Impulse (NaNoWriMo)

~16~

The next day we packed our things up and Flynn said he was taking me to Montana. Apparently there was a really good diner I had to get pancakes at.

When I looked into my bag I saw my phone sitting at the bottom. I had hardly touched it in days and I wondered what messages I had received.

Twenty-five text messages and thirteen missed calls from my mother. I bet the car arrived. I told Flynn I would be ready in a second and I walked away to hear better with the phone up to my ear.

"Faith! Thank goodness you picked up! I was so worried! Your car got here yesterday and I know I promised you I would text or call, but I was so confused! Where are you? Do you need me to come get you? Are you safe? How have you been getting around..." my mom interrogated me going on and on that I eventually stopped listening to her questions because I was never going to be able to keep up.

"Are you still there? Sweetie I need you to answer me," her frail voice was trying to be authoritative but I had never found my mother to be the assertive type, neither of my parents were like that really.

"Yes, mom I'm fine. I'm more than fine actually," I admitted, glancing over my shoulder at Flynn. He had the bike all loaded up and was leaning up against it waiting for me.

"Where are you? Why haven't you called?" my mother asked again.

"I'm somewhere in South Dakota, I'm with a friend. I'm safe I promise," I assured my clearly flustered mother.

"Who? Who's your friend? Vince? He stopped by and asked about you. Did he meet up with you?" my mom pressed.

Vince? No, not Vince. Why would he stop by? That's weird.

"No. His name is Flynn. I met him in Missouri last week. We've been driving around and hanging out. Mom I really need to get going, but I promise I'm alright," I tried to end the conversation.

"How old is this boy? How did you meet him? Faith I hope you're still staying off the roads at night-"

"Mom! I am. I'm safe, I promise," I dodged her questions about Flynn, "Goodbye, Mom! I love you! Talk to you soon!" I said cheerfully into the phone.

"I love you too Faith, call me if you ever need anything, College starts in three weeks, be back by then," my mom rambled off before I hung up. She knew I was getting irritated, I never liked long phone conversations much.

"Bye," I said finally and hung up the phone.

I walked back over to Flynn as I read the other messages that I had.

Vince: Hey. I was thinking about you today. Hope your trip is what you expected it to be.

Vince: How's the road? Life's pretty boring here, wish I had gone with.

Vince: Ya know I'm starting to think I said something wrong, or maybe you're just livin it up on the road to Cali

I bit my lip. He thought I was ignoring him, but in reality I hadn't even known he texted me. I typed back a quick messaged telling him I was doing alright.

Me: Hey Vinny, sorry I hadn't checked my phone lately. I'm doing good, the country is beautiful. Maybe you can come with me next time.

I hit send and then regretted it. Why would I say that? Next time? That implies I want to do this again, but with Vinny, not Flynn. I couldn't imagine doing this without Flynn, it just wouldn't feel right.

"Ready, babe?" Flynn asked, his outstretched arm held my helmet waiting for me.

"Stop calling me babe," I told him, blushing despite telling myself not to.