"To Never Be" - The Drive

       While driving, we were all quiet. Stephanie sat, starring out the back window, holding her arms tightly around her body, and Nicene stared off into the road, never looking away or making a sound. I only shifted occasionally, moving my gaze between the two, feeling comfortable in the awkward silence. Then suddenly, Nicene spoke.

       “Why did you go into the alley in the first place?”

       Stephanie looked into the rear view mirror from the backseat, thought for a moment and said, “I don’t live very far from here, I was just going to walk home from the restaurant.”

       “Why were you going to walk home?” Nicene asked.

       Stephanie looked toward the floor board this time, and said, “We were having an argument in the restaurant, and it carried out into the parking lot.”

       Nicene asked another question, “Is that why he was so angry?”

       “No no, you don’t understand. That wasn’t,” she paused, looked into the rear view mirror again, then continued, “that wasn’t like him at all.”

       Then I spoke up. “I saw the two of you in the parking lot. He was headed away from you, towards his car, when he suddenly stopped then turned around.”

       “See, that is what I mean, it’s not something he would have done.” Stephanie replied. “And another thing is that knife. I have never seen that knife before, I don’t even think he owns any weapons. Why would he have been carrying it around with him?”

       “Maybe he had planned it out?” Nicene said, in a quizzical sort of way.

       “No.” Whispered the young girl. Sighing for a moment she said, “You just don’t understand.”

       “Then make us understand Stephanie. Tell us what you are hiding from us.” I said sternly.

       “You wouldn’t believe me.” She said softly.

       “Don’t make my mind up for me!” Shouted Nicene. “I might surprise you.”

       “Why is that? Because you think you see things?” Stephanie said. I looked over at Nicene’s face, she looked stunned. “You think you can see what lies in people’s hearts? You couldn’t see what was right in front of your face in that alley!” She was starting to pick up her volume.

       “The only thing I felt in that alley was hate.” Said Nicene.

       “You missed a lot.”

       “Then show us what we missed.” I responded. “Make us see what it is you saw.”

       “Do you really want to see?” She paused, waiting for an answer but then giving the disclaimer of, “because if you really want to see, then I can show you.”

       “I want to see.” I said a little reluctantly.

       “Fine. Go to a night club or bar, any one should do.”

       “Why?” Asked Nicene.

       “What you want to see is sure to be there.” Is all Stephanie said, and the three of us were quiet until we reached a little place called, “7 Black Cats”.