Fury by Fisher Amelie Page A

laundered, I assumed, then washed her hands for what seemed like the thousandth time that night.
    That night’s bartender came up to me just then. “You goin’ out with Finley Dyer now? She’s got issues, you know. I tried it out with her once and she wanted nothin’ to do with me.”
    I eyed him. “And that’s why she has issues ?” I asked. “Because she wouldn’t go out with you?”
    “Nah, man, I just heard some stuff. So, you goin’ out with her or what?” he asked, more curious than casual conversation merited. It was obvious he was still into her.
    “No, we’re just friends.”
    “Cool,” he said, seemingly satisfied. He started to walk away but stopped and turned back around. “You should be careful around her, though. Remember what I said, she’s got issues, man.”
    I snorted. “Not any more than I do.”
    “What?”
    “Nothing, see you ’round,” I said, standing.
    “Later.”
    I leaned against the edge of the booth to wait for her. Finley came around the office corner removing all her pencils and her hair came tumbling down her back. She tossed them all in her bag on the shelf then swung the strap over her head and across her torso, untucking her hair that’d caught in the strap.
                  She sighed, threading her hands through her hair. “It’s been a long night,” she admitted, looking sleepy.
                  “Come on. I’ll take you home.”
                  “No, my car’s at Sykes remember?”
                  “No way. I can tell you’re exhausted. I’ll just pick you up tomorrow morning and take you then.”
                  “Fine,” she conceded.
    But life rarely makes it easy for you, because my truck had other ideas.
    The key turned and the truck began to rumble but died outright. I tried it multiple times but it wouldn’t start.
    My hands fell to the seat in resignation. I turned to Finley. “Shit, I’m so sorry, Finley.”
    She laughed. “Nah, it’s fine. It happens. What do you think is wrong with it, though?”
    “Pretty sure it’s just the battery.”
    “Okay, we’ll ask somebody for a ride.”
    We got out and shut our doors. I felt so bad for keeping her up because of my piece-of-shit truck. I couldn’t stop screwing up her life.
                  “What’s wrong?” she asked, studying me when I met her side.
                  “I just feel like you’ve helped me out so much but I can’t seem to return the favors. Small, though, they may be.”
                  “Life is strange like that, Ethan. There are going to be times where you’re wondering what the hell is going on with yourself, when you begin to question your world. You’ll be lost as shit but inexplicably someone finds you the moment you’re ready to jump from the ledge and helps you stand back up. Holly Raye did that for me once, and now it seems it is my destiny to help you. There are no debts earned or owed when life is cruel to you like that. It’s my duty as a friend first but also as a human to lift those who need lifting, to lift you.”
                  “That’s so comforting to think about, Fin. Not everyone thinks the way you do.”
    We began to walk back toward Buffalo’s.
                  “Just because they don’t doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. Besides, people will surprise you sometimes. All we need is for someone to shine by example. People inevitably gravitate towards the good when the good can’t be helped but to overshine the awful. It’s human nature.”
                  “Many would disagree with you.”
                  “Are one of these many you?” she asked.
                  “No,” I answered, earning me a glorious smile.
                  “We’re bombarded with so much evil in this world on a twenty-four-hour basis that it’s hard to believe we’re capable of anything but the