Mindtease

Chapter 17

Kirk awoke, groggy in the backseat of the car. The car was driving, and looking up, Kirk could see Josh driving down a highway. Josh drove silently, oblivious to Kirk's semi-conscious stare. Kirk smiled, but then slipped back into sleep...which was welcome.

Kirk's eyes fluttered, and he sat up with a faint groan. The car was motionless, and a slight frisson shock of panic went through him. After a moment, Kirk realized Josh had parked at a gasoline station, and was re-fueling the car. Josh spotted Kirk's bleary self and gave a mocking look, sticking his tongue out jokingly at Kirk.

Kirk slowly shook his head and snorted at Josh's antic humor, and then slid down onto the backseat of the car...and slipped away into unconsciousness.

Rolling off the backseat onto the foot well jolted Kirk awake, his ballcap twisting and crushing on his head. Kirk snarled, pulling his ballcap off his head, and climbing onto the backseat.

"Urrr," Kirk said aloud.

"'bout time," Josh stated in feigned annoyance, "you've been asleep most of the trip."

"Good morning and fuck you too," Kirk said sitting up rubbing his head, and then reaching for his ballcap.

After slipping his ballcap onto his head, and positioning it to Josh's likening, Kirk opened the car door and got out. More like stumbling out with his legs asleep, and the rest of his body stiff.

Josh was by the car door, waiting.

"You okay?" Josh asked Kirk.

"Yeah, just zonked out too long," Kirk replied.

"Okay mister sweaty pants," Josh rebuked with a friendly touch on Kirk's back.

After a few moments, Kirk found he could stand without fear of falling, and slammed the car door behind him. Josh stood beside him for a moment, and then walked slightly ahead of him...toward the door of a roadside diner.

# # #

"Welcome to Ozzie and Harriet's Family Foodarama," Josh said sotto voce with a faint smile on his red lips.

Kirk snorted, and shook his head in amusement...needing a relief from the reality of what had nearly occurred.

"Shit," Kirk said somberly with a faint sigh, "we're sitting here...like nothing happened...but, dammit..."

Josh extended his long, lanky arm and patted Kirk's animated hands easily. Kirk looked in fascination at Josh's pasty white skin, but with the thin dark hair...a contrast.

"Easy Kirk," Josh said softly, "it is okay. I'm really very sorry that it happened to you...for me it seems an everyday thing."

"But fuck Josh," Kirk said, pulling his hands into his lap, "I could be dead. That realization is...well it scares the shit outta me."

"I know, I know, Kirk." Josh answered, sitting back, and casually adjusting his ballcap nervously.

Kirk had his head down, considering the reality of the situation.

"I guess I'm used to it..." Josh explained. "But this time...I couldn't really tell what they were doing."

"I'm on the grid...they want me dead Josh," Kirk said. "What did I do? That's where I'm at..."

"Welcome."

"Huh?" Kirk said in exasperation.

"You're on the grid, like me Kirk," Josh answered, "and you're where I've been for a while...'What did I do?" so I said..."

"Welcome," Kirk replied.

"Set a spell, take your shoes off, change your sweats..."

Kirk chuckled at Josh's colorful allusion...and to the fact that Kirk was wearing the same clothes he'd nearly been killed in a day ago.