by Lisa Crawmer
“Aly, honey. Why didn’t you answer? Well that doesn’t matter right now.” She takes a breath, with a couple of sniffles, then begins, “Aly, your dad, he’s gone.”
I hang up, shocked, tears already flowing like the Niagara. I grab my car keys and race out of the dorm faster than Lo Lo Jones. When I get in, I turn the ignition. It doesn’t start. Of course, my luck. I panic, not knowing what to do. Then I remember. I take out the little slip of paper and dial.
“I got hear as fast as I could. What’s the emergency?” Carson asks. He looks at me closer, seeing the tears and my make-up streaked face. “Aly? Are you okay?”
I start crying again, and he pulls me in for a hug. “ If you tell me what’s wrong, I think I could help you. Please?”
I look up at him, staring into his eyes. they’re so forgiving. “ My dad, He died, an accident at work. How could this happen? Please help me Carson.”
“Come with me.” I follow him to his car getting in. We drive quietly for awhile, me having no idea where we are going. After about a half an hour, we pull into a cemetery. We park, and he guides me to a gravestone at the back of the first block of stones. He takes out a flashlight, shining it on the name. “Ray Jones. This is my cousin, or shall I say, my brother. He passed away two years ago.”
I look at him. Her looks down, now a saddened look crossing his face. “I’m sorry, for your loss.” I fold my arms, feeling out of place, him and I having a serious talk with no jokes.
“I didn’t feel like I could make it either, without him. I know how you feel, Aly.” He looks up at me, a straight face. “Listen, I thought this was the end for me, that I would never meet someone like him. But then I met you. You are just like him: a jokester, generous, confident, always looking at the bright side, optimistic in the worst of times. That’s how I knew to take you here. I wanted him to meet you.” He stared into my eyes with that look he gives.
I hug him, not letting go until he told me to get in the car, that we were driving to my house. We didn’t say one word until I got there. The only thing that happened was that he called the University to say we would be gone for a week, family emergency.
Carson
We have been in Sebastian for for three days now, the hint of death still lurking in the air. It is the worst feeling, all of it circling around you not going away, even if you try to swat it away. Aly has, of course, not been doing well. Today, her friends are coming over. Aly must have mentioned me before, because she told me they couldn’t wait to meet her “boyfriend”. How much I wish we were.
At three, her friends came crashing in, not even knocking. When they walked up to Aly’s room, me inside, they kind of looked at me, then at Aly, the me again. The redhead whispered something to the brunette, looking at me at the same time. All I saw that she mouthed was “hot” and “muscly”. Both true. They all call Aly over, all of them conversing. Once I saw Aly roll her eyes and slightly laugh. She’s still teary-eyed. It’s only been three days though. The grief will last a lifetime.
After a while, they all turned their attention to me, sitting on Aly’s bed. Aly spoke first.
“Uh, Carson these are my friends this is-”
“Alex,” the redhead said. Then the brunette chimed in.
“Im Melissa,” she said with a smile. I looked over at the blonde. She was smiling at me, though I don’t know why.
“Oh, I’m Paige.” She waved at me with a smile bigger face.
“Nice to meet you all. Well, I’m..a..going to go get a drink, and check out the town. Is that alright everyone?” They all spoke at the same time, Aly watching them with a smirk.
“Of course it’s fine! You can do anything you want, Carson!” They all sighed like they were going to pass out.
“I’ll go with you, if that’s fine. I’m getting kind of tired of staying in my house,” Aly speaks up. She winks at me, like she’s trying to get away from the crazies, her friends. I say yes and we walk out, her friends giving me the desperate eyes, like they didn’t want me to leave. Her friends are pretty crazy.
We walk around, to the beach, around the square, down some backstreets. Then We go by her ex boyfriend’s house, Brent. What an awful name. If he comes out, I’m giving him a piece of my mind. Then I’m going to thank him for giving her to me. Aly told me about how he broke up with her, the chicken way. Thankfully, he doesn’t come out.
* * *
Today is Aly’s dad’s funeral. I had to go out and by a tuxedo because it’s not like I was planning to go to a funeral anytime soon. It’s black with a gray vest. I just wore a black tie for this. A colorful would be a little inappropriate for an vent like this. In two days, Aly and I are going back up to college, since our week of off time will be up, which stinks.
As I Aly and I walk in, everyone turns and stares at her, with sorrowful eyes. She looks away, not wanting people to see her puffy eyes. I whisper that it doesn’t matter if her eyes are pretty, that she’s still beautiful. She looks at me and barely makes a smile, then it fades, and we start walking again.
The ceremony and burial lasted around an hour. I don’t think I could attend another funeral for a long time. Aly held my hand during the whole ceremony. Every time there was a funny story, she loosened her grip. Every time there was a sad part in the speech, she almost cut my circulation off. I didn’t mind. If it helped her, I’m fine with it. The last two days, Aly and I just kind of hung out. She taught me how to surf, so the first day we did that for the whole evening. The last day, we watched some movies in her room and ate ice cream. It was pretty fun.
Aly
These last couple of weeks since my dad died, Carson and I have hung out every night. We did things that no one else at the college did. We went to the worst maintenance bowling alley in the world, the air thick with smoke because there was a bar there to. All the crazy drunks went there. We went to the Cab Shack every Tuesday, a ritual. Apparently Carson likes running now, too. The first couple of days he almost blacked out since he doesn’t run. Now he can keep up with me easily. Thursdays we go to the pool or beach because both of us don’t have classes all day. Carson is a considerately good surer too. It’s his new favorite sport and hobby. When I can’t go anywhere because of homework, he goes and practices to be better than me.
Tonight, we’re going to get some slices(pizza). We haven’t hung out all day, and usually he calls and asks. He’s up to something. This time, I agreed to him picking me up, since he all out got on his knees and begged for five minutes straight. I finally said yes. He’s got good drive, and he doesn’t stop until he gets it. Another thing I like about him, and his charm.
He picks me up on the end of the campus lawn. When I get in, he gives me
A look of satisfaction, and also like he’s hiding something. I immediately investigate.
“Carson. What is up with you? You haven’t called all day!” I converse.
“Oh, crap! I was really busy today. Which reminds me, even though I didn’t forget, I was cruising the town today, and I found something that I KNEW you would absolutely love. Then I put my own twist to it. So, here it is.” Carson pulls out a necklace that has two track shoes with wings on them.
“It’s awesome, Carson.”
“Look at the back,” he says. On the back of the track shoes was one sentence: Cute Doesn’t Win Games. I look up at him, confused. “I know. It’s not romantic. But I know you’re not a sentimental person, so I put something catchy on there! I can take it back if you want me to..”
“No! Don’t take it back. It’s great. I love it.” He puts it around my neck. I thought we would leave after it, but he still had something else on his mind.
“Aly,” he says as he takes my hands into his, “I was going to ask you a long time ago, but it didn’t feel right. But now I’m ready to ask. Will you, Aly Smith, care to go out with me, be more the friends?”
“I have been waiting for you to ask! Of course!” I hug him then look into his beautiful green eyes. “How could I say no to someo
ne that has helped me through so much?” I lean up and kiss him.
“I love you Aly,” he whispers into my ear
We drive to Pizza Hut, surprisingly talking the whole time, instead of awkward silence. Carson runs in and grabs a seat. I laugh and sit across from him. He takes his napkin holder and makes a triangle. I have no idea what he’s doing. He tells me to make a field goal, and I give him a confused look.
“Have you not ever played paper football or something?” he asks.
“What’s that?” I ask back. He laughs hysterically and shows me how to make the football and the field goal, and we play that until the pizza arrives. The pizza is mushroom, even though I hate that kind. I’m a very picky eater. He eats the whole thing, me eating only to pieces. It was really fun, us laughing and having a good time. He might not think he has charm, but he does, and class too. Even if a relationship doesn’t work with him, I know we will always be friends.
Carson
Today marks a whole week of Aly and I dating. It’s been the best week of college, and maybe even my life! We have hung out and went to the pool so much that I have probably gained weight, and my hair started to turn green from the chlorine. We taught each other a whole bunch of things. Today, though, someone approached me that I hoped wouldn’t. Amber Dykstra, one of the biggest partyers and relationship enders in my dorm building, came up to me. What a nightmare.
“Hey Carson, you sure are looking hot today,” she says with a grin that she has obviously mastered and used on many other people.
“Um, I’m doing good. What, about you?” I reply. She flips her hair like I’m supposed to flutter my eyes at it. I keep my cool.
“Well, the dorm is having a huge party tonight. Do you want to come? I would love it if you did.”
“Sure. I’ll see if Aly and I are hanging out.” Amber stares at me like I just said the Lord’s name in vain. Then she gave me her grin again.
“I guess Aly can come if she wants.” She flips her hair, smiles, then walks away with her keys jingling around her neck. I think she’s up to something. I’ll check out the party anyway. I shrug my shoulders and walk off, going to find Aly. I think we have something planned, but maybe we could do it a different night, like tomorrow. The thing is, Aly hates Amber. That’s her enemy. She would kill me if I went there. Especially with Amber.
On the way to classes, I see Aly across the courtyard. I say her name and she walks over with her usual bubbly attitude. She starts talking about annoying her roommate is when I intervene.
“Aly, um, we can’t hang out tonight. There’s this party that I got invited to..”
“Why can’t I come?” She gives a suspicious look.
“Oh, it’s only for my dorm building. So, I would let you come, but you can’t.”
“Ok, that’s fine. Call me when it’s over so we can hang out after or something.” We walk together to class. When we walk in, Amber gives me a thumbs up to see if I can or not. I hide a thumbs up back. Aly sees her and gives her a dirty look. They will never be friends.
* * *
For the party, I put on some jeans and a Fox t-shirt. They’re the only clothes that are clean. I’ve never had to wash my own clothes. It’s a nightmare. I go out to the beta house for our dorm. The place is overflowed with people. Obviously, there’s a keg. Good thing I don’t drink. Amber had been waiting for me. Now I know something’s up. She runs at me and hugs me, I nervously hug back.
At the party, there is live music, a dance floor, and golf cart races. This is the craziest party I’ve ever been to. As I walk around, Amber is right on my heels, sneaking up on me and dancing with me. I’ve been here for an hour. Three more to go. I wonder what Aly’s doing. She’s probably at her dorm, watching T.V., waiting for me to leave so we can hang out. I wish she could’ve come.
Aly
When is this party over? I say to myself. It’s twelve o’clock and Carson still hasn’t called.
I can’t believe I’m sitting here watching T.V. all by myself while Carson is probably having the time of his life. Suddenly, my roommate walks in. I ask her where she’s been, smelling the alcohol on her breathe from where I’m sitting.
“Oh, I just went to the BEST PARTY EVER!” she replies with a slur.
“Where was this party?” I ask.
“You know, the one down the street? I saw Carson there. He was with some girl.” That’s it, I say to myself. I’ve been sitting here by myself for HOURS while he’s been with some other girl? He’s dead when I get there and what Ashley said is true.
When I arrive, The music was unbearable. Everywhere I step there’s spilled beer. Drunk college kids are dancing and drinking. They must not have class tomorrow. Lucky them. I ask some kid if I can go in, and he says yes, and then says other things that I would rather not say. So I slapped him. Then I go inside. I walk past a game of beer pong, a well known game in Sebastian. A girl just owned some guy in it, so he is extremely drunk. When I step into the main room where the live band and dancing is, some guy comes up and asks me to dance. I say sure, but just for a second.
After awhile, I walk away and another girl starts dancing with the guy. I start looking around. Then I finally see Carson. He’s standing by himself. I start toward him, then stop when Amber walks up to him and says something. Amber turns her head and sees me, then says something else to him. Suddenly, she leans up and kisses him for quite awhile. I don’t even say anything, I just stare. When Carson pushes her away, he looks over and sees me. I feel a tears roll down my cheeks. I shake my head and start toward the door. I can here him calling my name, but I don’t turn around. Finally, I feel his hand rest on my shoulder. I still down turn around.
“Aly, I can explain-,” He starts.
“There’s nothing you need to explain. There’s nothing that needs to be said here.” I start towards the door again, hoping I can get out of here. I barely hear his voice calling my name over the loud music. I break into a run and get in my car, starting it up and flying out of there. Why didn’t he just break up with me? I say to my self over and over, tears and mascara staining my face. I’ve never cried over a break-up, but he’s my first boyfriend that has treated me well. Until tonight. I’m going faster than ever, clearly over the speed limit, breaking seventy in a fifty-five.
As I near the exit to town, I see lights coming close, but I can’t see through the curtain of tears covering my eyes. It looks like a street lamp, but surely there wouldn't be out here on a highway. Especially in the middle of the road. Before I can figure it out, the light hits me and I black out.
Carson
I’m sitting at my dorm, all out of tears, so it’s just sobbing, when I get the call. I shoot up and run down the stairs, out of the building, to the parking lot to my car. I turn the key and gas it straight to the hospital praying that no police are patrolling this road. Luckily, none weren't. When I pole up, I put my car in park and run in, leaving my car unlocked. It’d be pretty sad if someone stole my car at a hospital, but it’s still possible. It takes me a half an hour to figure out the room and get a visitor’s pass. Now I have to wait for her to wake up, which will probably take a while. Her mom is here with me. I’ve been comforting her since I got here. We’re in Aly’s room when she finally wakes up. I was about to fall asleep.
Aly looks over and sees me and gives her mom the look that women give each other that says for them to leave. After her mom leaves she stares at me for a little bit. Finally, she speaks. “Carson, tell me the whole thing. Honest story only.”
I tell her how Amber asked me to go and set me up so that she could break us up and that it’s all my fault. The tears start to come, but I keep talking. It takes me ten minutes to finish. After it, she looks at me again.
“Carson. I believe you. I shouldn’t have gotten mad. I saw that you pushed her away, but I was mad that you said that I couldn’t go. Then you just said that that’s what Amber told you. That-” She starts.
“I know, she is one, but let’s not worry about he
r. We need to figure this out. So are any of your injuries bad?”
“Well, I broke my leg and a rib. Oh, and forgot some stuff. By the way, where’s my dad? My mom’s here. Weird.” I hang my mouth open, not knowing what to say. I decide that her mom should tell her instead of me. I call her mom in and she tells Aly. They start to cry just like they did the first time. So Aly forgot quite a bit of things. Apparently, her head went through the windshield
* * *
After Aly could finally leave the hospital, we went right back to what our usual schedule. It took a couple of weeks to get her back in shape to run again. We drank our smoothies and did some aerobics at the indoor pool for therapy for her leg. She hated it, but she had no choice but to follow the doctor’s orders.
We’re at the hospital now, checking out her brain trauma and seeing if they could do anything about it. The doctor gave her medicine and walked out to tend to other patients.
