The Lies: Short Story

Three

When we find a motel at around 3 am in East Oxside, Nelson pays for a room with two beds while Xavier goes out to get us something to eat. I follow Nelson up the stairs to our room and the second we step in Nelson pushes me aside and runs to the bathroom.

"I call dibs showering first!!"

"Well no shit I can see that!" I roll my eyes and set my stuff down on a bed and look for the remote to turn the tv on. "I swear you act like a twelve year old sometimes! How old are you again?"

Instead of responding I hear him turning the shower on. I get my phone and text Xavier the room number. When the tv turns on I change the channel to Food Network and get my clothes ready to take a shower. I get up to turn on the ac and realize I didn't lock the door so I walk over and quickly lock it when I hear a knock on the door. I go back to the bed to check my phone and see Xavier hasn't read my message yet. I look back at the door when I hear another knock I look inside my purse and take out my pepper spray.

"Who is it?"

"It's me baby girl, Xavier, my phone died so I couldn't reply."

I look back at my phone and it says 'Read 3:14 am.' I open the door and he thanks me and walks in.

"Aw look someone is finally listening to their boyfriend and has pepper spray."

"Oh shut up." I laugh and sit back on the bed, "What'd you get?"

He kisses my forehead and drops down the two bags he was carrying. "Some chips, some candy for you, water, iced tea, and three sandwiches from the gas station. Oh, I also got us coffee." He nods to the night table and hands me one.

"This is great, thank you baby!"

"Of course. Is Nelson almost done showering?"

"Yes, but I'm next so sit your ass down!"

"Bossy" he laughs. We both lay back to watch tv and a few minutes later Nelson walks out the bathroom and a million questions pop in my head.

"Why are we here? Where are we going? Why don't you like my parents?"

Nelson stands in the middle of the room drying off his hair and when I look up at Xavier he's looking at Nelson almost as asking permission.

"Road trip sweetie, it's break and God knows you would stay in your house all day if you could. Your parents are good people, they raised you well to be a very smart and respectful young lady, I'm just not good with parents."

"Nelson, you're a teacher."

"Do I act like one? Didn't think so, go shower so then we can all eat and go to sleep, we still have more road to cover."

"Promise me what he's saying is true?"

Xavier looks down at me and his eyes soften up, there's a small smile on his face and he nods. "I promise." But I knew that wasn't the full story.

I get up and grab my clothes then look down at Xavier, "So you coming?"

"Shower? Together?"

Nelson and Xavier look at each other and I roll my eyes and walk away. "Okay, nevermind."

"No no wait, yeah, hold up." He quickly looks in his bag and grabs a pair of shorts and a towel. "Ligue para o escritório, diga-lhes o nosso plano."