I sit in class and stare at the blackboard. The teacher goes on and on and on.
This is the most boring and pointless course I’ve ever done in my life. I glance at my watch: 11:00 a. m.
Fuck.
My god . . . has time completely stopped?
I can’t sit here for another seven hours. I will literally die a long and painful death.
I exhale and flick my pen against my forehead as I try to focus.
I wonder what Grumps is doing. I slide my phone out of my pocket onto my lap, and I text her under the table.
Hi Babe,
What’s doing?
I wait for her reply . . .
The teacher goes on and on some more, and I keep glancing at my phone.
Why isn’t she answering?
I text her again.
Are you okay?
I wait for her reply . . .
I shuffle around in my chair. Why isn’t she answering?
An hour passes. Still nothing.
I get a vision of all the drunk assholes in the hostel, and I begin to sweat.
What if something has happened?
I text her again.
Grumps,
I’m getting worried.
Text me!
I stare at my phone under the table as I will it to ring.
Hayden . . . call me, fuck it.
“Mr. Miles,” the teacher calls.
I glance up.
“Distracting you, am I?”
Yes, you are, actually.
“Phone away. Now.”
I fake a smile. “Sorry.” I slide my phone back into my pocket, and I stare at the blackboard.
This course is pointless. Who cares about rules of alcohol consumption?
Not me, that’s for sure.
Finally, it’s lunch break, and I rush from the classroom and dig out my phone.
No missed calls.
No texts.
I march to the cafeteria as I dial Hayden’s number.
It rings out.
“Where the hell is she?”
I dial her number again . . . still no answer. I hang up and call her again.
No answer.
That’s it-I text her.
Call me RIGHT NOW!
I grab a sandwich and sit at the table and eat alone. I’m beginning to sweat.
What if something has happened to her?
I go over all the possible scenarios in my head.
She could be asleep . . . she could be getting harassed by idiots. She could be getting attacked as she walks to the shops. Maybe she’s getting drugged and raped right now.
Fuck.
I call her again . . . no answer.
I’ve got better things to do than worry about a missing girlfriend all fucking day.
Oh my god . . . she’s missing.
I call her again.
Five o’clock, and I dive out of the cab as it pulls up in front of the hostel.
I’m frantic.
I’ve had the worst day of my life. Hayden is missing, probably dead in a ditch.
I pay the driver and run inside and take the stairs two at a time. The place is packed with people in white.
Stupid fucking full moon party.
I run down the corridor and burst into our room. It’s empty.
My chest tightens . . . fuck, where is she?
I run down to the bar and look around in a panic. I see Eddie. “Where’s Hayden?” I stammer.
He looks around and points over to the corner. Hayden is sitting with a group of people, laughing and having the time of her life. She’s relaxed and having fun.
In her white dress . . . the sky turns red.
We make eye contact, and I turn and march back to the room, furious.
I storm into the shower, and I’m so angry that I can’t even see straight.
I shower and go back to the room to find Hayden lying on the bed. “Hi, babe.” She smiles happily. “How was it?”
“Why haven’t you answered your fucking phone?” I yell at the top of my voice.
Her face falls. “What?”
“I’ve been calling you. All day, worried sick.”
“What do you mean?” She picks up her phone and frowns as she reads the screen. “Forty-two missed calls?” She looks up at me. “What’s wrong?”
“I thought you were dead in a ditch,” I cry.
Her eyebrows rise. She’s surprised by my tone. “Don’t yell at me, Christopher.”
“Don’t yell at you!” I explode. “I’ve been worried sick all day. Do you know how fucking irresponsible you are?”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“My phone was on silent while I read, and then I went to the bar and must have left it in the room. I wasn’t expecting a dog squad tracking my every move.”
“Dog squad!” I yell. “I’ll give you fucking dog squad.”
“I’m sorry you were worried, but I wasn’t expecting you to call me.” She rolls her eyes.
“That’s unacceptable,” I fire back. “Don’t fucking patronize me.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re being a drama queen. I’m going back to the bar.”
“Are you serious?” I yell.
“Yes. And you are supposed to be out there working right now . . . remember?”
I point to the door. “Get out!”
She smiles goofily, totally unfazed by my anger. “Okay.” She pecks me on the lips and leaves. My eyes nearly pop from my head. She did not just walk out midargument . . . I’m infuriated.
My blood pressure is through the roof.
I head out to my locker and pull out my backpack, and a drunk couple comes ambling down the corridor. They start making out, and as the girl walks backward, she falls on top of me.
“Watch what you’re fucking doing,” the guy growls to me.
I raise my eyebrows, my temper simmering dangerously close to the surface. I help the girl up. “I’m sorry you didn’t see me.”
She’s laughing and falling all over the place. “Hey, I’m glad I did,” she flirts.
The guy narrows his eyes at me, and I clench my jaw as I glare at him.
Come on, fucker . . . try me . . . I’m in the mood to sort you right out.
“Are you coming to the party?” The girl smiles sexily.
I roll my eyes and return to my backpack. Don’t go there.
I look through my backpack for something. I have to wear stupid white.
Shit, I discover that I only have a white sleeveless T-shirt and shorts. Not ideal to work behind the bar in, but it will have to do.
I get dressed and look in the mirror. Fuck, I look like a poser. My arms are too big for sleeveless. It will have to do; I have no alternative. I make my way out to the bar.
“Hey.” Eddie smiles excitedly. “I get to work with you tonight.”
“Great.” I nod. “Where do you want me?” My gaze wanders around the room as I search for Hayden.
“Oh . . . you’re hot.” A girl swoons. “I’ll have an Orgasm.” She smiles.
“Make that two.” Her friend laughs.
“A multiple. Bet you’ve given a few of those in your day,” the first girl adds, and they both burst out laughing. “And we’re next.”
Great . . . horny drunk girls . . . just what I need.
I turn my back to them. “Where’s the cocktail book?” I ask Eddie.
He passes it to me and goes back to serving. The people are standing ten deep, waiting to be served.
What the hell does a full moon have to do with people getting wasted? is what I’d like to know.
I read the directions for the Orgasms. I make them the best I can and hand them over. They’re guaranteed to taste like shit. “There you go.”
“What are you doing later?” the girl murmurs darkly. “We’d love to repay the favor and do a multiple for real.”
I fake a smile. “I’m busy.”
My eyes scan the crowd, busy trying to locate my wayward fucking girlfriend. Where the hell is she now?
“I’ll have a Corona,” a guy says.
“Sure.” I turn to get the Corona and glance over to see Hayden dancing with a group of girls.
There she is.
I serve a few more people, my eyes constantly flicking over to linger on Hayden.
She’s dancing and having the time of her life, totally unfazed. In her hot white dress.
I hate that she looks so edible.
A guy approaches her, and I stop what I’m doing. He puts his arm around her, and she steps back.
I keep watching.
“I’ll have two Guinnesses,” someone yells.
I turn to get the beers, my eyes fixed on my girl. The guy keeps talking to her and talking.
She takes a step back, and he takes a step forward.
He leans to say something in her ear.
Something snaps. The next thing I know I’m on the dance floor with my hand around the guy’s throat. “Back the fuck off.”