by J. E Hanson
The rest of New Orleans will be a memory of tasty food and great music. We have alligator meat, crawfish, and more New Orleans cuisine. We left Louisiana and drove to Texas.
In Texas, things are definitely bigger. I didn’t pay any attention to the sound of the shower. To my shock, I walk in on a naked Spike. I try to cover my eyes quickly, “I’m so sorry, Spike. I should have knocked before entering.”
“This was bound to happen, Rosalie. I have a towel on now, and it’s really not a huge deal.”
I uncover my eyes, and we stare at each other awkwardly for a few minutes. I want to stare at him forever, “I’m leaving now, and I will wait outside. Once again, I’m sorry for rudely barging in.”
The following morning, history repeats itself, except Spike is coming out of the shower. I happen to walk in at the right time. My iPod blasts in my ears, while I enter the bathroom without knocking. I happen to notice his man wand by accident. I quickly cover my eyes, and pause my iPod, “I swear that I didn’t see anything! I’m so sorry, Spike!”
He laughs again, “It is okay Rosalie, and it’s not the end of the world.”
I angrily blush, and I quickly run out of the bathroom. Accidents like these are bound to happen, and he’s still laughing, when he rejoins the rest of us in the living room.
Ember notices my face is blushing, “What’s going on?”
Spike leans back smiling, “Rosalie forgot to knock again.”
I walk around him, “I’m taking my shower now, and I swear I didn’t see anything.”
To stay away from Spike, I continue to drive the RV around Texas. Ember notices a dance club at a restaurant, “Oh, look! There’s line dancing! We have to dance!”
She drags me out on the dance floor. Gabriel joins us laughing, but Gadriel remains in his seat with Snow and Ice watching us. Spike walks beside me, and he starts line dancing next to me.
The DJ stops us, and he makes us form into a square. We have to square dance together. I try to avoid him, but he has one of those personalities that sucks me right back in. He even sneaks in a few kisses on my cheek, and he smacks my ass. We are back to flirting with each other again.
They even have a mechanical bull, and I’m riding a mechanical bull for the first time in my existence. Spike takes pictures with his camera, and he laughs at me. I hold on tightly with my thighs. He won’t stop picking on me for lasting eight seconds, “I hope you ride me like that one day.”
My flirty side wants to show, “I can keep up with whatever you’re willing to give me.”
Ember shakes her head, when Spike turns me into his mutual sex fiend. We start to wash the dishes together again. He decides to start our naughty conversation, “I would love to slide you up and down on it.”
I flirt right back, “I would love it if you nibble on my headlights every now and then.” He raises an eyebrow, and he laughs.
Ember finally joins me. She takes out a hot dog, and she creates innuendoes that are more sexual. She slides the hot dog down her throat, “Look, Rosalie! This is what they call ‘deep throat.’ ”
I’m unable to stop laughing. Spike shakes his head, and he laughs with us. The fun continues with Ember and the marshmallows. “Suck my love juices, you bitch!”
Spike and Gabe stare at us in disbelief, and they’re probably wondering what we are up to again. She holds a S’more over my mouth, and I lick at it.
She keeps it up, “You will never be able to swallow, if you keep licking at it!”
Their faces turn beet red. We didn’t stop with just the hot dogs—or marshmallows either. We both bought huge suckers.
“I bet you won’t be able to deep throat my sucker.”
Spike groans, “Do you two have to do this again tonight?”
Gabe throws down a hundred dollar bill, “I bet she’s unable to deep throat that sucker.”
Spike takes out his wallet, “I will raise you four hundred dollars, and say that she can.”
She shakes the sucker, “Put up—or shut up! Either you can take all of me—or none of me.”
I lean over the table, and open my mouth wide. She laughs hysterically, and she hands me the sucker instead, “I’m not getting involved in this one.”
I take the sucker from her hand, and show all the men. Spike’s face turns to a beet red color. The sucker makes it all the way in my throat, and I pull it back out. Gabe curses as he lost the bet. Gabe shoves four hundred additional dollars at Spike. Spike laughs as he picks up the cash. I watch him open his wallet, and I noticed a few pictures of different women.
Out of curiosity, “Who are they?”
He points at the pictures, “This is my assistant MJ, and the other women were my past lovers.”
The jealousy pangs astound me. The women are either wearing bikini tops, or no clothes at all. They are extremely attractive looking. The only woman, who has clothes on is his assistant MJ. I wish I was somewhere in his wallet, but I never bother discussing it anymore, and I look away this time.
Ember yawns, “I’m sleepy, and I’m heading to bed—if you guys don't mind?” Gabe disappears with Ember in the spare bedroom, and he keeps his arms around her waist.
After she leaves, I pull out the photo albums to distract myself with pictures of my friends. I miss Avalon more than ever. Spike returns to the table with a cup of coffee, and he hands me a cup, “How many competitions have you won?”
I glance up, and hand him all the pictures from every single win, “You can count the wins.”
“How many wins did you have, Rosalie?”
“I have forty-two wins. How many do you have?”
“I have a few wins, but the number is not all that important.”
“I can tell you my wins, but you refuse to tell me yours. How fair is that?”
“I would tell you, but then you would follow me around like a lost puppy dog.”
“There are only two other fairies, who have more wins than me. One of them is my mom, and the other is Joseph. There are no other fairies that even come close to me as of right now.”
“You are really full of yourself. Only someone like you would keep pictures of every single win.”
“My mom’s wins are all sitting in the trophy room. Joseph's wins are all sitting in his trophy room. Momma showed me all his wins.”
He shuts up for a change, “How do you know so much about a man you have never met?”
“I have to seek out the competition. Actually, I adore momma, and she has helped me more than what you realize. You have to be a girl to fully understand.”
He places his hand over mine, “I understand your lack of a mother, and I’m happy that you both were able to comfort each other.”
He kisses my hand, and every single part of me lights up inside. I’m so thankful that I’m unable to glow still. I lean in, and kiss his lips passionately. After a few minutes, I broke our passionate kiss. He doesn’t push me away, after kissing him this time, and I leave him breathless. My mug sits in the sink, and I sleep in the other bedroom. Spike sits there alone with his thoughts of my kiss on his lips.
~~~***~~~
We enjoy a rodeo in Oklahoma, and hide out during a storm in Kansas. The storm in Kansas results in more fireworks between Spike and I. We make out more and he even wants to go further. I left him wanting me even more. In Nebraska, we visit Chimney Rock, The Strategic Air & Space Museum. We also visit Union Station. We travel through Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and we enjoy the festivals in Minnesota.
We travel through each state, and now we make it to Las Vegas, Nevada. I have an idea, but it isn’t a good one. We gamble and have a few drinks. He has to pick up a few friends from the airport. Ember and I are about to create trouble.
We found a strip club that’s hosting amateur night. We change into our outfits, and we don’t realize exactly how much trouble we are about to be in until it’s too late. Ember has to dance first. Somehow, they are able to track us down. Spike enters the strip club with Gabe. They don’t appear
too happy with what we are doing. Ember steps off after she finishes. I went next, and I can see that his face is bright red. I use that stripper pole to my advantage. Once I start taking money in my garter belt, he freezes the bar instantly. He walks on stage, and he takes his shades off, “You have precisely five minutes, if that to change into normal clothes, and you better find Ember.”
I immediately run to the back, “We are in deep shit, Ember!”
“Spike is here, isn’t he?”
“Spike and Gabe are not too happy with us right now! I think we are about to deal with a couple of unhappy babysitters!”
He slams the doors open, and I have a robe on now. Spike stands in front of me, “You were told to sit, and wait with Blade! What the fuck were you thinking? I have to do damage control AGAIN!”
Ember feels horrible, “I’m so sorry, Spike. This was totally my idea! I wanted to have a little fun, and win some money.”
He snarls through his teeth at me, “Get your fucking clothes on now!”
He never talks to me about it again. I quickly change, and I take her out the back door. We make our way back to the RV, but there are several people sitting there. I recognize the two extra blondes from a very long time ago. Snow and Ice are talking to Ian and Zane. They are all laughing, and comparing notes. I hold on to her as we walk through the door together.
Ian flips his shades up, “Holy shit triplets!”
Everyone stares at us in disbelief, and you can’t even hear a pin drop. Ember decides to break the tension, by waving from behind.
“I have the worst ideas, and we are so dead, Rosalie,” she whispers in my ear, and she tries to hide from everyone.
Spike and Gabe follow us, and Spike sounds desponded, “I apologize to you Gabriel, for Ember’s behavior, and she’s normally the rational one.”
The familiar accents start, “Why Spike, you seem to have as much trouble as we have with our princess.”
Ian pops up, and he points at us, “Which one is which? I can’t tell who is who. Where is little Rosalie?”
I blush and wave, “Hi Ian, and it’s so nice to see you again.”
Ian walks over to me, and he inspects me, “Good god! You’re an adult now, chick! Shit! You have curves too. Yep Spike, you’re fucked man,” the men start laughing hysterically again.
I hug Ian, and he laughs. The happiness quickly turns into tears, and I’m losing it. I hang on to him, and his voice changes, “Everything will be okay, Rosalie. You’re safe now, and I’m so glad I stopped when I did.”
“You have no idea, how much you have changed my life.”
I peer over at Ember, and she’s completely lost, “This is my guardian angel, Ian. Ian this is Ember.”
Ian eyes us even closer, “I can see the differences now. Jeannie has the brown, Rosalie has the blue, and Ember has emerald eyes.”
“Who is Jeannie?” she asks.
“Jeannie is their charge, and she’s supposed to look like us,” I answer for Ian.
I quickly left them, by walking to the bedroom. We change our clothes a second time, and then we return to the living room.
Christian and Alexander stand up, and kiss each of our cheeks, “You are so much better, Rosalie. A whole lot better. Have you annoyed big boy enough?”
I flash a smile at him, “I think if it’s up to him, he would tie me up.”
The men laugh, and Spike pulls me to his lap. Spike wants to introduce Ember, “Christian, Alexander, Zane, and Ian, this is Ember Tucker.”
Gabriel tugs on Ember, “I need to have a word with Ember in private.”
Gabriel opens the door for her. Spike keeps me close to him, and I notice that he told me the truth about their wrists. They all have matching tattoos.
Christian's expression changes to sorrow, “I am unable to get through to her to take me back! She is being so damn stubborn! I have been trying to find ways to get her back in the castle. I need your help, man! Oh, and thanks for giving my girl a piercing. I really appreciate that.”
Spike grimaces and he appears sad, “I take it that she lost your baby.”
Christian seems so lost and crushed, “She blames me for it, and she has shut all of us out! I really miss her, Spike. I need her so fucking bad. I miss her smile. She either works out all the time—or she swims all the time. She avoids taking my phone calls. I need help with convincing her that I wanted the baby. I was just in so much shock!”
Christian lost me, “Who did you make pregnant?”
Christian stares at me with russet tears of blood in his eyes, “I was seeing Jeannie, and I took her chaste. I told her she could stop at any time before we made love. She happened to take antibiotics a month before, because she was sick. I thought we were in the clear. Who knew that antibiotics cancel out birth control? We never paid attention to the warning labels. She gave me three wonderful Christmas presents over this past year, and I gave her sex in return, because she begged me for sex for months. I took it from her and well… she became pregnant with my baby. I found out on the night she was abducted, and while I was listening in on my earpiece. Unfortunately, Khan kidnapped her, before I could talk to her about it. Our baby did not survive, and she barely survived herself. I had to make a terrible choice, and it was either both of them—or the baby. It killed me a million times over, but I had to allow them to take the baby. The baby was malformed inside of her, and I never told her that, because it would have crushed her even more. She really wanted to have my baby. Now she has moved in with her great-grandfather. She has shut all of us down. I made the mistake of telling her that I never wanted to have children too.”
He seems so lost and broken. I move and sit right beside Christian. I place my hand on his icy arm, “That was not such a great thing. You need to go over to where she’s at, and talk to her. Pull out a couple of chairs, and get her to open up to you. If she’s anything like Ember and I, she will have to tell you, how she truly feels. Get her to look you in the eyes, and make her tell you that she’s no longer in love with you anymore. I promise you that she won’t be able to do it. It will be a good start for you two to talk to each other. I would advise taking therapy these days. From what I hear, apparently therapy is in these days.”
Christian appears hopeful, and he stops stressing. He peers over at Spike, and he cups his pale icy hand over mine, “You are a genius Rosalie, and thanks for helping me out.”
I smile at all four of them, “I never got a chance to properly thank all four of you for saving my existence. You really have no idea what you’ve done for me, and I appreciate it.” I give each of them a hug.
Christian stands up, and he faces Spike, “Are you still going through with that crazy idea?”
“I plan on keeping that idea, and I know you dudes think I’m crazy, but that’s my answer.”
Christian shrugs and he points at me, “I am going to give you a few pieces of advice in return. You had better start noticing, what is already sitting in front of you, before you lose it. The second piece of advice is that someone will always outshine you. That is all I am going to say, and I hate your fucking nickname. Your nickname reminds me of a dog.”
“It is called reinvention, bro, and you should try it sometime.”
The men shake their heads, and they laugh at him. I squeeze each of the vampires, goodbye, and they left as quickly as they came.
Ember rejoins with Gabriel, and I notice that he has an arm around her. He kisses her cheek, and she seems happy for a change. They depart together in the spare bedroom. Gadriel appears upset with both of them.
Spike sits beside me, and I place a hand on his thigh, “I had no idea that you brought them. Thanks for bringing them here, and I enjoyed meeting them again.”
Spike grabs me, and he places me on the counter, “I better never catch you stripping your clothes off! I believe you should keep your body for your husband and your husband only! You need to value your privacy, and you’re lucky that nobody saw either one of you—or knew who you two were
! We are going to enjoy what is left of our trip together. We are heading for North Carolina, and then we will travel up the east coast to end our delightful trip in New York City. We will part ways on the nineteenth of August. Oberon will take over for me, and we may never see each other again.”
I hate how he’s reacting to me tonight, “You act as if you’re going to die—or something.”
He places his hands on the counter, “I have plans, and they don’t include you! I want you to enjoy your existence and have fun. I want you to return home and you need to forget that you ever met me.”
My eyes start to water, “I thought we are friends!”
“We are not friends, and we are just business! Everything should return to normal after the nineteenth. I will have what I want, and you will return home.”
His words sting and the tears stream down my cheeks, “Why do you even act so protective of me, only to hurt me like this again? I won’t feel anything for you, if that’s what you want!”
He steps back, and he turns his face away from me. His voice starts to tremble, “I don’t need this, Rosalie, and one day you will understand.” He walks away from me, and he slams the bedroom door. Snow stares at me with alarm in his eyes. My head remains down and I’m crying. I lay down on the recliner, and I cry myself to sleep.
~~~***~~~
The next day, the RV makes it to Iowa. We park the RV at a rest stop here, and I remember this place well. I wait until everyone falls asleep, and I order Jazzy to stay. I make my getaway, by sneaking outside, and taking my car off the lift. I’m almost home free until she catches me.
Her hands rest on her hips, “What are you doing, Rosalie?”
“I need to find my answers on what happened to my parents. You need to stay here.”
“I need to tell one of the guys at least.”
“You don’t need to. This is very important to me, and I want to do it alone. If he truly cares about me, he would let me find my answers. I have to find more information about my parents.”
She watches me slide into the driver's seat, but she slides in the passenger's seat. She left the guys a note in case something happens to us. I start driving the Mustang Convertible through the flat lands. The sky is dark with no lights. I remember the street signs from thirteen years ago. I drove by the old group home, and the old group home is now gone. The building is no longer active. I follow the GPS as I drive for a few extra miles. I do exactly what it commands me to do. The Mustang peels off the highway to a dirt road.
