No Way To Be Prepared. (ON HOLD)

Chapter 1

“Aren’t you excited?” my mom asked, clearly excited herself.

“Yeah, I am. Just not for the part where we sit in the car for 17 hours,” I answered. We were on our way to Colorado on a vacation. I’ve never seen the snow before and this was going to be the year I finally get to. I guess sitting in the car was worth it. I was used to this, considering the fact that ever since my dad lost his job, he never found a steady one and we had to move around a lot.

“Enjoy it, we might not have another vacation together after this," my dad said, looking at me from the rearview mirror with a concerned expression.

I stared out the window. Why did we have to drive there? My parents said they finally got enough money for a trip but not enough to get there with airplane tickets. Whatever, I just want to see the snow and hold it in my hands as it melts. I took out my iPod and turned it on. Ahh, so much better.

I woke up because I heard something. I stared in the direction the noise came from. Maybe if I kept staring, something would appear. Unlikely. Wait, where are my parents? I looked around and saw that another car crashed into ours. Okay, that explains why we stopped but doesn’t explain where my parents went. They wouldn’t just leave me here if they went out to get help, would they? I got up and saw a man sitting in the driver seat of the other car, his eyes open and my heart stopped. I just stared at him, holding my breath, just to see if he was alive or not. He wasn’t.Then I saw blood outside on the empty road. I stepped out, pieces of broken glass against my  bare feet like daggers. This can’t be my parents’ blood. It just can’t. They aren’t dead, I told myself. It’s just blood, it doesn’t mean they’re dead. I mean, I’m bleeding right now too and I’m not dead.

I got out my backpack from the trunk and pulled everything out. I stuffed it with two change of clothes and as much food that I can and filled another bag with more food. I was always prepared. I would carry these two bags with me everywhere, I decided, something might happen.Then I got out and opened the door of the other car. I need money. He’s the only one with money here and he’s not going to be using it. Just take it, I told myself, reach into his jacket pocket and take it. I couldn’t do it. Tomorrow, I would take it and go. So I got into my car, closing the dented door as much as it can go. I lied down in the back and tried to get comfortable. I looked down at my necklace, the one that my dad got me four months ago.

“I have something for you,” my dad whispered.

“You shouldn’t have,” I started to cry. He was in the hospital for two months now and he could barely move.

“You’re going to have to get it though, it's in that drawer. I can’t even lift a finger.” I took it out and looked at the small box. “Open it,” he told me and I did. “Happy birthday. It’s a necklace.” I held it out and looked at my dad. “It’s a little clock on the front but if you open it...” He waited for me to open it.

“There’s a picture of us in it!” Ever since then, I wore it everyday.

It was about five and it just started getting brighter but I had to get up and get going. I got up and got ready. I ate some food, checked the bags, and took the wallet quickly, without looking at his eyes and trying not to think too much about it. At age 15 and a half, I got my permit but I still had  5 months left until I can actually get my license. I couldn't drive right now, not without an adult. What the hell was I thinking? I'm in the middle of nowhere and my parents aren't here. All I know is that I'm somewhere in between California and Colorado. I think anyone would understand that I needed to drive, with a license or not. Which way do I go though? I decided to go towards the sun, into the east where I came from.

As I drove, questions bombarded me. Even if I kept going, what would happen then? My parents are gone, I reminded myself. What would happen without them? Where would I go? What happened to them? They've been so protective over me but now, why did they just  leave me here? They could've at least tried to wake me up or something. And why hadn't I heard or felt anything when the accident happened?

But in this desert, where the wind was even hot, there was nothing. I had so much questions but no answers. I needed someone to hold onto and feel their warmth. But there was no one here. Just me and the road ahead.

I drove for hours. It was already getting dark. I was just about to pull over when I saw flashing lights. I saw a car pulled over and so I pulled over at a safe distance behind it. Turning my headlights on and off, I checked to see if there was someone inside. I almost opened my door but stopped when I saw a guy running towards my car. I locked the doors, just to be safe.

He was tall and looked around 17 or 18. He wore a plain navy blue shirt and baggy jeans. I can tell he was running for a while because as he got closer, I saw that his dark tan skin was sweating, sand starting to stick to it. And for his big and muscular structure, he could probably run so much faster than that.

He stopped right in front of my car and motioned for me to stay while he tried to catch his breath. I was debating weather I should just drive away while I had the chance or if I should wait and listen to what he was about to say and see if he knew where we were but he was already next to my window, knocking.

I lowered the window just a bit. Too small to put a hand through but big enough to talk through without having to yell.

“Hey, I’m Derek,” he said with a smile I would kill to see again.

“And I’m...” surprised by how casual he sounded, I almost told him my name. “Lost,’ I quickly said, “What happened to you?”

“Normally, if someone told you their name, they’re probably expecting you to tell you yours,” he ignored my question.

I tried not to laugh. “But being lost in the middle of nowhere isn’t normal for me. And meeting someone there isn’t any better.”

Derek chuckled. Even his laugh was perfect. “Okay, whatever. Anywhos, my car’s out of gas and I tried to find a stop but there isn’t one for miles that way or that way,” he pointed to both ways of the road.

“I know, I haven’t seen one either,” I admitted. But I didn’t mention that I had gallons of gas in my trunk. I was always prepared, just like my parents were - are - I corrected myself. I was glad that I was or I would’ve ended up just like Derek.