“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Bill couldn’t believe the words that just came out of Anna’s mouth. Anna Frehley, the bible thumping, holier than thou, saving herself for marriage, prude that had been up everyone’s ass in high school about their “sinful lifestyles” had just offered him oral sex.
He hadn’t seen her in 3 years since her valedictorian speech at graduation where she continued to chastise everyone for behavior she perceived to be a path to hell while somehow claiming they all a great time together in school. Everyone in her class hated her. Well, maybe hate was a bit too strong of a word for Bill Thomas. He didn’t hate her; he didn’t feel anything at all towards her by that time. But he did wonder why she wouldn’t talk to him anymore. They used to be very close friends. From grade school through sophomore year, they were almost inseparable. Something had happened that summer when her family went away on vacation. At the start of the first semester of their junior year, no one knew why she had suddenly become the way she was. By the end of it, she had alienated everyone enough that no one cared anymore to try and found out what happened. They all just ignored her for the next 2 years, even Bill.
Bill didn’t know she was at the party. He was back in town for a weekend from college for the first time in over a year and just wanted to relax and see some old friends. He had a great time reminiscing about the “old days” and seeing people he hadn’t seen in what felt like forever. The party was far from winding down but he had a long drive tomorrow and wouldn’t be staying much longer. He was making one last lap through the house to make sure he said goodbye to everyone when a girl knocked him flat on his ass as she came running around a corner.
“What the hell, lady?” he said as she continued to run past him and out the front door. She was followed a minute later by some guy trying button his pants as he chased after her. He actually didn’t know it was her until someone extended a hand to help him up off the floor and said “Man, she might be more of a bitch now than she was in school.”
“Which bitch? That doesn’t exactly narrow it down.”
“Anna Frehley, your old next door neighbor.”
“Oh. Well, it appears she just upped her game. It used to just be mental cruelty towards all of us, now she’s escalated to physical as well. Or maybe that new part is special just for me?”
It took Bill another half an hour making his way around the house, telling everyone he’d try to not stay away so long next time. From behind some nearby bushes, she saw him come out the front door and head towards his car.
He clicked his key fob and the lights flashed notifying him that his door had unlocked. Just as he was reaching for the handle, she spoke her first words to him in almost 5 years.
“Hello Bill.”
Bill stiffened and coldly replied, “Anna.”
“How have you been?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you leaving to back to school tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a long drive. What is it, about 9 hours?”
“I’ve got satellite radio. Really makes the time just fly by.”
“Is there any chance you could drop me off at Franklin Christian College? You go right past it on your way.”
“No.”
“Please? I can pay for the gas.”
“No. Goodbye Anna.”
He opened his car door and sat down in the driver’s seat. He started the car and put the gearshift in “R”. The car started rolling as he let off the brake. He stomped the brake pedal back down when he looked up into the rearview mirror and saw her standing directly behind his car. He rolled down the window and hollered, “Get out of the way, Anna!”
She continued to just stand there, head hanging down. After what felt like forever, Bill threw the car into park, opened his door, stood and turned to look at her.
“I’m leaving, get out from behind the car.”
She still continued to stand frozen behind the car.
“Seriously, get out of the damn way.”
Still, there was no movement from Anna.
Bill moved to the back of the car and stood face to face with her. “What in the hell is wrong with you? First you knock me on my ass and don’t even stop to apologize. Then you ask for a huge favor like we were best friends even though you haven’t spoken to me in over 4 years. Now you won’t get out from behind my car. Don’t make me run your ass over.”
He started to grab her by the shoulders to move her off to the side when she looked up at him. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying. “Please Bill, I need your help.”
“No, get out of the way so I can leave.”
“I’m sorry, Bill. I don’t have anywhere else to turn. I don’t know what else to do. We used to be friends. Please, I need a ride home tonight and then back to school tomorrow.”
“I said no.”
“I’ll suck your dick.” She sobbed quietly.
“What the fuck did you just say to me?”
She lifted her head, fought back tears and her pride and uttered “I said that I’ll suck your dick.”
“Jesus, you’re even crazier than I thought you were. What about all that shit you used to spew at every in school about fornicators going to hell? What in the fuck happened to you?” Bill’s voice was getting louder with each word.
Anna began sobbing again and struggled to get the words out. “I know I changed. I know I turned my back on everyone back in school. I regret doing it to you most of all. You were my best friend. I’m hoping you can maybe remember the tiniest shred of the old me and help that person. You’re the only chance I have left in this town.
I know it’s asking a lot after how I treated you. If you can find it in you to help me, I’ll explain everything on the drive. I’ll tell you anything you want to know; no subject will be off limits. No preaching or judging from me, just honesty. Or we can do the whole trip in silence. I hope not, but if that’s how you want it, okay. After that, you’ll never have to see or speak to me again. Please?”
Bill still wanted to tell her no but when he opened his mouth, he surprised himself when he actually said, “Shut up and get in the fucking car.”
The ride back to their neighboring childhood houses only took 15 minutes but it felt like a couple of hours. There was only dead silence from Bill as he looked at nothing but the road, not even a single glance in her direction. She could feel the animosity towards her coming off him. She tried to make herself as small as possible in the vehicle by pulling her knees up to her chest and leaning against the passenger door until he parked in his parent’s driveway and shut off the car.
“Thank you for the ride home, Bill, but maybe the trip tomorrow is a bad idea. I don’t know if I can take it if the ride back to school will be as tense as the last 15 minutes. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” Anna started to turn and walk next door to her house.
“I don’t care whether you’re there or not. Car leaves the driveway at 7 am; I won’t wait a second longer for you. If you show, I’ll get you safely back to school. You’re paying for all the gas, food, and the motel room.” Bill said flatly.
“Motel room?” She asked nervously.
“You said you’d suck my dick so we’ll stop for lunch somewhere and then get a room. It can be a bit uncomfortable in the car.” With that, Bill walked up the steps and into his parent’s house.
Sleep didn’t come easy for either of them that night.
Bill began to think back to how Anna used to be growing up. He’d smile as he remembered her being funny and quite the tomboy. She was his first crush when he first started noticing girls as she began blossoming, at age 13, into the woman he saw earlier tonight. Blue eyes, 5′ 3″, 120 pounds with jet black hair hanging just past her shoulders. He couldn’t be completely sure but she appeared to have smallish but yet still proportionate breasts behind a very conservative button down blouse with wide hips encased in slightly baggy khakis. Then he’d think about the last 5 years and his smile disappeared. He’d remember being ignored when he tried to talk to her after starting their junior year or being lectured on morality all through senior year. Then he’d wonder why he agreed to give her the ride and the circle started all over again.
Anna tossed and turned thinking about Bill. She felt bad about her actions while they had been in school together. Not for the message she was trying to relay, but for the delivery method that had cost her a valued childhood friendship. She’d matured and learned a lot in college but worried that it was too little, too late as far as Bill Thomas was concerned. She owed apologies to a number of people but he was the only one she felt was truly worthy of one. Then there was the promise of a certain form of payment for the ride. Would she go through with it? Could she go through with it?
At 6:50 am, Bill started the car to let it warm up. It was a chilly morning. He left the trunk open so she would be able to put her suitcase inside but he knew she wouldn’t come. He lost the bet he had with himself when she slammed the trunk lid down. Anna climbed into the passenger seat dressed in comfy sweats and buckled her seatbelt at 6:58.
“Didn’t think you’d actually come.” Bill said as he shifted in drive and pulled away from the house.
“Can we swing by a drive thru and get something for breakfast? Mom and Dad didn’t leave any food in the house.” She asked.
Except for ordering a couple of sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits and two coffees, neither of them said a word for the first hour of the trip.
Anna finally broke the silence. “Thanks again for the ride, Bill. Just like when we were kids, I knew I could count on you.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t bring that shit up like the last 5 years didn’t happen. You can’t just pretend that we’re two long lost besties and forget what happened.” Bill snapped at her.
A tear ran down her cheek and she said, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Bill sighed and handed her one the napkins from breakfast. “I apologize for my tone. Last night, you said you would be honest about everything so I made a bet with myself this morning that if you showed, I would be civil and let you explain. Why don’t you start back at the beginning? Why the big change over that summer?”