Demolition Lovers

I open my eyes as the car rocks slightly and a blast of cool air as the car door opens then slams.

“Where does this friend live.” Satisfied with Frank’s puppy-like instincts to follow me everywhere, regardless of whether or not he wants to, I smirk victoriously.

“Just drive I’ll tell you when to turn.” Frank clicks his seat belt into place and I feel his hazel eyes burn holes in the side of my face while I stare straight ahead through the windshield and down the block.

I might have a slight obsession with eyes, which is probably why i’ve kept Frank around as long as I have. Eyes have the power to hold captive the beasts that dwell in places people dare not to go, places that are only opened by the strong and forceful hands of those few moments before you fall asleep at night, shoving you into the oxygen deprived dungeon of all your fears, thoughts and desires. Eyes have the power to see the end of the world, and yet so much more. Eyes can show you where a person has been, what they have done. But when I look into Frank’s eyes I don’t see any of that. All I can see in his greenish-hazel eyes is me, my reflection. I keep him around so one day I can see what is beyond that reflection. So I can figure out where he has been, what he has done, his innermost thoughts, fears, and desires.

“This friend of your’s won’t get us arrested like before right?” the car shakes to life as he turns the key in the ignition and pulls out of our designated parking space marked “5C”.

“Right?” He repeats after a few moments of no response from me. He continues to maneuver his way around numerous parked cars on the way out of the parking lot.

“Gerard, i’m serious. We’re friends and all but I did not sign up to become a fugitive when I met you in middle school. Seriously, how do you expect to get into any college with a record like your’s?”

“Left.”

“What?”

“A Left, make a left here.” He groans in annoyance at my apparent disinterest in whatever he’s saying.

“I swear, one day i’ll get through that thick skull of ours.”

“Doubt it, make a right two blocks down.” As he makes a right onto the block, I feel the car slow down to a crawl.

“What are you doing?”

I face him for the first time throughout this entire ride. He’s staring at the buildings around us as if they were all copies of Mr. Pattracky trying to teach him calculus all at the same time. There’s a small cluster of river-like creases between his eyebrows, it’s an interesting expression. I wish I had brought a sketch pad so I could draw him and capture this emotion in time forever. He hates when I draw him. I always ask him why he hates when I draw him, but he always shrugs it off. Maybe i’ll learn why he hates being drawn when I figure out the story behind his eyes.

“I don’t know. There’s just something off about this place.” His voice sounds distant, ominous even.

“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say, because whenever Frank has a bad feeling, he’s usually right about it. I knew Frank’s gut feeling was right in this situation because I felt it too. There was no question about it, something was definitely off. It didn’t matter though, what I was going to do need to be done.

“How much further Gerard?” He asks accelerating as his voice suddenly sounds like it had a moment ago.

“Right here, stop.” He pulls over swiftly, double-parking in front of an apartment complex. He clicks on his hazard lights and starts to unbuckle his seat belt.

“No. No, stay here i’ll be right back.” Franks eyebrows now take on a new form. One which I seen countless times throughout our companionship. The one where the inside ends of each brow arch up.

“Gerard, don’t drag me into something crazy again.” I roll my eyes.

“Whatever, just stay here.” I climb out the car and walk around to the back opening the trunk, taking out the duffelbag I had put in there last night and enter the apartment complex, Ignoring the furious honking from Frank as I do so.

Notes

Please comment. Subscribe and vote!