I'll be here forever

chapter 15

I'm not exactly sure when or how I fell asleep, but I did. How I made myself comfortable enough to, I didn't know either. The sun was new, and my face was pressed against the cold glass of the car window. I was covered with the space blanket from our backpack, which I definitely did not remember taking out. The radio was playing softly, and I could hear Percy humming along.

I yawned, stretching my arms out and scooting my chair out to stretch my legs.

"Good morning," Percy said, a smile spreading across his face. Gods, his smile. I loved his smile.

"'Morning," I said, yawning again. I looked down into the cup holder and noticed a brown baggie, one that definitely wasn't there yesterday.

"What's this?" I asked, reaching for it.

"Breakfast." I opened it and saw two egg, ham and cheese wraps, taking one out.

"When'd you stop and get this?" I asked incredulously. I couldn't believe I'd slept through it.

"Not that long ago. I think they're still hot," he replied, glancing over. They were.

I didn't waste anymore time; I dug in, eating that egg wrap as quickly as I could. The cheese melted in my mouth, and again I marveled at the taste. I'd never tasted anything like it before. I mean, I probably had, but I didn't remember.

"Are they good? I haven't gotten a chance to eat mine yet. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot- this car has a fucking mini-fridge. How cool is that?"

I nodded, my mouth still full of food.

"Anyways, I put out coffees in there. They should still be cold," Percy said, and I turned around. Sure enough, there was a mini-fridge back there, so I unbuckled and reached back, opening it.

Inside was a bottle of expensive-looking, unopened wine, a package of grapes, and our coffees.

I ignored the wine, grabbed his coffee, setting it up front, and then mine. As soon as I swallowed the bite I was chewing, I took a sip of coffee.

It was delicious. Bia had really done an amazing job.

I looked over; Percy had one hand on the wheel, the other rested haphazardly over the middle console. He didn't look over, just watched the road, humming along to the radio. I felt my heart do a backflip.

I quickly finished the rest of my egg and cheese wrap, mourning the loss. The coffee was really good, but I was a bit worried to try Percy's. I know that the Mayans were famous for putting spices in their chocolate, and I don't think I liked spicy things.

"Okay, switching time. Let me drive."

"Noooooo," Percy replied mournfully.

"Oh, hush. You've been driving all night," I scolded him.

"Fine, but only so I can eat my egg wrap thing."

Percy pulled over to the side of the road, the car gliding smoothly to a stop. We both slid out of the doors, switching around the front of the car. He went to the passenger side, I went to the driver's side.

He immediately reclined in the chair, if only to annoy me.

"Quit it," I scolded him, my feet and hands knowing what to do to start up the car almost instinctively, like using my dagger.

Percy sighed jokingly and brought the seat back up, and I pulled the car out onto the highway. I could see why he liked driving so much; it didn't require much thought, but still demanded full attention. You could do this for hours without worrying about the stupid thoughts in your head.

Percy pulled out his egg wrap, and I tried to hide my jealousy, even though I'd already eaten mine.

Apparently, he sensed the fact that I wanted more, because he silently offered me half of his.

"Thanks," I said gratefully, eating it while I drove. Percy nodded and finished his, turning up the radio.

I don't know how long I drove for, or where exactly we were going, but I knew I liked driving. It was calming, the cars zooming by us, not knowing who they were or what their lives were like. Maybe one of them were just like us, no idea who they were, or what was happening, just trying to get by.

It was silent for a long time, the radio playing songs I almost felt like I'd heard before. I glanced over to Percy, and saw his eyes were closed, his head tilted back, probably asleep. I smiled slightly. He must've been exhausted, and still he had let me sleep, and drove on.

Four days. Four days I'd been with him, four days we'd been on the run, four days since we'd woken up. Four days, and I couldn't picture a life without him.

Is that strange, I wonder? Feeling like this person you hardly know is just an... irreplaceable part of you. Feeling like you need them to breathe. Knowing you'd do anything for them, and knowing they'd do the same. Is it strange that a part of me longs for the past, but doesn't want it if it doesn't have him in it?

I didn't know who I was, or who Percy was, or who we used to be, but it didn't matter anymore. Because we were here now, in the present, in the future. The people we used to be, we left them behind, and I didn't want to go back.

As long as I had Percy, I didn't need anyone else.

In four days, I'd learned nothing about me, but everything about him. He was loyal, and he cared about me. He could've left long ago, but he didn't. He stayed. I had a feeling no one ever really stayed with me for long.

I decided right there, that if I ever found someone that knew of who I used to be, I'd kill them. Because the only thing worse than not knowing if Percy was in my past, is not knowing if I was in his.

What if he had friends that hated me? What if he had a family that wished I'd never been born?

Even worse, what if he had someone to love, and when he finds out, he'll leave me for them?