writing
The Big Debut
part seven of sixteen
The duo drove in silence for awhile after that. Terry tired of trying to figure out where Scott was driving them, so he dozed off in the passenger’s seat, and hoped for the best. Some time later, “The Tourist” greeted Terry back into consciousness, and he took a look out of the car window, attempting to situate himself with his surroundings. To his surprise, he was met with a sight that would be familiar to anyone who has ever taken a look inside a history textbook, the Washington Monument.
“DC? Why did you take us all the way out here, Scott?”
“I’m not really sure, Terry. Pretty cool, huh?”
“Cool? There’s nothing for us here, man. Let’s get out of here before we got lost or something.”
“Nothing here? Are you kidding? The city’s where it’s at, Terry! This is where everyone goes on the weekends.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t exactly fit the mold of everyone else.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Terry was sincerely frustrated with Scott now. He’d become the victim of what was essentially a kidnapping. He wanted Scott to tell him what was on his mind, but knew it wasn’t going to happen. Their friendship was strong, but there were cracks in the foundation when it came to communicating feelings and motives.
“Like you don’t know. It’s like I’ve always said, Scott. I’m a misfit, and proud of it. Now, let’s ditch this before something stupid happens.”
“C’mon, Terry! We’re in college! This is when we’re supposed to be doing all the stupid stuff we don’t tell our kids about.”
“I’d really rather not.”
“Tough luck, buddy. I’m behind the wheel, and I say we’re going to give this a shot. I’m tired of letting your apathy run the show. Scott’s moving on tonight.”
Terry let a retort about the utilization of the third person die in his throat. He was absolutely petrified of the predicament he now found himself in. He hated social gatherings, and it was obvious that a gathering was exactly what Scott had in mind for them. The fact that Scott had suckered him into it wasn’t helping matters any. If he couldn’t trust his best friend, how could he assure himself that the evening wouldn’t end up a disaster?
“I don’t appreciate being lied to, Scott.”
“What?”
“You never had any intention of going to the movies, did you?”
“Don’t give me that. You yourself said the movies were lame.”
“Did not.”
“Well, maybe not in as many words, but I saw the eye roll you gave me when I mentioned it as an idea. Besides, if I’d told you what I was planning, there was no way in hell I was getting you out of your room.”
“Exactly. I call bullshit.”
“What else was I gonna do? I need a wingman!”
“Like in ‘Top Gun?’”
“Don’t even.”
Terry continued to fret over his certain doom as Scott navigated through the streets of Washington, DC. Though he’d never say it out loud, Terry was quite impressed by his friend’s ability to find his way through the city. If there was one thing Scott had, it was a sense of direction, a skill that Terry himself had never possessed. After a few more moments of winding through the city, they arrived at their apparent destination on a nondescript side street. With a little difficulty, Scott parallel parked the car, but seemed reluctant to get out.
To be continued…
