PERFECT TIMING

Two.

“Cast your eye tears onto me,

And I’ll show you what you really need”

The sunshine streamed through the window and landed on her face, annoying her when her eyes finally fluttered open. What time was it? The digital alarm clock on the night stand told her it was 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Man, they had slept! Of course with the time difference and how late they had stayed up it was understandable.

Heather looked over at Casey, who still appeared to be fast asleep. She was turned over, under the covers, her back to the window. Heather smiled and yawned, standing up.

She headed to the bathroom and showered, brushed her teeth and dressed in a regular outfit of jeans and a tank top. She walked out of the room to see Casey just getting up and making her bed.

“Hey, bathroom’s free.” Heather said and Casey nodded, still looking sleepy.

“Alright, well I’m gonna head over next door to Jennifer and Rebecca’s room and see if they’re up.” Heather continued and walked out into the hallway.

She hated hotel hallways. There was something eerie about them when they were quiet and empty, like a scenario in a horror movie. She wrapped on the door next door three times and waited impatiently for the two girls to open the door. Jennifer answered it with her hair half straightened, she looked slightly disturbed.

“Hey, did you turn on your TV?” She asked and Heather shook her head.

“Nah, just got up and got ready. Why?”

Jennifer shrugged, “There’s some major rioting in Manchester, guess we won’t be visiting there. It’s taken over practically the whole city, come see.” She said, before opening the door wider and allowing her friend inside. She sat on the edge of the bed next to Rebecca and continued to straighten her hair. Their attentions were both on the television.

Heather slowly walked over, the hair on the back of her neck rising at the sounds coming from the television.

“The people of Manchester have been going through non stop rioting since late last night- People beating people, Police having to use open fire at the crowds. Men attacking women, women attacking children! There have been rumors of virus like symptoms that are causing the people to act out like this. It is said to be highly contagious and spreading at a fast rate. It is important to stay deep within your homes and keep your doors locked.”

The television showed blurred scenes of people attacking others, some people bending over to throw up blood. The horrific showing made her feel slightly ill and she turned her head. “How can you watch this? Has it spread past Manchester?”

Rebecca shook her head, “I couldn’t tell you. They said they think it came from a smaller town near by or something, I tuned in late.”

Heather started walking to the door, “I’m going to go get the boys. We should leave soon if we want to do anything today. It’s not far from 3 o’clock already.”

She closed the door and shook of the creepy images still playing in her mind and traveled a little further down the hallway to the boys’ room.

“Are you up in there?” She shouted at the door, banging on it twice. She smiled at the yelling back, but since all three tried to speak at once she couldn’t really understand them.

The door opened and Stephen answered the door in his jeans and shirtless. She couldn’t help but look. After all, she had liked him for the past two years and she had to admit he had a nice body from being athletic. She tried to bounce back to the matter at hand.

“Are you guys ready?” Heather asked crossing her arms and leaning against the door frame.

“Yeah, we get ready much faster than girls and we’ve been up for about three hours.”

She tilted her head, “Sorry, us women needed beauty sleep.”

Stephen smirked, “Well uh, you might need a little more.”

Her mouth dropped open and she hit his arm, “Shut up!”

He laughed and soon Randy and Derek crowded to the door.

“What’s happening?” Derek asked and Heather sighed.

“We’re leaving soon.”

Randy laughed, “Just kidding- There’s no way Jennifer is ready. She has to iron her hair at least ten times before she’ll think she’s presentable enough.”

Heather rolled her eyes, “Whatever, c’mon.”

They all crowded to Jennifer’s room, who was in fact ready much to Randy’s surprise, and waited a little while for Casey before the seven of them took off for what would usually be breakfast, had they not slept so late, but was in fact dinner.

It was an expensive Italian restaurant in the heart of the city, which they argued about going to for an hour complaining they didn’t want to spend that much money, but the larger half of the group won and the lighter half ate less.

“Man, I wish I could pull of a British accent.” Randy complained after the waiter walked away.

“Me too, then maybe you’d be attractive.” Jennifer said before taking a bite of her pasta, which she was forced to spit out when he hit her hard on the back. “Dick!”

The group laughed and paid the bills before heading to the streets. Heather was unusually quiet. “You ok, sweetheart?” Casey asked and Heather nodded solemnly. Casey knew better.

“No seriously, Heather, what’s wrong?” She asked, putting her hand on her best friend’s shoulder and stopping. The rest of them stopped when they realized two of their group was not with them anymore and turned around.

Heather sighed, “There was this broadcast on the news this morning about rioting in Manchester and some sort of virus and the images… I’m just kind of freaked out.”

“Virus?” Casey asked and looked to Rebecca and Jennifer who nodded.

“Pretty scary shit, actually.”

“It’s not here is it?” She asked.

“Not yet. Mwhahaha.” Stephen cracked and Randy laughed, Derek rolled his eyes. The girls weren’t amused. “Oh, I was just being funny- come here Heather.” He said, hugging his friend. He couldn’t see it, but she blushed lightly.

“Let’s go see the sights, ride a double-decker bus, and maybe even get drunk somewhere!” Randy yelled, causing a few people to raise eyebrows and walk on.

They all laughed and continued down the street before catching a couple taxis. They drove and saw the sights, occasionally calling each other on their cell phones in the other taxi to confirm plans. They got a little closer to one side of the city when they noticed a large group of people that seemed to be in panic.

“What’s going on?” Casey asked the cab driver who had come to a stop. She, Jennifer and Rebecca were in the back while Heather sat in the front next to the driver. The boy’s taxi was stopped right behind theirs.

“I don’t know, miss. But, they’re blocking the road. Would you like to get out here, or should I turn around?”

Casey sighed, “Uh...Heather, what do you think?” (“I love how our opinion doesn’t matter.” Rebecca whispered playfully in the back.)

“Heather..?”

Heather stared ahead at the group of people, the scene looking frightfully familiar to her. Her heart began beating fast as she watched the people, punching, and beating, some of them running past the car in a panic. One of the people turned around and had looked directly at her through the wind shield.

Blood down the front of his shirt, mouth gaping open and red eyes.

She gasped, “DRIVE!”

The driver obeyed on impact when the bulk of the crowd started to move in their direction, and wheeled the car around fast.

“Rebecca, dial the boys- now!”

Her friend did so as they sped off, the boy’s taxi not far behind.

The three in the back seat kept looking out the back window, watching the people run, some getting pulled down by others. They hit traffic and Casey screamed, “No, no! Go on the sidewalk!”

The driver turned to look at her, “Are you crazy? I can’t do that!”

“Yes you can!”

“No, no I won’t! You’re daft, nothing’s worth a ticket or jail- especially just a stupid riot!”

Heather unlocked the door, “Thanks for the ride.” She said bitterly, getting out and slamming the door.

Casey opened her door, “Heather get back in the car!”

“No, we need to move faster than this.” She replied, glancing at the crowd moving in.

The girls groaned, got out of the car and took off running ignoring the cab driver who complained about not being paid. The boys caught up with them.

“Ok, what the fuck?” Stephen asked as they ran down the side walk, pushing people out of their way. Screams could be heard behind them.

A/N: Once again not as long as I want it, but I got stuck and didn’t want to postpone posting any longer. Please review!