The Desired Effect

Mojave Madness

Friday 6th January - 9:30pm - Las Vegas, Nevada

Chris pressed the buzzer on Brandon's huge iron gate, Jordan stood beside him like a nervous wreck. At first he didn't respond so Chris tried again.

"Hello?" Brandon's familiar voice answered.
"Ah mate, it's Chris and Jordan, we need to talk, it's urgent!" Chris spluttered. Without another word the gate buzzed and the boys strode in. Brandon was already at the door with a concerned look on his face.
"What's up?" his tone was sharp and tense.
"It's Poppy..." Chris began, searching for the best way to break the news, knowing it would set him off.
"Come in" Brandon waved them in. The three of them stood in his hallway.
"She's ran off..." Jordan put it plainly.
"What do you mean she's ran off?" Brandon's brow furrowed intensely.
"We went to her apartment straight after the studio, she wasn't there. We left it a bit, text her and she didn't reply. We tried again and eventually she just replied with this" Jordan showed him the texts. Brandon brought his hands to his face.

I can't carry on like this. I'm out.

"Do we know where she is?" Brandon sighed, rubbing his features wearily.
"She sent Jordan that text from Baker y'know middle of the Mojave Fuckin desert, he tracked it" Chris explained, hands on his hips.
"She's not safe out there on her own! We need to do something!" Brandon groaned, unable to keep himself from pacing back and forth now. "Lets get in my truck and get on her tail. We'll be able to catch her up, we can think of a plan on the way!" Brandon reeled off confidently, taking control of the situation. Or trying to at least.

Brandon's beaten blue truck stormed down the highway. The sun was virtually set, casting purple shadows on the dirt and leaving the sky on fire. The radio hummed in the background, cutting out the painful silence. Jordan kept trying Poppy's phone but to no avail. Chris kept offering positive comments but Brandon just kept worrying. An hour later they arrived at Baker. It was tiny and everywhere was now closed or about to. Chris jumped out the truck to ask at the gas station and show them a photo of Poppy. The man nodded and said he saw her a few hours ago. It wasn't a lot but it was hope. Brandon was relieved to hear the feedback and quickly got his foot back on the gas.

10:43pm - Somewhere Between Baker and LA, California

The boys were growing fatigued now. Chris' positivity was turning into silence and Jordan was about to give up on the phone. Brandon had slumped again worried that if he let his focus drift, he would bawl his eyes out. Jordan sighed and gave the phone one last chance.

"Pops?!" He blurted in disbelief as she had actually answered the phone. Chris instantly whipped his head a round, eyes wide with amazement. Brandon slowed down dramatically to listen better.
"Jordan?" She replied coldly. Her icy tone concerned him.
"Oh thank God, are you ok?" Jordan did his best to sound more relaxed than he actually was.
"Yeah, I just need some space" she responded, her voice sounding tired and emotionless.
"Ok, thats understandable, we're just worried about you, where are you?" Jordan played his cards carefully.
"I've headed out of town for a few days, I'm at motel on my way to LA" Poppy explained.
"Pops, I don't want to be condescending or anything but the desert isn't the place for a lonely girl" Jordan told her, concern lacing his voice, 'I'll come meet you ok,"
"No you don't need to, I'm getting fired anyway" Poppy groaned.
"You're basically my lil sister Pops, I need to make sure you're ok" Jordan pleaded desperately.
"I'm fine Jordan, I need space..." She added. 

"Ok, just be careful Poppy" Jordan remarked, doing his best to sound relaxed and as if they weren't actually chasing her down. 

"I will, I'll see you soon" Poppy finished as she hastily hung up. Jordan looked at his phone, baffled by the conversation. He felt Chris and Brandon's eyes burning into him, waiting for the verdict.