Aftermath

Chapter Three - Emory

Special Thanks:

EEEY It's everyone's favorite time; "The Editor Gets A Chapter" time!

Deer friends I got this fricken copy of a book from my school and it smells like teenage sweat and depression like, ugh excuse me? -You're excused, bitch.

If you havent I wouLD ABSOLUTELY SUggest reading oUR OTHER BOOK; Starship Mafia.

(Yea I helped write it no big deal)

Also it took me a loooooooong time to get this to the Author so shout-out and thenks for the patience, and also totally being like Alastor and Rosie (Hasbro Motel amirite) >:]

LET'S GET FUCKIN STARTED!

Chapter three - Emory

Charley snorts the biggest fucking snort I've ever fucking heard and startles themselves awake. Startles me awake from my half dazed driving, too, so badly that I swerve the car and slam the brakes. She slides out of her seat and onto the floor squished awkwardly between their chair and the dashboard. She looks at me, wide awake and clearly startled. I keep saying startled a lot.

"You snore, you know?" I say, staring at them wide-eyed. We both suddenly laugh and can't stop. My lungs hurt and I feel strangely happy, even though my life sorta hurts.

"How long's it been?" She asks after she stops laughing. I have to catch my breath for a few seconds before I'm able to talk.

"I've been driving all night. It's fucking afternoon now." I say happily. Perhaps a bit delirious from lack of sleep.

"Yowch, aren't you tired?" They ask. I laugh and my eyes burn from keeping them open too long.

"Haha, very." I force my eyes back open and my eyes back into focus as I hear Charley laugh too. I smile.

"Heh, yeeeeah, I don't think I can drive anymore." I admit. The light mood tensens a bit.

"Emory, you-"

"Please, a bit, Charley. I haven't slept in like, a day." I say softly, clearing my throat. They think for a moment, probably figuring any way out of this, I can see it in their eyes.

"We're far enough from home so no one will recognize us. We're safe." I emphasize, squeezing their hand.

"I know you probably don't want to stop, but food would do us both good too." I add.

"We have rations in the boot, Emory. Theoretically we could go for days, make it last a week or two if we're... smart, I dunno." They sigh, refusing to look at me.

"Char, pleeeease, we could, I dunno, go into town, get some real food, you know, not sour cream chips, pizza bagels and packs of pop, ditch the car and maybe catch a bus. Your seatbelt is broken anyway. We just gotta make it to Cancún, find our way." I argue tiredly, smirking until she looks at me. They meet my eyes.

"Em, you-! UGh- you're- ugh okay fiiine." They groan, holding their face in their hands.

"I laugh, and walk out of the car and around to the back, quickly shoving everything into two bags. I put on my backpack and hold Charley's, walking around to her door. They defeatedly kick their door open and slouch. I offer my hand to her. They sigh as I pull her to their feet.

We walk a while before we start chatting as we get closer to the nearest rest station.

Rest stations were well protected places of trades, goods, safe harbor, meetings, and travel. Etc, etc. Though since it was available to many people, the risk could be that since the war "ended" different sides may still end up in each other's unwanted company. And people do shitty shit when they feel threatened or uncomfortable.

"No I fucking swear, you snart the biggest fucken sneet I've ever heard!" I exclaim to an uncontrollably laughing beautifully smiling Charley as we stumble into rest station territory. If we were a Kes, worse, or meant any harm at all, we would've been detected and taken down. Instead of looking menacing we looked like two drunk fools, and for once I'd actually be grateful for that fact.

"Hey, if I go find a ride to take us closer to Cancún, will you go in and get snacks?" Charley says, snapping to capture my wavering focus.

"Huh? Yeah I'll- go an' get food. Actual, food. I'm not getting you gummy worms." I mumble, yawning as a wave of tired hits me again.

"Pfft- I'll come get you if I finish before you. Try and stay awake?" She says, holding my arm till I nod. I wander into the station and through crowds on smooth off-white floors, looking from stall to stall and shelf to shelf. I take a few cans of soup, get a couple of tacos, a mini container of cereal, and trade some soda for gummy worms. I carry it all out in a plastic bag, but I keep the gummy worms in my pocket.

"Em, there'll be a train in a few minutes! Run!" Charley shouts, running up to me, grabbing my hand, and quickly leading us past buildings and up a street and stairs to a stop. The train is already there. We both stumble into a less crowded cart, catching our breaths and taking two seats next to each other. I place our goods on the table in front of us, give Charley the gummy worms, and tiredly rest my head on their shoulder. She chuckles and puts them in their pocket.

"Thanks, Em." They say, resting their head on top of mine.

"I do what I can." I mumble back, tired and soft. I drift to sleep, a real rest, dreams and all, hoping as we grow closer and grow closer to Cancún, that I not be awoken by another bitch-ass fuckin snort.

End of Chapter Three

Beware the great snart nation

>:]

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