Page 21 of Fast Lane

“The bus. My dad goes to work too early so Riverlyn always gets her own self off to school,” he explains.

“Good, how about we go to your dad’s house? Maybe, Riverlyn just overslept,” I suggest in the most soothing tone.

He still looks panicked but he agrees with another nod of his head. “We can take my car. I’ll drive.”

Once he agrees, I turn around and scribble a quick sign to hang on the door. After I tape it to the door, I hold my hand for Roscoe to drop his keys in. I lead us out of the school. Mushu follows along with us on his leash. We pause for a moment so I can lock the door. The sign explains that we had an emergency and will be back as soon as possible. Everything is postponed until tomorrow. Once Roscoe, Mushu, and I are in my car we head towards his dad’s house. I glance over at Roscoe. “Do you really think she might just be asleep?”

“It’s possible. Her phone could be silenced which is why she isn’t waking up.” As we hit the outskirts of Los Angeles I tell Roscoe, “I need directions to your house.” At first he looks caught off guard but then nods in understanding. We all kind of grew up together in a roundabout way but I never knew Bowie James’ friends well enough to know where they lived. The car is silent except for when Roscoe tells me to turn. Even Mushu sits quietly in Roscoe’s lap, like he knows something is wrong.

Finally, we pull up to the house. A simple white, single story house with baby blue trim around the windows and stair railings heading up to the porch. The yard is neat with one large tree that shades a portion of the house. There’s a carport attached as well. Roscoe tells me to pull into the driveway so I do. Roscoe digs around for his keys before he realizes I’m holding them out to him. For a moment, our eyes lock on one another. Something passes between us and then it gets awkward. Do I go in with him? Do I sit out here and wait? Does he need a moment alone to compose himself?

He clears his throat. “You should come in with me.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. “I don’t mind waiting out here.”

Roscoe shakes his head. “No, please come in. For some odd reason you are keeping me oddly calm.”

My eyebrows pull together. “Am I?”

“Yeah, you are.” He climbs out of the car. Leaving Mushu who is about to fall asleep in the front seat. Roscoe waits for me and we head towards the house together. When we reach the porch his hands connects with mine, fingers intertwined together. For a moment it catches me off guard but when his hand squeezes around mine I realize I’m his life jacket at this moment and I’m happy to be. I squeeze his hand back. We pause on the top step. He looks down at me. A look I can’t decipher on his face before he takes a deep breath and looks away. Roscoe continues to hold my hand as he unlocks the door and leads us inside. The house is simple, small but inviting. The living and dining room are basically one. Dark brown furniture is all set up to face the TV hanging on the wall. In the far corner is the kitchen. There’s a hallway on either end but we take the one on the right. Before we even make it halfway down the hall we hear the sobbing. Roscoe drops my hand like it’s on fire and dashes into the first door on the right. I watch as every muscle in his body sags in relief. “Riverlyn,” he sighs.

Murmurs come from inside the room. When Roscoe comes back out he looks awkward. “Is she okay?”

He nods his head. “Yeah.” We stand in the hallway, his body just inches from mine. One of his hands scratches at the back of his neck. Tension builds between us. “Can I ask you a favor?” I try to answer but my mouth is dry and my voice won’t work so I nod. “Would you talk to her? It has something to do with a boy… that’s all I can get out of her.”

No wonder Roscoe looks so awkward. If the situation hadn’t been as tense as it was moments ago I would laugh at that look on him, but instead I bite my tongue and nod my head. He leads us back to what I assume is Riverlyn’s room. The room is white and mint green with a little black thrown here and there. Posters of actors and musicians I should know cover her walls. In the middle of the bed, leaning against the headboard, is a beautiful girl. Her honey blonde hair is a little matted and her face is blotchy and tear stained but her brilliant blue eyes shine beyond all that. “Riv, this is my friend Kosi.” She looks up at me.

I give her a little wave and make my way farther into her room. “I’m guessing you’ve had a crappy morning.”

She tries to laugh but really a few more stray tears leak onto her face. “You can say that.” Riverlyn hugs a teddy bear to her chest.

Lightly I sit on the edge of her bed. “Do you want to talk about it?” I offer. She shakes her head. My mind races to find a different approach. “Well, then I should at least thank you.”

Riverlyn looks at me, her eyes curious. “Why?”

“Because to see your brother completely freak out like that was mildly entertaining.”

She quickly glances at Roscoe. “You were freaked?”

“I was not,” he chimes in.

“He was so freaked out. He was patting himself all over trying to find the phone in his hand. It was quite the sight.” Silence falls between us all.

Riverlyn sits up a little straighter. “My boyfriend dumped me for dumb-blonde Patty.”

“He what?” Roscoe roars behind me. “I swear I’m going to hunt him down and rip his head off with my bare hands.”

I can hear him pacing back and forth behind me. Riverlyn’s eyes go large and I turn around. I catch his eyes. “Hey caveman, want to cool down for a minute?”

“No, I want to find this little dumbass and kick him into the ocean.” Riverlyn laughs and so do I. Roscoe stops and looks at us. “What are you laughing at?”

“You,” I answer.

“Why?”

“Because you’re acting like a mad man,” I explain. I stand up and take him by the elbow. “Why don’t you go and get us girls something to drink and probably something to eat. Call the school and let them know she’s okay and maybe your dad because I’m sure he has a message from them.” I urge him out the door. He nods and heads down the hallway. I join Riverlyn on the bed and she gives me a sad smile.

We’ve talked for a good while and I know all about Josh.

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