scowl on her face.
It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Okay, piggy back ride. Take it or leave it."
I hoisted her on my back. "Here we go" It reminded me of when I used to take care of my sister. I caught myself making airplane noises. Paige laughed, her mouth right next to my ear. "Jay Hogart, making kiddy noises while giving me a piggy back ride? I never thought I would see this day." She shook her head, her blonde hair swishing on either side of my face. It smelled like pineapples, or something.
"Okay, going down" I said, and she stood on her left leg, holding onto the door for support.
What just happened? I asked myself. Did I just spend two minutes with miss high-and-mighty and not want to kill myself?
Never thought I'd see the day.