Don't Stand By Me (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

August 5th: 10.21

Kiara

"No, no, not again!" I snapped, smacking my fist against the dashboard and wincing at the feeling shooting up my arm as I did so, "You hunk of shit."

"Jeez, what'd the RV do to you?" Dixon yawned, coming up behind me, "Out of gas again?"

"Nope." I grimaced, pulling over to the side of the road as black smoke began to pile out of the engine, Dixon whistling lowly as I did.

"There's a mechanic two miles from here." Dixon said, swiping through his phone, "I'll give him a call, see if he can fit us in today."

"Offer to pay whatever he wants if he can get it done within the hour." Pearl called from the couch, gaze fixed on the TV, "I have cash."

"Of course you do." I rolled my eyes but bit my tongue.

We were so close to the canyon I could practically hear the novelty bobbleheads rattling, but of course it wouldn't just be smooth sailing. This was going to add at least a day to our trip that we could not afford to lose. We needed to get there sooner rather than later, before everyone was on our tails.

The RV was silent save for the hushed conversation Dixon was having on the phone and the low drone of whatever reality TV show Pearl was watching. Elvis, Cassie and Violet were consistently ruining their sleep schedules by taking a nap in the queen bed while Brent was curled up on the couch in a ball beside Pearl. I was uncertain whether he was asleep or just blocking all of us out.

"Okay, he said, bring it straight to him. He'll have it done before the evening for eight hundred - maybe more depending on the damage."

Pearl gave a thumbs up but gave no other recognition that she was paying attention, twirling her hair around her pointer finger.

"Might be good to take a trip into town. Get some food so we don't have to stop tonight. Also I need more socks." Dixon scrunched up his nose, "I miss being able to wash my clothes."

"You and me both." I sighed, "We can divide and conquer."

I pulled the RV back onto the road, keeping the speed as slow as possible to ensure it wouldn't start smoking again. I ignored the various cars honking furiously as they cut us off.

"Dixon." My eyes widened as I noted the town slowly appearing in the distance, "The car."

"Fuck." He muttered from the passenger's seat, rubbing his hands down his face frustratedly, "Nothing's ever easy anymore. Look, we can detach it and get someone to drive it a safe distance away, hide out there."

"I'll do it." Pearl called, "I don't care."

Dixon raised an eyebrow at me and I shook my head, "Nice try, princess."

"I'm not dumb." Pearl snarked, "Leave someone with me, leave all of you, I don't care. I just don't feel like getting covered in grime and weird mechanic oil today. The smell alone will send me into a coma."

"Look, I'll go with you to the mechanics. They're usually less of a dick if you have a guy with you. Leave Pearl with Cassie or Brent in the car. Violet and Elvis can do our shopping. Probably the best two for the job."

"Yeah, if you don't mind waiting a week." I sighed, "But yeah, you're right. Okay, let me pull in. Will you wake the Brady Bunch back there?"

"Sure thing."

By the time everyone was up and about, complaining and bitching as usual, I had pulled in behind some trees at the side of the road, leaning back.

"Who's going where?" I called, standing up and stretching my arms above my head, relishing the crack it sent down my spine.