1Voice mail. Lauren's heels sank deep into the mud, much like the hopelessly submerged tires she was staring at in the embankment, sunk in deep ruts. Fighting for a clear line of vision, she furiously pushed her hair out of her eyes. Rain had already soaked through to her bottom layers. Her phone had been hot against her ear moments before; she had lost track of her attempts. Every call, even to Maggie whom she'd been with most of the night, had gone unexplainably without answer. And with her dad out of town, there was no one to come and get her. Lauren felt her world become strangely silent. There was one number she hadn't tried.
He was still on her speed dial. Standing on the embankment, the wind whipped her face in small, icy blows. Lauren glared into the dark air. A year ago, he would've been the first person she'd have called. The whole night, in the back of her mind she had fought not to go there. Going there would be going back, and back was someplace she desperately wanted to never go again. She put the phone to her ear and felt her pride well up in her throat. She honestly did not expect him to answer.
Earlier that night, Lauren had been with everyone, hanging around watching television and snacking on chips as they did frequently. The drive back home took place mainly on one turn-less stretch of road. It was normally well traveled, but tonight she'd seen no other cars, making the twenty minute ride seem to take much longer than she'd remembered. By the way her eyes burned, it became increasingly clear that she had stayed out too long. She rubbed them and focused on the brightly lit section of road directly in front of her. It seemed to blur, but her eyes barely caught a sign of headlights a few hundred feet only sound on the drive was the low hum of the radio and the freezing rain rhythmically falling on the exterior. It was very dark, nearing midnight. She concentrated on the approaching lights as the space between them became less and less, anticipating their passing. Two hundred feet. One hundred. Strangely, as the car came closer, the lights began to align with hers. Lauren's eyes widened. The car was in her lane. With no time to think, she jerked the steering wheel to the right and felt the brakes lock under her. She could see the embankment coming and braced herself for the impact. The loud crash sounded as it jerked her forward, the car making contact with the ditch. In a moment, it was over. Lights on the dashboard flickered in the darkness. After a long moment and turning the key in the ignition, she slowly pressed on the gas. Her tires spun, the soft earth beneath became a deep, muddy mess. She was stuck. At the beginning, though it was late, Lauren had expected to make contact around the second or third call. Mom, her brother, Maggie, everyone... They always answered on the second or third call. When the eleventh rang endlessly and finally went to voicemail, Lauren's heart sunk.
"Hey, you've reached-" She snapped the phone shut. Lauren felt the anger and betrayal clenched in her teeth. She wanted so badly to cry, but at the same time warred against it. Not knowing what to do, she stood in the silence.
Suddenly the calm air was broken by a high pitched ring. His name registered on the screen.
It was now after 3. His truck pulled up on the side of the road, slightly above her as she was standing in the ditch. The silence crept back as the low rumble died out. He stepped out and walked down toward her, and stopped in front of her. They just looked at each other.
"I stopped and got you coffee," he said. "Thought you could use it."
"Thanks." It came out in a broken whisper. Lauren took the cup in her icy hands.
He looked in her eyes again, and this time he smiled. "Get in."
Lauren felt a smile come.