Page 61 of Like You Know
The outrage simmering in my veins gave me the strength I needed. I was done with this conversation, this night, and quite possibly, this man.
I stepped up to him and rolled my shoulders back. “Fuck. You,” I said in an even, firm tone. Then I walked past him and out of the bathroom.
“Amaya! Wait!” he called after me as I stomped through the station and outside.
I pulled my phone out and swiped away the dozens of missed calls and text messages from my friends. I paused with my thumb over the ride-share app. I needed to get the fuck out of here, but at this time of night, it could take a while to get a ride. Plus, I really didn’t want to get into a car with a stranger while my clothes were covered in drying blood.
Chewing on my lip, I glanced behind me. The station was lit up, everything clearly visible through the glass doors. Jet stood a few feet away, speaking to an older man. He kept glancing at me, as if I’d vanish if he didn’t keep me in sight. Maybe I would. Maybe it would be better if I did.
The older man started walking away, and Jet threw me one more look, loaded with longing and unspoken things, then reluctantly turned to follow.
I paced the area in front of the door and called Donna.
We never called one another unless it was an emergency. If I’d been woken at two in the morning by a phone call from any of the girls, I’d immediately know it was serious.
Donna picked up on the first ring.
“Amaya? What’s wrong?” She sounded a bit winded.
“Hey, D. I need a lift. Can you pick me up?”
“Where are you?”
“Police station downtown.”
“I’m on my way.”
Just like that. No questions asked.
The roads were dead at this time of night, and I had to pace the entry for only about ten minutes before a pearlescent white BMW pulled up out front. I jogged down the stairs as Donna got out of the car and gawked at me over the top of it.
“Holy fuck, Amaya, what—”
“I need to get out of here. Drive. Please.” I cut her off, stopping her from coming around the car and wasting time. She got back behind the wheel and took off as soon as my door closed.
I leaned my head against the seat and squeezed my eyes shut, taking a deep breath. Donna drove in silence for a few minutes, but I couldn’t blame her when she started to push for answers.
“You don’t have to talk about it right now.” Her usually sure, firm voice was soft in the dark car. “But I need you to tell me if you’re hurt, at least.”
I opened my eyes to see her dividing her attention between the road and my bloodied prom dress.
“Physically or ...” I waved my hand, looking for the right word. “Existentially?”
“Both?”
“The blood is not mine.” I dug around in the glove compartment for the packet of cigarettes I had stashed there. Now that I felt safe, calm, I needed something to occupy my mind so I wouldn’t think about all the blood, my mom ...
“OK.” Donna nodded and literally bit her tongue. It was killing her not to grill me for details. It actually made me smile a tiny bit as I lit a cigarette and lowered the window halfway.
Donna wouldn’t usually let me smoke in her car, but even she could tell this was a special circumstance.
I pulled deep on the cigarette, feeling the smoke burn my lungs, then held it in for a second before blowing it out the window. The massive drag made me feel slightly lightheaded. Or maybe that was the shock setting in.
“I’m sorry for waking you.” I took another drag, staring out the window at the trees flying by as we neared our neighborhood. “Thank you for coming to get me.”
“Always,” Donna said without a beat of hesitation. “You’d do the same for me.”
I nodded. No doubt. I’d drop everything for my three closest friends without a second thought. They were my family. After tonight, maybe the only family I had left.