and Eric. They nodded casually, making an effort not to laugh. Eric’s sleeves were ridiculously longer than my arms, and so was the entire jacket. It seemed to fit Eric perfectly. But he’s so skinny. It doesn’t make sense.
“All right,” Aaron’s booming voice filled the room. “I will be in my car.” He started to walk out of the room, but halted immediately. “Wait. Eric?”
“Mmm?” He said.
“You got anything to eat? I’m starving! I haven’t had anything to eat since six o’clock this morning and I—”
“I don’t need to know your life story, Aaron. There are microwavable hot pockets in the fridge. Help yourself.”
“Ooh! Can I have some?” I said.
“Heat one up for Dorothy too,” Eric noted. Aaron left quietly, making his way towards the stairs. I scanned the room for any cell phone in site. I know it was weird to want to look for it at this minute, but I was free now. I could jump even though part of me told me not to.
“Dorothy…” Eric said. I shook my head a tiny bit to look at him. His face was real serious. What could it be now that was bothering him? He took a deep breath in only to sigh back out again. “When we get outside… you won’t run, will you?”
I opened my mouth, and busted out a laugh. His eyebrows furrowed in prplexity. “So that’s what you’re worried about? That, as soon as I’m outside, I’ll sprint like a madman? Eric, stop being so paranoid.” I told him. Eric didn’t take his eyes off of me.
“Funny.” He maneuvered to the door. I completely forgot that I had no more ropes on me and stood up, following. “Somehow still can’t believe you. If I was you….” He left it at that.
He can’t believe me, I can’t believe myself. But I’m willing to let that slide. The fact that he’s taking a risk to let me go, the fact that I’m going out there. People will be watching. It’ll be too obvious. Eric led me down the steps to his kitchen where Aaron was practically ripping open the cabinets like a cavemen new to the world of fine craftsmanship.
“I really thought it would be clear that the hot pockets would be in the freezer. Wait a minute. I even said they would be in the refrigerator.”
“Yeah, I know that. I’m not retarded.” Aaron said, shaking his head.
“Well then what are you doing Aaron. I’d like to know.”
“I think by now you should know that a hot pocket won’t do anything to me.” He moved his body to signify what he was talking about. “I think Dorothy might be okay with a hot pocket.”
“Fruit, I want fruit.” I demanded, examining the kitchen. Was Eric’s house fruitless?
“Okay, health freak then.” Aaron rolled his eyes. He went to the fridge and grabbed an apple hidden in the drawer as Eric got some hot pockets from the freezer. “You have turkey,” He said, handing me the apple to retrieve the container of individually sliced turkey. He took the cover off and snatched a slice. “Mm,” he said. “There is nothing like a good piece of turkey to brighten your day.”
“Ugh.” I said. Eating turkey like that is so wrong. I only like my turkey on bread.
“You know that turkey is good for you, right?” Aaron asked when he swallowed. “People who are health freaky always say ‘ew’ at a lot of things. One of the worst characteristics, you know.”
I only glowered at him and Eric gave me a hot item.
“Hot pocket,” he said hastily.
“Hey, where’s mine?” Aaron asked.
“Yah, yours is still in the microwave. I think you can get it yourself.” He said lightly. We made our way towards the front door, and I took in all my surroundings.
His house was very small. It had a pale-peach color to the walls. Light blue arm chairs and couches were pushed against the window. They were set next to an oval shaped coffee table and a TV set in the front. Paintings covered the walls, plus a book self on the left hand corner next to the window. I also noticed a computer on a narrow desk. The computer and printer were buzzing low.
Aaron and Eric were really close to me now. Like two bodyguards protecting a pop sensation from a heap of crazy fans. We walked to Aaron’s car as casually as one could while trying to sneak out. Except that neither Eric nor Aaron was sneaking out, they were sneaking me out. And I followed their lead just to make them sure I was trustable.
It surprised me that Eric hardly had any neighbors around his home. No one I would hope for could spot me. I was already hidden in the car in quick motion. I didn’t even know what happened for sure—just that Eric pushed me in the backseat and told me to put my seatbelt on.
I yanked at it—lucky it cooperated. My car’s backseat belts were horribly abused by its’ previous owners. No one would, or should, even dare to try and buckle up their seatbelts. Or just risk getting slapped.
Aaron walked around the back to the driver’s seat. He pulled at his seatbelt, turned to me with a smile on his face. “Like my car?”
His car was a Cadillac from the year 2006. It was black. The shine faded a bit. It was still a really good car. “Nice,” I summed up in one word, smiling back.
Eric was the last to get in the car. He slowly entered his way in, sliding on the seat. I could tell Aaron was growing impatient by the quiet tapping of his fingertips. Eric clicked his seatbelt in place.
“Okay, Eric.” Aaron finally said. “Where to?”
“The Anderlie park.” Eric said.
“What?! That’s like an hour away, Eric. Are you kidding me?”
“You’re exaggerating. It’s only a solid thirty minutes.” Eric said. He twisted his head to me. “Dorothy, you have to duck on the floor.”
“What?” I said.
“Isn’t Eric full of surprises today?” Aaron mumbled, fixing his mirror and starting the engine.
“You’ll be seen. We’ll have suspicion planted on our faces. Just do it Dorothy,” he pleaded softly. I listened to him and awkwardly glided down to the bottom. I could feel Aaron pull out of the driveway, the car made smooth movements, backing out.
9. KIDS
“Can I get up now?” I asked. It felt only five minutes passed but my butt was asleep and that annoyed me greatly.
When Eric said, “No, not yet,” I made an exaggerated sigh. Aaron turned the radio on in another five minutes because of how obnoxious I was being. Oh yeah? Why don’t you try squishing through the seats, hiding on the floor? Normal people don’t do this, you know.
“Slow down,” Eric said. He’s been saying this since we’ve been in the car. I know Eric was afraid of getting caught. Plus the fine that Aaron would get could possibly have to come out of Eric’s wallet. Only because Aaron complained that this park is way too far.
“Eric, we’ve already been over this. Stop being so paranoid!” Through my view I could see Aaron grip the steering wheel, causing a sharp turn. I bumped my head against Eric’s seat.
“Ow.” I said loudly on purpose.
“Eric, can she please sit down normally, I can’t stand her anymore.”
“Hey!” I said again. How dare he? We’re back on square one; he’s never sat here before.
Eric nodded this time. “Yeah, I think we are distant now. You can sit down.” His head turned my way a smudge.
“Thank you,” I said bitterly. I carelessly plopped myself on the seat, crossing my arms, staring out the window. We sat quietly, listening to the music and DJ’s vague interruptions in the car. Outside the window was an unfamiliar view. Green trees arched down on the lonely dark rode we were on and the yellow sun glowed through the leaves.
“How much longer will it be?” Aaron asked in the next ten minutes.
“We’re making good time, actually.” Eric said, “Only about five minutes away now.”
“Alrighty then.” Aaron said, then murmured, “Five more minutes of wasted gas.”
“I said I’d pay you didn’t I?” Eric exclaimed.
“Yeah, yeah—”
“Well then stop complaining!” Eric held his head up, rubbing his temple. “Geez, between you
and Dorothy…I ought to kill myself.”
“You know I wouldn’t be complaining if I wasn’t even here!” I said in an angry voice. The nerve of Eric.
“Oh, I think this is Anderlie Park.” Aaron slowed when a large area of green with a playground in the center was in view.
“Yeah. What set you off—the large sign or the little kids?” Aaron laughed at Eric’s witticism. He pulled in the parking lot, examining for a perfect spot. We passed like three before I got ticked off again.
“Why don’t you just park somewhere?!” I shouted.
“My baby isn’t going to be just anywhere,” Aaron said sternly. Baby? So that’s what we’re calling it now? I can never get the dynamics of guys and cars, and nor will I ever try to understand. Finally, Aaron found the “perfect” spot for the car and shut the engine off.
Eric was the first to get out of the car, followed by Aaron and me. I asked Eric if he knew where his friends were, but he just shrugged his shoulders and still walked ahead. Aaron and I had to keep up or we’d lose him, getting ourselves lost as well.
I took note of my surrounding. The trees were as tall as the ones back on the road. Kids were laughing and playing with their parents with not a care in the word. The mulch along the pathway was dirty brown, and the green grass made the perfect combination for it. But as we got deeper into the park, the grass wasn’t beautiful green as much and I could see a lake.
Then at last Eric was tired from walking around too. We sat down on the grass because there were no benches around at the moment.
“Okay, did Carter just