gravel in the lot. Poor kid’s nerves are clearly shot.
Leo puts the car in park but doesn’t pull into a space. He looks down at the dash clock and swears, feeling truly torn.
“Sorry, bud. I’d love to go in and have a beer with you. You have no idea how much…but I have somewhere I need to be. Here, take this and go buy yourself a beer.” He tucks a bill into Elliot’s pocket.
“Uh, okay…thanks, I guess,” Elliot lamely responds, appearing confused what the appropriate parting should be to someone who saved your life.
“You’re welcome.”
Elliot sighs and jumps out of the truck, looking happy to be away from the man who knows and seems to see too much.
Just before Elliot reaches the door, Leo rolls down the passenger window and yells to him, “Remember, kid, today is a good day to be alive. You were put on this Earth for a purpose…maybe try to figure out what that might be.”
Elliot doesn’t say a word in response.
FOUR
ELLIOT WALKS INTO the dimly lit bar, which has a bit more charm than the outside might suggest. He bypasses the bar and goes straight to the men’s room where he splashes his face with water as he tries to regroup.
The amount and range of emotions that stranger has gotten out of him is seriously pissing him off, which is surprisingly hard to do. Elliot hasn’t felt any emotion in as long as he can remember, and now he seems to be feeling all of them at the same time.
His plan was so foolproof that he didn’t even bother coming up with a backup plan. He checked off every number on his list, and yet he is still standing here. Why?
He stares at the unimpressive face that looks back at him in the mirror. Mousy, limp brown hair, dead brown eyes half hidden by his glasses, and a small, lanky body…evidence he’s been hungry for more than half his life.
An old biker walks in and heads to the urinal, ending Elliot’s inner musings. Leaving the bathroom feeling no better, he approaches the bar and figures he might as well order a drink while he decides what his next step will be. He doesn’t even have anywhere to sleep or go until the sun comes up in the morning.
When he’d started following Leo down the mountain, he had originally planned to turn around and hike right back up it again once Leo left. With his luck, however, he would probably trip over something in the dark, injuring himself enough that he would be screwed but not dead.
He also hadn’t planned on the long hike down giving him pause. Or maybe it was just the thought-provoking questions from his companion.
A lady walks out of the back room with an armful of glasses, which she sets on the bar top then smiles over at him.
“I’ll be right with you, hun.”
Elliot nods and pulls the bill that Leo gave him out of his pocket…then he immediately chokes as he looks down at the hundred-dollar bill. Savior complex much? Elliot quickly puts the money back in his pocket. It’s hard not to feel grateful to the man. Even though he ruined his plans, he showed more concern today than anyone else ever has in the span of Elliot’s life.
“Sorry about that. Now, what can I getcha to drink? Wait, no, don’t tell me. An old fashioned, right? Coming right up.”
Elliot stares at the pretty brunette, wondering if she ever lets someone get a word in edgewise. She’s older than he is by about ten years or so, based on the lines that crease her smiling mouth. The bags under her eyes hint at a hard life, but there’s a lightness to her that almost brings you comfort. He can see how she could be good at her job.
“Here ya go, hun. Enjoy.”
She places an amber colored drink with an orange and cherry in front of him, which he quickly takes a drink of…then spits back into the glass. He takes back his previous thought; she’s horrible at her job. It’s got to be the worst thing he’s ever put in his mouth. That’s hard to accomplish, given most items he used to have in his kitchen had long lived past their expiration date.
A man Elliot hadn’t noticed at first comes over, smiling, and places a beer in front of him, winks, then walks away. What an odd bar. Although this day has been downright baffling, so why should this place