Fame, Love, & Zariah

On the Road to Houston

The morning air was brisk as the families loaded up their cars, the excitement and nerves mingling in the atmosphere. Zariah and Sage, still grappling with the sudden changes in their lives, did their best to mask their apprehensions as they packed the last of their things.

Zariah glanced over at Dess and Jessika, who were carefully arranging their belongings in the backseat of her family’s SUV. Sage gave her a sympathetic look as she climbed into her own car with her parents and Jessika.

“Alright, everyone, let’s get going!” Marcus called out, clapping his hands together as he shut the trunk of the car.

With that, they all piled into their respective vehicles, the engines roared to life, and they set off on their long road trip to Houston, Texas. It was going to be a grueling 22 hours and 27 minutes drive, but they were determined to get there.

Zariah settled into her seat, placing Sariyah’s car seat by the window on the left side. She pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her social media, trying to keep herself occupied. Dess sat beside her, staring out the window, her expression distant.

Sage, in the car with her parents and Jessika, was having her own version of the road trip experience, trying to get used to the new dynamics.

The first few minutes of the drive were relatively quiet. The hum of the engine and the occasional chatter between the adults was the only sound breaking the stillness.

Then, as if on cue, Sariyah began to cry. Her tiny face scrunched up, and her little fists waved in distress. Zariah’s heart ached at the sound, and she immediately reached over to comfort the baby. She gently shushed Sariyah and took her small hand in her own, rubbing it softly.

“There, there,” Zariah whispered soothingly. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

Sariyah’s cries gradually quieted down as Zariah continued to calm her. The baby’s little hand gripped Zariah’s finger, and soon she was settled, her eyes fluttering closed.

Zariah looked up to find her parents watching her through the rearview mirror, their faces full of warmth and approval. She smiled back, feeling a flicker of pride for soothing her new sister.

However, just as Zariah was about to return her attention to her phone, she heard a soft murmur from Dess, who was sitting beside her. Dess was staring out the window, her voice barely above a whisper.

“She is so fine, and I’m gonna make her mine.”

Zariah’s head whipped around, her eyes wide with surprise. Dess’s voice had taken on an unfamiliar tone, almost as if it had shifted into a New York accent. It was subtle, but unmistakable.

Zariah’s heart raced as she tried to process what she’d just heard. She felt a shiver run down her spine. The comment itself was unsettling, but the sudden change in Dess’s voice made it all the more strange. Trying to shake off the unsettling feeling, Zariah focused on Sariyah, who was now sleeping peacefully.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to ignore the strange incident and concentrate on the road ahead. They had a long journey ahead of them, and she was determined to make the best of it, no matter how bizarre the start had been.

As the miles rolled by, the road stretched out before them, a symbol of both the literal and metaphorical journey they were all embarking on.

I did a lot of things while not uploading my chapters and it is a bunch more that I am going to post after this so stay tuned
604 words