The Uprisen

Chapter 29

 Worst idea ever, she thinks.

As if the non-romantic reunion in the airport wasn't painful enough, now she has to sit through an awkward car ride with her ex-fiance.  Jumping out of the moving car at 75 miles per hour on the highway would be less painful than sitting through this tensity.

"Thank you for coming out here, I didn't know what else to do," Jake says finally.

Alexa smiles politely and stares out the window.  "It's not a problem.  After all, I told you to call if you needed anything."  

 Of course, I didn't think you'd have to, but I'm here now.

Jake glances at her and smiles.  "Yeah, well I hope you brought your A-game.  I get the feeling we're not going to walk out of there without a fight."

She tilts her head.  "Where exactly are we going?"

He pulls off the highway into a deserted snowy little town.  "James called before you got off the place.  He said that there's a construction zone somewhere off of Whitewater Road where they'd be with Quinn."

"And what do we have to do to get Quinn back?" she asks, although she's not sure she wants to know the answer.

He's silent for a few seconds too long, staring into the snowy scene of Whitewater, Montana.

"Jake, what do they want?" she presses.

"They said they wanted the book or they wanted me."

Alexa curses herself for loving a man who is so ready to sacrifice his life for everyone else's.  Some things never change.

"Well you didn't tell me to bring the book, and I am not going to let them take you."

"Don't worry, I think I can distract them long enough so that we get a chance to run away."

Alexa looks at Jake with frustration.  He's only looking out of the corner of his eye, but he can tell that she's doing the look. The one where she's tilting her head as if disappointed with her dog pooping on the carpet.  He tries to hide his smile.

"And what if there's more than just them?" she asks.

He shakes his head.  "I don't think so.  It would look bad if James had to call in help, especially with Riley there.  Plus, it'd go against his arrogance."

"True, but what if they trap us all, and we all die?"

Jake gives her a doubtful look.  "Alexa, there's no way this isn't going to be dangerous.  We're as prepared as we can get, and at least I'm bringing backup."

She scoffs.  "Yeah, knowing you, you'd go in alone happily giving your life for Quinn's," she says under her breath.

From the tone of her voice, Alexa makes it sound like he's done something like that before, and she never forgave him for that.

"I'm sorry," he tells her.

She drags her attention away from the window and stares at him.  "For what?"

"For whatever I did back then.  I know you don't like talking about who I used to be, but I know that I probably did something stupid that made you upset.  So, I'm sorry."

Alexa fiddles with the hair tie on her wrist.  The last thing she wants to do is make him feel guilty for something he doesn't remember doing, especially since it's been so long.  "I didn't mean for you to hear that, sorry."

He shrugs.  "Don't be.  I'm sure I never wanted to hurt you then, and I don't want to hurt you now.  It's hard to forgive someone who doesn't apologize."