Roads and Romances | ✓

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." -Henry Miller

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     "Leo?"

     I ran around, trying to find my family. They were calling my name, screaming it, but it was too dark for me to see them.

     "Mom? Dad? Farrah?" I yelled, squinting as I tried to see anything even remotely familiar. It was pitch black; I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. "Where are you?"

     "Leo, help us! Please!"

     "Mom!" Tears were flooding my cheeks."Mama, I can't find you. I'm sorry. I can't see anything."

     I continued to race around the house, taking random turns through doors and sometimes up and down stairs. "I'm scared, Mom," I whispered, wiping my eyes. "I'm so scared. I miss you."

     "Leo?"

     My hands suddenly touches something warm, and I gasp. My father started to cry as he wrapped me into a tight hug."Oh my god, Leo. I'm so glad you found us, baby. We're safe now, I promise."

     I hugged my mother for a while as well before looking around. "Where's Farrah?"

     My parents fell out of focus as my eyes landed on my sister. Her mouth formed a straight line, and her eyes were slits. She didn't move as she stared at me intently. "Farrah?"

     She shook her head, exhaling sharply. "You killed me, Leo."

     "W-What are you talking a-about?"

     "Your text killed me. I'm dead now, and it's all your fault!"

     I jolt awake, breathing heavily as sweat pours down my face. Resting my head in my hands, I take a few deep breaths and exhale slowly.

     "Leo?"

     "I'm f-fine, Everett. Don't worry about it."

     "I don't think that-"

     "Everett, I said I'm fine! Leave it be! It's none of your business anyway!" I turn my body, facing the window. "Pull over. It's my turn to drive."

     He silently steers the car to the side of the road and puts it in park. I climb over the console as he walks around to the passenger side. As soon as Everett is seated, I switch gears and pull back to the main lane.

     After driving in silence for another forty-five minutes, I say, "I'm dropping you off at the next exit. We're far enough away from your town; you can still get home by yourself."

     "Are you joking?" He says incredulously, gazing at me. "Why? We have a friendship here, don't we?"

     I roll my eyes. "Barely," A sigh escapes my lips, and I shake my head. "Before I even agreed to take you on this trip, I told you that I was going to leave and not look back."

     "I didn't think you meant it like that, though," He mumbles.

     "Did you think I was lying?" I glance at him, trying to keep my eyes on the road. "Because I was telling the truth."

     "I believed you at first, but I thought that you were getting used to me, and we were building a friendship, I guess."

     But are we?

     I've never been one to make friends easily. The only real friend I've ever had is Hannah, and I met her by accident. We were partners for a big project, and she wouldn't leave me alone once we were finished.