You know the score with real life etc.
Just want to say thanks for sticking with me.
It goes without saying that you'll need to read all of the previous chapters.
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I was doing 90 on the freeway.
I had no choice, every time the speedometer dipped below that, Alice would yell at me for going too slow.
I couldn't help but laugh that my sister, who had once been so terrified of my driving that she would barely get into a car with me, could be egging me on to go faster. Then again, I had calmed down with my driving due to the fact that I needed my licence for work. Unfortunately, Alice wouldn't let me make work one of my priorities.
I didn't want to push her. I'm afraid of no man, not even Bob, but hell hath no fury...
That pushed me into anger, as I thought about what I would do to him. Wedding day or no wedding day, I'd get him back.
Not that I really owed my sister anything, we were both the reason we were in this mess, but I didn't see her getting beat up and thrown into the snow. I didn't see her – our – family turning their backs on her. I wondered about the whitewash Bob had poured over the situation. Alice was raped? His oh so perfect daughter was taken advantage of by her no good brother?
Fortunately for me, the turn for the Airport loomed.
I signalled and rolled to a stop at the bottom of the off-ramp. I signalled again and pulled out, landing us neatly in the airport.
I pulled into the long-term car parking, and paid the attendant.
Then we walked towards the terminal.
---
Now, I need to sort a few things out. I know I'm coming across as obsessive, and I know that I shouldn't be doing this for Alice. I shouldn't be playing happy families, I shouldn't be rolling over and acting like nothing's happened. It has, and I'll never forget. My sister could have my blessing then she could go to hell. I wasn't playing her games, and I sure as hell wasn't sticking around. Bob and Mom had made their decision clear. Though they 'missed me', I was sure I wasn't going to have a warm reception. I didn't care. If he tried anything, I'd show him what happens in a fair fight. I knew that my whole family had decided I was the reason this had happened. I wondered if Alice's fiancée knew who the father was. And why wasn't the baby adopted? I had all these questions bouncing around my head, and I knew they needed to be answered.
---
The plane landed on time, and we disembarked quickly.
I walked to the rental desk after we claimed our baggage, and signed for the usual beige-mobile. I hoped I wouldn't be here long enough to scream in frustration at it.
I slid in behind the wheel and adjusted the seat for my bulky frame. Alice took the passenger seat. She spent the whole journey bitching and moaning about how she hated being in San Francisco, blah, blah, fucking blah.
You know the feeling of nervousness which builds in the pit of your stomach, until you feel that you may actually vomit from it? That was the only thing I can recall from the blur that was the drive to my hotel. Alice had offered to let me stay at her house, but I liked the freedom of my own place. Added to that the fact that I didn't particularly want to be in her company all that long, a hotel was definitely the way to go.
I simply dropped her off at her house and left. I was at the end of my patience with her bitching and moaning about everything. I hadn't noticed before, but it was a gaping character flaw. I reached into my pocket for a smoke, and lit it, inhaling deeply. I wasn't sure if I should have been smoking in the rental, but like I cared. I just rolled the window and hoped it wouldn't smell when I handed it back.
Anyway, I was nervous because I wasn't sure how I was going to play this. I hadn't been given adequate time to prepare for my 'wedding present', and as such I didn't know how it was going to work.
---
I relaxed, feeling absolutely stuffed. The beer and food were taking their toll, making me want to fall asleep there and then. There was nothing like a hamburger and chips which was the size of a semi-truck. Well, not quite, but you get the picture. I loved JJ's, but JJ's was a place I hadn't been since I moved out of my parent's. It brought back memories of my childhood, when Bob used to bring me and Alice here and then later when I used to come here with friends. I'd been in San Francisco for two days now. I hadn't seen Alice since I dropped her at home. I didn't care. She'd tried calling a few times, but I wasn't interested. I was mainly interested in running errands, ahead of my wedding surprise.
First things first, I decided to go see Lewis. He was a good guy, and I wanted to patch things up after everything. I could understand his reaction I suppose; if I'd been in his place I'd probably have reacted to it in the same way.
---
I rolled to a stop outside his place, my eyes playing over the neat flowerbeds and mowed lawn. The place had definitely seen some else's touch since I was last here, Lewis was a slob. It was unlikely that his mom had done it since she'd had a stroke not long after I'd last seen Lewis. Maybe his sister, Becca? I wasn't sure.
I turned the motor off and hopped out, breathing deeply in the fresh air. Rental cars tend to have two smells and two only: the smell of stale sweat and musty fabric or the overpowering "shit I can't breathe" type of air freshener. Mine was definitely the former.
I walked briskly up the path between two bushes and rapped solidly on the freshly painted door. It was opened and I came face to face with my long-time best friend.
The last time I saw him I'd cussed him out and pinned him against a wall before leaving, so I was unsure what his reaction would be. I mean, sure, we'd had fights before, usually after a few drinks and we'd laughed them off, but never after he'd found out about me and Alice.
I was met with a lopsided grin.
He'd put on 10 or 15 pounds, making him look healthier than ever and shaved the stubble. Hell, he actually looked cared for.
"How're you doing, bud?" He greeted casually.
"I was scraping the bottom of the barrel for company." I joked.
He laughed and stepped back, gesturing for me to enter.
I stepped past him, and strolled down the corridor into the kitchen.
