AURORA AWOKE when the sudden morning breeze decided to freeze her, and she soon remembered that she had decided to sleep outside on the hammock. However, a blanket was placed over her, meaning one of the Pogues had come to check on her while she was sleeping; Rory took a breath of relief, internally rejoicing because they didn't hate her.
"Morning, Grumpy." JJ's voice chimed, as Rory peeled her eyes open to see him. He raised his hands in surrender, "I come in peace." He paused, hesitating as he debated what to say, "Are you okay?" His eyes quickly glanced down at the pack of cigarettes on the floor, but he pretended he didn't notice.
"I'm freezing." Rory mumbled.
"That's because you slept outside," JJ mused sarcastically, "I wanted to bring you back inside, but another part of me didn't want to die. It was Sarah's idea to give you a blanket. Don't tell her I told you that, though."
"She hates me." Rory sat up, burying her head in her hands as she wiped the sleep out of her eyes.
"Sarah couldn't hate you, no matter how hard she tried." JJ reassured, "She was just quiet this morning."
"Is she here?" Rory asked curiously.
"No, they left a few minutes ago to deal with Terrance." JJ explained, "I told them you would help me sort out the Twinkie. Make sure it's ready to go to Charlest—"
"JJ." Rory sighed, "I'm not—"
"Why?" He interrupted, "It's just a road trip. Just... with money involved. It's nothing we haven't done before."
"It feels different this time." Rory explained, as she climbed out of the hammock, "Two people are already dead. Three people if you count the man that Shoupe showed us. How do we know that we're not next?"
JJ sighed, before placing a hand on Rory's shoulder, "Sister, listen." He started, causing her to roll her eyes. JJ continued, "I said listen. I won't let anything happen to you, alright? Nothing bad is gonna happen."
Rory deadpanned, "You said that before... then you got the bends."
"That was a misunderstanding," JJ defended, as they walked towards the Twinkie, "I've learned from that mistake. And I'm still alive."
Rory huffed, "Fine." Her brother cheered, before cracking open a beer can in celebration.
RORY
hey can we talk
Rory looked at the screen, almost wishing Sarah would reply in an instant. She stared down at the screen, her eyes burning into the brightness, as she patiently waited for Sarah to text her back. Nothing. Rory knew that she was busy burying a body, but she couldn't stop the anxious pit in her stomach knotting itself tighter as the minutes went on.
RORY
im sorry
Her fingers anxiously tapped the side of the phone as she waited for a reply. She didn't want her anger to ruin things between them; Sarah did seem really upset. Why did Rory have to take things so far? Though, in the moment, Rory was being reasonable. But, looking back, she could've just explained how she was feeling to Sarah, without saying she's suffocating.
RORY
tell me what i can do
to make it better
Her brother scoffed, his head underneath the Twinkie as he screwed the car parts, "Are you gonna help me with the Twinkie, or keep texting Sarah?" He pushed himself out from underneath the vehicle when his sister didn't reply. JJ wiped the sweat from his forehead, sitting on the grass, "She isn't texting you back because she's dealing with Terrance. You know that, okay?"
