Page 4 of Fast Lane

Bowie James is a radio DJ at one of the local radio stations that plays 80’s rock music. I’m not sure what he’d need from me today but I’m happy to help him. “Yes, I’ll take it. When and where?” Jaxx goes silent, and for a moment I think that maybe our call has gotten disconnected. “Jaxx?”

“Yeah, I’m just shocked you didn't ask about what it was first. Are you financially doing okay? Because you know I’m more than glad to help you out.”

The same offer every time we talk and while I love him for the offer I hate feeling like a charity case. “No, I don’t need help. Financially, I’m okay. Extra cash never hurt anyone though.”

“True. Okay, I’ll text you the address and it’s basically now or as soon as you can get there kind of thing,” he explains.

I look in the mirror. I don’t look the greatest but I doubt that really matters. It’s nothing, some dry shampoo, a swipe of mascara, eyeliner and highlighter can’t help. “I can be out the door in about fifteen minutes.”

“Perfect. I’ll let him know and text you the address.”

“Thanks, Jaxx,” I reply.

He sighs again and I know he wants to help me more than I allow him but it’s better this way. “Anytime, Kosi.”

We hang up the phone and I quickly change into a pair of denim capris, royal blue V-neck t-shirt, and my Vans before dashing into the bathroom to dry shampoo my hair then back to my room to add the few makeup items I think are key. I grab my purse and check to make sure I have my keys before rushing out the door.

“Whoa, where are you going?” Baylor calls out.

I stop and spin around. “Jaxx called and got me a day gig with Bowie to earn a little extra cash but he needs me as soon as possible.”

“Oh good, well have fun,” she calls out as I scurry out the door. The sun is bright but I forgot my sunglasses. I curse internally as I head down the steps of the apartment complex to the parking lot below. My BMW is long gone and sitting in its place is a blue Ford Fusion. It’s not the best but it’s not the worst either. I’m lucky to even have a vehicle and it’s dependable and good on gas.

When I get inside my car I grab my extra pair of sunglasses that my best friend Toby sent me from England. He’s studying abroad for a year while working on his Ph.D. I slip them on and start the engine. Music comes blaring through the speakers and I instantly cover my ears, then realize I need my hands to turn it down. “Shhhh… that is aggressive and unnecessary. I’m not the same girl I was last night when I got off from work.” Yes, I talk to my car as if it can understand me.

After copying the address that Jaxx sent me via text into the Maps app on my phone, I pause. The address is just outside of town which is odd. Maybe the radio station is opening up a new location or something. I pull out of the parking lot and turn up the music. Pussycat Dolls were and always will be one of my favorites. I’m dancing and singing along while following the directions that the app is giving me.

It isn’t until I turn off the highway that I realize where I’m headed. Slamming on my brakes I put the car in park on the side road. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mumble to myself. Free Fall Skydiving School. Which should actually be known as the most annoying human to spend the day with, Roscoe Langston. Quickly I dial Jaxx and the ringing of his cell phone takes over the speakers, replacing the music. He doesn’t answer. I contemplate what to do, but at the end of the day I could use the money, so I set my feelings aside and make my way towards the school.

The two-story warehouse type building comes into view. It could really use a pick-me-up. The appearance is super out of date. I remember coming out here once upon a time with Jaxx and it looks exactly the same as it did years ago. The place has potential, but clearly, no one is concerned about its appeal. I sit in the car, switching the song to Rain City Drive because I need something to psych me out before dealing with Mr. I can’t take anything serious.

Three

Roscoe

Something tickles my nose as I try to fall back asleep. I don’t need to look to know it’s Mushu’s orange fluffy tail swiping across my face. He wants attention and if I’m asleep I can’t give it to him, something he learned pretty early on. Most cats are independent and only come to you when they want something, but not Mushu. I often say he’s a dog trapped in a cat’s body. Mushu is always right there by me. The moment I get home he’s there to greet me. He’s never been like most cats.

I swat his tail away from my face and feel him move from my chest where he was sitting on the bed, next to me. I roll over and drape an arm over him. His warmth is welcoming. I snuggle into his fur. “Good morning to you too. I need at least five more minutes of sleep.”

Mushu purrs in contentment beside me. My eyelids grow heavy and the next thing I know I’m waking up to the sound of my alarm buzzing into the otherwise silent room. I roll over and groan. Getting up and ready for the day is the last thing I want to do but it must be done. As I sit up and scrub my hands over my face in attempt to wake myself up. Slowly, I pull myself out of bed and head to my bathroom where I turn on the shower, as hot as it can go, and let it warm up while I brush my teeth. By the time I climb into the shower it’s scalding. My skin screams in protest but it wakes me up, which is what I was trying to do.

After the shower I get dressed in some jeans, t-shirt, and tennis shoes before heading into the kitchen where I find Mushu lounging on the white tiled floor in the sunlight next to his food bowl. I grab him his breakfast before I make a quick protein shake for me. I’m out the door in under ten minutes. I decide to ride one of my motorcycles today as I head to Free Fall, the skydiving school I work at.

Free Fall is outside of Los Angeles about ten miles, down a dirt road off the highway. I don’t live too far from the skydiving school, but luckily there isn’t a lot of traffic today. It’s a beautiful day out. The sun is shining, there’s a nice breeze but nothing extreme. It’s a perfect day for a skydive.

I pull up to the large two-story warehouse style building. White with red painted words ‘Free Fall’ over the front door. Farther out there is another building where the two airplanes we use for skydiving are kept. I park around the side and head in. The place is dead quiet except for the phone that keeps ringing off the hook. I head towards the front where Annie should be but there’s no one in sight. Quickly, I jog over and answer the phone but by the time I reach it the caller must have given up because it’s dead. “Annie?” I call out multiple times, none of them receive a reply so I decide to head out to the airplanes. I’m sure Wyatt, the mechanic, is in there and maybe he can tell me where Annie is.

Making my way over the rocky terrain between the two buildings, I pull out my cell phone to make sure I haven’t missed anything important but I don’t have any missed notifications. When I reach the second building I open the doors and step inside. “Wyatt?”

Wyatt appears from behind a door. His long curly brown hair is hanging loose around his shoulders. He’s got a full-fledged beard instead of his normal five o’clock shadow. His blue coveralls are on but the top half is tied around his trimmed waist. His white muscle shirt is stained with grease and dirt but I know it works for him with the ladies. “What’s up boss?” he asks.

I shake my head. I hate being called boss and he knows it but he chooses to ignore it. “Have you seen Annie?”

Wyatt shakes his head. “Not today. She wasn’t here when I got here but I just figured she was running late. Is she still not here?”

“No, the front is completely empty. The phone was ringing like crazy but she’s nowhere to be seen.”

“She’s flaky as hell,” Wyatt comments.

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