Crash Chapter 1
A/N: This takes place about 15 minutes after the end of the previous one.
Jill's POV
'I wonder Randy is?' I wonder aloud.
'He's probably just stuck in traffic or something. Don't worry, he'll be here soon' Tim replies from the couch, where he has been for the past hour, watching TV. This of course leaves me to take care of packing water bottles, putting gas in the car, buying film for the camera, and other such things to prepare for the concert and the trip to and from the concert. In short, it's just the typical story of being a wife.
'We interrupt this broadcast to bring you news of a wreck' I hear the TV announce suddenly.
'See there honey, this is probably why Randy's late getting here' Tim says.
'We now send you to our man on the scene, Daniel Randolph' the anchor man says.
I walk over behind the couch, and watch as we get a bird's eye view of the scene of the wreck.
'The wreck happened just about fifteen minutes ago, so we obviously do not have any news yet on the victims other than one of them is dead, and one is in critical condition and has been removed from the scene by medivac. The only other piece of information we have are the following numbers from the sedan's license plate: 7439. The first three numbers and/or letters cannot be identified. If you know anyone with these numbers, please call the police. Back to you Joe' the man, Daniel Randolph, reports.
'Oh my God! Tim, those are Randy's license plate numbers!' I shriek.
'Okay, just calm down now Jill, just because those are 4 of the numbers doesn't mean the other two are the same as Randy's. After all, there's…uh….let's see…well…there's several possibilities for the other two digits' Tim rationalizes.
'I'm going to call the police anyway. Just in case it is Randy' I say, walking over to the phone.
'Oh yeah, and tell them what? Besides, didn't Randy just get new license plates?' Tim asks.
'Yeah, but he only got them a couple of days ago. Who knows whether or not he's changed them yet' I reply.
'Maybe I should drive over to his apartment and see if they're anywhere to be found. Yeah, I think I'll do that. Then if I find the new plates, then you can call the police, how about that? I'm sure the lines to the police are jam packed anyways. Just call me if Randy shows up while I'm gone' Tim tells me, on his way out the door.
'Okay' I say dejectedly.
I walk over and sit down on the couch to just try to sort things out.
Lauren's POV
Randy and I have been through quite a bit over the past ten years. We both went to Costa Rica together for a year. (Even though that was kind of a disaster, considering we got stuck there for an extra three months because of a huge hurricane). We graduated from high school together, went to college together, and then found a job where we're working together. Sometimes I wonder where I would be and what I'd be doing if we had never moved to Detroit from Milwaukee
'What's going on?' I say to myself (since no one else is here for me to talk to) as I look up at the TV screen. It looks like there's been some kind of wreck.
'… The only other piece of information we have are the following numbers from the sedan's license plate: 7439. The first three numbers and/or letters cannot be identified. If you know anyone with these numbers, please call the police…' I hear the reporter say. (I'd had it on mute up until now).
I think Randy's license plates were had 7439 in them. Maybe I should call his parents and find out.
I get up from the loveseat and walk over to the dining room table (which isn't a far walk in my small apartment), and grab my cell phone and press speed dial 3.
'Hello' Mrs. Taylor answers.
'Hi Mrs. Taylor, it's Lauren. Have you seen on TV about that wreck?' I ask.
'Yes. Please tell me Randy is still at your apartment' Mrs. Taylor begs, crying.
'Unfortunately he isn't. He left about 20 minutes ago. I just heard on TV about the license plate numbers. Weren't those Randy's?' I ask.
'Yes, but he did just get new license plates. Tim's on his way over to Randy's apartment to see if Randy has got around to changing them yet' Mrs. Taylor explains.
'Okay. Call me if you find out anything' I start to say, but am cut off by Mrs. Taylor.
'Hold on just a second Lauren, there's another call coming in on the line' she says.
So I wait for a few minutes, just hoping, praying, that Randy isn't involved in the wreck.
'Lauren' Mrs. Taylor begins, crying even more now than she was before 'Tim found Randy's new license plates in his apartment' she says in between huge sobs.
'I guess I'll get off the phone and let you call the police then. If you find out anything else, let me know' I say, starting to cry now too.
I close the phone and walk outside onto the small deck that I have. (Everything about my apartment is small).
I gaze out into the distance, off into the sunset, and wonder if maybe "goodbye" would have been a more appropriate phrase in this case for me and Randy to use, as opposed to "until next time".
A/N: This is one of only two total chapters that I have written and actually cried during the process. (And I'm not ashamed to admit it either). Not to be cruel, but I hope it had at least a minute emotional effect on you as well.
Sorry about posting this twice, but I posted the wrong version before. Hey, I'm human, right? I'm allowed one screw up, right?
Please R&R if you want more details on Randy's condition.
Thanks for reading.
Until next time:
-Yours truly, Randy Taylor