Page 48 of And Then There's You

All of a sudden, a hand is on my arm, yanking me backward. Avery pulls me into a dark alley that runs in between the bar we left and the one next to it.

“What are you doing?” I’m confused.

“I need to talk to you about something,” she whispers.

“Okay…” I question hesitantly.

“You love Mack, right?” Her voice is barely audible.

I stare back at her, wondering why she’s bringing this up in an alley, at this very moment. It's weird, and something doesn’t seem right.

“Okay, so,” she acts like I’ve said yes, even though I haven’t responded. “I want you to think about how you love Mack…now, think about it backward.”

Wait, what? I say it both in my head, and aloud to her.

“Just think about it okay.” She starts to walk back in the direction we were headed.

I begin to follow her, but before I can move, she’s spun around, her hand forcing me into the wall by my throat. I’m panicking. What is happening? “Avery,” it comes out in a broken and struggling whisper. She’s looking straight through me like she’s in a trance. Her hand grips tighter around my throat. It’s not a strong enough hold that I can’t breathe or get away if I violently force her off me, but it’s enough that I feel trapped between her and the wall. “Avery,” I choke out again.

It’s only been a few seconds, but it feels like I’m in an alternate reality where time has slowed and everything is in slow motion. Her gaze is still on me, or through me. It’s like she knows what she’s doing while simultaneously not realizing at all. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a car slow as it drives by us. There’s a guy poking his head out the window, and for a moment I assume he’s checking on us, but then I realize he’s taking a picture. I’m scared and confused, someone is taking a picture of this moment, and I can’t wrap my head around what’s happening. The only thing I can think to do is call for help, but my voice hasn’t gotten me very far. I slowly reach into my pocket and slide out my phone. I glance down at it quickly, pulling up the emergency contacts, where I’ve already saved Mack, and hit the call button. I don’t bring it to my ear, I just don’t know what else to do. Mack is probably still a few hours away, so I don’t know what he could do.

The street is quiet and empty now, so when Mack answers, I can hear his voice coming through the phone, even though it’s by my waist. It’s what snaps Avery out of her trance, and she pulls her hand back, but her eyes stare ahead as if they can’t focus on anything. I twist to the side so I’m no longer between her and the wall then stare at her, frozen.

She begins walking toward the parking lot, slowly, like she’s not in any rush, and like all the intensity that was there a moment ago has been flushed out of her. She doesn’t look back to see if I’m following her. It’s like she doesn’t remember I’m there. She can’t possibly be drunk. We only had one glass of wine. Thoughts are spinning through my brain, trying to make sense of what is happening. I finally hear Mack’s voice yelling through my phone. He sounds panicked. I look down at my phone and see his name with a heart next to it lit up on the front of the screen, but I can’t bring myself to say anything or move it closer to my face. I take off in a run after Avery, and when we both reach the parking lot around the same time, I notice an empty cab.

I pound on the passenger side window and watch for the driver to motion for me to get in. I hold up my finger, and he nods. I take the few extra steps to where Avery is still walking slowly, as if she’s in a dream. I wrap my hand around her wrist, gently, trying not to startle or trigger her. She looks back at me with that same vacant expression, then slowly to where our hands connect. “Come on, Avery, let’s go home,” I say, and realize for the first time I’m crying. I’m surprised when she lets me lead her to the cab. She gets in first, and I slide in, but stay on my side of the back seat.

It’s a thirty minute drive back to Mack’s apartment. I just have to get us both there safely. Mack. I glance down at my phone that’s still in my hand, but this time I don’t see his name on the screen. I can’t call him right now. I know he’s freaking out, but I can’t form words out loud, let alone put together a sentence. I just need to get us home. Then we will figure this all out and everything will be okay.

We make it a few minutes from the apartment, slowing as we come to a light on the back road a few streets away. Suddenly, Avery’s door flies open while the cab is still moving, and she tumbles out of it.

What the fuck.

My body is physically frozen in its place. What is happening? Is she okay? Why did she do that? What is going on? Luckily there aren’t any cars on this road since it’s so late. She gets to her feet and starts running, but it’s so dark I can’t see which direction she goes. In the same instant I turn my head to try and follow her with my gaze, the cab driver slams on his breaks. “What the hell?” he screams. “Are you staying in or getting out?”

“Getting out,” my voice shakes as I frantically pull cash out of my purse and all but throw it at him.

Slamming the door behind me, I take off in the direction Avery ran. Though I lost sight of her, I run four blocks, frantically searching down each side street I pass. With no luck, I stop, my hands falling to my knees, my breathing ragged. I’m outside, but I need air; I feel like I’m suffocating. I don’t know what to do. I take in my surroundings, recognizing them. I’m in the parking lot of the café where we got bagels. It’s only about two blocks back to Mack’s. Hopefully she found her way there.

When I get to the apartment, I pound on the door. Avery has the key, so if she’s made it here, she should be inside.

No answer.

I slam my fist against the wood again.

Nothing.

I take off down the stairs I just ran up, opening the stairwell door to cool night air. I need to keep searching, but I can’t make my feet move. I don’t know where to start. I collapse onto the curb instead.

I brush my hands over my face, trying to wipe the tears blurring my vision, but it makes me cry more. Within a minute, I’m sobbing so hard my body is convulsing, my arms wrapped around my head which rests on my knees.

It feels like hours have passed, but my phone is dead, so I have no idea how long it’s actually been. I’ve finally stopped crying. The only light is the glow of the street lamps. I’m probably not safe out here by myself, but I’m not sure I’d feel safe anywhere right now.

Footsteps are approaching me. It crosses my mind I should be apprehensive, realizing I’m no longer alone on a street in Hollywood, but I don’t have the energy. I hear a sigh that sounds like a mix of relief and panic, and it takes everything I have to lift my head for the first time in however long I’ve been sitting on this curb. I start to stand, but Mack is quicker, sitting and pulling me to him. Sobs break out of me the moment my face hits his chest.

A few minutes go by, and I pull back. “Avery, I don’t know where she is.” I’m not sure he can even understand me.

“Shhhh.” He runs his hand over my hair, trying to calm me. “She’s in my bed. What happened, Maci?” He speaks softly, but I can sense his confusion.

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