fallin' out of love (stemxstud)

28

Anaela

The restaurant was an up and coming fast food place with decent fries and real good burgers.

I watched Valentine watch a family of four struggle out of their SUV, the father dropping his wallet on the ground and somebody walking by and casually snatching it up before he could notice.

It was hot and greasy inside but that was better than us being out in the cold. It was December and the kids entering the restaurant had a rosiness to their little faces that matched the holiday music blaring from the speakers.

"Don't tell me we're taking their vehicle after all that," I said disapprovingly, eating on a french fry as we sat at our little booth.

"It'd be convenient and-

"Don't even try and reason with yourself, Tino. We're not doin' it," I told her firmly. "Pick another."

"Fine," she mumbled, her eyes surveying the parking lot.

The stores and the other businesses around here were packed with cars and families. It felt like it was almost Christmas day itself, except it wasn't. Too early in the month, but all the decorations about would have made anybody think differently.

"That one," she grunted, trying not to make a big show of pointing it out. It was a backed-in truck, maybe about a decade old.

"The owner went in the bathroom a couple of minutes ago," I remembered.

"Sounds like we're eatin' on the road," she said.

We gathered up our food, putting it back into our bags, and headed out of the door. Passing by the restroom, you could hear somebody battling with their stomach like they were at a gun range, and judging by the way the truck owner had barreled in we could only guess that it was him.

"You watch. I'll work," she declared, heading to the driver's side.

I chuckled, noticing tbe cute little antlers on the grill of the truck. "Somebody has holiday spirit."

"Anaela. Watch. Not talk," Valentine advised, pulling something out of her pocket and working the door open. She climbed in and focused on getting the vehicle to start. My nose was starting to run from the sharp cold as I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my flannel. My eyes widened as I saw the guy leaving the bathroom and going to the counter inside, appearing to be ordering.

"You only got a few seconds before he happens to glance out and see us," I said quickly.

"Next time just end the sentence at a few seconds, Anaela." The engine revved and the truck's owner turned to look out the window, probably familiar with the sound of his vehicle. He was short and buff with a white muscle shirt on and a wispy receding hairline. His eyes almost bugged out of his head seeing us by his truck and I rushed to the passenger side of the vehicle to climb in.

"Valentine. Drive now!"

We raced out of the lot as I held our food bags on my lap, the warmth of the food and the grease keeping my teeth from clattering as Valentine drove out onto the highway quickly.

"We did it," I smiled.

"I did it," she corrected, smiling back. "Feed me."

I fed her one of my fries, reaching forward to turn on the heater afterwards. "We needa get somewhere safe and switch vehicles again. Take off the antlers to make it less recognizable for anybody who might be looking for a stolen vehicle, then find us somewhere to stay on the outskirts of College Station."

"Bet."

"Anaela...you never talked to me about what happened," she said out of nowhere. "The whole thing with you not being you or whatever..."

"It's hard to talk about and more complicated than what you'll ever expect and I feel like you won't love me anymore or understand me," I admitted, my eyes starting to tear up.

"It's your period, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I sniffled.

"Just eat, love. We can talk about it another time," she told me soothingly.

I gulped, remembering what AS had said.

My mom wanted me away from Valentine.

AS wants me away from Valentine.

Well guess what? I ain't letting that happen.

It was late evening, we had a Toyota with the back bumper missing and all of our food was gone as Valentine pulled into the parking lot of a little motel. As soon as I stepped out, I expected to be attacked by mosquitoes, until I remembered the time of year. I helped Valentine get our stuff out of the vehicle quickly, then we headed inside.

"Room for two?" the lady at the desk asked before I could even say hello. She was short, Black, and had a mug that said 'Thanks Bitch' on it, with two pennies inside and a quarter with dried gum on it.

"Yes," Valentine took over, seeing me about to snap on her. "Somewhere away from the rest of the people staying here if you can."

I glanced over at Valentine curiously.

"Loud night?" the woman asked. "Never mind. I don't care. There's a room available. No neighbors. Only one adjacent across the hall. Good night."

She handed us our key, and Valentine handed her our money. We walked down the cinnamon-smelling hall until we found our room. "Still better than the Texas-themed motel," I grinned, remembering that.

"Oh yeah. A whole lot better," she agreed.

Valentine did the honors of opening up our door, and I immediately ran inside, shutting the open window across the room.

"Ugh. People have obviously been sneaking in here," Tino commented. She locked the door behind us and picked up an old beer bottle.

"I swear..."

"It's okay. We can just clean it up. Make sure nobody can open the window again while we're staying here and settle in," I said, trying to remain optimistic.

"Yeah, but this isn't what we paid for-

"I'm exhausted," I told her, going to give her a hug.

"Sorry, love. I'll help you clean up. We'll be alright."

"Thank you," I sighed tiredly, resting against her.

"Unpack. I'll clean up," she decided.

"Tino, yuun have to," I started.

"You're tired," she gave me a little smile. "Let me take care of you."

"I miss the happiness I had when I realized I loved you," I admitted, "Now I hate the sadness I have when I realize it's gonna take a whole lot of problem solvin' for us to be together."

Tino picked me up, sitting me down on the bed.

"Unpack. I'll remind you what you was missin'."