His grin twists into something darker, and he slams his foot on the accelerator even harder.
He’s too far gone, his jaw clenched, his knuckles white as he gripsthe steering wheel. He’s driving like a madman, swerving between cars, tailgating so close I can practically see the fear on the drivers’ faces ahead of us.
“Timmy, please!” I beg, panic swelling in my chest. “You’re going to kill us!”
His only response is to laugh—a manic, high-pitched cackle that sends chills down my spine.
The car barrels down the road, veering dangerously close to the edge of the lane. My fingers dig into the seat, my entire body tensing as I brace for impact.
“Fuck you!” he explodes suddenly, his voice thick with venom. “You two are trying to sleep together! I knew it all along!”
Jackson and I exchange horrified glances.
“Um, no. That’s disgusting,” I say, incredulous. “I’m an adult, Timmy, and he is a 14-year-old boy. And I’m engaged toyou. What the hell are you even talking about?”
“Timmy, chill,” Jackson says, trying to keep his voice calm. “Nobody’s trying to do anything. You’re being weird, man.”
But Timmy’s rage only escalates. He swerves dangerously close to the edge of the road, the truck lurching as he jerks the wheel.
“Timmy, pull over!” I scream, panic rising in my chest.
When we finally reach the city, Timmy’s rage hasn’t abated. If anything, it’s intensified. He screeches into the parking lot of a gas station, the tires screaming as the car jerks to a violent stop, throwing us forward in our seats.
We all scramble out of the car, and I slam my door behind me as if that alone could shield us from Timmy’s madness.
“You’re a fucking stupid bitch and I fucking can’t stand you, you abusive cunt!” Timmy screams at me. “I fucking hate you, you ugly bitch!”
Shocked, Jackson snaps into action. “Leave her alone! Stop talking to her like that!” he roars.
I run between them, horrified at what Timmy might try to do. It looks like they’re about to have a fist-fight.
Clenching his fists, his jaw tight, Timmy gets into the truck and slams the door.
“Get the fuck away from me!” Timmy roars, his voice hoarse with fury. “Leave me alone, you fucking cunts!”
Without another word, Timmy peels out of the parking lot, the tires screeching as he disappears into the dusk, screaming something unintelligible out the window.
120
THE OTHER SIDE OF FEAR
Jackson and I stand there, shell-shocked, as the sound of Timmy’s truck fades into the distance. My heart pounds in my chest, my hands trembling as I try to process what just happened.
“What the actual fuck?” Jackson mutters, his face pale. “Is he always like that?”
“No,” I whisper, my hands trembling, my voice shaky. “I mean… he gets upset sometimes, but never like this.”
Jackson shakes his head in disbelief. “Probably too many drugs.”
I pull out my phone and dial Charlie, my hands shaking as I explain what happened, and I give her our location.
As we walk toward a nearby café, my mind races, trying to make sense of Timmy’s spiral. The enormity of the drive crashes over me. His manic energy, his vile stories, the reckless driving, his wild accusations—it’s like I’ve just seen a side of him I never knew existed, like I’ve been dropped into a nightmare I can’t wake up from.
Jackson and I sit at the café, and he tries to reassure me. “You did nothing wrong. He was acting crazy as hell.” My brain feels scrambled, trying to reconcile the Timmy I love with the person I just witnessed—a man unhinged, spiraling out of control.
I glance at my phone, half-expecting a message from Timmy. Apologies, excuses, promises—it’s always the same. But this time, I feel different. This time, the fear won’t go away.
Because deep down, I know this isn’t just a one-time thing. It’s part of a pattern—one that’s getting impossible to ignore.