by M. N. Forgy
“What’s that?”
“It’s my mother and me, the first day of school,” Warner explains before looking the truck over. “This was her truck.”
Clenching my eyes shut, I can’t believe he’s going to leave it behind for me.
“Warner, we can’t just leave your mom’s truck.” This is all my fault. Why did I leave my bag in the motel? Why did I pick up that damn gun?
Patting the photo in his palm, he looks up at me with furrowed brows. “My mother was the only woman that meant anything to me until you. I think she would tell me to fuck this truck and get you to safety if she was here.”
My bottom lip trembles knowing I mean something to him. Feelings I have for him blossoming into something much more. Something I can’t put my finger on. Like the feeling you get when summer returns after a harsh winter, or relief you feel after you smother aloe on a blistering sunburn.
“Not only did Ilsa and Cassius see us, there was an SUV pulling into the gas station when we were hauling ass out of there, but this truck was on the radar because I’m a suspect in my dad’s sudden death anyways. We gotta change vehicles.” He shrugs as if there’s no other choice.
Feeling guilty, passionate, and every other thing you can think of, I stare up at the sky trying to breathe through all the chaos. Him bringing up him being a suspect in his dad’s murder makes me feel a little less at fault for killing the gas station clerk, but still. Now we’re both going to be known for murder. Which means double the reward if anyone finds us.
Suddenly vomit rushes up my throat and I puke all over the side of the road. My stomach clenches and my body shakes as I puke again. The chocolate donut tasting sour as it comes up violently.
Warner is by my side in seconds holding my hair back as I heave into the road. Tears stream down my cheeks from the straining.
“My stomach feels like something is ripping me apart,” I croak, my throat sour. Warner helps me back to the truck, and I lay down in the seat. Placing my hand on my stomach, I shake.
“It feels like that time my family and I ate at this restaurant and we got bad fish,” I mutter, feeling like I might vomit again. I feel as if I have food poisoning.
“Maybe it was that donut?” Warner grabs the box, looking the other donuts over.
“What do you mean?” I sit up to look at him.
“Sounds like food poisoning, you said it yourself.”
Glaring at him, I grab a donut and smell it, tearing it apart. It smells different, but I can’t put my finger on it.
“That bitch tried to poison me?” I throw the donut out the door, shaking my head. But why?
“I knew there was something fishy about those pricks!” Warner scowls, tossing the box into the grass next to the truck.
“Why would they do this? They don’t even know us?” I whimper.
“Just rest.” Warner rubs the side of my face, and I try to breathe through my nausea.
I lay there for about thirty minutes, trying to get a grip on my queasiness. I’m pretty sure I puked all of the donut up, but still feel off.
Warner rubs the sweat from his brow, leaning into the cab of the truck.
“You think you can walk?” Warner asks, and I sit up to see what he’s going on about.
“I’ll grab Huey, and let’s walk to that store up a ways, we gotta get before someone comes looking for us.” He points off in the distance and I see a pink painted building on the side of the road. It’s not too far, but in this heat, it’s going to feel farther. Grabbing my bag and Huey, my half-dead cell phone falls from the bag. Picking it up, I rub my finger over the screen, there aren’t any missed calls. My parents gave up. I don’t need this anymore, I know I’m not going back. Dropping it on the seat, I leave it behind.
Putting Huey on his leash and throwing my bag over my shoulder, Warner sticks his hand out waiting for me just ahead of the truck. I lock my fingers with is, both of our heads raising at the same time to look at one another. His blue daze dancing with my wild emeralds.
“We got this,” he whispers. Smiling, I squeeze his hand and begin our journey down the road to the unknown pink building.
18
Warner
“Hell, I’m glad they shot that damn pedophile. They never should have let him out of jail. Way I see it, those kids did us a service!” – Local farmer Heather.
Hand clasped in River’s we make our way up the highway as fast as we can. The sun is setting, casting a beautiful purple glow around River’s face and I wonder what’s going through her head after everything that just happened.
Did she accidentally kill that guy, or do it on purpose? I sigh at that last thought, I find evil in everyone and I blame my shitty father for that. I mean, how can you trust anyone when you can’t trust your own blood.
I can’t help but look at her again. Her chocolate hair blows in the wind, her black dress dampening from the sweat beading on her chest. I trust her, I trust her like I did my mom. Noticing me staring at her, she looks at me and I stare ahead quickly.
“You’re looking at me differently,” she states.
“No, I’m not.” My tone dry. “Just making sure you’re okay.”
She looks down at her feet, and we both go silent. I am looking at her differently, I didn’t know she had it in her to pull a trigger so effortlessly, makes me wonder what else this wild woman has up her sleeve. I just want to pull her close and whisper in her ear, ‘stay wildflower child.’
Because that’s what I love most about this woman, her unpredictability. Then again, I robbed the place so neither of us are perfect.
Getting closer to the building, I notice lights lit up in red. XXX blinking in sequence. River stops, a laugh wracking her body as she realizes what kind of place it is.
“Oh my God, it’s a sex shop.” She giggles the cutest laugh, her cheeks blushing. It’s good to see some color back in her face. There are half naked girls plastered in the windows blocking anyone from seeing in or out. It is a sex shop.
Smirking, I continue walking forward, my eyes scanning the parking lot for a getaway car. There’s a van, two trucks, and a small Honda parked in the parking lot. It’s quiet, not a sound or bug to be heard while we stand there deciding what to do next.
“I’d say let’s go get some fun shit to play with, but we better get while the getting is good,” I suggest, glancing at the glitter butt plug now ‘in stock’ on the door. I wouldn’t mind sticking that in River’s ass, hearing her moan while I fuck her cunt.
Jealousy rears its head from the root of my chest thinking about that disco dick looking butt plug going anywhere near River. The feeling is new and unwanted. I don’t get jealous, but then again, if she ever bought something like that, I’d fuck her so hard with it the sight of glitter would make her uncomfortable.
Turning away from the door, I look at the pickings of our new vehicle. I know we can’t steal the trucks, they’re too new and locked I bet. “Hey.” I grab River’s attention and point to the Volkswagen bus. It’s blue and looks like it’s been repainted and refurbished.
“What do you think, are the keys in it?”
River’s eyes light up. “They’d be idiots to just leave it parked with the keys in it.” Pulling Huey behind her, she heads to the passenger side to look through the rolled down window.
Quickly I look in and notice the keys are in the ignition. I guess the poor pricks were so horny they couldn’t take three seconds to remember the keys. Scanning the inside of the van, in the far back sits a bench seat with colorful pillows, and there’s a full mattress with clean hippie looking sheets tucked in perfectly. It reminds me of what River and I talked about at the water tower.
Drawing my gaze to hers, she is lost in a daze as she stares at the vehicle like someone would Niagara Falls. Something so old yet new in its own way excites her. We gotta take this one.
“Get in,” I demand. River’s smile fades.
“We’re stealing it?” Jerking the door open, I hop in, my actions tell
ing her yes. “Do you think it will make it to Colorado?” She pulls open the van door and jumps in the back with Huey on the mattress.
“Only one way to find out.” Starting the van, “I Don’t Give A Damn About My Reputation” plays. I back up and hit the road as fast as the little bus has it in her.
River laughs, laying on the bed in the back, kicking her feet in the air.
“I love it!” she squeals.
I smile, and I realize it’s one that reaches my eyes. River does that to me a lot, even when we are in the deepest shit, she’s all I can think about and want. I think I’m falling in love with her. My heart skips a beat thinking about that and my brows furrow, my hands sweating thinking about actually being in love with someone. The potential to be hurt, to be crushed and trying to live when drowning.
It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.
Huey runs up between the seats and calls shotgun, the wind in the window blowing his white fluff everywhere. Reaching over, I give him a pat.
“Yeah, this ain’t too bad is it?”
River
Laying in the back, I go through the owner’s bag. She must have been a bigger woman because her blouses are very large. Jerking out a black one it has bead sequins on it that I love. I could wear it as a dress and tie it at the thigh.
Done going through her bag, I toss it behind me and see a large green swirled glass placed in a foam box just under the driver seat. Hunching down on the mattress, I pull it free.
My eyes widen. “Holy shit,” I laugh.
“What?” Warner tries to look over his shoulder.
“I think it’s a bong,” I explain. Placing it down I notice the little bag of greenery that was sitting underneath it. I’ve done weed more times than I can count and love it more than anything. There’s something about its natural abilities that take me out of my own paranoia.
“No shit?” Warner chuckles. I open the bag and smell it. Jerking my head back, I quickly shut it. It smells like skunk. Pew. Better not get high right now, need a clear head in case we run into some crap.
Setting it back where I found it, I look around some more, finding some chips and a couple sodas stashed under the bench seat in a cooler.
“We got food!” I sing-song. Grabbing the chips, I pop them open and let the zestiness dissolve on my tongue. Oh my God, it’s so good to have something in my stomach. Especially after that bad donut. I give one to Huey who chomps on it like it’s crispy gold.
I hand the bag to Warner and sit back on the mattress, my eyes looking up at the twinkly lights on the roof of the van. I killed a man today. The thought drives through my soul like a bad omen. The smell of metallic replacing the smell of hot dogs, and filling my lungs. I’ll never forget it.
Rolling over onto my hands, I clench my eyes closed, counting. 1, 2, 3. I open them and think about anything but the guy I shot. Warner.
Chin on my hands, I glance up at him, he’s driving and I’m falling for him so hard I may trip over my own two feet.
“I can feel you staring at me, stalker,” Warner states, and I grin.
“You going to pull over and climb back here with me?” I ask, feeling tired after the day we had.
“We can’t just pull over anywhere, anybody can see us.”
Pushing myself up, I climb into the front seat and try and look for a sign for some lodging. A green sign approaches with a tent on it.
“We could camp,” I joke.
“That’s actually a great idea,” he mumbles and swerves to the exit.
“I was joking!” I croak. I don’t camp. I never have, and don’t know the first thing about it.
“No, it’s perfect. They won’t ask for ID, and it keeps us off the main road while we rest.”
Nibbling on my fingernail I nod, but still unsure. Trees become thicker, the road becoming less maintained before a brown painted billboard comes into view.
Lake LowTow
Slowly we creep up the drive and a short pudgy lady wearing white shorts and a top with a badge around her neck, steps up to the side of the van.
“Howdy folks! You looking to camp out?” Her short white curly hair sticks to her head, her glasses fogging from the humidity.
Warner tosses his charismatic smile her way and throws his arm around me. With a smile like Warner’s, the woman won’t stand a chance.
“Yep, first-time campers right here!” Warner show-tunes and I know he’s acting.
“Well, you’re in luck I have a spot open. Lot fifty-six!” She smiles, and I notice her front tooth is chipped.
“We’ll take it.” Warner brushes his hair from his face, playing the charm.
“Just one night?” she asks, pulling out a ticket book from her back pocket.
“Yes, please.”
“That’ll be twelve bucks.” She tucks a small pencil behind her ear, her tongue sweeping back and forth as she tears the ticket from her book.
Warner leans over, and pulls out the wad of cash he stole, giving her a twenty. “Keep the change,” he winks.
“Why thank you, you know it’s not often we get decent folk around here anymore.” She places her hand on her hip looking over the campground. “We get kids who wanna party, couples fighting.” She leans in real close, and I realize she’s a talker. “You know, one night there was this man, his brother, and his wife staying with us. The brother and the wife went to the shower house together, and the husband walked in on them. That was a night from hell, I’m a fat little old lady, I can’t be breaking up fights. And between you and me, the brother wasn’t packing.” She scrunches her face, and my jaw drops.
Warner laughs, slowly pulling away.
“Oh, put this in your window so I know you paid.” She hands Warner the ticket, and he tosses it on the dash.
“See you guys later. Enjoy your stay!” She waves us off, and me and Warner give each other a look.
“Quite the talker,” I mutter. I’ve met several people like that in my life, they have so much to say and nothing to say at the same time.
We find our site, and Warner backs the van into the lot. Grabbing Huey and his leash, I decide to take him for a walk before we tuck in for the night. The sound of nature is loud as night falls.
The grass wet and the air thick from humidity.
I killed a man.
I close my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away.
1, 2, 3.
“Hey!”
Screaming, I turn around with a closed fist and deck Warner right in the neck.
“Fuck!” He grabs his neck and hunches over. Remorse circles around my chest like a bad cough knowing I hit him. I didn’t realize how on edge I was.
“You can’t just creep up on me like that!” I huff, out of breath, my heart racing a mile a minute.
Standing up straight, hand still on his neck he gives me a hard look.
“Why are you so jumpy?” I place my hand on my hip. I can’t help the idiotic look that crosses my face. He knows why I’m so jumpy. The shit we did today was not normal.
He gives a half shrug. “Yeah, I can see why you’d be jumpy.”
Shaking my head, I sigh loudly, my ass numb from sitting in the seat too long.
“Oh fuck.” Warner’s face drains of color as he looks over my shoulder. Turning where I stand, I notice Ilsa and Cassius’ van parked across the street at a different site.
“Oh my God.” I cover my mouth, suddenly scared to death. Did Ilsa and he call the cops? Should we leave just in case? I should go ask her about that fucking donut! What the hell do we do?
“Let’s get in the van before they notice us,” he whispers behind me. Just then, Ilsa climbs out of the driver seat, staring right at us. Her dark makeup and gloomy clothes probably matching her heart.
Swallowing hard, I bend down to pick Huey up mid piss and hurry my ass to our stolen van.
19
River
“Oh I just loved them! I didn’t think anything of them except a couple of kids going out and havin
g fun!” – Camp ground host.
Laying belly down on the mattress, I sketch, drawing the van we’re in, and the trees behind it. Huey lays next to me, sound asleep.
“Hey!” Warner slides up behind me, his warm chest flat on my back. I can’t help but grin and push back into him.
“Hey yourself.” I continue drawing. He’s been working on a fire behind the van, he’s really getting into this camping thing. It’s nice.
“Wanna go get a shower with me?” He kisses my neck, and I nibble my bottom lip, thoughts of him having me pressed up against the shower stall making my clit throb.
Rolling underneath him, my chest to his, I brush a hair behind his ear.
“Yeah, let me grab some stuff.”
“I’ll go warm up the shower.” He gives me a chaste kiss and leaves. My body slumps, the cold void slipping over my body like an isolated mask.
Pulling my bag out, I grab a tank top, some jersey shorts, and a bottle of soap from one of the hotels.
“Hey!” Screaming, I jump and turn around. “Sorry!” Ilsa stands there with her hands up, a wary expression her face.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I huff, holding my things to my chest. Huey is now up, his ears perked and alert. Her dark hair is everywhere like she just woke up, and she has on white shorts with the pockets sticking out against her pale skin, her white shirt with a skull on it barely covering her sports bra.
“So.” She crosses her arms and tension builds between us. Fuck. I don’t even know what to say. This is awkward. “You guys okay?” Ilsa asks.
Shooting her a look, I swallow and nod. I wasn’t expecting that, I figured she’d ask if we killed that guy. Though it was obvious we did.
“After the gas station or the donut?” I glare at her, and she smirks in knowing.
“You know the police are looking for you guys hard. They know you killed that guy. Was it on purpose?” She doesn’t beat around the bush, so I decide not to either.
“Look, it’s not what it looked like. That guy was nuts and wasn’t going to let us leave, I didn’t know what to do and –”
“With you guys already being wanted in Warner’s dad’s poisoning, nobody would believe it was an accident?”
