A Short Story

The Oregon Coast

by
Joseph Stanford

“You called the police!?” 

Were the words from my newfound alarm clock at 3:37AM this morning. I wasn’t sure who she was talking to, but whoever was on the other end of the phone quickly conjured confusement and fury in my 5th floor apartment. She got out of bed, shimmied up her denim skirt from the floor and bent over to kiss me goodbye before fleeing the scene. I got up to use the bathroom and washed my genitals before stumbling back to my ruffled bed. “Did we exchange numbers?” - my fleeting thought before falling back to sleep.

A few hours later, I woke up feeling grateful that Saturday morning for the empty weekend ahead. I poured myself a cup of Joe from the french press before sitting at my desk behind colorful stacks of mismatched books and bare notebook pages when my phone rang:

“Wow Nick, you’re up early this morning” said Sophia.

“Up, but very hungover. Whats going on?”

“We’re going to the coast, should we pick you up on the the way?”

“Can’t, I need to  study today.”

“I get it, call me later.” ended Sophia

I hung up and tossed my iPhone to other side of my studio where it made gentle ripples on my freshly made comforter. Lofi study beats ensued. 

That morning I read a book by a Belgian psychotherapist. She wrote about the tension between the need for security and the need for freedom in human relationships and how when one is waxing, the other is often waning. When we grow out of relationships, and we find our attention wondering, we aren’t necessarily looking for another person as much as we are looking for another self. 

… 

I thought back to college, nearly a decade prior when I was in a long term relationship with a girl named Maggie. I loved Maggie. I remember the early days in our relationship where we would lose track of time together in dimly lit parking lots and unkempt dorm rooms. As the relationship matured over the years, we became more comfortable with each other. As the  comfort in our relationship increased, I helplessly watched the intimacy decrease. I felt stuck between my conceptualized idea of what a relationship should be and my desire for adventure, novelty, and autonomy.

Back then, College was my vehicle for exploring these feelings of wonderlust and  Maggie acted as my chauffeur. I felt guilty for staying up late drinking with friends and fetching late night meals at the TTT truckstop while I knew she was in my bed, impatiently awaiting my return. 

One Friday afternoon in college, I just finished a grueling week of midterm exams for classes I neither attended nor had much care for. Classes like “Differential Equations” and “Organic Chemistry”. Society told me that school was good for me and in my best long term interests and I listened. But my soul had other priorities. 

My roommates and I sat around our coffee table watching TV while we planned our weekend. 

“I know of a party at the lacrosse house tonight, but we’d have to bring booze and at least a couple women”. said Chris.

“Too bad my brother is out of town, or he could get us some.” said Stephen.

“Some booze or some women?” I asked.

“Doesn’t matter for you Nick, You have a girlfriend anyways.

“I told you, Maggie is of town this weekend.” I said before pulling out my phone to make a call.

“Hello?”

“Hey Julia, want to come to a party tonight?”

“Idk i was up late las…”, but before she could complete her excuse I continued,

“Julia, we all were up late studying last night and I know you don’t want to get stuck at some sausage fest tonight but other than that what do you have to lose? You only live once remember? and who knows, you might come out with some good stories.”

“Ugh you’re right, I have nothing to lose. Fine, I’ll come.

Julia, being close to Maggie knew she was out of town that weekend. I secretly hoped that played a part in her coy agreement.

“Oh Julia, one more thing. Can your brother pick us up a 30 of Coors Light and some Bud Light Limes before the party?

“Damnit Nick, this is the 3rd weekend in a row. And Bud Light Limes? Really?” 

“It’s not my fault. I’m’ only 19.” I defended.

I hoped my quick scoring of booze and a woman would have kept my roommates unsuspecting of my deeper motives for inviting Julia to a night promising inhibitions and no sign of Maggie.

“Nick, just date Julia already will you?” said my roommate Stephen. 

“I have a girlfriend.” I retorted.

Julia glowed that night. She showed up on time to me and my roommate’s house near campus to pregame. Her slim shape was well complimented by a pair of jeans and framed by a white V-neck. Personally, I could have gone without the Keds, however, but at least she brought the alcohol. Her energy was simple. sexy. confident. I had good feelings about the night ahead.

We walked into a the party and began mingling. Julia and I called next game on the beer pong table. Normally we’re both pretty skilled, but that night we we went undefeated. College taught me that a beer pong team’s success depends on 93% chemistry and 7% good music. With Julia and I on the table and DJ Quincidence on the aux, the night had both.

I remember meeting Julia in kindergarten. We were always close. We understood each other on a much deeper level than any of my other relationships. No matter how much time past in between seeing each other, we would always quickly fall back into our exceptional rapport. 

“Alright Julia, should we let someone else play? My shoulders are getting tired from carrying this team” I said after sinking last cup for literally the fifth game in a row.

“Oh Fuck off, but yes, lets go outside”.

We walked outside together into the warm Arizona darkness. Nothing happened that night between Julia and I other than a long night of torturous bliss. I went home alone wanting more. More Julia, more freedom, more adventure, and less Maggie. 

…

A week later Stephen and I sat in our living room engulfed in a heated match of Smash Bros. 

“Maggie and I broke up yesterday” I blurted.

“I knew it, you fucked Julia at that party didn’t you” he accused me while spamming the grab button on the N64 controller.

“No, I would never cheat. But there’s someone else.”

“What?”

“I love someone else.”

“Nick, you’ve been together for almost two years. What person are you ready to throw that away for?”

“Myself - a new me.” 

“Um..” said Stephen as I spiked his Captain Falcon off the map into the Hyrule Underworld. I continued, 

“I love Maggie. And I wish I could stay with her. But I can’t. My soul wants freedom. And anyone that limits that freedom will take unfair resentment.” It’s not fair for her and its not fair for me”

…

Fast forward back to that hungover morning in my 5th floor apartment.

I closed my notebook, got up from my chair, and walked over to my bed before picking up my phone and going to my recents.

“Hello?” said the voice on the other side of the phone.

“Hey Sophia, have you guys left for the coast yet?”

This piece was written as a response to another story written featured in Harness Magazine. Read the original piece here:

"93" by Mackenzie Quick