Journey

Night on the Town

After five minutes of excuses we are back to the way we have always been, laughing and have the best of times. That is something that I have and will always cherish about us, our ability to bounce back as a team and hang out no matter the time apart, as if no time had ever passed at all.

An hour passes, and we talk to Rae and she becomes reacquainted with us and our ways. We all decide to call it a night at about 8 o'clock pm,  but Rae somehow ends up being coaxed into following us home and spending tonight and most other nights to come with us. As a makeup for the my always constant tension, and me and Es doling out the cooking responsibilities so that there is no more boxed Mac and Cheese, I offer to stay and pay, especially because I will get a discount.

"See you at home, text me when you get there and drive safe!" we say to each other as if it was our very last time seeing each other.

Five minutes pass, I pay the bill and am heading out from the bathroom when play a game of guess who with, with yup you guess it, Gilbert.

"What do you want?" I say in no mood for horsing around, since I am considerably tired.

" I could ask you the same thing." He replies thinking all high of himself for his witty, I wouldn't even call it word play.

"Bye, I hope to not see you later." I say like an angry sibling to another. And I make it five all to close steps to try to escape the green screen, green colored hallway of bathrooms, when he desperately reaches out for my hand. When he finds it he tugs me toward him, so that I have to peer up into his puzzling, light eyes. However so un-revealing.

He then says almost, am I mistaken, pleadingly, "Wait. Give me a chance to talk to you. All I ask for is 5 minutes and I will be out of your hair for tonight." 

"Fine, but I am counting every excruciating second." I respond meaning truthfully only half of what I say, the guilt of being so rude and curt eating at me.

"I do not even have time for a remark that is worth laughing about. I just to... the reason I was so...okay... Me, I was out of character every time except for the first time. It irks, yet makes my blood boil with curiosity  at how... at well, just you. My position in the field you are so taken on doesn't interest you, and the rarity of you have no dishonest gold-digging bone in your body. You although I have known you for a short span of time, are like having the first edition 'Grey's Anatomy' in my possession, and not studying it and keeping it well and on the best most esteemed spacious shelf. Keep in mind the analogy is of no direct correlation only a mere..." He trails off looking deep into my eyes as if he truly believes that they are the windows to the sole. 

Painfully and a little frightened I state, "Time is up, time for me to go."

In his eyes I find longing, with one of his hands on my back and one cupping the side of my cheek, I can tell he is having trouble letting go. As if on cue, I hear an unusual noise, registering as a large thud. It is then that my reflexes take over, and I knee Gilbert in the stomach area, and elbow him in the upper chest. At these blows he stumbles back hunching over. I swirl around in a fighters stance, ready to go on the defensive. I wait, and mentally say one-Mississippi, two Mississippi. Out of the corner of my eye I notice Gilbert approaching me, like a frightened animal that might attack at any minute.

He seems to be making some gesture, he takes a step forward me a step back. This goes on for what feels like forever, and then I hear someone come in from the emergency exit. I swivel to see who it is, but I am to late and am in the stranger 's grasp, with what feels like a knife against the middle of my neck. Eyeing my the whole time, it is like we are speaking in eye language. On the count of three, I one swallow my fear, two turn off my emotions, three elbow m attacker in  the rib area. The attacker drops the knife, which is quickly kicked away from. I fall right into Gilbert's well with in reachable arms. In all of this commotion i had been completely oblivious to the cops showing up.

Gilbert carries my weak body to the back seat of his car and I black out at that point.

When I wake up, I over hear what sounds like Zay and Gilbert talking. I can only imagine what happened last night, At least my clothes look untouched which hopefully means he was somewhat honorable. Oh, butterfingers, I never came home and the girls will be worried sick. Today was our one rest day before the trip. Oh brother pudger! I might as well listen in on their conversation while I silently dig for my phone so I am  not blindsided. 

I hear, blah blah blah nothing of interest, and then Bingo, I overhear Zay say it was just a stunt he arranged without Gillie, as he calls Gilbert,  knowing. It was to hopefully push me and "Gillie" closer. But why?