The Drive Home (A Short Story)

I'm in a contemplative mood. And therefore I've finally gotten round to writing a short story that's been itching in my brains for a while. Enjoy:

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The Drive Home

As Chris got into his car, he chucked his briefcase onto the passenger seat and yanked the car door shut. The door slammed loudly, and at most times, he would've freaked out at the thought of possible damage to his door. Today, he really didn't give a damn. He was too busy seething over the conversation he had just had with his boss.

"I'm sorry to tell you this... but we have to pass you over for promotion this round." His boss's words played over in his head. "Your last presentation to the client just didn't cut it, and with the number of absences you've been taking, well, I just don't feel you are committed to this job."

What the heck?? I told him ages ago that I need to take it easy from work more often since my dad's accident... I've been home making sure my dad gets through the physio without any problems, and my moron of a boss thinks I'm on vacation??? I've been working with that client for ages too! Just because of this one time... ONE time, they decide not to go with my idea, he thinks I don't cut it for a promotion??

"Arrrgh!! I need the money, for crying out loud!!" Chris thumped his hands against the steering wheel and hit his head against the car seat head. His father's medical bills were starting to pile up, and he had been banking this promotion, and the raise he was 'supposed' to get to help pay for it. But now, with a car loan to pay off and plans to get a new home, although he wasn't struggling yet... he was starting to worry that he wouldn't have enough to stay afloat.

Chris turned the car key and car revved to life. The radio started blaring out a song he'd heard a few times before. The song was loud and sounded pretty angry. Chris was tempted to crank up the volume, but instead switched the radio off, preferably to continue mull and seeth over his conversation with his boss. As he reached the booth of the parking lot operator and stretched his hand out to pay the operator, the dark-skinned girl smiled at him, as she did every day, and said "Thank you, sir. Have a good day!". Chris returned a wry smile before he drove off. A little too late for that now, he thought to himself.

His boss had given him a lot of other excuses why he didn't deserve the promotion. Chris had turned up work later than usual a few times. (Because the dang physiotherapist's office wasn't open on time!) And then there was a report that Chris wasn't getting along well with some of his colleagues... an issue that irked Chris even more.

Those fellas were supposed to help in my presentation, but instead they turned up late and I had to cover for them. So I tell them that it's their responsibility to turn up early next time, and for that, they rat on me to the boss as being uncooperative! And the boss didn't even bother to find out MY side of the story just coz' that rat of a colleague does a good job of licking his boots. Hrrmph! Maybe instead of spending 2 weeks on a presentation, I'll take the time to go shopping for some nice smokes for the boss instead... maybe then I'll cut it for the dang promotion! Chris let out a snort of cynical laughter as he pulled his car to a stop at the traffic light 3 blocks down from his office, and mumbled to himself "Sigh... so that's the way the cookie crumbles..."

Chris's cell phone rang. He clicked the button on his bluetooth set.

"Chris, dear!" It was his mum on other side. Chris drew a deep breath to sooth himself and replied as if everything were hunky dory. "Yup, mum?".

"We're having a small dinner this Saturday, around 7 o' clock, since your father has been making a good recovery recently. Do you think you can make it, or is your work going to take you away this weekend again?"

Screw the work, mum! Chris stopped short of saying that out loud. "Yeah, I can make it".

"That's wonderful! Oh... and why don't you invite Jenna over as well?"

Chris paused. "Um... She can't make it this weekend, mum." Chris paused again. "Well, actually, we've been going through another rough patch lately". The traffic light turned green, and Chris turned the first left onto the highway.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, dear. Well, if you can... patch things up again, then she's most welcome to come for our dinner."

Chris sighed to himself, deciding whether to explain it to her or not.

"Ok, mum. We'll see what happens. Bye, see you this weekend." He clicked the button to turn off his bluetooth set, and Chris' seething subsided and it was replaced instead by the feeling of a sinking heart.

Jenna was... different from other girls. He knew it. And he loved her for it. He loved the way she laughed just a little too loud every time he made a joke... even a lame one. And he loved her spontaneity.... like the day she dragged him outside in the middle of a rain shower, just to enjoy the feel of the raindrops on their faces. He loved the way she would try and sneak a tickle to him while he was off guard... and they'd usually end up getting into mad tickle fights... which would then lead to them hugging each other, laughing like children before their lips melted into each other. Chris had loved every minute of the 2 years they'd been together.

Well, almost every minute.

Jenna was always happy, or always seemed to be happy. And anytime she was upset, angry or sad about something, she wouldn't complain about it. Instead, the first thing she would do was dress up and hit her favourite night club, with or WITHOUT her friends... and dance the night away... probably taking up a few drinks in between. Usually she would do that for a few nights before getting back to 'normal'. But on those few nights, anytime Chris tried calling her, she wouldn't answer since the loud club music drowned everything out. And anytime she didn't answer his call a few times, Chris dreaded going to her place the next day coz' knew he was likely to find her suffering from a major hangover.

This time, Jenna had been at it again for it for past couple of weeks, which seemed to be a new record for her. Chris had left voice messages on her cell phone, asking her to stay at home instead, or at least go out with him somewhere else... anywhere but the club. He even sent her an angry sms telling her about immature and silly she was behaving, hoping that would bring her around. But she never replied, and still never picked up her phone. Chris had no idea what was wrong with her, and it killed him.

3 days ago, he finally managed to find her at her place, just as she was heading for another party. He had wanted her to just tell him what was wrong... but she continued insisting for as long as she could that she was fine and just felt like 'having fun'. The words exchanged replayed in Chris' mind as he sped along on the highway.

"Look, Jenna! Every day for more than a week now, I haven't heard a WORD from you, and I come here in the morning to find you stoned from another night out. Do you have ANY idea how worried I am about you?? Anything can happen to you in that kind of place!" Chris yelled.

Jenna was just looking on the floor, looking as though she wanted to say something else to try and convince him nothing was wrong with her... but she bit her lip and stayed quiet instead. Chris's voice softened as he held her shoulders.

"I want to be there for you, Jenna. I want to understand what's wrong. Why can't you just stop pretending and talk to me? I'm sure this isn't you..."

Jenna was still looking at the floor and took a long time to reply "You don't know half the crap I've been through, Chris. And you can't change it... I am what I am."

Chris had took his hands off Jenna's shoulders and instead threw them up in the air in frustration "C'mon, you mean the problems you had with your folks as a kid? Do you think you're the only the person in the world whose parents messed up? I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who's went through worse... and they don't hide behind partying and booze!"

Jenna finally looked up and glared at Chris, as though she wanted to argue. But what she said next had totally threw him. "I know, Chris. I've tried to change, but... well..." Jenna's eyes turned to the floor again, before she looked pointedly at Chris again. "You deserve someone much better than me, Chris, so if you want to go, just go."

Chris was stunned. And anger flared up in him again "Fine. FINE! I can't love you anymore. Not like this. We're done." Chris had stormed out the door, slamming it behind him, and hasn't seen Jenna since.

Seeing that the highway was clear, Chris slowly pressed down harder on the accelerator, feeling the adrenaline rush as his car sped faster and faster.

A relationship isn't going to work unless you trust her and she trusts you, Chris told himself. If you trust her but she don't trust you enough to tell you what's going on, then it can't work! You've tried everything, man! EVERYTHING! But she's such a tough cookie to crack... Really... you can find someone better.

Chris had been telling that to himself for the past 3 days... in between the times he had been slogging over that dang presentation and worrying over how to save up enough to pay off his car installment this month. But again, he knew he was kidding himself. He still loved her, even with her crappy past and strange behaviour,... and he only told her otherwise coz' he needed to protect his own feelings. And in a way, he wanted her to feel as unloved as she had made him feel.

The speed dial on his dashboard was hitting 120km/hr, and Chris was so focused on the road in front on him, that the car next him suddenly cut in front of him. Chris reacted by swerving slightly and his hand automatically slammed down on his car horn for a good 3 seconds.

"Yo man!!! Where the heck did you get your driver's license from? There's a reason why they invented the SIGNAL LIGHTS!"

The car in front in him sped off as if in defiance, as Chris slowed his speed to gather himself again. "Yeeeesh!! Thank GOD I'm almost home and I don't have to deal with NUTTY drivers again... at least til tomorrow!!"

Chris turned off the next exit, and within five minutes, he was pulling up to the driveway of his house. Chris turned off the car engine. And he turned off his headlights. And he just sat there, in his car, in the silence, alone, seething.... and thinking.

He was angry at life. Tired. Frustrated at his boss. Wanting to quit his stupid job. But he couldn't quit. Worried about his dad. Worried about money. Sad about Jenna. Angry at Jenna. Guilty that he broke up with her. Wondering how he would do without her.

His hands were still holding on to the steering wheel, although he wasn't going anywhere. And he didn't want to step out of the car. Coz' he didn't know what to do after that. He sat there for 10 minutes, just seething... and thinking.

Finally, Chris took another deep breath, turned his car key one notch to the right and pressed the button on his car radio, hoping that another loud angry song would blare through his speakers.

*Bzzz*

"....ood evening and you're listening to Joey Cook on the Drive Home Show! We've got another 2 hours of great music for your listening pleasure, and this right here is Reliant K with their classic single "For the Moments I Feel Faint".

As the final chord of the song played, and the radio dj continued to jabber on excitedly, Chris turned off the car engine, and the radio became silent once more. He was thinking... but no longer seething. No longer angry. Though still a little tired.

In the silence and darkness of his car, Chris said out loud... "Thank you, God".

A smile slowly spread across his face as he opened the car door and stepped outside.

The Drive Home (A Short Story)