AH MAH GAH! Those were the most agonizing 4 months of my LIFE! Sorry to leave you all high and dry! On another note, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to those who celebrate it! I, for one, will be stuffing my face shamelessly tonight to celebrate my thankfulness for all of you taking the time to read Daunting Silence! I'm excited to kick out this chapter because I'm overly eager to get to the nitty gritty of this story.
Shouty shouts: lalalalee, SouthofNowherefanatic, goshNyike, LoLo06, Alicexangelx, themoojournals, Birdseyeview17, booIczu, me4son, and SkittleMeThisSkittleMeThat... Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! :D
Rambunctious shouts: My rockin' beta, River. R (you're the best, grasshopper!), Carrie: I almost peed my pants when I saw your review!! You're my ff idol!, letsbefrankimawkward: happy dances all around! hopefully no more physical impairments! :D, southaholic-KairiSD, SoNFANFOREVER, mutt009, lone fenix, and DushkusBitch: got nothing but UBER love for you guys!! Thanks for the long-term support!
So, as Coca-cola would say... Enjoy! :) 11.26.09
Disclaimer: I don't own South of Nowhere or the characters. I don't own Coca-cola either LOL... and hopefully no one out there is a Sigma Chi Theta (I googled to make sure it wasn't a real frat/sorority... but ya never know)...
To say I'm exhausted would be a grave understatement.
I tossed and turned, with unanswered questions and my own speculations running through my mind. And I don't think it was until maybe 4 in the morning when I sufficiently wore myself out from all the tossing and turning that I finally fell asleep. An hour after that, I was dragging myself out of bed for work. It didn't even feel like I slept for at least five minutes.
When Donny and I work the early shift together, we don't have to say words when we see each other. A nod, a grunt, a sigh, a head shake, and an eye roll are all that compress our thoughts into easily understood gestures…
I walk in through the front a few seconds after Donny turns the café lights on. He nods at me to acknowledge he sees me. No smile. I grunt to say it's too early. He sighs in agreement and shakes his head, as to rhetorically ask me why we're stupid enough to take this job. I roll my eyes to ask him if we have any other choice.
Donny's already starting up the brewers when I come back downstairs from putting my stuff away in the cubby. He knows the routine: he puts the espresso machine on, mixes the dark liquid with ice in a shaker, and pours the elixir of life into the small sampler cups. I am not a nice person without my caffeine. And I must say that working for a java house definitely has its perks (no pun intended).
He makes enough for three espresso shots each. Something's off though. Something's different. Donny's mind was troubled. Angry and hurt maybe. But he's making it quite difficult to read him, especially at this time of day. I know he's holding something back.
"What is it?" I asked.
"About Friday…"
"Yeah?"
"I think we should talk about—"
"I'm sorry," I interrupted. "I shouldn't have put all my drinks on your tab." I scrunched my face sheepishly.
"…Oh." Donny paused. "No, that's okay." He hesitated and I knew there was something more. I cursed myself for getting so shit-faced to not remember much from that night.
"That was it, right?"
"What?"
"That's what you wanted to talk about?"
"You don't remember?" He scoffed, and I couldn't believe how naïve I was to believe it was all about the liquor.
His thoughts began to play in my head like a film reel... and I immediately felt like an asshole…
"Hey!" Vanessa stepped between Melinda and me. "You need to let it go!"
"Fuck you!" I pushed her. Vanessa raised her fist and before she could swing, Donny wrapped his arms around my waist and dragged me into an empty booth in the back. Melinda and Madison immediately pulled Vanessa in the opposite direction.
"What's wrong with you?!" Donny stood over me as I rolled my eyes carelessly.
"Wha's wrong with youuu?" I slurred. "Why're you gonna defend that bitchhh?"
"You're making a fool out of yourself, Spencer!"
"No… I'm not." I shook my head rigorously, which made me a little dizzy. "I can't belieeeve you chose their dumbasses over meee," I pointed at myself, "your bessst frrriend!"
"This isn't about me choosing…"
"You're a shitty fucking friend, you know that?"
"I'm a shitty friend?!" His eyes grew wider as mine shriveled through squinted lids. "You drowned yourself in alcohol, made a scene, and made this day about yourself… when it's my girlfriend's birthday. I'm trying to do damage control for your ass and…"
"I didn't ask for your help," I pushed his shoulder.
"Don't push me, Spence!" He pointed down at me.
"Get outta here, Donny," I flicked my wrist at him, avoiding eye contact. "Shouldn't you be taking care of your spoiled ass girlfriend anyway?" I grabbed a half-empty martini glass in front of me and, without hesitation, chugged the room temperature vodka in it. Who knows whose drink it was?
Donny shook his head in disapproval… and disappointment. He leaned in close.
"I should be. But I'm stuck watching out for my pissed drunk, temperamental friend." He said so slowly, yet sternly. "No wonder Melinda cheated on your sorry ass."
"Fuuuuck… youuuu." I carelessly flipped him off as he turned to find Sarah and leave.
I blinked slowly, snapping out of his thoughts. He stood there quietly, his face slumped.
"Donny, I am so sorry. I don't even remember that happening!" My frown mimicked his. "I didn't mean anything I said. I swear!" I insisted at defending myself and saying anything to salvage our friendship. "You're not a shitty friend. I'm a shitty friend. I shouldn't have…"
"No, Spence," he sighed, "I was shitty for bringing up Melinda. I shouldn't have said that."
"I deserved it!" I knew I sounded overly dramatic, but I didn't care.
"No, you didn't. She's a shallow person with no morals who hurt my best friend." He shook his head in shame. "There's no excuse for me throwing that in your face. That was such a low blow, considering how hard it's been for you lately."
"Don't worry about it." I shook my head and grabbed his shoulder in comfort. "I just hope you can forgive me for word-vomiting a bunch of hurtful things I didn't mean, especially about you and your relationship with Sarah."
"Did you mean it?" His eyes pleaded with mine. "Did you mean what you said?"
"Donny," I shook my head, "I can't mean it if I can't even remember ever saying it."
"They say the truth comes out when you're drunk."
"That's hardly the truth… and that's unfair." I paused to compose myself, feeling like I'd been backed into a corner. "I love Sarah as much as I love you, Donny. You're good for each other and she makes you happy… which makes me happy. And that's the truth. Nothing else."
He nodded, letting my words sink in.
"I was an emotional wreck spurred on by alcohol, desperately trying to cover up the pain. You, of all people, know that nothing remotely rational would come outta my mouth that night."
"True."
"So, please forgive me?" There was a fair amount of silence between us before he spoke again.
"Forgiven," a small smirk formed at the corner of his mouth as he gave me a reassuring nod.
"Hug it out?" I stretched my arms. I'm a sucker for hugs!
"Sure," he laughed as he embraced me tightly. I felt less of an asshole… but an asshole's an asshole nonetheless.
I'm never drinking again.
"You're the bestest best friend I've ever had." I mumbled against his shoulder.
"I know."
"And I love how humble you try to be," I giggled, "even if your mind is so cocky!" We let out of our embrace.
"You know you can talk to me whenever you want, right?" He squeezed my shoulder.
"I know."
"I mean it, Spence. Even if you have to rant for the millionth time about how much you hate Melinda's guts and how you want to punch Vanessa in the ovaries, I'm here to listen." He reassured. "That's what best friends are for."
I laughed. "Of course."
"Shall we?" He smirked, raising an eyebrow at me. "Drink off?"
"They're espresso shots, Donny." He managed to get me to laugh so much this early in the morning. "Not tequila shots."
"Then what are you afraid of?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Why are you always trying to compete with me?" I grinned competitively. "You've never beaten me at anything involving drinks of any sorts."
"Then put your money where your mouth is and let's race." He arranged the samplers in two rows of three. "Loser washes down and cleans before second shift?"
"Ha!" I stuck my hand out and he gladly shook it. "You're on!" We stood with our hands at our sides and I could hear The Good, the Bad and the Ugly playing in his head. Cue imaginary tumbleweed tumbling by.
"Ready, get set," Donny paused, but I could hear his thoughts so clearly, "go!" My hand reached for the first cup maybe a millisecond before he set us off. Ah, the beauty of mind-reading! I always get some type of head start knowing when the gun's gonna go off.
I threw back the first shot just as he brought the first cup to his lips. He's messing with the wrong woman! When it comes to competition, I win. I always win. You just can't beat me! I felt my hair swish against my cheeks as I threw back the second and third shots. I slammed the last cup onto the countertop and threw my hands in the air, jumping up and down like a giddy little teenybopper.
"I win!" I shoved my index finger in his face. "You lose!" Wow, those espresso shots really kick your ass into gear!
"You cheated." Donny finished his last shot and began clearing the countertop.
"What?" I looked at him naïvely. "How'd I cheat?"
"Oh, come on!" He returned an incredulous look. "You know how."
"I don't know what you're talking about or, in this case, what you're thinking about." I said so smugly before skipping my way into the storage room. Apparently the delivery truck came late last night and the night shift before only stored away the perishables. Lazy bums didn't put everything away! So I sat on the floor and began stacking non-perishables on the bottom shelves, organizing the flavored syrups, and tallying everything up while Donny took the chairs down from the tabletops.
I started to reminisce about the day we first met…
It was Halloween 2006. The Sigma Chi Theta's were throwing their annual masquerade party. They might as well have named this holiday "Dia de los Sluts!" I went with Madison... or should I say, the French maid. And in true slutty fashion, I went as a naughty pirate. Two of our dormmates, Olivia who was dressed as a school girl and Tonya dressed as a cowgirl, came with. We were on a mission to meet some fine-looking frat boys and expand our social circles. I mean, c'mon… it's the thing to do as a freshman!
When we got to the frat house porch, we were greeted by Mr. Incredible and Batman. They sat on the porch next to their large wooden Greek letters, sipping their Budweisers and mentally preparing themselves not to look entirely stupid in their drunken demeanor. And in a sense, I was mentally preparing myself not to lose brain cells reading their stupidity.
"Hey ladies," Mr. Incredible stood up in such messy swagger, "wanna hang out with some real superheroes?" He swung his arm around Olivia's neck.
"No, thank you," she scoffed and pushed his arm off as we continued to walk right into the dark abyss of black lights, strobe lights, and blaring booty-popping music. The entire foyer and living room was swarming with a sea of characters, from Playboy bunny and male nurse to slutty Tinkerbell and Fred Flinstone, grinding and pop-locking to Gold Digger by Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. We made our way to the kitchen, where a man in a large gorilla costume poured us a round of Jager bombs and another round from the keg. Everyone else in the kitchen was too busy with the beer pong tournament.
This tourney of beer pong intrigued me, namely because I've never played it (and after that night, I swore to myself I'd never do it again), and because it wasn't strictly beer, which was being poured in the clear cups. There were a few blue cups filled with Patrόn, Jager, and Stoli; there was also a single red cup filled with Everclear.
Anyways, we took our Jager bombs and had our beers as chasers. Madison was on a mission to steal this firefighter away from a Playboy bunny on the dance floor. Naturally, Olivia and Tonya followed suit as wingwomen. I waved them off, finding the tourney absolutely entertaining. Apparently, it was boys versus girls. Playboy bunny #17 (because I swear there had to be a million of 'em scattered around… which makes sense because bunnies mate like crazy!) and devil chick in red spandex teamed up against banana man and Luigi. The girls were losing horribly, probably because it's a requirement that you must be awesome in beer pong to be a Sigma. And once you're a Sigma, they probably make you practice beer pong every single day, even in your sleep… just like Forrest Gump, minus the paddle, plus the liquor. Team Girl hardly got the clear cups; they were drinking from all the blue ones. It was apparent that the guys they were smoozing over between drinks, one dressed as a police officer and the other dressed as a naval officer, had no other intentions than to escort the ladies upstairs and show them their nightstick and battleship, if you get my drift.
Behind them, I noticed a girl dressed as an electric socket and a guy dressed as an electric plug. Every time he plugged himself into her socket, the light bulb on his head would light up. It was hilarious, since he went around chasing her with his plug. The way they were acting (and thinking), I knew they were exclusive.
I was suddenly caught off guard with the large gorilla, who was making a sad attempt at dancing with me slash hitting on me.
"So… pirate, huh?"
"Yeaaaah…" I smiled politely.
"Sweet." He started to bob his head and sip his beer to Bubba Sparxxx's Ms. New Booty. He crept up into my personal space and tried to dance with me. "Wanna dance?" He pulled down his mask and started to dance more erratically, making it worse by howling and pounding on his chest.
"Uhh… In a minute?" I heard loud cheering and a ruckus coming from the tourney table, but the gorilla man cornered me against the refrigerator so I couldn't see what was going on.
"Aww… c'moooon!" He let out inaudibly from behind that plastic mask.
"I need another drink."
"You know you wanna dance." He attempted to grab me.
"I'm just gonna—"
"Hey pirate chick!" The electric plug wrapped an arm around my shoulders. Usually, I'd feel offended that someone had the audacity to be all up on me, but I read his thoughtfulness in trying to save me from King Kong here. "We need another for beer pong. Interested?"
"Absolutely!" I grinned as we walked away from that crazy ape.
I figured I learned enough of beer pong by watching. I made my way to what seemed was the challenger's side of the table. The electric socket girl standing next to me was all wobbly and giggly, and I immediately concluded that we were going to lose.
"Alright!" The electric plug man announced to the whole room, which had nearly become as packed as the foyer and dance floor. "We've gotta fourth! Pirate chick!" Everyone cheered as I smiled sheepishly. I cringed, watching people refill cups on the table.
"Ladies first." He handed the ping pong ball to his girlfriend. "Here you go, sweetie."
She stumbled back and threw the ball, which bounced right off the table. I shook my head as the crowd snickered. Her boyfriend retaliated with a bounce of his own that landed in a blue cup filled with Stoli. The crowd roared as socket chick hesitantly brought the cup to her lips. She took one sip and then bolted for the door to blow chunks in the backyard.
"I guess we lose." I shrugged
"No no no! You'll just have to pick up the slack for your team," he said so smugly.
"I don't know about that." I cringed. "Shouldn't you be taking care of your girlfriend anyway?"
"She'll walk it off."
"Come on!" Wobbly Luigi spoke up. "Think of it this way: you're representing womankind! Show us what you've got!" The crowd roared, finding reason in his inebriated taunts.
I never back down from a challenge. With determination, I took the ping pong ball and threw a fastball right into a blue cup of Jager. Beginner's luck! But, the electric plug downed it like water. Luigi bounced the ball and missed terribly.
After fifteen minutes of misses and beer chugs, the crowd started to get distracted by people doing keg stands a few feet away. I felt a little buzzed after the two cups of Patrόn and one cup of Jager. The table looked pretty even on both sides, red cups still full. One more fastball into a Stoli cup took drunken Luigi out for the remainder of the game. Electric plug guy started to look as buzzed as me. I tried my best to look as sober as a nun. It probably worked since I heard someone else tell the plug guy, "dude, she's still standing! Get the red cup."
With one quick toss, he threw the ball right into the red cup as if it were his job. Everyone roared in amazement, now diverting their attention away from the keg as I shot the Everclear. They were even more amazed to see me still standing without a wobble or a flinch. I carefully tossed a bounce and watched the ball clank against a clear cup and fall into the blue cup of Patrόn. Everyone cheered again at my nearly perfect throw as he picked up the cup. He cringed and shot the tequila. Moments later, I saw him convulse and yack into the sink.
"Girls win!" A group of girls in Hooters uniforms jumped up and down. "You go girl!" They congratulated me.
The men of the crowd clapped and cheered, still in awe. I turned towards the living room and stumbled my way through, looking for my friends. I could feel the Everclear creeping up on me as I trudged up the stairs. Everything seemed squinty and blurry. I saw bunnies with their cotton tails all up against their dates' crotchular regions, people were making out against the walls and railings of the balcony, there were three-way make-out sessions happening on couches and what not… and all I could do was giggle at what looked like a low-budget orgy. Making my way down the steps was easier said than done. But I still couldn't find my friends. Maybe they got lucky.
I decided to sit out on the porch and enjoy the cool night… and my growing buzz. It didn't bother me that, at the time, I hadn't found a guy worth getting to know. But that was all about to change…
"Pirate chick!" I heard someone yell from the door. The electric plug guy slowly made his way to one of the empty lawn chairs situated across from me. He sipped from a water bottle and often cleared his throat, looking at me inquisitively.
I slouched back lazily. "I'm druuuuunk."
He bellowed in laughter. "Can I get you some water?"
"Nah, it's cool." I looked around and started to feel my buzz take over. "Where's your girlfriennnd?"
"Oh she's probably out back, sleeping it off." He smirked and drank more water. "Wait, how'd you know she's my girlfriend?"
"Kinda obvious." I lazily pulled myself upright after nearly falling off the side of my chair. He seemed quite entertained in just watching me balance myself on a pretty sturdy lawn chair, which at the time seemed to be wobbly as hell.
"What's your name?"
"Ssssspencer," I firmly nodded with such conviction.
"Nice to meet you, Spencer," he reached out and shook my hand. "I'm Donovan. Donny for short."
"Like Donny Osmond?" I giggled like a goober.
"Yeah… no." He sipped more water. "So… good game in there, Spencer."
"Good? It was GREAT!" I threw my hands in the air. "I beatchuuu." I waved my finger in his face. "Both of you!"
"Hey now! That was our second round of beer pong. You had a head start on us."
"Excuses, excuses."
"Whatever you say," he scoffed. "What're you doing out here by yourself anyway?"
"I dunno." I shrugged, starting to find it difficult to hold my head up. "Just getting some air. I think my friends bailed on me." I felt myself get drowsy and oddly content with just sitting in that chair, not even considering how I was getting back to the dorms. I shut my eyes for a second.
"Spence, don't fall asleep here." He gently shook my knee.
My eyes jutted open when I heard someone stampede through the front door. It was the girlfriend… and she didn't seem too happy to see her boyfriend with his hands on me.
"Sar—"
"DONOVAN! What the HELL are you doing?!" She glanced my way and gave me a snooty look. "Who the hell is this skanky ass?"
"Excuuuuuse me?" I glared back at her.
"Mind your business, instead of being all up in mine! I'm talking to my boyfriend!"
"You forgot to check your attitude at the door when you checked your coat." I snapped back.
"Sarah, calm down. It's not what it seems." He stood to face her, knowing well enough that she was too intoxicated and infuriated to think rationally.
"Oh?" She bobbed her head and crossed her arms with such attitude. "So you didn't just leave me all passed out with Ryan so that you can run off and talk to some girl?"
"You're over your head, babe."
"Take me home," she pouted, finding herself on the brink of having an emotional outburst… which was odd because I thought she was already having one.
"Sure," he made his way towards the door to get his belongings inside, "as long as we can take Spencer home, too."
Sarah was infuriated.
Needless to say, we got started off on the wrong foot. She eventually got over the issue and was able to open up to me as a friend, though I sometimes get the feeling that she's jealous over my closeness with Donny. But neither of us can help it. He's always been such a great friend to me. Always looking out for me since day one.
"Four seventeen is your total." Donny's voice sounded from outside as I heard someone ruffling for change. "Can I get your name?"
"Ashley."
Hmm...
Wait… what?!
I immediately jumped up, but didn't realize I was sitting on the floor way too long. My foot fell dead asleep. I lost my balance and tried to grab onto the shelves.
Bad idea.
I forgot Charles, our cheapo boss, purchased those flimsy metal racks he got on sale at Costco… and never secured them against the wall. So what happened was I pulled the entire rack down towards me and watched as it fell over like a big tree chopped at its trunk. It didn't occur to me until what seemed like hours later that I was about to get crushed by this massive thing. So I (barely) dove out of the way, but not before one of the corner beams had hit me upside the head.
I lay there with this stinging sensation from my forehead, my ears ringing from all the clatter and commotion.
"Spence, what the hell happened?!" Donny rushed to my side.
"So you heard, huh?" I covered my face in embarrassment.
"And we kinda caught the show." Another voice filled the small storage space.
"Maybe I can file for worker's comp or something." Maybe I am nothing more than a disease-toting, illiterate klutz.
"Don't move!" Donny noticed me trying to get up. I looked at him strangely. "You might have a concussion or something."
"That's not likely. She doesn't exhibit any symptoms." Ashley shrugged. "Just a bump on the head."
"Hello?" Another customer's voice echoed from outside. Donny jumped to his feet, uncertain on whether he should attend to me first.
"Go. I'll be fine."
"Okay, uh…" he turned to Ashley, "you seem to know what you're talking about with concussions and all. Can you help her up and make sure she's okay?" He was already out the door before she could protest. Her eyes then panned towards me. And she stared at me with her arms tightly crossed and with such hesitation… much like how an inexperienced parent would stare at a waling baby, trying to figure out how to appease the darn thing.
Except… I'm not waling… and I'm no baby!
"I'm fine." I sat up and brushed coffee beans and sugar packets off of me. When I attempted to get up, I felt strong yet gentle arms lift me upright.
"Um…" She continued to stare at me, as if she couldn't figure out what Donny meant by making sure I was okay.
"I'm fine." I said a little more assertively as I straightened and patted down my apron. "Don't worry about it."
I walked up the stairs to Charles' office, grabbing the first aid kit above one of the filing cabinets and setting it down on a chair in front of a mirror by the door. I noticed a thin line of blood trailing from a quickly-forming bump at the corner of my forehead.
Footsteps slowly approached and there she was, leaning into the doorway. Her eyes danced around the room before quickly glancing in my direction. I started to get suspicious. Does she know that I know?
"Can I help you?" Awkward silence persisted as she continued to stare at me, my eyes fixed on the first aid kit as I removed a disinfectant cloth from its tiny package. I was still grouchy over our last encounter when she practically accused me of having the swine flu.
"You should be more careful." Umm… okay, thanks?
"Really… I'm okay!" I unconsciously flailed my arms, which only caused some of the box's contents to scatter onto the floor. I was about to pick them up when I noticed her advance.
"Are you always this strung up?" She grabbed the small cloth from my hands.
"No… not always." I jeered defensively, still confused as to what she was doing here.
"Must be that weird sickness you've got." Ashley furrowed her eyebrows. Her tone was soft, but her words were insulting. It was hard to tell whether she was being serious or not, since she didn't bolt for the door.
"Ha-ha." I mocked mundanely.
"Shh… hold still." Ashley gently dabbed at my cut. It stung, but I never flinched. I stood still like she asked me to, just staring into those brown eyes that seem to draw me in. They're so dark. So empty.
I watched as she attempted to rip the band-aid out of its packet. At this time, I figured she just felt obliged to do what Donny told her to… not because she actually wanted to.
"I got it." I snatched it out of her hands. "After all, I wouldn't want you to catch anything from me." I huffed sarcastically as I looked into the mirror and aligned the band-aid over my cut. She remained silent. I noticed from the corner of my eye that she was staring at the blood-tainted disinfectant cloth in her hands. "What're you doing?!"
"Nothing." She looked up at me with such relaxed eyes before quickly tossing the cloth into the trash bin.
"Okay…?" I proceeded to throw away all the empty wrappers. Before I could clean up the mess on the floor, she broke the awkward silence.
"I guess you could say that vulnerability intrigues me."
"How so?"
"And not just yours, but people in general." She leaned against the wall, her brown curls falling lightly around her shoulders. "They cry, they sweat, they bleed. Everything's much more real because each moment can be the last. Doubts and fears and uncertainties of life exist… because of the certainty of death." She stared off into the distance. "It's fascinating."
I couldn't pinpoint the source of her brief, yet random monologue. And I think I'm just about tired of killing brain cells trying to figure her out…
"And what about you?" I stood right in front of her at close proximity. Maybe it'd help me read her? I don't know. It's worth a shot.
"What about me?"
"Aren't you 'people' too?" Yes, I used air quotes.
"Well… yeah." I could tell she was caught off guard with my apparent intrusion. "I'm just saying." She shrugged.
"Saying… what exactly?" She looked at me like a madwoman. And I'm pretty sure I know why – my eyes were wide and bulging out in my failed attempt to intimidate her like those FBI agents do in their interrogations.
"I don't know. I figured I'd share a random thought that relates to that speech you made in Weihmeier's class about clinging onto the concept of death when there is no tangible answer to it other than the fact that it simply happens. Figured I'd incite your opinion, but never mind." She furrowed her eyebrows. "Are your eyes okay?"
"Yeah," my eyes returned to normal size, panning down to my feet as I frowned in slight disappointment, "they're fine."
"Alright, well," she backed herself into the hallway, "I gotta get going. I'll see you around." Her words were quick and soft.
I shook my head, feeling like a complete fool because A) maybe I am reading too much into this and B) the espresso shots were really starting to give me the jitters…
But secret option C) says I'm not crazy! I know what I saw… drunk driver + seemingly normal Ashley = really bad accident. But for some reason, drunk driver + seemingly normal Ashley = seemingly normal Ashley + hospitalized drunk driver and wrecked car + crazy Spencer. Just doesn't add up right. I knew algebra would be useful for something.
I ran down the steps in such haste and looked around. She grabbed her coffee and left. Then I heard the backdoor slam shut.
I practically flew out the back and let the spring door shut itself. Felt like I was possessed by the caffeine because I really didn't know what I was going to say when I saw her…
And I did see her. She wasn't too far, but she was making her way down the alley pretty quickly.
"Do you, uh," she stopped and turned her head in my direction as I breathed heavily, "do you know what happened out there on that street?" I gestured.
She turned completely around, her left hand resting in her pocket. Ashley took a deep breath as to brace herself for something. I'm not sure what.
"No," she let out a sigh, "care to enlighten me?"
"I was hoping you'd tell me." I blurted, still catching my breath.
"I'm not following."
"Stop playing stupid with me, Ashley." I took a few steps closer, lowering my voice. "I saw you last night… on the street." I took a moment to observe her body language. But she surprisingly remained unmoved. "What the hell happened? How are you still—"
"Alive?"
I sighed in a moment of gratefulness that she wasn't denying it at least. "Yeah."
"Just a miracle I guess." She shrugged.
"Oh come on," I rolled my eyes, "really? I could've sworn you were pummeled by a speeding drunk driver and hurled into the air a few yards, only to violently collide with the scathing pavement… and you walked away from it without a scratch. That's more than just a miracle, don't you think?"
"What's it to you anyway?" She sipped her coffee.
"I need to know."
"Why?"
"So I know I'm not crazy."
She shrugged.
"Why won't you tell me?"
"I have no reason to." She scoffed, but calmly spoke in a straightforward manner. "I don't trust anyone but myself anyway."
"So," I sighed in exasperation, "what are you? Are you even human?"
"Of course I am." She laughed again and looked at her watch. "Anyways, I gotta get going. Nice talking to you." I watched as she walked towards the parking lot. "Oh," she turned briefly, "don't forget to ice that thing so it doesn't swell for too long. It might prolong your craziness." She twirled her finger at the side of her head, mocking me shamelessly.
"Yeah, whatever," I jeered. "Don't choke on your hodge-podge." That's as good of a comeback as I got… and sad to say I had to think really hard for that. After all… how much can someone diss a perfectly indestructible human being?
As I approached the backdoor, I noticed something gleaming from the corner of my eye. I looked to the left. And lo and behold, everything I ever needed to substantiate my craziness was sitting right there, perched on the corner of the café and facing the intersection…
The surveillance camera.