Travelers

Chapter 3

Ridley's P.O.V

"Yes! You're Awesome!" she reached over the table and engulfed me in a hug. I chuckled at her enthusiasm. I was going to have to learn more about this young girl, since I basically told her my like story.

"Oh! Maybe before we start on our journey, you should know who I am," she held out her hand, "Nia Willis, Second eldest of five siblings. Sioban, me and Seth, Jeanne and then Cameron. Fact, we are all blonde, but I'm the only one with brown eyes." I shook her hands.

"Sounds like a nice family." She winced at my comment, but quickly covered it up with a sad smile.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm closest with Seth." I decided she would elaborate later and let the topic drop.

"Well," Nia walked toward the door to the cafe. "I should think we should get going, don't you?" smiling, i followed her out of the cafe. She stopped when she got the to pavement. I looked at her puzzled.

"Lead the way.I don't even know where I am right now, let alone how to get to this so called border." She laughed. I joined her, i couldn't help it. Her laugh was contagious. But it looked as if it didn't happen very often.

"Right, follow me." And we started on our journey.

Nia's P.O.V

We walked in a comfortable silence, side by side. I had a lot on my mind, so talking would have been limited anyway.

When Ridley commented on having a nice family, it was like she re-opened a wound that was why I left in the first place. I wondered how dad had reacted when he found me gone. He would not be happy, or maybe he would be glad to get rid of me. Probably taking his anger out on my mum. Oh shit. How could I have been so incredibly selfish! I was dads punch bag, if I was gone, who would take the blow? Just the image of any of my siblings harmed makes me want to cry. Without me noticing, a tear escaped and landed on the floor. My hand instantly made its way to my face and pushed away anything else. But my hand was dry, I hadn't been crying. I looked up at the sky,

"Ah shit." I mumbled, just loud enough for Ridley to hear.

"What is it?" She asked as a rain drop landed on her face. "Do you want to go inside?" With a flick of her hand she motioned to the shop beside us. I looked around, there was very little options. Shrugging I entered the clothes shop.

Looking around, I could see that it was kind of emo shop. Jeanne would love this. My heart clenched at the thought of my sister. If dad lays a hand on her, or any of them.....

"Nia, I found a place to sit." I walked around the rack of jeans I was standing beside. Ridley was sitting on a white, cushioned stool with one opposite her. I raised and eyebrow. So did she. Gesturing around the room she spoke;

"Do see another place? This is all we have at the moment until the rain dies down." Sighing, I sat myself down.

"We could just buy an umbrella." I immediately regretted it. The death glare I was receiving from Ridley made me want to bury myself. "Never mind. Forget it." She smiled and shook her head.

"I just don't like the rain Nia. Nothing more." We exchanged smiles. We hadn't said anything for at least a minute, but just as I opened my mouth to say something, the door swung open and a huge gust of wind blew into the shop. Ridley shivered.

"Hey Jones. What you been up to?" A male voice came before the man at the cashier. We were secluded so nobody could really see without looking through the rack or came round it. "Nothin' much. Two girls came in earlier, but I haven't seen them since. So the shop has been pretty much empty." He replied.

"Okay, well I'm gonna go out back and sort out the load the afternoon truck has brought us." I could just about see over the rack where his hand shot up to salute the guy at the desk. Well, I'm bored. Standing up, I sighed. 

"Well, I'm going to look around. Maybe something for Jeanne. I dunno, something to occupy my time." I wandered around aimlessly.

Carter P.O.V.

"Okay, well I'm gonna go out back and sort out the load the afternoon truck has brought us." I saluted him and walked to the back door and out into the parking lot where a truck was unloading clothes. I know. Totally lame, I work at a clothes store for emo's.
My friend Jones had me work here for money I owe. Damn bets. Walking up to these big guys unloading the various boxes, all I could think was; I could take every one of those guys. I recognised one guy, he did frequent visits to the store.
"Hey Micheal. " He grunted in response and shoved a box into my arms.
"Fine. Don't be nice." I grumbled, barely audible.
The rain was still pelting it down so I'd have to hurry to get the box in before it got soggy.  As I stepped inside I noticed a figure move from the corner of my eye. But when I looked fully, there was nothing I could see except shelves of boxes. Shrugging I turned back around to put the box on the shelf. But I was so sure I could feel someone's gaze on me.