Chapter 13 Nellie
Nellie
I couldn’t stay cooped up in the house for one second longer, so I bolted, went to buy some smokes.
I get them on the edge of town at a little mom-and-pop gas station, where they don’t card me for alcohol. I’m sure it helps that I always slap an extra twenty in the old man’s hand, but he’s at least a hundred, so he’s not giving a fuck about anything anymore.
I got a carton of Marlboros and a six-pack of Coors Light, then took off driving the back roads, chain-smoking, sipping beer.
On my way back home, as I was driving down the highway, I spotted someone riding a horse. Which you never see. Sure, there are horses everywhere, but not on the goddamn side of the road.
As I got closer, my pulse started to race when I realized it was her.
Jane.
Her hair was loose, flowing down her back as she galloped between the shoulder and the fence line.
I cackled. I mean, I’ve never seen her drive before because I’m pretty sure she’s too poor to own a car, but a horse?
How funny! How sad. Also, thank God she wasn’t actually hanging out at Blair’s house as I had imagined.
But then, watching her coast down the road, head held high, riding as if she were Anne of Green Gables or something made my blood boil. So I pressed on the gas, veered a little closer. Hung right beside her.
She looked over at me like she was confused, and I couldn’t stand the sight of her one second longer, so I revved the engine at her, then sped away.