Page 7 of #Lovestrong
6
Declan
"D, where you going man?" Jackson shouts over the fireworks as he puts his arm around his girlfriend.
I can't stop scanning the street behind me for the girl who ran into me. Damn, she was pretty, all green eyes, athletic build, and long brown hair. This town isn't that big, so she's got to be new because I've never seen her before. When your dad is a senator, you get to know people, and I don't know this girl. But I want to.
Maybe she's Mrs. Deb's granddaughter.
She looked terrified, like the sound of the fireworks scared the shit out of her or something.
"Yo, D! Hello!"
"I'll be back, man. Just watch the show with your girl," I say loudly back to him as I gently push my way to the street. I don't know why I feel compelled to find her, but something about the fear in her eyes is pulling at my gut.
As I walk down the street, I scan the crowds in the grass. Where the hell did she go? Most of the shops are closed for the show. I'm pretty sure the Honky-Tonk bar three blocks down and Grandma Mabel's, which is four blocks behind me, are the only two places open until after the festivities are over.
The constant explosions of the display stop for a moment. They must be gearing up for the finale. I stop and sigh. I can't imagine where this chick could’ve gone. Muffled sobs echo through the air behind me just as the whistle of more fireworks stream through the air. I turn around and scan the darkened shops behind me. Colorful bursts of light bounce off the buildings, and in the alleyway between the buildings, there's a small person moving.
I jog over and my heart stops. It's her.
She’s hugging her knees, curled up against the wall, her face buried with her forehead against her knees, rocking back and forth. Her whole body is shaking as she sobs, her hands pressed to either side of her head, holding onto what looks like cans, or headphones kids wear at NASCAR races. I jog closer and kneel down in front of her, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder.
She pushes back, crying loudly, like she's trying to become one with the building behind her. She looks me in the face then glances over my shoulder, tears and black mascara running down her face. Every time a firework explodes, she sobs and tries to move further into the alley.
"Hey, hey, calm down," I say, panicked. "What's wrong?"
She shakes her head violently, pressing harder on the cans covering her ears. I look over my shoulder, my chest rattling with the explosions from the fireworks.
It's the sound that is killing her. "Come on," I say, grabbing under her arms to haul her off the ground.
Her entire body is so tense it's like lifting dead weight. She fights me, trying to get out of my grip.
"Hey," I yell over the explosions. "I'm not going to hurt you. Do you want to get away from the noise?"
Her eyes go wide as another firework goes off, bathing her face in rainbow colors. Tears stream down her face, but she nods.
Once I get her to her feet, I pull her further into the alley, forcing her to walk as quickly as possible away from the riverfront. The further we get, the less forceful the vibrations from the show are. As we emerge onto the next street, which is completely quiet except for the slight echo of the fireworks, I look in both directions. My car is parked another block back, maybe two minutes from where we are.
"Come on, honey, I got you." I wrap my arms around her, holding her head close to my chest, and lead her all the way to my car.
Holding her up and against me with one hand, I fish my keys out of my pocket and unlock the passenger’s side door. She slides in easily, and after I shut the door, I jog around to the driver’s side. Without asking her anything, I start the engine and she jumps as it roars to life. Quickly as I can, I pull out onto one of the side streets and head for the only place I know will be entirely quiet with no one to bother this poor girl.
My house.