The Last Deceit | Adam

The cinema parking lot reminds me of scenes from trashy horror movies I used to watch when I was much younger. Thank fuck I grew out of that phase. In the old suburbs of St. Honors, it's the closest place to offer any type of entertainment for those who didn't know any better. As it stands deserted and half-lit as though suspended in spacetime, I can tell even bored middle schoolers chose to hang out somewhere else these days. The drive to the city didn't take long and it certainly had a lot more to offer, so as I stand leaning against the cold exterior of my car and wait, I'm wondering what the hell was Ryan thinking telling us to meet in this archaic place.

I exhaled deeply, breath visible in the cold night. Another five minutes rolled by since another car parked right beside my own, its driver sitting inside drumming fingers against the steering wheel, probably in avoidance of unnecessary awkwardness since neither one of us had any idea the other would be around. I reckoned she'd just drive away when there was no sign of her boyfriend coming, but contrary to my expectations she climbed out of her car and leaned back against it, holding her jacket tighter around herself and staring around in search of something to spark interest.

Madeline Rowanda and I weren't exactly complete strangers... but we might as well be. I hoped she would just pretend not to know me and keep to herself as she'd done for the past couple of years since we'd crossed paths.

She looked at me hesitantly, then cleared her throat. "Um, hey Adam." She shook her head quickly like she'd berated herself mentally and then continued, "I didn't know you'd be here."

I dug my hands in my pockets and nodded in ackowledgement. "Neither did I."

Madeline seemed to be thinking of her next words. "Did Ryan invite you?"

She seems nervous, but there's no need for this line of dumb questioning. Obviously the only way we'd both end up at the same place, same time, is if her boyfriend told us to. I kept my thoughts to myself hating the lack of tolerance I seem to display as of late. "He said he and the guys would be here." I checked my phone again. "Fifteen minutes ago."

She rubbed her hands over her arms to warm up, "He said he'd meet me here around that time too."

Well he should have at least said something about it. I cursed Parker for the tenth time in my mind and pushed my hair back from my eyes. I think it's due for a haircut, it's getting annoyingly long. "You should probably call him and leave. I don't think he'll be arriving anytime soon."

"I- Madeline started but my phone ringing cut her off. I gave her an apologetic look and put it to my ear. It seems the fucker finally remembered to call.

"Yo, man. Where are you?" He had the guts to ask.

I clenched my eyes shut and gritted out, "I'm waiting at The Vine, where you said to meet almost twenty minutes ago." I emphasised. "Where are you?"

"Shit!" I heard him shuffle before he spoke, the background noise gave me an idea where the idiot was. "I forgot to send you a text updating you about the change of plans. Fu-

"Save it." I snapped, although I knew this would be costly in terms of this whole getting along with him thing. I needed to keep myself in check before I ruin shit. "Where are you?"

I saw Madeline perk up, her focus now solely on me and the undistinguishable speech sounding from my phone. I don't think her boyfriend was attentive enough to update his girlfriend either about his whereabouts. I could feel sorry for her if I weren't so pissed off at the moment.

"Right," Ryan sounded distracted, like it took him effort to remember he was on the phone and needed to answer my question. "We're at the club. The guys thought we should celebrate the team win and have some fun."

I know what type of fun theirs entailed. I looked at a shivering Madeline and it made my jaw tick. She should have left as soon as it was obvious that her boyfriend wouldn't show up... I shifted my phone to the other ear. "You realise you made your girlfriend drive all the way out here just to change your plans and not even remember to tell her?"

"Fuck." His tone wasn't exactly remorseful. If anything, he sounded like someone who had absolutely forgotten he had a girlfriend until reminded. The background music was starting to irritate me and it took immense self control not to hang up. Ryan was busy recovering from choking on whatever he's consuming before he answered. "Is she still there waiting? Have you spoken to her?"

No shit. I kneaded my forehead taking a deep breath, but he cut me off before I could answer. "No wait, more importantly, can you make up some excuse and tell her to leave? Don't bring her here."

I narrowed my eyes and watched Madeline avert hers, unable to stand my irritated gaze. "Why is that?"

Her boyfriend spoke. "Jeez dude, which part of celebrating tonight's game don't you get? Don't kill the mood."

No wonder his speech sounded slurred. Him and the rest of the team were probably drinking and getting high to oblivion in celebration of a game at least half of them didn't even play. That, and whatever else was going on in that club was bound to be as bad or even worse than whatever I can imagine. I banged my head back onto the metal of my own car and scrambled for something to tell Madeline. Shit. I never asked to be a middleman in this shitshow they call a relationship. Hell, I didn't even know what someone like Rowanda was doing with Parker. Either this girl had grown dumber since I last knew her, or she's just desperate enough for a partner to settle with the jerk.

I shook my head, recognizing the condescending thoughts I just had. It's none of my business. Rowanda is far from being my business, and certainly not any of her relationship issues. I had a purpose and I need to focus.

"Just make sure to come meet us after she leaves, yeah?" Ryan's voice brought me back to the matter at hand. I hung up and stared at the phone screen before it went dark.

Madeline broke the silence. "So I take it he isn't coming?"

I shook my head and hoped she'd make up her mind about driving away without questions. There was a flash of disappointment in her eyes before it quickly vanished and she heaved a shuddering breath.

"You should get going," I spoke. "It's getting late and cold."

Madeline hummed in agreement but she seemed reluctant to walk away. I patiently watched her fidget with her jacket zipper before she met my eyes once more. "I don't mean to sound rude but... why are you suddenly friends with Ryan and the guys?"

My brows lifted on their own accord. She quickly amended. "I mean, they're not your usual crowd are they? You never liked football or football players, and the guys well... they're not your type of friends right?"

I held her gaze for a few silent seconds trying to decipher what she's trying to get at, and she seemed to be half regretting her question. She looked around the parking lot once more and then said in a smaller voice. "I know we haven't spoken for almost a decade, so I don't pretend to know you, but I'm cur-

"You don't know me that well." I held my tongue back from saying something distasteful since I seemed to jump the gun from the get go these days. Not all people deserved my bitterness. "And neither do I know you. But since Ryan seems to be your type now too, we can conclude that people change."

She furrowed her brows slightly and looked away. "I suppose..."

I opened my car door wanting to put an end to this conversation and go find Ryan. I realized this might be my only chance to check what I needed, and sitting here chatting with Rowanda wasn't helping my case.

"Wait." Before I could close my door and drive away I heard her voice. "Are you... Are you still angry with me?"

I stiffened in my seat, clenching my hands tightly on the steering wheel, and glared in her direction. She didn't budge- in fact for the first time tonight. She seemed absolutely adamant on getting her answer and there was the usual fire of stubbornness burning in her eyes. I shook my head and flippantly answered. "It's been a long while. It's irrelevant."

She narrowed her eyes, retorting. "Of course it matters-

I closed my door signalling the end of this conversation. "Go home Madeline."

Watching her reluctantly drive away from the parking lot, I could finally will myself to leave too. I may be an asshole, but I was not going to let her stay in this dingy place where anything could happen. However unpleasant the conclusion of the conversation with Rowanda, it reminded me exactly why I was doing what I'm doing. It's been years since I'd last spoken or hung out with her. It was an accumulation of little things snowballing.

Sometimes running away from questions doesn't lead to peace. They eventually come back to haunt and demand answers. Answers that I had vague ideas where to begin searching for. Maybe it was pride or a still inherent fear of finding out the truth, being reminded of the ugliness of the past. That, and my detrimental conviction of my ability to be on my own and depend on no one but myself.

Before long, I was entering through the big arched doorway of the Bowery club, the loud music and mixed scent of alcohol and sweat assaulted my senses. It took great effort not to cringe or step back out. I made my way, brushing through swarms of people while my eyes adjusted to the lights, and tried to find Ryan and the football team. It wasn't a hard task considering the type of space they'd occupy would have to check boxes of privacy and luxury, and so I threw the VIP guards my name and found the largest private booth at the very back of the area, with its own mini bar and bartender tucked in the corner under ominous overhead lights. It almost looked comical, but the congregation of loud boys caught my attention. Puffs of smoke, wafts of expensive perfume, and boisterous laughter marked the football jocks celebrating their win.

"Hey man! You're here at last." A very drunk guy, whose name I forget except for the fact that he constantly hangs out with Ryan and always wears sunglasses, shouted upon seeing me and patting the vacant seat between himself and Ryan who was too busy with a redhead to notice what's going on around him. I grimaced inwardly, then took the seat. The guy waved at the bartender, "You need to let loose!"

No I didn't. I had to stay sober and get Parker home. That's what I needed. I quickly pat his shoulder and smirked. "Next round of drinks on me." I told the bartender to bring more alcohol for everyone and they cheered to that. They seemed to let me be and return to their business.

"Why are you sitting all alone?" Ryan, finally breaking his makeout session, gave me a sly look. He looked high as fuck. The redhead on his lap gave me a wink and called over her shoulder.

Not a minute later, some random girl manifested from who knows where and was sticking to my side. "Hey handsome."

I kept a neutral expression wishing I were anywhere other than here, but it had to be done. I needed just enough time to get this done with once and for all. So for the rest of the night, I occupied myself with turning down the advances of the girl next to me and keeping watch over Ryan, who returned stumbling back after a quickie with the redhead. It was at last my chance to get away.

"Hey dude." I nudged the sunglasses guy motioning towards a barely awake Ryan. "I'm driving him home."

He gave a noncommittal shrug and turned back to his drink. I sighed and shouldered Parker's weight, leading him out of the club and towards my car.

"Adam, my man. Did I tell you you're a hero?" Ryan was babbling incoherently. Something about getting Madeline off his back and being a good friend.

"Sit still." I admonished. I was dealing with a child apparently. I could laugh at my predicament if I had more patience in me. I've only joined his group a couple of weeks ago and I'm already losing braincells. I closed and locked the passenger door, rounding the car to get inside and start driving.

"Such a nice car." He mumbeled looking around in wonder.

After making sure he was drunk enough to not recall any of this, I asked. "So Parker, remember what happened three years ago?"