does that have to do with, with...” She couldn’t comprehend how her being out here before constituted it being ok for him to assault her.
Backing up with a look of contempt on his face, “Is that what you think this place is?” He sniffed his disdain, “You just missed your chance. You should stay with the geeks, not try to date outside your league.” He turned back to his car. Flinging Open his door he turned and pointed at the passenger side. “Get in.”
Beth stood still. “I prefer to walk.” The disgust dripping in her voice.
“Just get in we’ll go see your stupid movie.”
“I don’t want to go anywhere with a pig like you.”
“Just get in the damn car!”
“No.”
Angery words echoed through the dark woods surrounding them. In the end, he had sped off calling her several names that ensured they would never speak again.
The taillights faded away leaving Beth alone with three choices: walk home in the dark, call her brother, or call her best friend, Wesley Davidson. Her brother, Steve, would be at work. She cringed at the thought of making him leave work. On top of that he would be more interested in beating Corey to death over picking up his sister. He had never liked Corey and was very vocal about her choice of dating him. “Still an option,” She muttered. “Maybe for tomorrow.” She decided on Wes.
Praying he wasn’t too angry with her for ditching him for Corey to see the movie. It was his favorite series after all. They had seen all the others together on opening day. She took a deep breath as she remembered the excitement they both had about it. Then she remembered the look on his face when she told him she was going to opening night with Corey instead.
“Yeah, hey cool, maybe we can see it some other time.” He had said in a too cheery way that told her he was highly pissed.
She cringed at that and several other things she had done, including but not limited to, ignoring him at school and laughing as Corey’s friends made fun of Wes. She really hadn’t been much of a friend to him since she started dating Corey.
"Way to be an ass Beth." She chastised herself. Shaking the memories from her mind, she opened her phone and placed the call.
The phone rang and rang again. She started to feared he wouldn’t answer. “Maybe he found someone else to go with.” The thought caused her stomach to tighten. She realized it wasn’t because she might have to walk home or call her brother.
Finally she heard the family sound of Wes' voice, “Hey, didn’t expect to hear from you. What’s up?” He asked. She could hear the concern yet coolness of his tone.
“I…Wes…" She knew he was going to be upset. "I need a ride. Can you come get me?” Wincing as she asked.
“Yeah, sure. Where are you? You OK?” He knew she was out with Corey.
“I’m out at Troll Bridge.” She said with a sigh.
She waited, silence, and then, “Why are you out there?” His voice was strained, annoyed.
“Listen, it wasn’t my idea can you please just come get me?” She replied slightly angry.
“What happened? Do I need to bring Corey some gas?” He sneered the name.
“Nooo.” Her anger began to bubble up again. Taking another steadying breath, Beth hesitated then explained, “No…he…Well, he sorta left me here.”
“WHAT? ALONE? What the hell?” He yelled. Wes was now upset and she hated when he got all worked up. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He said. Through the phone she could hear him crashing around. She could see him in her mind's eye searching his cluttered room. She couldn't help but smile when she heard the keys jingling followed by a loud swear. He had tripped on the nightstand...again. He did that every time he was in a hurry.
“Ten minutes, Wes? Really?” She asked skeptically. "You'd have have to do a hundred miles an hour to get here and your car doesn't do a hundred."
“Stay on the phone so I know you are OK.” He demanded. "An don't knock the car that is coming to get you." She stood in the middle of the road listening. The engine on Wes’ third hand car struggled to life. She shook her head. Wes urged and threatened the car to start. Beth smiled as he whooped when the engine finally engaged. "Ok Where are you exactly?"
“Wes, I’m almost to the bridge. Honk when you get here. I’ll be by that tree with the big hole in it. You remember the one you said a gnome lived in.” She sighed as a tear ran down her face. She brushed it away.
“Beth, I said stay on the phone so I know you are OK.” He growled angrily, gears crunched audibly through the phone. .
“Wes, you can’t shift and talk. I’ve seen you drive without distractions." She shuddered, "Just be safe and come to my rescue.” She tried to joke.
“Fine! I’ll hang up but you have to text me every minute OK!.” He demanded. She could tell he was already having trouble driving and talking.
“OK”, she conceded and heard the phone thud, swearing, then silence. "He must have hung up." She told the darkness. Looking through the swaying leaves at the moon she tried to figure out what she did to deserve this. Anger flared. “Corey is such a dick.” She berated herself, “What were you thinking?” she slapped herself on the side of the head.
Somewhere off in the distance she heard the moan of the trees in the breeze, the cry of a hawk or maybe it was a cat. Beth wrapped her arms around her shoulders and nervously stared into the darkness.
She heard the weird cry again. She couldn’t tell where it came from. With shaking fingers she scrolled to Wes’ number. She hesitated then closed the screen.
“It’s only an animal, nothing to worry about.” She told the surrounding trees as she slowly edged her way off the road and down the bank of to a creek. She wasn’t far from the gnome tree, as she and Wes had dubbed it, a huge tree with a hole at the base large enough for a small person to fit in. They had come out here a few weeks ago. She had heard a couple of the girls at school talking about it and asked Wes if he knew it. He had been rather interested in a haunted bridge, and the name Troll Bridge had been the topper.
“Of course those girls came out here,” Beth muttered a thought dawning hitting her like a slap in the face. “For just the reason Corey wanted. Damn it!” Her fists and teeth clenched, "This is a make out spot." She shouted stamping her foot. Immediately he foot slipped and almost fell in the soft earth. The creek was swollen from a late autumn rain and the air still clung to the chill and wetness. She looked out over the fast moving water at the moon reflected in it. When she was out here with Wes, it had been to look for ghosts. That night had been a lot more fun.
“How the hell did you let this happen?” She berated herself. “You knew he was an asshole, good looking and popular, but an asshole.”
She sighed again taking a step toward the tree. Her foot caught on a root. The ground rushed up to meet her. Throwing out her hands to break the fall her phone flew into the darkness.
“Sploosh!” Her head, arms, and body were instantly submerged in cold swift water. With her legs still on the bank, she was
