99 to Nowhere

by DOMINO

  "I, I don't know. I'm sorry" He blushed. "I was just frustrated at the world, and I don't know—" He turned his blues eyes down to his book and chewed on his bottom lip.

  I knew that would shut you the hell up. "Oh, alright. I'll be back, gonna search this library" I sighed and stood up. "I'll leave my bag here, so you know I'll be back, if that makes you feel better" I grabbed my notebook, and walked away. I turned to see him still looking down at his book before I turned down another aisle and then ran down the stairs to get out.

  My heart was beating in my ears as I looked all around me, hoping I found Rio or he was in Mr. Horne's office. I ran up the next two blocks to Mr. Horne's building and raced in. My hopes of seeing Rio there were dashed when I noticed the waiting room was empty.

  "Hello?" I asked a younger receptionist. "Is Mr. Horne in?"

  "No I'm sorry. He's not in today, but will be back tomorrow" She smiled.

  I clung tightly to my notebook, hopes fading, as I looked toward his closed office door. "Can I leave something with you to give him please?"

  "Sure" She nodded and stood up from her computer.

  I reached inside my notebook and pulled out an envelope with the note in it I wrote for Rio. "Can you tell him to give this to Rio, please?"

  "Oh, he was in here earlier" She looked toward the door. "Actually just a few moments ago. I'm surprised you didn't see him on your way up?"

  Son of a bitch!

  I handed her the letter and ran out, hoping to catch him. I caught the elevator, hoping maybe he decided to go back up for something, but he wasn't there. Looking up and down the street, I wanted to scream his name, but knew it would only draw attention to me. I ran up the next three blocks, out of breath. I ran up alleys looking for him and felt tears escaping my eyes when I couldn't find him. I had no idea where he would go or if he even planned to stay in Millington after he got his GED.

  I searched everywhere I thought he would be, but was not successful. I walked back to the library disappointed. Evan was still doing his homework, but I was in a foul mood.

  "You find anything?" He asked looking up at me.

  "No" I replied, mad at the world. "Let's go"

  "What? You’re joking right?" He asked and tapped his book with his pencil. "I'm not done"

  "I am" I picked up my backpack. "Let's go before I run away again and you'll be the one in trouble" I tried to smile.

  He shook his head and gathered his things to leave. "Are you alright?" He asked when we got to the van.

  "Not really" I mumbled. I got in and put on my seatbelt.

  "What's going on?" He asked and put the key in the ignition. "Maybe I can help"

  I shook my head and tried to smile. "You can't help me Evan" I replied softly. Only Rio can.

  THIRTY ONE

  I was lying on my bed when I heard a knock on the door, Mr. Johnson walked in without asking.

  "Maxine?" He said. He walked in and closed the door.

  I looked at the clock on the nightstand, it was ten o’clock in the evening, Mrs. Johnson always went to sleep by nine, and I knew he waited for her to fall asleep before he came to my room.

  "What are you doing in here?" I asked sitting up.

  "We got off to a bad start and I just want to start over again" He smiled but his eyes roamed over me.

  "A bad start and a terrible ending if you don't get out of my room" I replied angrily.

  "You mean my room, I pay the bills in here" He replied coolly. "I think we need to, learn to get along"

  I gripped a soft pink pillow and held it to my chest; it was the closest thing I could pick up to try to put something between the two of us.

  "I don't like your ways of getting along" I sneered.

  "You will in time" He grinned and ran his hand over his chest, staring at me as if he was thinking of what he wanted to do.

  "Get out or I swear I'll scream—" I said, happy that we weren't alone again.

  "You look more beautiful than you did before Maxine, and I can't stop thinking about you, about us" He whispered.

  "Get the hell out of my room, you're sick" He displayed a twisted smile before he walked out of the room.

  My heart was beating in my ears. I stared at the bottom of the door; I could still see his shadow standing there. Go away, please go away. I jumped up, grabbed the desk chair, and wedged it under the doorknob. I knew he could hear it and I stood back to watch his shadow disappear.

  I have to get out of here before he tries to rape me again. I'll kill myself if he does it again and even Rio wouldn't be able to stop me.

  It took me over three hours to fall asleep and I was exhausted the next morning when Evan knocked on my door to tell me it was time for school.

  I sat down at the kitchen table, not hungry for anything. "Maxine, you've barely eaten since you've come back. You need to eat dear" Mrs. Johnson put bacon on the plate in front of me.

  "I'm not hungry" I replied and stared at it.

  "Nonsense, eat something or we are not leaving this house" She put her hands on her hips.

  "Fine with me" I replied. I glanced at Evan that was in the process of shoving two pieces into his mouth.

  "Maxine, please eat just a little. I don't want you wasting away" She persisted.

  "Fine—" I put a piece of bacon in my mouth.

  I realized that I was starving when I began eating the scrambled eggs. I thought about Rio and hoped he was able to get something to eat. I realized I wasn't eating because I also felt guilty that there was food for me and I didn't know if he was able to find food to eat. Once I finished, and I witnessed the content smile on her lips, I got up and waited by the door.

  "Nice necklace" Evan said. He watched me twirl it between my fingers.

  "Thanks"

  "Where did you get it?" He asked nonchalantly.

  I was immediately defensive. "Why? Do you think I stole it or something?"

  "No, not at all. It looks like it was a gift. Not many women buy themselves a heart locket, right?" He asked as we walked outside to go get in the minivan.

  "It was a gift—" I responded, settling into the back seat.

  "A gift?" Mrs. Johnson asked looking back at me. "What gift?"

  "The necklace she has" Evan answered.

  "Who gave that to you?" She asked looking back at me. "It's a beautiful locket Maxine"

  "Does it matter who gave it to me?" I replied dryly, knowing I would never tell her.

  "Was it that college guy you were hanging around with while you were gone?" She asked and backed slowly out of the driveway.

  "No, it wasn't, and does it really matter?" I replied with annoyance.

  "No dear it doesn't, just curious" She asked and sped up the street.

  Evan handed me my backpack when we got to the front of the school and we stopped when his mom yelled back at us.

  "I'll be late coming home this evening. I have work to do at the community center, so Ben will pick you up"

  "We can just catch the bus" I replied and nudged Evan. "Right?"

  "Yeah mom, we'll catch the bus" He agreed.

  She paused and we knew she was thinking about it, but eventually relented after Evan told her he would make sure we made it home in time for dinner.

  "Finally, I feel like they have me on a tight leash since you got back" He frowned at the back of the minivan until it disappeared behind a few of the school buses.

  "Why is that?" I asked as we walked down the busy halls, students darted all around us.

  "I don't know, but it's beginning to piss me off" he said loud enough for me to hear over the yelling and laughing students.

  "Me too, we should piss them off too" I pulled him to the side so he could hear me. "We should sneak out and hit a party or something"

  His eyebrows rose. "Really?" He looked excited and then frowned. "I thought you considered me a nerdy bookworm?"

  "That was before I got to know you. You're actually a devious bookworm that likes to enjoy himself as much as I do, so let
's sneak out and get drunk somewhere tonight" I smiled brightly, trying to coax him into agreeing.

  He chuckled. "How the hell can we do that? My dad is like a security guard all of a sudden—"

  "Our windows, duh" I leaned against the red lockers. I watched Amy and her clique walk by with their noses in the air and wanted to bang my notebook in the back of her head.

  "He'll find out—" He shook his head and the bell for class rang.

  "No he won't. Stop being so scary" I teased him playfully. "I really wanna hang out with you and have a good time" I gave him a sly but sexy look.

  "Alright, and Maxx, I’m far from scary” He winked and sauntered down the hall.

  "Yes—" I grinned. I took my time going to my first period class; I didn't care if I was late or went at all.

  I was sitting alone on the football bleachers, eating a sandwich, when I turned to see Evan jogging toward me. He was with another boy named Cory.

  "Thought you would be out here, it's cold" Evan said sitting down next to me. "So, we got us a party" He grinned.

  "Really? Where?" I asked as Cory stared at me.

  He was just as tall as Evan was, but skinnier. His short brown hair had so much mousse in it; I knew it took him hours each morning to get it to stand up the way he wanted. He was always touching it to make sure it was still in the same position.

  "Football team is throwing a party after the game tonight, they always do. Beer and weed are always available for free" Cory answered, chewing on a toothpick.

  I looked him over and never knew that Evan would hang out with someone like him, I guess Evan had more secrets then I did.

  "Cool, but we're gonna need a ride" I looked at him.

  "No problem, I'll pick you two up at midnight, around the corner of your street. I don't want Mr. Johnson telling my so called, dad, he'll take my car again" Cory replied.

  "We'll be ready, right?" I looked at Evan that was already nodding in agreement. "See you then" I threw my trash under the bleacher and jumped down in time for the bell to ring and let us know lunch was over.

  Maybe I'll take Cory's car or something. I can drive around town and look for Rio.

  THIRTY TWO

  That evening at dinner, I announced that I didn't feel well and would be going to sleep early. I planned to get ready to sneak out, even if Evan didn't make it, I was going to be on that corner waiting for Cory.

  I was pulling out a pair of jeans Mrs. Johnson got me and green sweater when Evan knocked on my door.

  "Midnight—" He whispered before he closed the door.

  I smiled evilly. I got dressed and crawled under the sheets. I knew Mrs. Johnson would check in on me and I wanted to play ill. It wasn't long before I heard her knocking on the door. I didn't answer and pretended to be sleeping with my comforter pulled up tight around my neck.

  "Maxine?" She whispered. "Just wanted to make sure you were alright" I heard her say softly before she tip toed in and turned off my small desk light.

  I felt her kiss my head and I pretended to be stirred by her kissing me. I released a slight snort to confirm I was sleeping and heard her walk softly out the door.

  As soon as I heard the door click shut, I turned over, opened my eyes, and looked at my clock, eleven forty five. I had fifteen minutes. I crawled out of bed and put the chair under my door so Mr. Johnson wouldn't walk in. I opened the window, happy my room was on the first floor, so all I had to do was crawl out. I listened for any movement outside my door before I pulled the screen off and crawled out. I was surprised to see Evan already in the neighbor's bushes, waving for me to run up the street behind him.

  "Mom wanted to take my temp and everything. I told her I think it was the school lunch and we ate the same thing. She's gonna go speak to the school on Monday" He grinned and pulled his black skullcap down on his head.

  Just as planned, Cory was pulling up on schedule in his black mustang and we jumped in.

  "Let's get this party started" Cory grinned.

  He handed Evan a beer. I was shocked when Evan gulped it down like a pro before he handed me one.

  I took the beer, but didn't plan to get drunk. I sipped on it and bit my lip when Evan pulled out a bag of marijuana and began to roll a joint.

  "Where did you get that?" I asked, surprised.

  "I have my ways" He grinned and licked it closed. "You want?" He held it out. "Fire it up"

  "I don't do that stuff" I frowned. "Beers good enough for me"

  "Oh, so we got a party pooper on board" Cory chuckled and sped out of the neighborhood.

  "No, I just can't. I'm still in the system, and if they do a drug test on me, I'm back in detention, so I'll pass" I replied, knowing that was an answer they wouldn't try to argue with.

  "Damn girl, when do you get out of that anyway?" Cory asked and accepted the joint from Evan.

  "One more year" I replied.

  "Damn, sucks to be you" He laughed loudly and Evan joined in.

  I could tell the marijuana was kicking in already, they began laughing at stupid things, and talking about girls they slept with that year. I stared at Evan, shocked that he was a total fake at home.

  "Where the hell is it this time?" Evan asked and opened another beer.

  "Jared’s, his parents are away so you know the drill, party it up, but don't fuck it up" Cory answered and took another hit of the joint.

  We jumped out of Cory's mustang and I noticed two girls walk over to him. Evan was stopped by a girl, asking for some marijuana and I could hear him telling her he would hook her up after he went in and grabbed a few more beers. The music was blasting loudly when we walked in. I looked around and tried not to glare at Amy and a few other girls I couldn't stand, but continued out back.

  Several students were jumping into the swimming pool, yelling and screaming as they tossed a beach ball in the water. I picked up a beer to blend in, had a seat in a lounge chair, and thought about a way to get Cory's keys. I was studying the steam coming from the lukewarm pool when my thoughts were interrupted.

  "Well, what makes me so lucky?" said a tall blond haired guy with bright brown eyes.

  I looked up at him and shrugged, ignoring his confident approach.

  "Maxine, right?" He asked, pulling up a chair to sit next to me.

  "Maxx" I corrected him.

  "Okay, Maxx" He grinned before he sipped on his beer. "I've seen you around school—"

  "Hasn't everyone" I replied dryly.

  "Yeah, got me there" He extended his large hand. "Jared, thanks for coming to my party"

  I tried not to look surprised. "Oh, didn't know it was your house" I said as I shook his hand. "I hope you don't get on restriction after this"

  "Not even" He scoffed. "They don't really care as long as I clean up afterward, and since you're new to the party crew, I'm delegating you as part of the cleanup team”

  "Not even" I joked before Amy approached.

  "Jared, I thought you said you were bringing me back a drink" She rolled her eyes at me.

  I wanted to pull her blond ponytail into the swimming pool and drown her in it when she stood in front of him.

  "I will, give me a minute" He appeared annoyed.

  She held her lips taut and frowned at me. I glared back at her. "In a minute" I added, so she would leave.

  "She can be a real—" He shook his head as she walked back to her friends.

  "Bitch?" I confirmed.

  "Yeah, absolutely" He agreed. “But you said it, not me” He chuckled.

  "Are you and her an item?" I asked curiously, because if they were, I was going to make the rest of her night miserable.

  "Kind of, when I want to be" He replied. "She's a cheerleader, so she thinks I'm obligated to be with her since I'm team captain. I don't get it" He shook his head and looked over at her.

  "Oh, cheerleader and football player, classic" I grinned and sipped on my beer. "Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?"

  "Not in my book, I'm not going to be with her. She thinks
I'll get this great football contract, end up marrying her, be wealthy, and have a bunch of kids, but it's not gonna happen" He sat back in the chair. "Not the marrying her part" He smiled slyly.