Coastal City: The Dream Fish Part VI

Boring episode. You guys might not like it much.

-

As Halvar opened the passenger door, the thick smell exploded almost unbearably. He pulled his shirt up to his nose and looked into Lucie’s car, and on the rear-vision mirror hung a devilish little pine tree-shaped car freshener.

Halvar charged into the car and snatched the air freshener and left it on the pavement. He then rolled the windows down and breathed.

“Hey, what’s the big idea?” asked Lucie.

“Can’t take the smell. Horrid.”

There was a moment of silence.

Then the car was started.

“Favora Street.” Halvar said, as if Lucie was some sort of chauffeur.

Favora Street was forty minutes away but Lucie didn’t procrastinate anymore. The place was a peaceful neighbourhood in the northwest of Coastal City. It was almost not in the city. Not a lot of people know the place but it’s some place you wouldn’t want to forget. The houses, incredibly, all seem very clean. And the people are very friendly, always cheery.

…

Twenty minutes have passed and the two haven’t said a word.

“Aren’t you going to roll down your windows too?” asked Halvar, he started feeling a bit guilty about how he treated Lucie.

“It’s cold.”

“Come on. Roll down your windows, quick. We’re almost at the freeway.” He smiled but Lucie just gave him a quick glance and returned to concentrating on her driving.

“Trust me, Lulu. You’ll like it.” He smiled even harder. That time she rolled down her window.

“It’s half past ten. Are you sure about this? Maybe we should go back, you’re mother’s gonna kill us both…” Her voice couldn’t get any more velvety and fragile.

“The freeway. Accelerate, Lu.”

She accelerated without hesitation. Not a lot of people drive there at night, especially since it really doesn’t go to a very popular neighbourhood.

“Ah, the wind.” He put his hand out the window. “The cool wind feels great. I missed the cold.” Then he started laughing. Lucie laughed too.

“Laughing without reason?! You’re crazy!”

“You’re crazier! You listen to a crack head like me. Now I’m really sure you’re crazier, Lulu!”

One hundred and twenty miles per hour. Their voices echoed with the loud growling of the engine. It went faster and faster.

Their hearts pounded just as fast, just as intense. Their souls were screaming.

It felt good.

“Lucie! I want you to turn left!”

“What?!”

“Turn left!”

The tires screech as she hit the brakes and they stiffly stopped in the middle of the road. The silence was finally deafening once again.

“Why would you want to turn left? We’re only half-way to Favora.”

“I didn’t really want to go to Favora. I just meant that the way to the place I want to go to is on the way to Favora.”

“I’ve never turned left here before, Halvar.”

“Trust me.”

“The road there seems dark.”

“Just trust me Lucie, okay? We’re not gonna get lost or killed or anything. Trust me.”

She turned left.

They went through a series of trees before vintage-looking post lamps lit the way. The texture of the pavement changed as well, and at that very moment Lucie decided they weren’t in Coastal City anymore.

“What is this place?” she asked.

“Apermus.”

“Never heard of this town before.”

“Oh, it’s not a town, Lucie. We’re still in Coastal City.”

…

“I don’t understand,” said Nathan. He looked closer into the girl’s eyes. “Who—“

“Hey Nathan, do you have an extra—whoa.” Calais was then standing at the door of Nathan’s bedroom, stupefied to see Nathan in his boxers with a girl absolutely naked in front of him.

“I am so sorry.” She told the two, prolonging the so.

She then walked away, covering her mouth.

“Wait, Calais! Damn it!”

…

They went to a restaurant called “Jang’s.” Lucie picked up the menu only to find that everything was written in Korean.

“Uhm, will you order for me?” she told Halvar.

“Aw, you’re being cute.” He grabbed Lucie’s cheek and pinched it hard, making one side redder than the other. She looked away and smiled, blushing.

“I can still see your face in the mirror in front, silly.” Halvar chuckled and Lucie just beamed at him.

“Okay don’t smile at me like that, you’re making me feel awkward. Moreover, Calais will kill us both.”

“So you really are with Calais.”

“I sure am.”

“Calais is sixteen and you’re almost nineteen…”

“Don’t be jealous, Lulu. To tell you the truth I once had a crush on you. But ah, long story.”

“Do tell.”

The waitress approached them and quickly smiled at them.

“Two of the usual, Mrs. Park.”

“Okay, Halvar. You have very cute girlfriend, no?” then she walked away.

“Actually she’s not my girlfriend!” he yelled as she entered the kitchen.

“Whatever, Halvar. Ha-ha!” he heard her say.

Lucie was just silent in her seat, redder than ever.

“Oh, don’t listen to her, she thinks everything is cute!”

“You bitter, you!”

To be continued as usual.