Lost Vacation

The First Encounter

After lunch, Maddie drop cute doc in his house, and the we hit the road. The weather 's nice, so Maddie let the hood of the car open, she chat nonstop the way. She's telling me about her family, her best friends, her exes, and her huge crush. I don't mind a bit she's the one to talk. Because let face it, what else we might talk about me? Until today I don't know what sugar suppose to taste. Gee, I am that f****d up.

Maddie told me, she lived in her parents house, but her parents isn't really around. They're busy people. Their company base is in new york city, so that's where they live most of the time. Maddie don't want to leave her childhood home, so she's staying in their old house. She lived there with her grandmother, but she died three years ago. And now maddie lived there with her faithfull housemaid, Mrs Hudson. Maddie told me she'd ask her parents to adopt me legally so I'll have my document.

" I'm sorry for saying this, but how do you plan to tell them  about me? You don't even know my name" I said. Doesn't she think it's going to have a lot of explanation?

Maddie puckered her lips before saying " Uhm...what about Justin. You're small and cute. Yes…that's fit you like a glove" She mumbled almost like to herself thinking. "What do you say? Do you like it?" she asked as she look at me.

Justin? Is it even a common girls name? Sounds like a boy's name to me. But, I shrug, and agreed. That's better then nothing, why not. "Yeah, sure "

Maddie's beaming before extending her fist " Hi,Justin. I'm Maddie. Nice to meet you. We'll make a great team"

I rolled my eyes but bump my fist to hers anyway. And we laugh together. Well, living with her wouldn't be that bad. She's ridiculous, in a good way ridiculous.

" Hey, Maddie. By the way, where are we? I mean... What city...what month...what year? You know, the basic" It was sounds weird to even my own ears. But what can I say, I know nothing.

" You don't know? Oh, of course you don't" She slap her own forehead "We're in Santa Barbara California, los angeles for that matter. It's August 2020. And we just got out of a nasty pandemic" she explained. I laugh at that.

" What so funny?" she raised her brow questiongly

" I don't know why am I asking. Turns out that words still mean nothing to me" I said before shaking my head. Maddie laugh at that too.

" Oh, I had a good guess, you know. I'm sure you might on your way to be an actress in hollywood or something" she wave hen hand still laughing.

" Did you just make fun of me? What's that mean?" Now she just being mean.

" Hollywood? Hello...That's the biggest place where American films being produced" She explain, as if that is so obvious. Well, not to me. " Oh" Was the only reaction from me, before I nod.

" Hey, come on, Justin... I'm kidding. I don't mean stating you're stupid or something. Just...forget I even said that, okay " Maddie look at me guiltily.

" I know. I know. I'm just thinking" I said.

" Oh-oh! That's not sounds a good idea. Don't push your self too hard, your head is walking in an Eggshel, remember? We have to walk before we can run, you know. That's what Uncle Lo said" Maddie said in her guilt trip.

" No no no, it's not that. Yeah, you're right, I'll just take it easy" I'm not sure how to tell her.

Maddie make a stop in a gas station. And then she got busy swapping her credit card and filling the tank. I sit tight, but absently looking in the rear view. A black SUV with a illegaly tinted glass stopped not far from the station. Doing nothing. Not even entering the station. Call me paranoid, but my guts keep telling me, it's no coincidence. I've been noticing that the suv has been trailing our butt the second we left the hospital parking lots. At first it just looked innocent, but then it never passed by. Even when we have our lunch and then god knows Maddie's been driving like a snail. It's always behind us, not really close but close enough for comfort, like it's been waiting for a good chance. Weird much? tell me about it.

I got out from the car, still keep on a close watch on the suv. I don't dare to turn, just keep an eye by the rear view. I won't spoil the chance for the driver to be aware of us knowing. Maddie still chatting happily, not even a bit aware of the situation. Which make it even good for aour situation. I responds with a smile and a nod here and there, to get along with Maddie. Thicken my cover up.

By the by, I was wondering who the driver might be. He's following me or Maddie? And why? If it is me, why? What have I got myself into before I got the damn amnesia? If it is Maddie... Well, the possibility is endless. is he/her know Maddie? why not just say hi? Who's Maddie might be? Why would she got herself stalked? Well, Maddie's like, you know...too good to be true. Innocent, nice, gold hearted, the kind people we won't find in these days.

I tried to get closer look on the suv from the rear view without drawing attention. I pretended to admire Maddie's convertible. Whoever Maddie is, whatever she did in the past is not my problem. She's been kind enough to bring me to the hospital, keeping an eye on me, and treating me good. So, I owe her my life.

" Justin!" at first I'm not aware Maddie's talking to me. But then I remember that's the ridicolous name she gave me.

" What?!" I look at her still puzzled

" You like it? My car" She pointed her car "You practically drooled. Wanna drive?" she said before grinning like a loon.

" Uhm... You don't mind? I don't even know...I mean, if I know how to drive or not" I shruged.

" Well. Lets find out then" She said before threw the key at me, and then jump up at the back seat without opening the door. I still pondering if it is safe.

" Come on. Stuck the key in the dignition" she said while pointing in the dignition. I rolled my eyes., but get in the car anyway.

" Baiklah" ( here we go) I said

" That's your first foreign word. I'm sure you'll say a lot more, I can't wait " She said before rubbing both her hands. I got us out from the station slowly. Still not letting my guard down. " Where to" I asked Maddie whitout looking at her

" Just ride ahead. If I'm sure you can drive, then I'll give you the direction" she answered before smirking

" Is that why you sit in the back?" I rolled my eyes

Maddie laugh " Why Yes, of course " The jerk

I rolled my eyes again, well this kid know how to irritates a human being very well. I'm going to get back at her someday. I'm not increased the speed, because I need to tell Maddie first. But the question is, how am I supposed to tell her without making her freaking out? Do I have a diplomatic skills to throw the speech? Or , will I be able to calm her down if she really is going to freak out? Well, that really is doubtfull. However, what's my choise? I'm going to tell her as slowly as can be, and hoping she won't make a scene. We don't need that right now.

" So you can ride. I suppose I shouln't have a doubt, what's with the motorcycle ride and all " She commented. And I can see from the rear view, she had an amused face. 

" Apparently so. Why are you look so happy anyway? " I grumbled. But she's grinning even wider. Maybe next time she'd have me riding a horse or something. I notice the dark SUV haven't made a move yet. Is it because of the traffic? Or maybe, they just supposed to follow us. Either way, might a best idea to lose them.

" Hey Maddie,you know what? I'd like to tell you something, but whatever you do, don't turn around or freak out or make a scene, okay " Oh-oh, now her face looks like its going to explode anytime soon. But I tried to hold her gaze by the rear view, and she nods. Thank's god.

 "I need you to take a good look at the rear view. Did you by any chance recognize the car behind us?" I carefully threw the question.

Maddie in her scared state, made a an efford to look at the car " No! Is there something wrong with that car? You scaring the hell out of me, Justin. And that's understatement. I'm going to have a heart attack soon" she said. I rolled my eyes. The fact that she's just said al that is a sign she's not that scared as she think she is.

" I think the car has been following us ever since we're out of the hospital" I said

" Don't you think it might be just a coincidence?! Who is it anyway? What do we do now?" I rolled my eyes again. Why would I ask if I know?

" Well, hold on tight then " I said.

I can see the traffic light turn green not so faraway. Right in front of us there's a moving company truck, that is loaded with what looks like someone's house in it, that makes the truck move even slower than a snail. When the lights a minute away from turning red, I step on the gas to the floor, makes us blessed with cusses and expletive words from the other riders form the opposite direction. But, I'm not in the care mood. While at it, I raised my left hand as high as I could be and gave the SUV the 'bird'.

Maddie bark out laughing in histerical and relief tone " Left. Left. Turn left " She shout the direction, And I found it's an alley. Good girl...

" Oh Justin, that was hilarious" she said in still between her laughter.

I asked her the direction, but I told her we must make a good fake route before we go home just to lose them, because we can't take a risk for whoever it was in the SUV to figure out our destination, even if could lose them. Maddie lead me from alley to alley until we got out of town.

After what seems like forever and no sign of the SUV, we decides to get back to the city. Going home, as Maddie put it. Maddie lead me to take another route from where we go. I can tell she's in adrenaline rush now, she looks excited from all the running things.

We're entering a path to a very impresive house. Well, that was understatement, it's an old victorian style mansion. Maddie took out a remote from her purse, press on it's button and the garage doors open. I ride the car inside, and we parked behind a really nice BMW. So, maddie came from a wealthy family. I shouldn't really surprise though. Whats with her confidence, the nice convertible and all that.

"Wow! that was something" she sighed before hopping down from the car "My parents here. I've been telling them I'll bring you home, and they want to meet you" she added.

" And what were they say? Is there something I need to worry" I asked her. Well, if I'm the parrent I would freak out while the sweet daughter bringing home a stranger. And in amnesia too. Migh be a fugitive.

" Don't worry, they'll like you, and you'll like them. I promise " she said in confidence while patting my back. Even though her face is still a little pale and tense. What should I do? What will Maddie's parents going to think about me? Will they going to trust me? Well, I'm not sure I was the good guy, what's with the m******e dream and all. Not that I told maddie about it. Part of me sure that was not just some random dream. It must be a part of my past. A good person won't involved in a massacred scene. That I'm a hundred percent sure.

Maddie must felt my anxiety, for she turn around and rubbing my arm, and then holding my hand dragging me inside. " Hey, that was awesome, what you did back on the road. We're like some kind of heroin in the action movie..." I know she tried to break me from my reverie. But, thruth is I couldn't really keep up with her plot. Anxiety got the best of me.

Maddie trust is just unbelievable, to the point I'd say she love herself less. She's careless with stranger. Well, if they don't like me, i'll just left. Plain and simple.