The Milkshake Project

By beetleb22

7.3K 474 111

It was the height of sock hops and jukeboxes. The time when Rock 'n Roll was the soul of the nation and milks... More

Such a Night
Black Denim Trousers
Oh, Boy!
School Days
At The Hop
The Fool
The Book of Love
Lollipop
Walking After Midnight
Shake, Rattle, and Roll
Splish Splash
To Know Him...
Ain't That A Shame
...Is to Love Him
All The Way
The Great Pretender
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Silhouettes
Rave On
Rock and Roll Waltz
Love Me Tender
Fade Away
That'll Be The Day

Sincerely

199 15 1
By beetleb22

Rider didn't come to school Tuesday either. I sat grumpily in front of my essay, tapping my pencil against the blank sheet. The pain was slowly becoming irritation as the days went by and the chair next to me remained empty. At that point, I was ready to end this and move on with my life. No matter how much either of us didn't want it, we were still partners and we still had a project to finish. It was bad enough as it was. Rider didn't need to dump the rest of the project on me.

It was when Thursday came that I started to worry a bit. Terrible what-if scenarios began to pop into my head, and I nervously fiddled with my eraser. I convinced myself that my concern was for the project's sake, but the rest of the period went by in a blur. When the bell rang, I decided to go to my locker and put away the project. I wasn't feeling up to writing any more for the day.

Suddenly, from around the locker door, a rose appeared with a hand clenched around its stem. My heart skipped a beat, and I backed up a bit. I was about to ask Rider what he thought he was doing when the locker door swung open wider and revealed Jack on the other side. He didn't say anything, just lent the flowers out to me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Apologizing," Jack replied.

I sighed and shut my locker.

"Thanks, but I don't need any pity," I said, "I just made a mistake."

"Hey, who said anything about pity?" he asked as he followed me down the hall, "You just look like you could use some cheering up."

"Yeah? And what's got you into such a fine mood?"

"I know you didn't have a blast at the pool, and I'm sorry for that, but you don't deserve to get down because of that Greaser did. I thought you'd like to have a bit of fun. If you'd like, we can catch a bite somewhere or see a flick."

I stopped outside my next class.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" I asked.

"No, no. Not a date," Jack said, "More like a- uh...get-together. Something to get your mind of things."

Jack smiled sincerely at me, holding out the rose again. What Jack had done to me was wrong, but what Rider did was far worse. The fact that Jack had come now when I needed comfort said a lot, and part of me wondered if I had cut Jack too soon. Now that I wasn't hanging out with Rider, it seemed that Jack was a lot kinder and gentler. It made me wonder how bad Rider had been for me all along.

"You know what? That sounds swell," I said, "I'm free tomorrow."

"Friday it is then," Jack said with a big smile, "Where would you like to go?"

"Is Freddie's good?"

"Uh, Freddie's? You sure?"

"Absolutely. Freddie's is just a diner. I don't have any reason to think otherwise."

"Okay, then. I'll pick you up at seven."

The bell rang, and the halls began to empty. I shuffled the notebooks in my arms and pulled out a piece of paper.

"I live at forty-nine Oaks Street," I said, writing it out on the paper and handing it to Jack.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow."

I waved, as he turned and walked down the hall. Watching him go, I bit at my lip as a chill went through me. I briskly shrugged it off, then turned and joined my third-period class.

~

At lunch, I sat down with Bonnie and told her the news.

"What? With Jack?" Bonnie asked, "You told me you weren't really in to him."

"Yeah, well, I think I might have misjudged him a bit," I explained, "He's a decent guy."

"Descent doesn't mean right. Don't you want to talk to Rider first, at least?"

"What are you so hung up about? If he gave a hoot about anything he'd at least show up to class. I've been doing our project for a week now, and I've barely scribbled out two paragraphs on our report. We begin presentations in two weeks."

I shook my head.

"It's been a week. Chrissy even apologized," I explained, "I'm tired of waiting."

Bonnie nodded.

"Well, then I guess it's good. Maybe he'll take you to the Jubilee next weekend," she sighed, "I just wish it was different."

"So do I," I mumbled.

~

At home, my mother was stirring pudding custard she for one of the ladies at the telegraph while she had me set on cleaning the utensil drawer. My mother knew I was struggling to forget about Rider, so she had me doing odd jobs around the house to keep me occupied. Just that past Wednesday, we reorganized the sock drawer and rotated all the sheets on the bed. I couldn't tell what was funnier, the number of socks we have or her excuse of needing to rotate bedsheet every few years so they don't get worn so easily. I didn't mind though, I knew she was trying to make me feel better.

As I plopped the last fork into the drawer, the doorbell rang.

"I got it, mom," I called out as I made my way through the living room.

I unlocked the front door and pulled it open. My casual smile fell as I saw Rider's sister, Izzy, standing on the front porch.

"Izzy?" I asked the short brunette, "What are you doing here?"

"Ellie, I really need to talk to you," Izzy said.

"Look, if you're here to try and convince me of anything-"

"Please, just give me five minutes."

"El, is everything okay?" My mother asked from the kitchen.

I looked back at Izzy.

"Just five minutes, and I'll cut out of here," she begged, folding her hands.

"Yeah, mom," I answered back over my shoulder, "I just need to talk to a... friend for a minute."

Izzy mouthed a "thank you" as I stepped outside and shut the door behind me.

"Okay, what's up?" I asked.

"It's Rider...," Izzy breathed.

I rolled my eyes and huffed.

"I haven't seen him in almost three days," Izzy confessed, " He came home last Friday and held up in his room all weekend. I tried to get him to come out, but he wouldn't answer. He was gone Monday morning, and I thought he had come to school, but nobody had seen him. Tuesday, he came home, grabbed his bike, and split."

"And you think I know where he went?"

"I was hoping you might."

I shook my head with a sigh. Izzy was practically shaking in her shoes, her eyes tired from restless nights. I didn't understand why she was even bothering to ask me. It made me wonder if Izzy even knew about what happened, or if she was just so desperate to find her brother she didn't care.

"I've asked everyone," Izzy stressed, "After you, that's it. There ain't a single person left to ask. I'm scared, Ellie. He's never done this before, not ever."

"I'm sorry, Izzy, I-I don't-" I started.

Suddenly, an idea hit me. I kind of felt good that it hadn't occurred to me earlier, guessing that it meant I was moving on already.

"What about the water tower?" I asked, Izzy.

Izzy's head snapped up and her brows furrowed.

"The what?" she asked.

"The water tower across town."

"There's a water tower across town? What about it?"

"He took me there Friday," I shrugged, "He could be there."

"Oh! That's great!" Izzy cheered, before grabbing my arm, "Come on, lead the way."

"Woah, Woah!" I said, digging my heels into the porch, "You must be kookie if you think I'm going to go looking for him."

Izzy let go, and I stood up determinedly. Izzy huffed and crossed her arms.

"My brother didn't tell me what happened," she said, "I learned that in the hallways, but I know my big brother better than any of these dodos do. And, I know he'd never do anything to hurt you."

"Then how do you explain Friday night?" I asked, tears beginning to break my voice, "I saw him-"

"I know you saw... something, but it must be some mistake. He'd never swap spit with that skag, not in a million years."

"Well, he did. I don't think you'll understand yet; I just can't trust someone like that. For your sake, I hope you find him. But, for me? I'd rather not be involved."

Izzy tightened her lips as she slowly nodded. She turned around and began to walk back while I did the same. But, before I could open the door, Izzy spun back around.

"You know," she called back, "that first day, you fussed over his due backs, he couldn't take his eyes off of you."

I turned around and tiredly folded my arms over my chest, trying to give her a pained expression to stop, but Izzy wasn't about to give up.

"I found a pack a Paul Malls in the can the very next day, and I ain't seen him smoke since then."

I guess my expression shifted a bit because Izzy started to smile softly.

"He loved you, Ellie. Ever since he first saw you he loved you and, wherever he is, I'm sure he still does. If you come with us you can give him the uh "closure" that all those relationship magazines blab about."

I breathed a laugh, looking up at the night sky.

"Come on, Ellie, please."

I shook my head, glancing back at Izzy's pleading eyes. She stood there in silence with her hands folded at her mouth, and I could've sworn she was mumbling a silent prayer. I sighed.

"I'll get my sweater," I said.

Izzy instantly lit up.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" she cheered, turning to a car parked by the curb, "Red, hop in the back! She's coming with us."

I turned around and went inside.

"Mom, I need to go help out a...friend. I shouldn't be gone long."

"Alright, dear," my mom replied, "Just as long as you're back to help me clean up."

Finding my sweater on the hook behind the door, I went out.

"What in the world am I doing?" I mumbled to myself as I hugged my sweater to me and walked across the cold grass to the awaiting car.

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