A Whirlwind of Color - Chapter 17
Saturday
I pressed my hand against the passenger window.
"Don't put me through that again, Penny." James kissed my neck as he moved my hips faster and faster.
"Never." His hands slid to my ass and he slammed his cock into me. I moaned as his fingers dug into my skin. I loved the way he knew exactly what to do to make me completely surrender my body to him. He pulled me closer to him.
"Promise me."
"I promise," I said breathlessly. It was a promise I knew I could keep.
The seat belt buckle hit my knee and I quickly pushed it aside. The angle in the car was awkward but the sensation of him inside me was all that mattered.
"You're mine," he growled.
"Yes! I'm yours!" I moaned.
Someone knocked on the car window, but all I could see was fogged up glass around my handprint.
The knocking grew louder.
My eyes flew open. I was alone in the car. And someone’s face was practically pressed against the driver’s side window. I jumped, slamming my elbow into the horn. “Sorry,” I mumbled, even though I knew the guy standing outside my car couldn’t hear me. My dream had felt so real. I could barely calm my rapid heartbeat just thinking about it. I took a deep breath. The dream meant nothing. I probably just had it because I was sleeping in a car. A car fantasy for my current predicament. It had nothing to actually do with James.
“Move it along!” he yelled through the glass and pointed toward the exit of the parking lot.
I wiped the drool off the side of my face as I watched him walk away. He was wearing an apron with a logo that matched the pharmacy. I was lucky he hadn’t called the cops on me. But if I had been in a beat up old Chevy or something, he probably wouldn’t have even noticed me. Instead, I had accidentally swiped the most conspicuous car. When I pressed the unlock button in the parking garage I had cringed. I had basically stolen the Batmobile. So much for being discreet.
Which was exactly why I had pulled over in the middle of nowhere for a few minutes of shut-eye. I was hoping no one would notice. But a few minutes had quickly turned into a few hours. Fortunately, pharmacy man didn’t seem to be interested in calling the cops on me.
I put the key into the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot. I had no idea where I was going. No cell phone meant no GPS. But I was trying to stay off the highway so that there was less of a possibility of being pulled over. And I was generally heading south.I think.
There was only one realistic possibility of where I could go. My parents’ house. They were staying in the city as far as I knew, so they wouldn’t be home.
But the safety of my childhood home wasn’t calling to me. I watched the trees rushing by. It was summer. Not many students would be around campus. Maybe going back there would help jog my memory.
No.I didn’t want my memory to come back. I wanted to forget. I wanted to move on. But where else could I go? I looked down at the gas meter. I only had a quarter of a tank. Eventually my gas level would decide for me. That was the best way. Leave it to fate.
I drove for awhile longer and saw a sign for I-95. If anything felt like fate, that did. I was sick of the winding roads. I’d just be careful not to speed. And I’d at least know where I was.
I merged onto the highway. And despite trying to just drive for the purpose of getting farther away, I found myself following signs to Newark. It was like I was being drawn toward the University of New Castle. Maybe I just needed to see it for myself. See the changes around campus to further prove that I had lost seven years of my life.
***
I drove along Main Street looking for somewhere to park without a meter. I didn’t have any money, so I’d be sleepingin my car again tonight. It would be best if I wasn’t outside someone’s house that would call the cops.
I pulled the car to a stop on one of the side streets. I looked out the window. Melissa had dragged me to a frat party here once. All the occupants were probably home for the summer. And even if there was anyone living there during summer semester, I doubted that they’d care about my car being here. They’d probably take pictures with it and pretend they met Batman. Or call for it to be towed away.
But I didn’t have much of a choice. The car was running on empty. I wasn’t going anywhere until I found a pawnshop to sell the watch I had stolen. I cut the gas and climbed out of the car, pulling my duffel bag with me. I couldn’t afford to let it get towed away with the car. My only possessions were in that bag.Sort of.I didn’t recognize any of the clothes I had packed. And judging from my supposed life, I certainly hadn’t paid for any of my clothing. None of that mattered though. I was finally free. I smiled as I started walking along Main Street. Everything felt so familiar.
The only time I had been to the University of New Castle in the summer was when I came to tour it before applying. Not that I needed the tour. I always figured I’d come here. Both my parents had. And it wasn’t like I had the urge like so many other Delawareans to get the hell out of town. I liked it here. No, I loved it here. I breathed in a deep breath of fresh air.So much better than New York.
I turned off Main Street, down the familiar path toward my dorm. I felt more like myself here than I ever had in New York.No expectations. No stranger trying to force me to remember a person that wasn’t me.
The thought of James’ voice when he was banging on the bathroom door clouded my mind. He’d know I didn’t kill myself once he saw that bathroom was empty, right? When he saw one of his cars was gone? He’d know.
I didn’t want him to be depressed that I’d died. I wanted him to move on, knowing that I chose to leave him. He clearly needed a fresh start. He needed someone that could make him laugh more. I smiled at the thought. He had a nice laugh.