A Long and Lonesome Highway

Mary Jane's Last Dance

Max was laying down on the bed next to Dana, she and Justin started talking about, whatever. Max started to feel like she was a third wheel, an afterthought.

She began to feel, dizzy, like the world was pulled off-axis. She was vaguely aware of her face being pulled into a weird place...

"Max, you good?"

Her eyes opened, and it appeared that the room's colors were, a little bit brighter. Nothing intense, but Max did notice a difference in her perception.

"Yeaahhhh, just feeling, strange now..."

"You're fine, it'll wear off in an hour or so." Dana spoke to Justin now, "she got merked off one hit."

Max almost heard Justin shrug, "its a cart, so yeah it's gonna whack harder, especially with no tolerance."

"Can you hit some music? I just wanna listen to, something." She felt her speech slow, not articulating as well.

This caused the others to laugh again, Max joined them, dizzy yet a spontaneous happiness. "I'm feeling something, chill."

A second wave of laughter hit the trio, giggling until their eyes started to water. "No problem, I know just the one." Justin picked up his phone, that apparently fell on the floor, and started scrolling.  "Here."

A gentle guitar began, beats and cymbals joining.

"She grew up in an Indiana town
Had a good-lookin' mama who never was around
But she grew up tall and she grew up right
With them Indiana boys on them Indiana nights"

Ohhh, a harmonica...

"Well, she moved down here the age of eighteen
She blew the boys away, it was more than they'd seen
I was introduced and we both started groovin'
She said, "I dig you baby, but I got to keep movin' on
Keep movin' on

Last dance with Mary Jane, one more time to kill the pain
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again"

Max started to move her head with the song, relating to the rhythm.

"Oh, my my, oh, hell yes
Honey, put on that party dress
Buy me a drink, sing me a song
Take me as I come 'cause I can't stay long

Last dance with Mary Jane, one more time to kill the pain
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again"

A calm solo filled between the verses, Max rocked her body subtly, enjoying the feeling the substance and song brought.

It felt, liberating. Like putting her mind at ease.

"There's pigeons down on Market Square
She's standin' in her underwear
Lookin' down from a hotel room
The nightfall will be comin' soon

Oh, my my, oh, hell yes.
You got to put on that party dress
It was too cold to cry when I woke up alone
I hit my last number, I walked to the road

Last dance with Mary Jane, one more time to kill the pain
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again"

The harmonica mixed with the guitar gave it a very, beachy vibe. She kept rocking her head as the song drifted away...

"Max, I-I have something to ask you..." Justin's voice sounded slightly slurred.

Max sat up on the bed, propping her torso onto her arms. "What's up?"