in her purse and pulls out another joint, lighting it. She smokes too and I hate it. I tell her all the damn time to quit but she says she likes it too much. Once she has her mind set on something it’s game over.
Landon looks back when the smoke drifts around him.
“Put your clothes back on!” I tell him, shoving his shoulder adjusting my bra. He’s quick with his hands and had my bra pushed up before I even noticed.
Landon laughs and grabs his flannel putting it on but doesn’t button it. “I’ll be takin’ yours off soon.” He leans in and whispers. It’s a promise for later and I’m going to hold him to it once we make it to the house, alone.
December 5, 2010
2 AM
I don’t have any idea what time it is, all I do know is we’re just outside of Buxton, Oregon. My eyes are drifting closed and I know time passes but I’m not sure how long. Landon is still going full force, wild and crazy. He’s drunk and high, never a good combination. Steven is bopping his head to the music, his eyes on the road. I think Alexa has fallen asleep but I’m not sure. Cash is in the backseat and when I turn my head to look back there he has his hand down Madison’s pants. Madison is barely able to keep her eyes open but somehow she’s hanging in there. I blush turning back around attempting to gain control over Landon. Someone needs to and ninety-nine percent of the time it’s me who can get him to calm down.
Minutes later Madison is jumping over the seat trying to get to where Landon is standing on the center console hanging out of the sunroof.
“Landon, get back in the car!” I yell, tugging on his shirt. He’s got a bottle of beer in his hand and he’s dancing hanging out of the sunroof with Madison now. “There’s a car coming, get down,” I yell again but it’s no use. He’s wild and there is no taming him this time, he’s long gone. Landon takes the joint Madison was smoking.
Headlights illuminate the whole inside of the car blinding us all momentarily.
“Landon, get down!” Alexa yanks on Landon’s jeans. “You’re gonna get hurt up there.” He looks up and sees the car coming. He tries to get down but Madison is there and he can’t.
Steven swerves into the oncoming lane. “Landon, get it! It’s burning my back!” Fuck, Landon dropped the joint down his back.
Landon falls down on Steven, then into Alexa before landing practically on top of me.
I see the accident before it even happens. I’ve been picturing it all night since Landon has gone crazy. I see the headlights, Steven swerves, and his hands are frantic to find the joint that’s burning him. I see Landon fall, Madison laugh. They have no clue what’s coming.
I brace myself for what I know is approaching.
A single phrase keeps on repeat in my head and all I can think is everything’s about to change.
When I try to open my eyes I quickly shut them again. The pain in my head causes me to lose my breath and makes me feel like throwing up instantly. I take a couple of deep breaths trying to push the feeling away. I try to open my eyes again but they burn so bad. I raise my arm to try to wipe at my eyes but immediately put it back down. Fire and pain overtake my whole body and I heave now. There is so much pain. I attempt to lift my head from the seat but it’s no use. I’m in that in-between place of knowing we were in a wreck and honestly not knowing if I am alive or dead. A surreal moment until I hear movement next to me.
Landon’s door opens with a creak and he falls out. Glass crunching under his feet as he moves around. I start crying though it’s making my eyes burn even more and my head pound because I don’t know what’s going on. It’s too quiet, it’s eerie. Landon comes around to my side of the car because my sister is lying on the floor boards. I can hear Cash call her name trying to wake her up. Landon picks me up out of my seat and I wince as my head rests against his chest. He sits me on the side of the road and shrugs his shirt off.