Storm Warning

Breaking Ties

*Arielle*

                     It was an hour and a half into the drive when I had no more tears left to cry. The amount of strength that it took to drive away was almost more than I could muster. As I drove farther and farther away from the last of the people I love, my mind churned in turmoil as it threw image after image forward from my past life.

                     I walked in through the front door of the school with my wild red hair pulled back in a scrunchy, wearing a green summer dress, and green flats. Looking back, I can’t believe Sarah let me leave the house like that. I was a human embodiment of Christmas in August. I was so nervous about my first day of school back then and going into the second grade. As I stepped across the wide threshold of the school’s double doors, a tiny blonde-haired tornado chose that moment to rush through the doors, knocking me over as she went. In falling down, my little leg went out to the right as I laid sprawled on the floor and tripped this little wrecking ball so that she laid beside me on the floor. I expected her to get up and walk away in a huff, but instead, she crawled over to help me pick up my books, which had landed beside in all manner of disarray. She looked over at me with her hand out. “Hi, I’m Madeline. You can call me Maddie though.” I cautiously take her hand and shake it. “Sorry about this.”

                     We huddled together on the floor as we picked up books faded into an image of a girl and a boy talking in a hallway, and the memory was easily identified as the sixth grade because I could never forget that face.

                     I was standing by my locker swapping out Spanish books for the English ones that I would need in my next class. I was reviewing Spanish verbs in my head, which is how I missed his approach and his eventual presence. “Hi.”

                     I look behind me to find a star football player with tan golden-brown skin, honey brown eyes that sparkle in mischief, swooping brown hair, and an award-winning smile. “Hey.”

                     “I’m Derek.”

                     I smile. “I know that. I watch your games every week.” Derek raises a brow. “I mean, everyone here watches you play every week. Not just me.” Derek chuckles as the blush works its way up from the base of my neck to the roundness of my cheeks and, finally, to the tips of my ears. “Anyway, I am Arielle.”

                     “I know.” I look back at the star football player as he nervously rocks back and forth on the heels of his feet. “You going to the dance tonight?”

                     “Yes.”

                     Is he going to ask me to be his date? I smile to myself as I wait. “Cool.” My happiness quickly turned to confusion as he turned on his heel and walks away. Guess not. I shrug my shoulders in disappointment as the bell rings and hurriedly close my locker as I rush to class.

                     The confusion from this memory quickly turned to fondness as the next played across my mind’s eye.

                     Maddie was dressed in a royal blue evening dress that accented her pale face, her sparkling blue eyes, and her blonde curls beautifully. As she came around the front of the car, I couldn’t help but feel just as beautiful in my sleeveless golden spaghetti strapped dress that fell to my thighs as I went to meet her. The dress didn’t clash with my red hair, but offers a stunning and breathtaking contrast. We walk together to the school as Sarah sits in the car and watches us go. We walk into the decorated gym arm in arm to see silver and golden yellow stars strung in the air with the strings and the rafters hidden from view by black felt that was pinned up from wall to wall and a larger shimmery banner declaring “A Love for The Ages”. For a middle school dance, the effort that was put into this was astounding and worthy of applause. Maddie stalks across the dance floors with a target in her cross-hairs. I roll my eyes as I watch the fierce Madeline stroll across the dance floor and demands for the boy to dance with her. Wisely, the boy nods and is led to the dance floor. I smile and shake my head before my eyes bounce from face to face. Surprisingly, my eyes halt their face to face trajectory when my eyes find Derek from earlier already looking at me. Derek walks over to me and asks, “Care to dance?” With a nod, he twirls me onto the dance floor, and we all dance together on a shining silver star that covered the dance floor.

                     That was the night my own first love found me, but never knew it until high school. Still it was an epic love until senior year of high school. It was, in fact, a love for the ages. The memory shifts to one that occurred in Freshman year of high school.

                     The gym was empty except for the Meridian Sirens, a group of gorgeous cheerleaders that were fierce but also your typical big-headed types. Maddie had talked me into trying out with her after school during the first week back to school. We spent that entire summer practicing our tumbling, our hand stands, our back flips, and our chants. I don’t think I got any better, but Maddie kept saying I was doing great. As always, the auditions came and went. Maddie did amazing with her back flips and staring on rhythm with her cheers and was given standing applause. I, on the other hand, did not wow anyone and even managed to come away with a sprain ankle for my efforts. As expected, Maddie was chosen for the squad while I was asked to never do that again. She passed up that opportunity even though I told her not to do that. She said we’d find something that we were both good at.

                     Sighing deeply, I mourn the loss of my future with those two by my side, and I mourn the loss of what it meant to have them in my life. I, against all of my common sense and against my better judgement, send them one last text.

                                                                I’m Sorry!! I love you both!!

                                                    I wish you everything you ever wanted!

                     My Final Goodbye. I roll the window down as I hold the phone in my right hand. As the windows finishes its descent, I toss my phone out through its opening and watch as it bounces and sends broken pieces in all directions. There goes my final tie to my life in Meridian.

*Maddie*

                     It was an hour and forty-five minutes of sitting on the ground at the decrepit rest step in strained silence before my phone vibrated in my hand and snapped us out of our downward spiral. I unlock my phone and read the message.

                                                                    I’m Sorry!! I love you both!!

                                                            I wish you everything you ever wanted!

                     Arielle. And her final farewell. These are the last messages I will get from her. My best friend, my sister, my partner is crime… is running for her life as I sit here preparing myself to throw her to the wolves, or in this case, the police. If she can leave to keep us safe, we will just have to stay put to keep her safe too.

                     I nudge Derek and show him the text. “It’s official. She’s not coming back.”

                     He nods as he blinks away the gleam of tears. “Why does she still have her phone? They can trace it right to her.”

                     I smile sadly. “This is a good-bye, meaning she probably sent it, and then, tossed the phone.”

                     Derek nods. “She is smart. She’ll make it out alive.” I look at Derek but offer no assurances because he is hoping, but no amount of hope will help us here.

                     “Derek, how far do you think that she got?”

                     “Not far enough.” Derek looks over to me as I stare unseeing at the ground. “How are you doing?”

                     Without blinking, I continue to stare at the ground as it comes in and out of focus. “Not good. I feel like I last my family. No. It’s worse than that. I feel like I lost a piece of myself.”

                     “I know exactly what you mean.” He stares at his phone before sighing. “I want to give her more time but we can’t stay here all day. It’s been about two hours since she left. It takes about an hour to my aunt’s cabin outside of the town’s limits, and this rest stop is another two hours from there. That means, if we call now, they can get to us at noon or later. What do you think?”

                     “I think that we’ve been up all night, and I am emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted. Heck, I may be spiritually exhausted too. But if we call now, that still gives her a five-hour head start.” Derek nods. “Go ahead and make the call.”

*Derek*

                     The phone rings as I call 9-1-1, and I work up the courage to throw Ari under the bus as she requested. I can’t believe this is our life or that she is still trying to make sure we can live ours. She is one hell of a girl. I hope she makes it. Actually, it’s more than that. I NEED her to make it.

                     “This is 9-1-1. How can we help you?”

                     “Hello. I need to talk to Detective Marks with the Meridian Police Department.”

                     “Sir. This is 9-1-1. This is not a secretary service that redirects you to who you are looking for. So, why don’t you tell me what is wrong, and I will send some uniforms to you.”

                     “No! It needs to be Detective Marks. He is solving the murder of Sarah Chapman.”

                     I can hear the annoyance in the operator’s voice, and quickly, a booming male voice comes on to the line. “Hello. This is Kevin. 9-1-1 operator supervisor. How can I help you?”

                     “I need Detective Marks.”

                     “Okay. We will notify him! But in the meantime, is there anything we can help with?”

                     “No.”

                     “Is anyone hurt?”

                     “No.”

                     “Are you in immediate danger?”

                     “No.”

                     “Okay. Listen up. We sent him a message, but this is his direct number. I am only going to repeat it once – 2 0 7 7 8 8 2 3 4 3.” The man hung up as the dial tone sounding in my ear.

                     Shaking my head, I dial the number quickly before I forget it. The phone is picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”

                     “Hello. Detective Marks? I need your help. Maddie and I are stranded at an abandoned rest stop on route 302 about 3 hours southeast of town.”

                     “What happened?” There is rustling on the line as if he is pushing things aside and moving quickly.

                     “I would prefer to tell you in person.”

                     “Okay, Stay there. I am on my way now.” With a slam of a door on the line, he hangs up.