Josh
The next day I’m up stupidly early, too many thoughts race through my mind, ruining any chance of sleeping. I decide to do what works best to clear my head. I decide to run. It’s not the same without my running partner, Caleb, but I’ve kinda gotten used to it.
Putting on my running gear and setting up my iPod, I head out of the fancy apartment block and set out on one of my regular routes. As I set the pace, I feel the increase in my heartbeat. The thudding in my chest matches the rhythm of my breathing. I try and shake the thoughts of Quinn from the night at the strip club. But I can’t. I hate to admit it, but I can’t get this damn girl outta my head. Is it because she’s unattainable? Hmm, maybe. But, there’s more to it than that. It was the look in her eye. The way she felt in my arms.
I shake my head once more, trying to get her out of my mind. I’m going crazy. Certifiably crazy. I don’t know this girl and now I have no way to contact her. Nothing can come of driving myself crazy, which is exactly what I’m doing.
I run a little more, not as much as I would normally, but it’s not helping. I thought running, blaring music into my ears would help drown out the thoughts of Quinn. But it doesn’t. Deciding to quit, I make my way back to the apartment. A quick shower and change should help me freshen up. I try to focus my attention on my important meeting I have set up for today. The guy is a friend of my dad’s and has just acquired some land in quite a desirable area. I have to assess what he needs and draw up a plan for the site. This deal is set to be lucrative, I just hope I can get my head in the game. It’s a big site with even bigger potential. I don’t usually work single-handed on such big projects, but Martin was wowed by my last project that he wanted me on board. It’s not the kind of opportunity I could turn down.
After showering, I laze on the couch, flicking relentlessly through the channels. Morning TV isn’t something I’m used to, unless it involves a sponge with square pants or something equally as childish and funny. The only time I ever get up this early is to spend time with Finn.
The sound of the television echoes through the oversized, empty apartment. This space is way too big for just one person, but it’s the best my money could buy in this area. But it’s missing something, just like I am. I have this void inside of me, a missing piece. I’ve waited around for so long to find that missing piece. But it’s hard, hard to wait around trying to find something that might never be.
I grab a bite to eat before checking the time on my phone. I light up the screen and decide to get dressed and make my way to the site. I can get a look and start working on taking down some numbers for when the owner arrives.
I stroll into my room and over to the huge walk-in closet. I scan through the rail looking for something which looks right for today’s meeting. Smart but understated, I pick out a shirt and tie and a pair of suit pants. I’m ready in no time, grabbing all my design equipment and head out of the door. I drive the short distance to the development site. I pull up onto the rough soil, dust billows in front of me, and I instantly regret my decision to drive onto the wasteland. I stop my car, cut the engine and check the time on my wrist watch. Six-fifteen. Shit, I’m not meant to meet Martin until 9am. Fuck. I let out a huge unsteady breath. My head is all over the place. I can’t sleep, shit, I can’t even sit still without my mind racing like crazy. The what if’s. The what could have’s, all racing through my mind at one hundred miles per hour. I rest my elbow on the car door, propping my head up as I scan the area. It’s so quiet. So damn quiet. The silence is practically deafening.
I can’t just sit here. I have to do something, anything, to try and distract my mind from that girl. I step out of the car, glancing back my once black car which is now a dusty shade of grey. I scan the proposed development land. I’m pretty sure he wants to build a ton of houses here; after all, it’s right on the edge of a desirable suburban area. I shake my head, grabbing my folder from the car to start making my notes. I slam the door, and something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. I whip my head, noticing a really old Chevy truck parked behind a tree. The truck has clearly seen better days. The once green vehicle is discolored and covered in huge patches of rust. It doesn’t even look drivable. I walk over to inspect the deserted truck. What I see causes my feet to stop moving.
The truck isn’t empty.
Someone is sleeping inside the back seat, covered in a ratty sleeping bag. I have no idea what to do. I swallow down the lump in my throat. Should I knock on the window and warn them that the owner of the land will be along soon? Or leave it and let Martin deal with it? I deliberate for what feels like a lifetime, but I’m sure it’s barely a few seconds. Before I know it, the choice is taken away from me. The person inside the truck pushes themselves up, reaching down and sipping from a crumbled water bottle. I step back a little, not wanting to scare the person, or cause a reaction from them that I’d have to deal with.
Suddenly, the person’s head turns in my direction and she lurches forward, clutching her hand to her chest as I’ve clearly given her a fright.
Fuck. Shit. This is not what I expected.
My mouth goes slack and I freeze on the spot. I cannot believe what my eyes are telling me, what I’m seeing inside the truck.
“Quinn,” I gasp, reaching for the handle of the rear door. But it’s locked. My eyes find her face, and the look of dread has spread, she’s shuffling away, shaking her head. I step back, slowly raising my hands and holding them up, on either side of my head. “It’s okay.” I try and calm her, showing I mean no harm. “I’m actually due to work on this site.” I laugh nervously, pointing my thumb over my shoulder, suddenly feeling the need to explain why I’m here and what I’m doing. “I promise I’m not going to hurt you.” I smile widely, and a small one tugs at the corner of her lips. Her head dips and she disappears from my sight. A few seconds later she pushes open the door, appearing right in front of me. I grab ahold of the frame of the rusty door and offer my hand to help her out.
“Hi,” I say as she takes my hand in hers. “Well, you certainly know how to surprise a guy,” I smirk.
“Not exactly how I wanted us to meet again,” she shows me a sad smile, pushing her messy hair away from her face. I swallow hard, thinking, despite how she’s slept just how beautiful she looks, even like this.
“Things are so bad you’re sleeping in your car?” I ask, my voice is just a whisper and she pulls her hand from mine to cross them over her chest. She’s shivering and all I want to do is lean in and kiss her, like we did that night at the club. I long to push my fingers into her hair and pull her towards me, kissing her lips, tasting her once more. I want to make all the bad things in her life good again.
Why?
I have no fucking clue, other than the way my damn heart is beating, how my mind is racing with all things Quinn related.
“I don’t have a job,” she mumbles, allowing her back to fall against the side of the car. Her head drops and she shuffles her feet against the dusty earth beneath her feet.
“I still don’t get why you’re sleeping in your car,” I lift and drop my shoulders.
“Because I have nowhere else to go,” she snaps, her voice breaking as she allows her eyes to flutter shut.
“Come sit in my car where it’s a little warmer,” I offer, holding out my hand to her. I can see the pain etched across her face, and I’d give anything to know what to say to her right now.
Lifting her head slowly, she sniffles back a tear.
“Okay,” she says, accepting my offer. I lead her to my car, pressing the fob to unlock the doors. I hear a tiny laugh escape her. I turn, looking at her, trying to work out what’s so damn funny.
She tilts her head to the side, stopping right in front of. “A little different than my ride,” she lets out another puff of laughter.
“Jump in,” I say, walking around to the driver’s side and sliding into the seat. She opens the door, standing with her hand on the door’s interior, stops and is looking at me. She’s hesitant, I can tell.
“Don’t make me regret this,” she smiles, but behind that smile I know is a hidden warning.
“Never,” I say, fighting back a cheeky smile. “Let me help you Quinn, seems to me you deserve a break.”
“That’s why I needed that job, Josh. I need to get money for a place of my own. I don’t have anywhere to go. I shower at University, using the public bathrooms there to get cleaned up. I’m lucky I got a scholarship, or I’d be really screwed,” she blows out an exaggerated breath.
“You never went back,” I narrow my stare at her, “The strip club, I mean.”
She shakes her head loosely, her fingers playing with the hem of her jacket. “No, because I couldn’t do it. I’m not one of those girls…” her voice trails off as she slowly turns toward me. “You did that Josh, you made me realize no matter how much I tried to force myself, I could never be THAT girl.”
“Do you have any idea how dangerous it is sleeping in your car? You’re lucky it’s me that found you and not some crazy ass murderer.”
“Oh god, don’t,” she says holding her hand to her chest. “I don’t have any other choice, Josh. What would you have me do?”
“Family, friends, surely one of them has a sofa you can sleep on.”
“No,” she all but yells, holding her hands out in front of her. “I can’t go home. I can’t ever go back there,” she mumbles her voice tight and her face contorted. I swallow down hard, knowing from my experience with Caleb that I can’t push this.
“Okay, friends?” I ask. “Is there anyone who could help you out?”
“No,” she quickly dismisses me, “Besides, I really need my own place.”
“Well, let me help you,” I blurt out. “You can shower at my place, and stay there for a few nights until you get yourself sorted.”
“I couldn’t possibly,” she shakes her head. “I mean, that’s a super kind offer, but you could be like a murderer or anything. You did bring up the whole murderers running loose thing, that’s sure gonna make alarm bells ring in a girl’s mind.” She chuckles, pressing her palms flat against the top of her thighs.
I laugh, but reach inside my pant pocket, retrieving my phone. Quinn’s eyes go wide, as she watches me scroll through my phone before hitting the call button. It connects to the car’s hands-free, the dial tone ringing through the speakers.
“What are you doing,” she whispers her question.
“Don’t take my word for it…”
“Who are you calling?” Her mouth is hung open slightly but the call is answered before I can respond.
“Hello,” Amber answers the phone, “Josh, fuck Josh, why are you calling me at this time?”
I laugh out loud at the annoyance lacing her voice. “Amber, I need your help.”
“Oh my god, Josh, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, as such,” I reply, “I just need you to tell my friend Quinn…”
Before I can finish the sentence, Amber squeals loudly down the phone and I can hear she’s clapping her hands together.
“Josh I told you, didn’t I tell you…”
“Amber,” I blurt out, hoping to cut her off mid-sentence.
“I said if it was meant to be…”
“Amber,” I yell louder. “We’re on speaker. In my car.”
“Oh shit,” she mumbles.
“So anyway,” I continue, hoping to deflect from Ambers admission that I’ve been talking about Quinn. “I need you to let her know I’m not some kind of psycho murderer.”
“Well, I don’t know, you might be,” she says a little tongue in cheek. “I’m just kidding, of course you’re not.” She laughs down the phone.
“Not cool, Amber. Not cool.”
“What?” She continues to laugh. “But honestly Josh, surely Quinn can see for herself what a decent guy you are.”
“I can,” she finally speaks; well it’s more like a squawk, as if she had to force it out. I turn to her, smiling wider than I had for a long time. I mouth my ‘thanks’ as Amber continues to talk.
“Hey, where’s my buddy?” I ask.
“He’s just having breakfast, let me get him. I just know he’ll want to say hi.” I can hear the phone rustling as she walks with the phone in hand.
“Uncle Josh,” his little voice vibrates through the speaker system. He must have his mouth too close to the receiver.
“Hey, Finn, you getting ready for kindergarten?”
“Sure am. Are you working today? I think you should come have dinner with us tonight.”
“I can’t today, buddy. But soon, yeah?”
“Real soon?” his voice becomes sullen and full of disappointment.
“I promise,” I smile to myself. Damn, I love this kid as if he was my own.
“Pinky?” he asks, and my smile widens.
“Pinky promise.”
“Bye Uncle Josh. Love you,” and I hear a rustle against the phone and a whooshing sound. He’s blowing a kiss to me down the phone, and it just melts my heart. I blow one back, his voice fading on the other end.
“Hey,” Amber comes back on the line. “He misses you Josh,” she sighs, and it makes my stomach sink. “When you gonna get your ass out here with us. He’s not the only one that misses you. Caleb’s not the same without you around,” her voice is now low, almost just a whisper.
“I miss you all too. But you know I like being in the hustle and bustle and close to downtown. Anyway,” I look at Quinn beside to me and I’m eager to get back to her. “I’m going to go.”
“See ya,” she sings before the line goes dead.
“Believe me now?” I ask with a cock of my brow.
“Maybe,” she replies coyly.
“Listen,” I sigh heavily, turning my body until I’m facing her, “Let me take you to my apartment. You are free to get cleaned up, rest a little, do what you like really. But don’t stay here in that rust bucket,” I jerk my thumb back in the direction of her shitty looking car. “The owner will be along at nine, that’s who I’m meeting as we are working on plans for the development.”
“Okay,” she agrees, but I sense the reluctance in her strained voice, her shoulders slumping a little as if defeated. “But the car comes with me.”
“What?” I gasp, “that thing actually drives?”
“Hey,” she slaps my arm. “Bert has been good to me,” she says widening her eyes.
“You named your car, Bert?”
“Sure did,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. The twinkle brought back warm memories from the night at the club.
I hold out my hand to her. She shakes, and I smile. “Deal.”