Thinking of You

Zack’s Perspective

I was driving home from hanging out with the guys and watching the Ravens game. I’d known I’d have to drive myself home, so I’d only had one beer. When I got onto the highway, I saw a woman about my age hitchhiking on the shoulder that was next to mine. I pulled over in front of her and rolled down my window, beckoning to her to come talk to me.

“What are you doing? It’s below 20!” I shouted over the noise of traffic.

“I was out drinking at a club because my boyfriend just dumped me and my friends wanted to treat me to a girls’ night. Except said friends left without me and my other friend, who was supposed to pick me up, never showed.”

“Couldn’t you have called a taxi?” I asked.

“My phone died.” she replied.

“Alright, get in.” I said, unlocking my doors.

She hesitated.

“Look, I’m not a serial killer, I just think you could use a ride.” I assured her and she got in.

“I’m Zack,” I told her.

“Arianne,” she replied.

“That’s a very pretty name,” I commented.

“Thanks.” We drove on in silence, until I realized something important.

“Um, I never asked where I should take you,” I told her.

“Actually, could we stop somewhere and eat? I’m starving and I already feel a hangover coming on,” she said.

“Sure, no problem,” I smiled. I drove until I found an IHOP.

“Is this okay?” I asked.

“Yeah. I love IHOP,” she admitted.

“Great,” I replied and parked the car.

We both got out and went in.

“Table for two?” the hostess asked.

“Yup,” I replied and Arianne nodded.

“Right this way,” she told us and we followed her to a small booth.

Arianne took one side and I took the other.

“So, do you live around here?” I asked.

“Yeah. You?” she asked back.

“Sorta. I live here part time and part time in California. Since my best friends live here, I come visit a lot, and when I’m gone, I rent out my house so it doesn’t just sit there,” I replied.

I don’t know why I gave her such a detailed answer. I just felt compelled to reveal everything about myself to her. She drew me in.

“That’s nice of you. Where do you live in Cali?” she asked.

“Huntington Beach. I love it there,” I replied.

“Hmm. Maybe I could visit you sometime,” she smiled coyly, resting her chin on her clasped hands.

“Maybe,” I smirked.

We ordered huge platters of pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, and hashbrowns. Despite all the food that we were shoveling into our mouths, we talked non-stop. I was really starting to like what I knew of her so far.

--

“Where to next?” I asked as we sat in my car.

“Home, I guess,” she shrugged.

“Okay.” I nodded.

She told me her address and I drove her home. She lived in a fairly upscale apartment complex and I dropped her off in front of the door that led to the lobby.

“I had a great time with you, Zack. Thanks for rescuing me from getting in a car with some creep.” She smiled.

“No problem.” I smiled back.

“Hey, can I get your number?” she asked.

“Sure.” I nodded.

I rooted around for a pen and paper, or at least a pen, but all I turned up with was a Crayola marker. Thanks, Jack. I wrote my number on her hand.

“Thanks again. I’ll call you,” she told me, backing away and into the lobby.

I lingered there until I couldn’t see her anymore and drove home.

--

Arianne’s Perspective

I woke up around 3:30 PM, slightly hungover, but still smiling. Zack, the boy I’d met, had been my knight in shining armor last night. He’d saved me from hitchhiking and possibly freezing to death in the cold Baltimore weather.

I got up and went to my shower, undressing and turning on the water. I adjusted it until it was the perfect temperature and got in.

I was in the middle of washing my hair when I remembered. Zack had written his number on my hand in washable marker and I hadn’t put it in my phone, which was probably still dead from last night because I probably hadn’t put it on the charger.

I looked at my hand, hoping it hadn’t washed off enough to be illegible, but it was just a big pink smear.

I had no way to contact him.

“Fuck,” I whispered, sinking to the floor of the shower.

Notes

Title Credit: Stranger, Katie Costello

Arianne

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-Hayley