Dear Diary | Proxies

xxi. sleazy men and pickup trucks

Dear Diary,

Playing god has its downsides.

"So," the man spoke as he began to pull off onto the road, "what's your name? We might as well get to know each other if we're driving this far together." He turned with a smile, faux as it might look, and smoothed his hand over the steering wheel.

"June," I replied, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. It's just a couple hours, I reminded myself. "Yours?"

"Devin. Though you're welcome to call me whatever you want." He chuckled to himself before clearing his throat. "So, what's someone as pretty as you doin' on the side of the road? Runnin' from someone?"

I shook my head, "Just trying to make my way home." I could have - and probably should have - lied, but I was more focused on trying to keep myself calm. Of all the people to have picked me up, this man surely didn't seem the nicest - even with that stupid grin he kept plastered on his face, and I wasn't exactly sure I could get out with how fast he was driving, speeding through cars without seeming to think much about it.

He hummed, taking a sharp right turn. "Car troubles?"

I just nodded.

"Well, just be glad I was the one to pick you up. There's some dangerous people out there, y'know. You're lucky someone as nice as me got to you first."

I faked a laugh, nodding my head. "Of course, thank you so much." I clenched my jaw, playing with my fingers. "I don't know what I would have done."

He took a puff of air, chest flooding with confidence. "Yeah, just what a nice guy should do." He hummed, tapping his fingers on the wheel. "Are you hungry?"

It wasn't really a question as he pulled off the highway and into a McDonald's. He rolled through the drive-through and stuck his head out the window. "Yeah, can I get three big macs, a medium fry, and a large sprite." He turned, as if remembering that I was also in the car. "Oh, and a 6-piece happy meal. The one with the extra fries and a water." He pulled through after the employee asked and turned to me. "That's enough, right? I mean, you're pretty big anyways, I'm sure you don't need much more right now."

I pursed my lips but nodded. He could have gone without commenting about my weight, but whatever made him hurry this drive up more. We sat in silence for a few moments before he handed me the meal. I mumbled a 'thank you' under my breath and held the box in my lap, looking away.

He flipped through the radio stations as he took a big bite of his burger, nodding to himself as he turned onto the main road again. "Y'know, I'm surprised. Most girls that get in my car are kind bitches, but you - you're quiet." He chuckled as if there was a joke I was missing out on, cutting his eyes at me. "Are you always this quiet?"

My body was locking up as terror began to run through my veins. This was not good, not good at all. "Uh, yeah, normally," I replied, scooting as close to the door as I could.

"That's how I like my women. Quiet."

I didn't reply, and he stayed quiet for a bit, humming along to the country song on the radio. His right hand slipped down, resting on the gear shift in the middle before it crawled over, resting on my thigh. My skin prickled in discomfort as I tried to keep my breathing quiet. "I-"

He cut his eyes at me before putting that fake smile back on his face. "What's the matter, darlin'? You taken or somethin'?"

"Actually-"

He huffed, patting my thigh gently. "Wouldn't matter much anyways. I've changed my mind." He pulled off the road again, this time pulling into a gravel backroad I hadn't been on before. He turned as he put the car in park. "I do need payment."