What Happens in Clarketown

2

We find a gas station back downtown. We don't say much on our way there. We each pick out a drink and a snack, although I feel like I could eat nine giraffes. Despite my burning hunger, I pick out a small bag of nacho cheese Doritos and a bottle of Pepsi.

As I close the glass door in front of the drinks, I turn around and spot a young man sweeping the floor. He's very attractive. He has silky brown hair, that's partly covered by a baseball cap, and sharp jaw bones. He looks up and spots me. I blush and turn away after smiling at him politely. He smiles back and continues his work.

I have to pee. I tell Jason this and hand him my snacks before heading into the bathroom.

While I'm washing my hands, the door opens. The cute boy walks in with a mop.

"Oh, sorry." He says. "I didn't realize anyone was in here."

"It's fine." I say smiling. "I was just leaving."

I grab the handle of the door, but before I can pull it open, the boy grabs my arm tightly. He whips me around and brings me close to him. Our bodies are inches from touching and his lips are almost on mine.

"You're cute." He says. I try to wriggle myself out of his hold, but his lips attack mine.

I whimper into his mouth, but if his lips weren't attached to mine, it would be a scream. His hand travels up the inside of my shirt. I yank my arm away and punch him in the jaw. He falls to the ground with a yell and I can see that his mouth is bleeding. I begin to shake violently and I'm forced to lean against the wall in fear that I will collapse.

"What's going on in here?" The woman that was behind the counter says loudly as she walks into the bathroom.

"Th-this kid attacked me!" The boy yells from the floor.

Jason bursts in. "Xander?" He scopes out the situation. "What happened?" He rushed to me and grabs my shoulders. "You're shaking."

"I know." I say quietly.

"What's going on?" The woman asks once more.

"I told you." The boy says, standing. "He attacked me."

"That isn't true," Jason says surly, "is it?" He knows there was more to it.

I shake my head. "No."

"What happened?" The woman demands.

"He... he..." I can't find the words, "kissed me... and put his hand up my shirt."

Jason glares at the boy.

"Gary." The woman says. "Get outside." He follows her orders angrily. She turns to Jason and me. "I'm sorry about this. I'll get the police on the phone."

"No." I say. "It's fine. There's no need."

The woman looks apologetically for a moment. "Alright. Well, don't worry about paying for your stuff. Just take what you need."

We leave with only our snacks. Rachel tries to ask questions, but Jason hushes her quickly.

We go back to the bus station. There's a wall of newspapers from at least fifteen nearby towns. Jason grabs one of each, then finds a seat to look through them. The only thing he looks at are job openings and apartments for rent.

After an hour of sitting at the station, barely speaking, Jason jumps up and grabs my arm.

"Look." He says, shoving the paper at me. I read the ad he points to. It's for a three bedroom apartment in somewhere called Clarketown.

"What about it?" I ask.

"There's a lot of job openings in Clarketown. We need to see if we can get that apartment." He says excitedly.