Designated Driver

Submitted into Contest #50 in response to: Write a story about a proposal. ... view prompt

32 comments

General

“I propose we get ice cream.”

Kaitlin is slurring her words so much it takes her twice as long as normal to get this sentence out.

She has had far too much to drink.

 Even you, who do not drink regularly, have had a couple of glasses of wine. But your two friends Kaitlin and Rian have been drinking heavily for the past three hours, gulping their way through bottle after bottle. Although you have consumed a comparatively small amount, you can feel a slight giddiness about you. But you don’t think you’re impaired. After all, you're sober enough to see that your friends, unlike yourself, are far gone into the realm of uninhibited drunkenness.

 You and Rian had come to Kaitlin’s apartment to console her after her boyfriend of two years had dumped her. You had pictured cozy pajamas and fuzzy socks and popcorn, maybe even a rom-com viewing to induce a good cry, but that image had slowly grown fuzzier and fuzzier until it was unrecognizable, and in its place are you and your friends, surrounded by empty wine bottles, Rian passed out on the floor and Kaitlin stumbling around, imagining she is moving in rhythm to the techno music blaring from her radio.

And now Kaitlin wants to get ice cream.

 You are sitting on the couch, resting your head against your arm. It’s been a long day. Work was more stressful than usual, and your boss asked you to stay an extra hour. And traffic on your commute home had been terrible. It was as if no one knew how to drive anymore! But as soon as Rian had called and told you Kaitlin needed her friends, you had not needed a second to think. It wasn’t a choice, it was as instinctive as scratching an itch.

 Being an only child, these girls are the sisters you never had. But now you do have them, and they are everything to you. You would do anything for them and know that you can trust them to always be there for you whenever you’re in need. This is why, even though you’ve been awake for twenty hours straight, and the alcohol you drank feels likes it burning away your stomach lining, and all you really want to do is wash off your stale, oil-infused makeup, there is no where else you would rather be.

Kaitlin flops down beside you. “Ice cream!” She throws her arms in the air as she looks at you imploringly.

“Rian’s car is just outside.” She leans onto you and you can smell the alcohol on her breath.

“There’s no way Rian is driving us. She can barely keep her eyes open. Why don’t we walk.”

“It’s too dark," she complains. “You drive then. You hardly drank anything, and no one’s even out right now.”

You know she’s right, you’ve only had two glasses of wine, and at this time of night the roads would be empty, and it was only a few minutes drive to the all-night diner…

“Please, I need ice cream. I just got dumped. Pleaseeee.” She drags out her words, sounding like a child pleading with their mother. 

You’ve seen people have a drink with dinner and hop in their cars and drive home. None of them ever had any trouble, except your Aunt Lacey, but that wasn’t so much an intoxication problem as it was that she just wasn’t a good driver. Besides, you really didn’t drink that much, you feel fine, and there’s no way you’re letting either of your friends get behind the wheel.

“You barely drank, you can be our designated driver.” Kaitlin begins laughing hysterically as if she’s made a clever joke. Then she throws her arms around you as she pleads with you once more.

“Please!”

It must have been at least an hour since your last drink, and besides, food would help your friends sober up a little. And you haven’t eaten since lunch, more than twelve hours ago.

Suddenly your reluctance dissipates, you figure it’s best to go now and get it over with before you get even more tired.

“Fine, let’s go get ice cream.” You can’t stop a smile from invading your features as Kaitlin jumps up enthusiastically.

“Yay! I will love you forever!” She plants a sloppy kiss on your cheek before she stumbles over to Rian and clumsily pulls her off the floor.

“Get up sleepy head, we’re going to get ice cream.”

Rian lifts her head and mumbles something incoherent as she lets you and Kaitlin half carry, half drag her to the car.

You wait until they’re both buckled in before you pull out of the driveway, not wanting to take any chances.

“See, this is fun!”

 Kaitlin has her window down, the warm night air blowing her long golden hair off her face. “Woohooo!” She shouts into the night air.

You want to quiet her but don’t want to take any of your focus away from the road. Your eyesight is clear and you feel in control, and yet you can't shake the feeling that you’re doing something wrong, the same feeling you used to get when you would sneak into the kitchen to steal a cookie before dinner.

 “Woohooo!” Kaitlin is still shouting out the window. As you check your rear-view mirror you can see Rian has passed out again, her head lolling against the back window.

You see a car’s headlights ahead; it must be the only other people awake at this time. Perhaps a mother who has just finished her twelve-hour shift as a nurse, or a young couple arriving home after a night out dancing, or perhaps like you, they’re on the hunt for a midnight snack. These musings roll through your mind as you continue driving down the road towards them.

 But something is wrong.

You realize that before you realize what is actually happening. The headlights of the approaching car seem too bright, too close, your heart begins pounding as your alcohol addled brain tries to catch up and figure out what to do.

But it’s too late.

A few seconds longer and maybe you would have had time to steer the car to the right, into the lane you’re supposed to be in.

 Instead you drive head on into the oncoming car.

A blaring horn, shouting, headlights shooting into your eyes, and pure fear seizes you.

And then everything goes dark.

July 17, 2020 17:33

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32 comments

נιмму 🤎
18:28 Jul 17, 2020

Heyyy me again lol (i might be getting annoying haha) noticed you posted this new story so I decided to check it out! I really like your take on the prompt - that you didn't write about a MARRIAGE proposal but an ICE CREAM proposal! Very clever lol And then I love the ending, very chilling "Everything goes dark" yesssss love that, great job! ;)

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Alexi Delavigne
20:18 Jul 17, 2020

Thank you so much! You’re not annoying, it’s always great to hear from you :) thanks for checking out my new story! Yeah I’ve never experienced a marriage proposal, but I have a lot of experience with ice cream so... ;) thanks again, I really appreciate it!

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נιмму 🤎
21:20 Jul 17, 2020

lol i also am very experienced with ice cream, and yeah no problem

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נιмму 🤎
23:16 Jul 17, 2020

also if you could check out my BRAND NEW story that'd be greaattt :DD

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Alexi Delavigne
04:50 Jul 20, 2020

Sorry it took me so long, I‘m just seeing this comment now for some reason. But I’ve just read your new story, it’s great! Good job!

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Djenat Remmache
20:24 Jul 23, 2020

You interpreted the prompt in an original way. Well done!

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Alexi Delavigne
20:26 Jul 23, 2020

Thank you for reading and leaving feedback! I really appreciate it!

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Djenat Remmache
20:43 Jul 23, 2020

It's a pleasure! Do you mind reading my new story?

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Alexi Delavigne
21:04 Jul 23, 2020

I would love to!

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Isha Singh
09:04 Jul 26, 2020

So original and creative ! Even though the story ended like that, I feel light. Not over exaggerating the emotions made it even more enjoyable. Keep writing such amazing stories :) Also I know this too much to ask for, but can you please go the site in bio and review my book their. If you feel like buying it please do, but if you don't then rate it on the basis of the sample.

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Alexi Delavigne
14:02 Jul 26, 2020

Thank you! That means a lot :)

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Deborah Angevin
09:57 Aug 17, 2020

Oooh, the ending... :o P.S: would you mind checking my recent story out, "Grey Clouds"? Thank you :D

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Alexi Delavigne
21:48 Aug 17, 2020

No problem :)

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Conan Helsley
03:38 Jul 28, 2020

This reminded me of a book I read years ago called Tears of a Tiger. I can't remember by who. But something similar happens to a group of teenagers and the story deals with the aftermath. But this was a really good spin on the prompt. Very creative and a great story.

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Alexi Delavigne
04:26 Jul 28, 2020

Thank you!

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Jade Young
08:14 Jul 26, 2020

Whoa! I definitely wasn't expecting that ending :O I love how you put your own creative spin on the prompt: not a marriage proposal between a couple that either ends in happiness of them parting ways, but an harmless ice cream proposal that ends in their deaths. The way you wrote this story was great too🙌🏽 I love your pacing, and how you added a bit of background info to their relationship. This was a really great read :D

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Alexi Delavigne
14:02 Jul 26, 2020

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and leave feedback :)

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Jade Young
15:16 Jul 26, 2020

You're welcome Alexi :)

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09:19 Jul 24, 2020

So original! A really funny and great read!

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Alexi Delavigne
13:01 Jul 24, 2020

Thank you! I really appreciate it!

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LuxPN Silva
21:30 Jul 22, 2020

Very intense and riveting. Love the point of view unique and alluring. :)

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Alexi Delavigne
03:31 Jul 23, 2020

Thank you!

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ADHI DAS
17:09 Jul 22, 2020

👍😊

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Alexi Delavigne
17:17 Jul 22, 2020

Thank you!

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Batool Hussain
05:25 Jul 21, 2020

This is amazing! A very interesting take on the prompt. Mind checking out my new story and sharing your views on it? Thanks.

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Alexi Delavigne
09:07 Jul 21, 2020

Thank you! And of course!

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M J
01:30 Jul 21, 2020

Hey Alexi! I loved your ice cream proposal, it's very creative! I can relate to the main character's affection for her "sisters." I was on the edge of my seat towards the end and was horrified to see what happened to your characters. Amazing story!

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Alexi Delavigne
02:04 Jul 21, 2020

Thank you! I usually like to have happy endings, but felt this ending was needed for this story. Thank you so much for reading and the feedback! It’s always appreciated:)

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E. Jude
06:27 Jul 19, 2020

Hi Alexi, What a story!! I like your interpretation of the prompt and it is well written! I would love it if you could check out my stories too!!! XElsa

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Alexi Delavigne
14:36 Jul 19, 2020

Thank you for your feedback! I’d love to check out your work ;)

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Roshna Rusiniya
19:23 Jul 17, 2020

Well-written. Started off as a sweet story but took a different turn towards the end. ! Loved the first line! Good job Alexi!

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Alexi Delavigne
20:13 Jul 17, 2020

Thank you so much for reading and leaving a comment! I really appreciate it!

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