Excerpt One:
Brianna started her car and turned on the radio as
she pulled out of the driveway.
I’m happy I’m feeling
better today. Yesterday sucked.
She drove down the street with her radio blasting,
singing along loudly as she headed toward Angie’s house.
Yeah! A free day to do
anything we want! Today’s gonna be a blast!
She pulled in to Angie’s driveway and honked. She
didn’t want to have to talk to Angie’s parents; they were too nosey and would
ask too many questions. Angie came running out of the house and jumped in the
car.
“So what are we gonna do today?” Angie asked as she
threw her purse and schoolbag by her feet.
“I don’t know. We gotta write the notes though and
go to first hour. Say that I have to leave for a doctor’s appointment and you
have an appointment with that counselor that you saw before. Then we’ll ditch
school and I’ll meet you in the parking lot after first hour. Do you want to
write them or should I?”
“Just drive. I want to leave before my parents come
outside. I’ll just write them.”
Brianna took off and headed to school. When they
got there, she turned to Angie. “Ok. I’ll meet you here after first hour.”
“Ok. See ya,” Angie replied as they both headed in.
An hour later they were back in the parking lot,
ready to have some fun.
“So where are we going?” Angie asked.
“Let’s go shopping. I have some money. And I need
cigarettes. Do you have any money?”
“Not much. Maybe just enough to get something to
eat,” Angie looked over at her as they drove away. “So what are you going to do
about John?”
“I don’t know. Everyone’s talking about it and
staring at me in the hallway.” She sighed heavily. “I’m so sick of doing this stupid
stuff all the time. I think I should stop going out so much.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Angie replied. “But what are you
going to say to everyone?”
“I got too drunk. What else can I say? And who
cares anyway? Everyone drinks and does stupid shit. I’m not the only one.
John’s a big boy. He knew what he was doing. It’s as much his fault as mine,”
Brianna said as she lit up a cigarette.
“True.” Angie reached for Brianna’s pack of
cigarettes and lit one up also.
“Maybe if there was a decent guy out there that
wouldn’t be so willing to screw around it would be a different story. I’ve
never met one though. None of them seem to give a shit. All they want is a
booty call. They never take anything seriously. So why should I? I’m young. I
want to have fun just like everyone else.”
“I know, right?” Angie agreed.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to get married. I’m
sixteen and I’ve gone out with tons of guys. None of them want to get serious,
and if they do, they cheat on you anyway. You can’t win. Why the heck should I
even try? And look at my parents. If you do get married, it’s probably going to
end up like crap anyway. What’s the point?” She took a drag of her cigarette.
“Let’s go shop there!” Suddenly distracted, Brianna
pointed at a place on her right and swerved across a lane of traffic and into
the parking lot.
“Dang Bri!” Angie yelled as she grabbed hold of her
door handle. “Quit driving like a maniac!”
Brianna just laughed and parked the car.
***
Hours later, they were both sick of shopping.
“Let’s go eat,” Angie suggested after they had
gotten back in the car and were driving out of the parking lot.
“Sounds good to me. Where do you wanna go?”
“I don’t know. How about someplace downtown?” Angie
snapped her gum.
“Sure.” Brianna headed downtown. “What about
Stan’s? Right over there?” She pointed as they went toward Main Avenue.
“Yeah. That looks good.” Angie nodded.
“Alright! Hurry up, you idiot!” Brianna stepped on
the gas and passed a car directly in front of them. Then she swerved ahead of
it, veering to the right, and pulled into a parking space directly across the
street from the restaurant. “Here we are!”
The car honked its horn as it drove by.
“Dang! Quit being so reckless!” Angie laughed as
they both got out. She ran around the front of the car as Brianna locked the
doors. They both began crossing the street when Brianna dropped her keys. Angie
continued across the street as Brianna bent down to pick them up.
“Hurry up!” Angie turned and yelled behind her.
“I’m hungry!”
Just as Brianna grabbed her keys, Angie started
screaming. A car horn blared loudly. Seconds later she felt a car hit her and
she was thrown through the air like a rag doll, landing with a thud. Her arms
and legs crumpled beneath her. She heard voices around her and a heavy
motionless feeling spread through her whole body as the sounds drifted farther
and farther away. As the daylight began to fade, the buzzing in her ears got
louder. Then blackness.
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