Chapter 14
902 Words
I’ve been walking for a while and I got to be at least two miles from home. I have no clue what time it is but it’s been dark for a few hours now.
I spot a small diner on the side of the street and I decide it might be wise to take a little pitstop. If anything I’d love to throw my phone on the charger. It’s been dead almost an entire day now. Lord only knows how many notifications I’ve got.
“Hey honey, just one today?”
“Yeah, thanks”
The waitress guides me to a small little booth tucked in to the back of the diner and wouldn’t ya know it there’s a outlet right under the table.
I unzip my bag and fish the charger out. I’m reminded of how sore I am while I am reaching down to fumbling with the power cable.
The red battery indicator flashing on my phone as I wait patiently for the screen to turn on.
“Can I start you off with something to drink?”
I jump a little, startled by the waitress that snuck up without me realizing.
“Uhh yeah.. how about a coke?”
“Pepsi alright?”
“Yeah”
A little white apple logo beams brightly for a second across the dark glass and then a picture of my car appears with the time. 23:47…holy crap it’s already almost midnight?!?
*buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz*
35 missed calls. 15 texts messages…
I unlock my phone to see who has been trying so desperately to reach me.
Mom: 27 missed calls
Josh: 3 missed calls
And some unknown numbers… a few voicemails too. Hmm I’ll get there in a sec. Let’s see what’s up with my mom.
“Answer me now!”
“Pick up the phone is important”
“The police are here asking us questions about you. They need to talk to you”
“Please answer right now!”
“You are in so much trouble”
“Please call me immediately”
Yeah… that’s not good. I should probably call her but not here… she might be able to give me some information on what they are looking for me for.
Let’s see what Josh-
“Here you go sweetheart. How about something to eat?”
I shake visibly as I am again startled by her being as it is that I was so encapsulated in my phone.
“Oh! Yeah.. biscuits and sausage gravy, please. A couple pieces of bacon on the side if you would”
“Of course no problem. Anything else?”
“Nope that’ll be all, thanks”
“Sounds good! I’ll have that right up for ya”
Josh-
“Hey dude can you please come get your car out of my driveway? I had to take the Mitsubishi to work today because you left the catfish blocking my garage”
FUCK YEA!! My car!!? But why’d I leave it at Josh’s…? That’s almost 4 miles from my house.
My thumb taps the little phone shaped button at the top of our text conversation and I raise the phone to my ear.
Ring..
Ring..
“DUDE! Where the f**k are you? The cops came to my job looking for you today? The f**k did you do”
“Wait wait wait… looking for me?!?”
“Yes dude! They wouldn’t tell me anything but they said you are a lead suspect in something that happened in Eaglewood, and your DNA was found at the scene of the crime.”
My heart drops into my stomach. She lives in Eaglewood. The cop had the mask.. That wasn’t a f*****g dream last night I rap-
“Dude? You there?”
“Uhh yeah.. yeah. Hey look man. I don’t know about all that. I had a crazy dream last night and I went sleep walking I think…. Could you pick me up? I’m at Maria’s on 7th and front”
“I mean… yeah man.. just give me a few minutes I’ll be there. Yo.. you got your keys? I really need to move your car bro”
“What? My keys? Oh! Yeah my keys.. yeah. I’ve got em. See ya soon”
“Yeah.. bye”
The end tone of that phone call could have signified the end of my existence.
My worst fears are real. That wasn’t a dream at all. I fell asleep thinking about her and my body just… I… “oh f**k” I mutter to myself repeatedly..
Nervously I start running my fingers through my hair with my head cradled in my head. “s**t s**t s**t s**t s**t”
Okay just chill out. No one knows where you are.. you just gotta-
“Hey you go sir,” “-AHH!!! FU—“
I violently shake in my seat, my phone flinging out of my hand and crashing against the table.
“Oh my god I’m so sorry”
“No no it’s okay.. you’re fine.. thank you!”
She walks away obviously disturbed and a little confused.
I peer down at the food I ordered with absolute disgust. It almost makes me gag because of how sick and nervous I am.
*buzz*
“I’m outside” - Josh
Thank god!
I leave two 20 dollar bills on the table and quickly exit the diner.
- Writer
