Cyoa Part One: Heading Out

(Poll is at the bottom! Make sure to answer after you read! I'm so excited to be posting the first part! Please let me know what you think, this is the first thing I've written in a month.)

Everything was ready for when Luke got home. You had packed your bags. Everything you needed to say you had rehearsed like a school play. All you had to do was wait for him to get back from whatever it was he was doing.

You sat on the sofa, fiddling with your fingers or looking at your phone screen. There was a news article about a set of twins who had gone missing further north of you. There was another article about the attack of a local antique shop owner. The attackers left the owner and the store nearly destroyed. These were a bit much to read, so instead you looked over the directions you had pulled up. Your friend Amy lived close, but it would still be a long drive. It would be worth it though, even if all you were gone for was a few days.

There was a rattling at the door, the sound of Luke’s heavy key ring hitting the wood and scraping as he unlocked it. You stood up from the sofa, steeling yourself for what was about to happen. It had been a long time in the making, but this needed to happen.

Luke opened the door and stepped inside, carrying with his a bag of groceries. A pang of a guilt hit you in your gut seeing that bag, but you reminded yourself of what you were doing.

“Oh hey, babe!” Luke’s face lit up like a christmas tree when he saw you. “They had those apples you liked at the store again. I got you some and I uh-” He noticed your expression, your stance, his eyes then fell upon your luggage by the door.

“Oh-” He sat down the bag then placed his big hand around the side of his neck. “Babe, whats going on?”

You swallowed down your heart to speak. “Can you tell me why you were out so late?”

Luke’s dark brown eyes darted and he started to chuckle. “What do you mean? I went to the store before-”

“Before the store, Luke. Were you still at work? Drinks with friends? Tell me and I’ll understand, I may even unpack those bags.” You pushed your hair from your face then dropped your hand down and shoved it into your pocket.

Luke’s stance became rigid and his usually deep complexion became pale. His mouth opened and closed and his hand on his neck dug a little harder.

“This,” you stated in a slow, raspy voice. “This is why I’m leaving, Luke. You can’t answer my questions, you can’t tell me things...so I need a while to think some things over.”

Luke shook his head. “I swear, I’m not doing anything to hurt you.”

You pressed your lips into a firm line. “But you are. I feel like I can’t trust you anymore. I don’t know half of what you’re doing.”

Luke swung his arm down and furrowed his brow. “Where are you going?”

The sight of wetness rising on the rim of his eyes made you lose your breath. “To Amy’s.”

“That’s a long drive,” he murmured and turned away, focusing on your luggage. He seemed to be counting each piece, accounting for how empty the apartment would be.

You hadn’t packed everything but you did pack a lot as you didn’t know how long you would be away. “I’ll be fine.”

Luke rubbed his eyes. “I swear, babe, if I could tell you I would. I just-” He stopped himself and turned around quickly. His curls bounced and one fell between his brows in that way you liked. “Can’t you stay one more night?”

You shook your head. “If I don’t leave now, I never will. I’ll keep thinking things are okay and it’s not. I can’t trust you right now and I can’t keep trying to lie for you.”

Luke’s jaw stiffened and his hand returned to the back of his neck. “Yeah. I get it,” he grumbled.

“I love you, I do. But I need to think about this.”

“I love you too.” Luke approached you, placing his hand upon your shoulder where his fingers twitched. You knew what he wanted to do but he kept himself in check. You placed your hand upon his arm and he felt so warm.

“Do you have a fever?” You asked.

“No-” Luke moved his hand from you. “Will you let me know you made it alright? Just a text, you don’t have to call.”

You nodded. “I’ll text you when I get there.”

“Do you want help taking your things to the car?” His voice warbled.

You shook your head. “I’ll get them.” As you were reaching for one, Luke took out the bag of apples from the brown paper bag. He placed them into one of your suitcases and he walked away, going to the bedroom and shutting the door.

You sniffled, wiping your eyes as you lugged your things out of the apartment. Once you loaded the car, you called Amy and told her you were on your way.

“Just be careful,” she told you. “It’s late and that worries me.”

“I’ll be okay,” you sniffled. “I’ll be there soon.”

Amy sighed. “How was it?”

“Sad,” you huffed. “But he still wouldn’t say anything about what he’s doing.” You glanced in the rearview mirror. The porch light remained on even though the rest of the place was dark.

“I’m sorry,” Amy whined. “But this will be good. Maybe he’ll come to his senses, maybe you’ll come to yours.”

You sighed heavily. “Maybe.”

“He’s been at this whole secretive thing for a while now. Even when you first started dating he was sort of...tight lipped.” Amy was tiptoeing, hoping to full on start sprinting with your permission. “I mean, you told him about how you were born and he never mentions his parents.”

You frowned. “I should get off the phone Amy and focus on driving.”

“Oh, right. Right. I’ll see you soon, bye.”

You hung up and placed the phone in the holder. The directions popped back up, and the stiff voice told you a turn was coming up.

As it got darker, you had to focus more. Your eyes felt strained as you had been staring at a computer screen all day. You rubbed your eyes, and in the brief moment something appeared in the road.

To say it was massive was an understatement. Your first thought was that you knew there weren’t moose in North Carolina, your second was ‘fuck’. You swerved to avoid whatever cryptid horror beast was in your way and wound up on the side of the road. You slammed into the railing and ground up the side of your car, messing up one of your headlights.

You jumped out of the car. You looked back where you’d seen the giant apparition but there was nothing there. Not even a sound. You slammed your hands down upon the roof of your car in frustration and fear. After a moment, you checked on the damage you had caused, which was a shocking bit. Although the railing looked fine!

You got back into your car and started driving, but there was a strange sound the further you went. Without two headlights, you might as well have rubbed hot sauce into your eyes. Luckily there was a gas station and diner mix ahead, so you pulled over.

You checked over your car again, but you had no idea what you were looking at. Luke always took care of things with the car, he did everything for it. You realized then he was right when he told you to pay attention.

Taking out your phone but you have no service whatsoever. “Motherfucker,” you huffed. The gas station was still open, you hoped they had a phone you could use.

Inside it was basic gas station fare, but it smelled like bacon and coffee. One side was a full fledged diner with the biggest cook you’d ever seen behind the counter. There was also a group huddled over a table. One of them looked up and locked eyes with you.

You walked up to the gas station counter, and the woman behind it had a huge, blonde bouffant.

“Eh-excuse me,” your voice cracked. “Do you have a phone I could use?”

Her eyes flicked knowingly outside before she looked at you. “What happened, sweetie?”

You swallowed. “I wrecked my car.”

“How?”

Could you tell her the truth? That there was some prehistoric cursed beast wandering the North Carolina roads? Or could you lie?

“Does North Carolina have moose?” You asked.

The woman smiled. “Nah, but in these woods, who knows what we’ve got.” She placed the phone before you. “You ain’t making a call out of country are you?”

You shook your head.

“Then call away.” She walked away from the counter.

You started dialing Luke’s phone, but you thought better of it. Instead of called Amy and told her what happened and how your car was acting.

“I can come get you,” she said readily. “But it could be a while. Are you safe where you’re at?”

You glanced back towards the diner, and saw that huddled group had risen. “I think I’ll be okay.”

“You sure? You don’t sound so sure.”

“I’m rattled, Amy! I’ll be fine. There’s a diner here so I’ll get some coffee or something and wait you out.”

She huffed. “Well, I don’t like it, but you should call Luke.”

“If I become unsure, I will. Just hurry.” You hung up the phone then walked into the diner. You looked around assessing the pros and cons of each table. You know you won’t sit near the leering group in the corner, but you did prefer a booth to a table.

“Sit wherever,” the massive cook barked out to you. “I’ll take care of you in a minute.”

You sighed heavily and walked in, sitting at a table near the wall and close to the counter. At the booth full of people, you heard whispers spring up and even felt eyes on you. You sorted through your bag, pulling out old receipts and fortune cookie fortunes. One of the fortunes fell on the table, so you read it.

“A very attractive person has a message for you.”

You frowned at it, crumpling it up and adding it to the trash pile with the rest of them.

The giant cook stepped out from behind the counter, placing a glass of ice water in front of you along with a menu. “Coffee?”

“Yeah.” You looked him up and down, wondering if he was the terribly gruesome monolith that made you wreck your car. “Do you have any sort of pie?”

“I make a pecan pie that would make your grandmother cry,” he said with a smile. “Will that work?”

You smiled back at him. Something about his tone put you at ease. But it was his surprisingly angelic face that really helped unclench you. “That sounds nice.”

“You got it.” You glanced at his name tag which read ‘Evander’.

You leaned back in your chair as he went back into the kitchen. The sound of whispers caught back up to you and from the corner of your eye someone from the booth was staring at you. You looked back down at your hands, pulling out your phone to make it look like you were busy or didn’t care.

Evander brought out your coffee and pie, standing between you and the other table. “What else can I get you?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” You picked up the menu. “I didn’t even look at the menu. This should be okay for now though.”

“You sure.” The tone of his voice suggested he was asking more than just your order.

You nodded at him. “I’m just a bit shaken is all.”

“Are you safe?”

“Yeah,” you murmured. “I just...you don’t get paid enough to hear this,” you tried to laugh. “I’m fine, really! I just swerved to avoid something on the road and got myself in a pickle.”

Evander didn’t seem fully convinced. “Well, if you need a refill just say so.”

“Thanks,” you smiled as he walked back, glad to have the coffee and pie to distract yourself with.

You fixed your coffee the way you liked, taking a sip before trying the pecan pie. Before you could even take a bite though you heard someone from the other table whistle. Every hair on your body stood on end and you slowly lowered your fork down. From the corner of your eye, you saw someone approach.

The man was tall and thin, wearing a leather jacket and tight blue jeans. You refused to acknowledge him. Instead you pulled out your phone and sipping your coffee. He came closer, pulling out a chair at your table and sitting down.

You suddenly felt more annoyed than afraid. You turned sharply, ready to snap, when you saw the most handsome man you’d ever seen.

“Eh-eh-ex-uuuu-se me?” Your voice started strong but cracked and flopped as you took in the man before you.

He smiled, pushing his long, platinum hair from his face. “You looked quite lonely. Mid if I join you?”

Your mouth hung open, brow still furrowed as you tried to decide the best way to react, but you froze in place. The beautiful man leaned in, cheekbones and jawline too good for this mortal realm. You decided his personality had to be garbage if he was this attractive.

“I’m waiting ons someone.” This was the best thing you could think to say.

His smile brightened. “So have I, for a long time. Just waiting on that mysterious someone to come in and sweep me off my feet.”

“Well this is a friend, I don't think she does that.” You were just saying whatever came to the forefront of your mind.

He laughed and his long hair fell from his shoulder. “I’m Ebal, whats your name?”

Evander came out from behind the counter and Ebal glanced up at him, barely paying him any mind.

“You and your friends haven’t ordered anything in an hour,” Evander snarled. “You plan on doing that?”

Ebal chewed on his bottom lip. “Yeah, more coffee.”

Evander glared down at him. He was about to open his mouth when you phone chimed. It was a small miracle.

It was a text from Amy. “I’m sorry, something is going on with my car. I called Luke for you.”

“Crap,” you growled and set your phone down.

“Trouble?” Ebal asked with a smile.

“Yeah,” Evander huffed. “Is he bothering you?”