cigarette daydreams • mgc

chapter 6

the two finally approached the next town.

charlie was snacking on random chips and granola bars throughout the trip because they just couldn't find a good place to eat.

well they did, but in the corner of the window hung a "WANTED" sign with the red haired man's pretty name written in bold red letters. michael was lucky to saw it while he did otherwise both he and charlie could've gotten in some trouble. 

it was best to just keep driving and to give up his prized snacks to the girl traveling with him. 

as they drove, michael couldn't help but wonder the real reason such a pretty girl would run away. he glanced over at her in thought and took in her appearance. she's been wearing the same mascara from the past night and her acrylics were growing out. her once relaxed eyes held sleep deprivation.

she looked stressed, that was something obvious.

of course he wanted to ask why and know every little thing about what goes on around him, but at the same time, 

ignorance is bliss.

he didn't want to deal with her petty problems or hear her rant about how much she misses her prince charming back at home. he couldn't care less, he wasn't her therapist. he was just the guy that was running from the world and the law, a guy who wanted a little company and a back up plan. 

she was just a stepping stone to michael clifford. 

"you seem like you're enjoying yourself there, eating all of my snacks. say- did you even leave me any?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the road. his tone suggested that he was joking around, but also, everyone knew not to mess with another person's food. 

charlie simply shrugged and stuffed more doritos in her mouth, moaning dramatically at the taste. she knew she was getting on his nerves, but that's just payback for him ignoring her that morning.

and scaring her half to death by the stupid car horn. 

michaels eyes could only widen at the sound being omitted from the girl before reaching over himself, grabbing a few to eat as he drove. he wasn't about to let a girl he barely knew hog all his food. no fucking chance.

---

"mike it's still early, can we go into town for a bit?" charlie whined. the girl was looking out the window to view the busy streets that lined the outside of their hotel window. 

they got to their hotel not too long ago and all michael has done so far was cross roads and towns off his ripped and torn map. the map wasn't massive, definitely not one you'd see pirates using, but it was a small, foldable, pocket map. he needed it to stay organized. 

"not right now lee, can't you see i'm busy?" he mumbled, crossing off another town on his map after reading whatever it was on his phone.

the man was crossing roads off that he knew had police present, roads that his friends claimed had "WANTED" signs in shop windows and roads that held no importance to him. better to stay safe than sorry, yet michael wasn't a very safe nor sorry guy.

of course his reply annoyed the girl but then she remembered that they weren't attached to the hip. she was technically an adult, she could do whatever the hell she pleased. 

"fine, i'll go without you." he muttered, standing up from her seated position to grab a jacket. it wasn't hers since she didn't wear leather, she only wore lace. it was michaels. she assumed that he wouldn't mind her borrowing it for a few hours, and well.. he didn't, but he did mind her irrational decision to go outside.