Lost

13

Tobias Eaton, July 14th, 12:15am, 2005
She smiles into my shoulder.
I just saved her.
I just saved her.
I can't believe I saved a being.
Marcus always told me I hurt people, but no.
I help people.
And then I pull away from her, and look at the car.
"I think we should use this to our advantage" I say.
She lifts an eyebrow.
"Let's steal the car and drive it"
Her lips curl into a smile.
"I think you're brilliant"
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
The keys were easy to get out of his coat, and I knew he wouldn't be unconscious forever, so we gathered our stuff and threw it in the wrecked red truck.
I sit in the drivers seat and started the ignition.
I locked the car.
"We have to drive at least half an hour away from here" she says, "So we don't risk running into this man"
I nod.
I put the car in drive.
I've never driven before.
But who says I can't try?
I think I could drive this car if I wished it.
I press down on the pedal a little and it lurches forward.
Straight.
Okay.
Just keep it on track.
"You're doing great Tobias" she encourages.
I make sure we keep going straight.
We don't go off road for the first five minutes.
I press the brake so I know it works.
And it does.
So at the next stop sign, I brake and look left and right.
"See? You're a pro" she says.
I smile.
Fifteen minutes pass.
I'm driving at thirty.
The speed limit is thirty five, so I'm good.
Then I decide to stop. I put it in park after I'm off the road, and I ask her, "You cold?"
She shakes her head.
We climb in the back seat, and she leans on me, her breaks steady.
And her face?
Peaceful.

Beatrice Prior, July 15th, 2005

It's early when I wake up.
Tobias is still asleep.
I prop the car door open, just so I can get some fresh air.
I stretch out my limbs, and look behind me.
The sign reads, "Welcome to Woodbourne"
Alright, at least we know where we just left.
So that means we know where we are.
I let my thoughts wander.
The man from yesterday.
I hope he isn't dead.
Well, I mean, you can't die from being hit by a frying pan, can you?
Tobais saved me.
He really saved me.
He cares.
He could've let me go but he didn't because he cares.
I roll my neck.
Maybe I can drive the car.
Tobias drove it like he's driven cars before.
I wonder if he has.
Caleb has tried, but he got in trouble.
But doesn't almost every kid try?
I wonder what will happen when I get home.
I know I'll get in trouble but-
What about Tobias?
What will he do?
He can't go home, but he can't go to the foster system.
I'm too close to him.
"Hey" he says.
Tobias.
Of course.
Who else would it be?
I turn in my heel, and smile it him, "Hi. How was your sleep?"
"Better" he says, "Finally some mattress-like thing"
I smile, "I know. It's nice, isn't it?"
He nods, "How'd you sleep?"
"Okay. We're in Woodbourne. I mean, we just left it" I say.
He shuts the car door, and pulls the map from the bag.
He lays it out on the ground, and kneels.
I kneel next to him.
He traces his finger, and repeats, "Woodbourne" over and over, until his finger finds the city.
His eyes glisten, "We're almost there"
"Really?"
"Yeah" he nods, "The car boosted us a little. What's the closest landmark?"
He seems to ask the question to himself.
He answers it himself.
"The next landmark is-I don't think there is one. It's about a day's drive. Since there are cops on the freeway, we'll have to ditch the freeway.
Result: three days walk and drive total I'd"
I nod, "Well arrive two days earlier than before"
"I think so" he says, rolling up the map, "Let's go"
He slides into the drivers seat, and I in the passenger.
And we're on the road again.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
"Would you rather eat rotten egg or sour milk?" I ask.
He makes a face, "Eww. Neither"
"You can't do that"
"Fine" he says, "Rotten egg. Would you rather be the only female left in the world, or never have babies?"
"Ooh" I say, that's a tough one. I try not to show my discomfort when he brings up babies.
And being the only girl left in the world means you'd have to reproduce.
Cough.
"I think I'd rather not have babies"
"What? Why?"
"Because we'd all die anyways because some pedophiles would sneak up on my baby and make her reproduce and people would have to marry their siblings and- oh! I just can't imagine. Stop bringing images to my head!"
I see him smirk, his eyes on the road.
"I never said it was a girl"
"Just be quiet" I exclaim, smiling.
Not a single incident has occurred while he was behind the wheel.
I didn't even bother trying.
I try to change the subject, "Puppies or kittens?"
"Puppies" Tobias says, "They're more fun"
He pulls over to the side of the road, and says, "Alright, say bye bye to the car"
"What? Why? We just got it!"
"Urban places. Well get caught by the police. It's safer to walk"
"Okay"
I gather all my things from the back seat. We've driven so far and it's not even night time. According to the clock in the car it's nearly four.
"Bye bye car. I'll miss you" I say.
And I shut the door.
"Alright. I'm ready. You?" He asks.
I nod, and see a hat on his head, "Cute hat"
It's just a baseball cap that says New York in white etched into red.
"Glad you like it"
I pick it off his head and wear it backwards.
I pretend to be gangster as we walk.
"Yo, I'm cool" I say in a deep voice, "Watch me walk down the street. Yo. Yo. Bro"
He's on the verge of laughing.
I take it off, "Just kidding. Here"
He's laughing, "Okay. Bro"
I give him a playful slap on the shoulder.
He smiles, still laughing a little.
His smile melts my heart.
And that's when I realize it.
I like Tobias Eaton.
And I try to rub that thought from my mind. Of us being together.
"Now" I say, "Would you rather wear lipstick or dress up as a rodeo clown?"
But it stays no matter what I say.
Sorry it took so long.
I went to Peru and couldn't take my phone because of the thieves.
~Isi