The Hitch-Hike

1

Cher's POV

And i thought i was bipolar- screw the weather in England. One minute the sun is blazing through your winter coat and the next, you're left shivering and fighting for your god damn life.

Back home in Detroit, people would stop to pick up hitch-hikers all day long. And anyway, i thought people in England were meant to have manners. I'm walking aimlessly through country lanes, sheep and cows perched on the rolling hills to my left. Man, it's going to take me days to reach Dover if i walk-

My thoughts were disturbed by the sound of an approaching vehicle. A small red Corsa slowing down behind me.

"Hey! Hey!" I flail my right arm outwards in hopes that this car will pull over for me.

I silently rejoice when the car slows and slows until it comes to a halt right beside me. The window rolls down to reveal a brunette man with raging blue eyes. He can't be much older than me, 27 perhaps. His hair falls into curtains and i can't help but notice how toned he is from his navy blue t-shirt, tight around the arms.

"Lookin' for a ride, Miss?" He speaks out favourably, with a rich Irish accent.

"Sure am. Where ya' heading?" I quiz, slightly bent down to reach his eye level.

"Thinkin' of heading down London way," he gestures his hand straight ahead, "You're not from around here are you?" He smirks.

"Did the accent give it away?" I half laugh, Americans tend to stand out anywhere they go. London is on the way to my destination so i stand up straight and make my way around to the passenger seat, chucking my bags in the back.

"Name's Cillian." He lays out, whilst slowly accelerating. "Cillian Murphy."

"I'm Cher. And i'm freakin' freezing! Jesus, what is up with the weather here!" I ramble on and he smirks.

"I just wanna be on my way to France, you feel me?" I assure, "Sooner i get there, the better."

"I feel you dude," he chuffs. Is he mocking my accent? How fucking original. I roll my eyes and face out of the window towards the brewing grey clouds. I can already tell this journey is gonna be a long one...

——————

We journey through the country roads with not much being said. Small talk about jobs and travelling mostly. He's not as boring as he looks, quite intriguing actually, apart from when he makes smug and quite frankly, annoying remarks. Then he'll just smirk, like a charming smir- never mind. He's a stranger; i remind myself. We sat quietly after that, not in an awkward silence, just a peaceful one. I'd glance over at him occasionally- i'm not checking him out... just looking at how his right arm perches on the window's edge, whilst his left arm manoeuvres the wheel very casually.

The peace is soon broken when we see a herd of cows huddling on the narrow road, up ahead. Completely blocking off the road.

"What the f-" I exclaim before being cut off by an irritating moooo from a cow ahead. Cillian slows the car before coming too close and then stops. He just sits there...doing nothing.

"Are you not gonna do anything?" I question, expecting maybe a honk of the horn to scare them.

"What can i do?" He chuckles light-heartedly, "We may be here for a while love."

"Are you serious?" I mumble to myself. No way. I can't do this. Without a thought to it, i hop out of the car and tread over to the cows, thinking they would be somehow intimidated by my 5"8 self.

"Hellooooo. Moooove." I flail my arms around for the second time today, hoping that some good will come of it. I clap my hands noisily in all directions to try and startle the livestock. Not a single movement. I peer back at the stranger in the car who seems to be finding my humiliation quite entertaining.

"You find this funny?" I bravely question. "Maybe we could get out of here if you helped me goddammit!"

He chuckles. How is he laughing right now? "Lady what's the rush?" He bellows.

God what's his problem, i don't want to be stuck here any more than he does. I don't think. I have a strong urge to say a snide remark to shut him up but, his laugh is kind of, enjoyable? Oh my god what is wrong with me.

The sounds of a large and extremely loud engine starts up, quite a distance ahead of us. A broad green tractor starts reversing slowly down the country lane, towards us and the cows.

Great now we're jammed in.

The tractor stops infront of the animals and from the side window, a dirty-blonde, blue eyed farmer sticks his head out, looking back at us.

"M'sorry about the traffic jam," he chuckles with a thick country accent, "Might be stuck 'ere for a while, might be better off hoppin' in with me."

Anything to get moving, i think to myself. Don't think i can take any more smug looks off Cillian, although it would be quite bad to take off and leave him on his own...

"No worries, I'm in no rush." Remarks Cillian with a thumbs up to the farmer. I whip my head around to him,

"He's offering us a ride though!" I whine. But i can go on my own though right? I don't essentially need to travel with Cillian, even though he's gotten me this far. C'mon Cher, you can leave him, he's just a stranger after all.

"I'd be more than happy to spend another few hours with you in this car, doll." His blue eyes pierce into mine as he speaks.

I can't seem to look away, my stomach ever so slightly dances from his piercing glare. But of course our glares falter when the farmer honks his horn, which makes my body jump.

Snap out of it Cher. I grab my luggage from the back seat and extend my legs out of the car.

"I'll take that ride!" I shout out to the farmer who waits patiently.

"And that'll be £15." Cillian says from behind me, when i turn around i see no sign of him joking on his face. Of course you have to pay him Cher. In a rush, i fumble for my purse to get the money but am startled when he lets a bubbling laugh escape his mouth.

"I'm just kidding pet!" He manages to speak out from his over-the-top laughing. "Your face!" He points his finger at me whilst chuffing himself up.

"Oh you dick!" I exclaim and break out with a grin on my face. Jesus i actually fell for that one. "I'm glad i'm hitching a ride with old rancher over there." I joke.

I slam the door shut, still half grinning and make my way over to the tractor.

"We'll have to do this again sometime Lady." Cillian shouts with his head perched out of the window. He winks and i cant help but grin even more.

"In your dreams, doll." I mock.