Just Be True To Me

The springs under the seat didn’t allow her to get comfortable. Each trip over a pothole made her resemble a bobblehead. Being that she lived on the other side of the city, the drive would take at least half an hour. It didn’t take her long to realize that Aaron was a talker. And he was completely oblivious to the fact that she wasn’t in the mood. Her half answers seemed to entertain him as he laughed at whatever he was saying.

Aaron turned the radio down. “You know me and Cliff have known each other sense we were boys.”

“No, I didn’t know that.”

“I always looked up to him. I thought he was Superman when we was coming up. I did everything he did. Liked everything he liked.” His eyes fell to Mia’s lap. His hands tightened around the wheel. Anyone looking from the outside wouldn’t have had any trouble seeing the battle taking place within him. He would sit up for a few seconds, relaxing a few seconds later. “He likes you.”

“Good to know.”

“I mean, he really likes you. I can tell from when he was texting. He used your name. It’s Mia right?”

She stiffened. Quick glances allowed her to put together the dry peeling lips with the deep set beady eyes and the over pronounced brow, paired with that were the ears that sat just a little bit lower than normal and protruding forward to make them look like satellite dishes. Deep gouges, sure to have been from a losing battle with teenage acne, gave the skin on his face the same texture as the moon. The color wasn’t far off, save for the bright red color of his neck. Hangnails hung from each of his fingers. His jagged and chipped fingernails appeared to curl under the tips.

“That’s you right,” he asked. “I mean, it has to be you. Clifford doesn’t bring just anybody to his house.” He caressed her hair. “You’re pretty.” His face darkened. “I like you.”

Mia’s heart rate quickened as her house came into view. She coached herself to continue breathing, pressing her thighs into the seat to keep from shaking.

“I never get the girls that Cliff gets. I don’t know why. I’m a great guy.” The truck came to a stop. He looked at her. “Right?”

She couldn’t tell if the monotone in his voice or the envy in his eyes was the scariest part of him. The door stopped her from increasing the distance between them. The handle was cool on her fingers.

He shoved the gear stick into the park position. Slapping at the radio turned it off. There was no expression on his face as Aaron undid his seatbelt. The center console squeezed and bent under his weight. Inching toward the middle of the car, he didn’t stop after passing it. He grew larger as he drew nearer. His shadow grew darker as he blocked out the window. He commented on her beauty once more. His tongue slid across his lip. “I like you.”

Mia began banging on the door, relieved when it finally opened. Her foot slipped on the step bar causing her to stumble the rest of the way out. Her feet, moving at rapid speed to keep her balance, didn’t lose any velocity as she raced toward the door. Inside, she locked the door and pressed her back into it. Her chest heaved. Tears streamed down her face. Peeking out the window only allowed her to see the sickly yellow lights illuminating the street.

A series of squeals and moans threatened to push her over the edge. The chains scratching across the ground reminded her of the wind chimes in the horror movies that signaled the coming of death.

The street darkened.

Her breath came out slow and easy as she exhaled. Allowing her feet to slide out in front of her, she continued to fall until her bottom hit the ground. She felt a tickle on her neck. A second later, another tickle on the other side. She almost ripped the strands of hair out of her head. After tying it up, she climbed to her feet.

Five heavy knocks sent her diving into the kitchen. Staying ducked behind the counter, she felt blindly across the countertop, ripping a knife out of the butcher block. The second series of knocks made her bones shake. She was too afraid to tell him to leave.

“Mia. It’s me, Aaron.”

“G—go away.”

“I got your car off the truck. Cliff said not to worry about paying.” He knocked again.

The knife’s edge ate into Mia’s thigh as her fear increased. “Okay. I’ll tell him thanks. You can go now.”

“I have something for you.”

“I’m not interested,” she said. It grew quiet. Poking her head around the island, she crawled on her hands and knees to the front door.

The sudden knocks startled her to her back.

“Mia?”

She felt around her as she heard a familiar tone. She searched for the source, checking the couch, underneath the cushions, and retracing her path from the kitchen. She patted her pockets, still unable to find it.

He knocked again. The silence returned. It lasted for a minute.

She climbed her feet. Darkness greeted her when she looked through the peep-hole. She patted herself again. “Where the hell is my phone?”

“I have it,” he answered. “I think you dropped it. I gotta go. I’ll leave it on the step.”

Five minutes passed before she managed to garner the courage to look through the peep-hole again. This time she was able to see the street. She pulled the door open an inch. The phone was waiting as promised. The wind didn’t have enough time to wrap itself around her as she snatched it. Her anxiety caused her to slam the door behind her. After locking it and re-locking it, she jogged to her bedroom, locking that door as well. In her bed, she hid underneath the covers.

Clifford’s name was the first in her call log. Despite them not knowing each other well and the fact that he didn’t even consider her his friend, she couldn’t think of anyone else to call. Pressing his name, she held the phone to her ear.