Page 105 of Faking Forever 1
A crisp voice fills the microphone, struggling to speak over the unbearable siren. I could feel people whipping past me, already rising for their spot in the room that wasn’t that far from whereTate and I stood. A few people who were moving faster than others swept beside us, bumping us in passing and knocking my drink over as a result. I finally open my eyes, really taking in the sight of the complete panic from different people. Some were unfazed, like me.
“Tate! Let’s go, sweetheart!” I watch Paisley’s mom grab his shoulders from behind him, then draw her attention to me, “Josh, honey, let’s go!”
“Where is Paisley?!” I manage to yell loud enough above the noise.
Her eyes become more expansive as we all pause.
“I thought she was with you guys!”
I look at Tate and then her, fed up with the babbling.
“So nobody knows where she is?!” I tried my best not to raise my voice out of anger, but it was too late, as each of them gave me dumb stares.
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“Never mind—I’ll find her!” I shake my hand out, feeling that my sleeve is wet from the sweet, fizzy drink that had just spilled.
They both watch me as I try to run for it.
“No, we need to stay together, Joshua!” my sleeve is caught as she hooks her fingers onto me.
“What if she’s out there?! She could be stuck—maybe hurt!”
I pull my arms away from her, backing away as well.
“We’ll find her, but youhaveto stay with us!” she steps around Tate as if she’s coming after me now.
Being disobedient, I continue disregarding her words and turn in the opposite direction, now going against the massive flow of people. Using my shoulders, I mosh through every person until there’s nobody left. Snapping my head left and right, I look for the closest exit while I fish for my keys in my pocket. Now that I was closer to all of the walls, I was forced to be blinded by the red lights that were blinking repeatedly in every corner of the room.
Ignoring that, and overly dramatic siren, I run shoulder-first to the first exit I see, pushing the door open. All my adrenaline was about to be tested, along with all my might.
The wind barely let me get the door open, but the droplets of rain were like multiple spikes coming down on top of me.
Within seconds, my suit was drenched and so was everything else on my body. I could only move so fast while feeling like the weight of the world was holding me down.
I had gained at least ten pounds by stepping out here with theseclothes on.
My mind settled on the thought of getting rid of the suit jacket, and I tossed it on the ground, hovering a hand over my eyes. It didn’t shield much, but it did a good enough 254
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job to allow me to see my Jeep, parked not too far away.
Simultaneously, I was praying that the rain had cracked a hole in any parts of the car, considering it was coming down like someone aired out a Tommy Gun. The wind had already sent so much shit flying, any damage from miscellaneous items was already said and done. I hadn’t seen a storm like this since I was a small child. Small, and ignorant.
* * *
There was no way I was getting anywhere fast in the conditions I was up against. I’d like to think I’m an invincible man when, but right now, it wasn’t looking good for me. The rain was coming down sideways, and not even my Jeep could handle the wind. One swerve, and it was over for whatever grand master plan I was fixing to conjure up. My brain is so foggy all I can muster up is looking for that damn red truck. Wherever it is, she wouldn’t be far if she wasn’t sitting in it, molded into a ball and freaking out already.
I wanted to ask more questions about why nobody had evenconsideredher whereabouts, but with all the commotion, that would’ve been more trouble than it seemed worth. Even tipsy from the few glasses of champagne, it wasn’t stopping me from at least trying to find her. Except that, it’s getting dark, and I magically am looking for her in the dark—again, like before. It’s not on purpose—I’m aware of that, but I operate on the theory that everything happens for a reason. So it leads me to ask, what is the reason I keep ending up in these predicaments with her?
The more I drove, the more it seemed pointless, with every turn and obstacle. I was waiting for a sign and getting closer 255
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to the store. It was familiar, and hopefully, since she’s an intelligent girl, she considered going there for safety. It’s not the most safe place, but it’s the closest. As I crept up the parkway, edging to the exit, my eyes were beginning to throb from squinting so hard, attempting to see through the rain like some superhero. I thought I was getting somewhere, but as the lightsof my Jeep shimmered against an oddly large pile of rocks and boulders, I had to think fast, stopping the vehicle completely.
