19. The Second Big Bang
THE SECOND BIG BANG
ALEXIA
W e left Gray’s car thirty minutes ago and I’m already tired. I know it's ironic, considering I’m a center flyer on an all-star cheer team and I stunt and tumble for hours straight. Maybe even days, but this is hiking.
The scenery is nice, it kind of makes the walk fun but I feel like I’ve been walking for hours. I turned my phone back on and took a few pictures, but I sincerely want to stop and just lay on the ground.
After I woke up this morning, Gray gave me some chips he had in the car for breakfast, and I used the travel deodorant and perfume I had in my bag so I could smell decent. It’s not the best hygiene but we’re stuck in the middle of nowhere.
“If you sigh one more time back there, I will tape your mouth closed,” Gray states.
“I’d like to see you try,” I mumble.
“Don’t tempt me.” I roll my eyes. We continue walking for a while before I end up sighing again.
“Oh my god, can you stop that for like two minutes?” Gray almost yells while stopping and turning around.
“Suck it up, Popstar. You can deal with it,” I reply, looking around.
Right now, getting on his nerves is the only entertainment I have. I think for one moment and then I have the perfect idea. “Race you,” I say and begin running.
The bookbag ends up slowing me down a little but I push through. If I can run with ankle weights, I can run with this bookbag. I run so far until I see a small pond and some picnic tables, and I stop.
Gray isn’t far behind me, and he shows up beside me only seconds later. “I win,” I announce.
“You cheated,” Gray says.
“Maybe,” I reply.
“Come on, let's take a break,” Gray says and goes over to a picnic table. I go over and take out the water bottles for us and hand him one. He nods, thanking me and begins to gulp down his water.
After a while, I decide to lay across the table, and Gray joins me, and we both look up at the sunny sky and clouds with our sunglasses on. “Do you know where we are?” I ask.
“Nope, never seen this place,” Gray replies.
“I think that cloud is a dinosaur,” I say and point at the one I’m talking about. I need to distract myself from being lost in the woods.
“It looks like a car to me,” Gray says.
“Seriously, a car.” I laugh.
“That cloud is a dog.”
“That one is a baby bottle,” I say, pointing to another.
“I think that one is a flamingo.” Gray points to the far right.
“I could see it,” I say.
“Did we really just watch clouds?” Gray asks.
“Yes, and it was fun,” I say, sitting up.
“I beg to differ,” he says.
“Of course you do,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Come on, we should get going,” I say, jumping off the table.
“Little Miss Tired is actually willing to walk?” Gray says, faking shock.
“Yes, I wanna get back to my big, air-conditioned house as fast as possible,” I tell him and put on my bookbag.
“Well, if you’re ready let’s go,” Gray says and gets off the table as well. I take off my sunglasses and begin the walk forward.
We end up walking for an hour, and along the way, we talked about our favorite things. I found out his favorite animal is a shark, and his favorite color is red. Somehow, that’s fitting for him. He said I remind him of a Doberman dog because they look tough on the outside but can be sweet.
I thought it was cute. Although I don’t know where he gets me being sweet from.
We end up at the bottom of a grassy-ish hill and as we walk up big white letters come into view. “I think we’re at the Hollywood sign,” I say, looking over at him. We walk forward more until we see a big view of the city below the H. Even during the day, this view is breathtaking. I pull my phone out and take a picture of the view, knowing we don’t have much time and we need to get home.
“You should call your mom,” Gray states. I nod and go to my contacts and call my mom.
“Alexia, is that you?” my mom answers frantically.
“Yeah, it is. I’m sorry we got lost in the woods on the way home,” I explain. I hear voices in the background, but I try to focus on my mom.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. Sweetheart, where are you?” she asks.
“I think we are under the Hollywood sign,” I answer, looking around.
“I’m at Grayson’s dad’s house. Can you get here?” Oh no, why would she go there?
“Yeah, I can. I will see you soon.”
“Okay, I love you, please be safe.”
I have a feeling when we show up it will not be pretty.
The cab pulls us up outside of the Archer mansion and as soon as my mom sees us, she runs over. Gray pays the driver and we both get out of the cab. My mom tackles me into a hug, of course, saying phrases about how worried she was. “Mom, calm down, I'm fine,” I tell her.
“Thank god you’re okay,” my mom says, pulling away.
Once we pull apart, I see Aaliyah standing to the side looking awkward and I go over and hug her. “I’m so glad you are okay,” Lia says.
“Thanks,” I whisper to her.
“Are you feeling okay?” Lia asks.
“Other than needing a shower, I’m great,” I tell her.
I turn to the side to see Beatrix wrapped in Gray’s arms, meanwhile his dad is on the porch scowling. Gray puts Beatrix down and begins to walk toward his father as he is walking to him. I have a feeling this isn’t going to go well. “You are such a disappointment. How could you do that!” his dad yells.
“Dad, his car broke down. It’s not like he meant to,” Beatrix tries to reason.
“I wasn’t fucking talking to you, Beatrix,” Mr. Archer hisses.
“Mom, we should go,” I lean over to her and say.
“How could he talk to him like that?” my mom says. I can tell she wants to do something, but I hold her arm, so she won’t try to pull away.
“Trust me, you doing something will only make things worse,” I tell her. I look over to Aaliyah and see her filming. I won’t stop her but I’m not sure we can’t do anything with it.
“I think you all need to go. Your daughter has done enough,” Mr. Archer says to my mom.
“I didn’t say anything while you yelled at your kids, but you will not bring my child into this! She did nothing just because you’re a sick fuck doesn’t mean my daughter did shit!” my mom yells at him.
“You will not yell at me on my property,” Mr. Archer says.
“Good thing we’re leaving,” my mom says and pulls us to the limo waiting for us.
We are pushed in the limo and my mom angrily tells Fez to take us home while I look out the window and see more yelling until Mr. Archer ends up slapping Gray again. I feel Aaliyah reach over to grab my hand. I turn around in the car and look over to her as she mouths it’s going to be okay but is it really going to be okay?