American Monsters

“Always wanted to go,” said Clarissa, “and my dad always said he was gonna take me. But then he got cancer, the kind they don’t cure. And, when he was gone, no one wanted to take me anywhere.”

“My parents are evil,” said Amber.

“That must suck.”

“So must losing a dad you actually love.”

“Yeah. Anyway, toilet break.”

Clarissa slid out of the booth. The moment she was gone, Amber’s demon-self slid in. Amber immediately looked at her hands.

“Think you’ve found a new friend, do you?” her demon-self asked. “I wouldn’t bother getting to know her. She’s going to abandon you. Like Kelly abandoned you, and Imelda abandoned you …”

“Milo’s still here,” Amber muttered, not raising her eyes.

Her demon-self grinned. “Did you really buy that bullshit? He’s waiting for payday. The moment he gets his money, he’s gone. Just like all the rest. But then they’re the lucky ones, aren’t they?”

“Shut up,” Amber mumbled.

“Unlike Glen,” her demon-self continued. “You meet this poor Irish boy in the woods, he thinks you’re going to help him, and what happens? He dies anyway, and comes back as a bloodthirsty corpse. You feel that gnawing sensation, in your belly? That’s what guilt feels like. Honestly, with a friend like you, does anyone really need enemies?”

Amber looked up to argue, but her demon-self was already gone.

Clarissa got back just in time for the burgers, and Amber ordered more Sprites.

“Something happen?” Clarissa asked.

“Sorry?”

“It feels like something happened while I was gone. You okay?”

Amber forced all thoughts of Glen to the back of her mind, and smiled. “Nothing’s wrong,” she said. “Just thinking about stuff, that’s all. So do you have plans?”

“For world domination?” Clarissa responded with a mouth full of cheeseburger.

Amber smiled – genuinely, this time. “Or just in general.”

“Dunno.” Clarissa thought as she chewed. “Wouldn’t call them plans, I guess. More like hopes. Such as, I hope I don’t spend the rest of my life homeless. I hope I don’t die on the streets. I hope I get rich somehow. The usual hopes and dreams and idle fantasies, y’know?”

“Totally.”

Clarissa’s burger started to slide out of its bun. She frowned, tried to poke it back in with a French fry, then resorted to using a finger. “What about you?” she asked. “You ran away from home, you’re with a friend who watches your back, you’re staying in motels … You seem to be keeping it together more than most. What’s your plan?”

Amber looked puzzled for a few moments before she answered. “I … guess I want my freedom back. I agreed to do a job I didn’t want to do, and now I have to figure out how to trick my way out of it.”

“And how do you manage that?” Clarissa asked.

“I don’t have a clue. It’s a whole lot of trouble.”

Clarissa peered at her. “You’re, what, sixteen?”

“Seventeen tomorrow, actually.”

“Well, happy birthday for tomorrow, then. And you’re young – you’ve got the rest of your life ahead of you. You’ll be fine.”

“And how old are you?”

“Turned seventeen three months ago,” Clarissa said, grinning. “There’s no hope for me.”

They ate, and chatted, and Clarissa used the bathroom twice because of all the Sprite. Then Amber paid and they left the diner, emerged into the night air. They looked around, a little awkwardly, before Clarissa wiggled her eyebrows.

“Hey,” she said, “thanks for the food.”

Amber gave her a thumbs up, then felt stupid. “Sure,” she replied.

Clarissa nodded to the Charger. “Don’t suppose there’d be any room in that car for one more, would there? It gets pretty lonely out here and … Naw, forget it. The look on your face says it all.”

“I’m sorry,” said Amber.

“It’s fine,” Clarissa said, waving her hand dismissively. “It was a crappy thing to ask.”

“No, it wasn’t,” said Amber, “and I wish I could say yes. But the last person to hitch a ride with us … it didn’t end too great for him. We have a habit of getting into trouble.”

“I’m used to trouble.”

“Not like this you’re not.”

Clarissa shrugged. “Hey, forget it. Thanks for the food, and I’m sorry I tried to steal your bag.” She started walking.

Amber called after her. “Where you going?”

“Moving on,” Clarissa said, turning and walking backwards. “I’m that little doggy, y’know the one? Wherever I go, I make a new friend? That’s me.”

“Where are you sleeping tonight?”

Clarissa spread her arms wide. “The world is my bedroom.”

“I thought the world was your bathroom.”

“It can get messy, I’m not gonna lie.”

“I’ll get you a room here.”

Clarissa laughed. “No, Amber, really, it’s fine.”

“Why not?” Amber said. “They’re cheap rooms, Clarissa, and I have the cash. What, you’ll take food off me, but not a bed for the night?”

Clarissa stopped walking, but shook her head. “I have principles.”