The Silent Melody

Chapter 8- Austin, Texas

Rosalyn-

"Derek," My phone speaks to him as I pull into the only B&B of Austin, Texas. We've made it a habit to stay at B&B's they're nicer, and even though they're a bit more costly than staying at a motel, the hosts are always friendly. Derek wakes from his nap and he shakes himself awake.

"Is it my turn to drive?" He asks with a yawn.

"No, we're at the B&B." I answer him, "You need to go check us in." I continue. "Most people don't talk to phones or know sign language."

"Give me a minute to wake up."

"I've got coffee." I taunt him teasingly since he can't see my eyes if his are still shut, not that he'd notice the difference.

"That sounds amazing." He mumbles as he sits up straighter. "My back hurts." He groans.

"Coffee and check us in, I'll give you a massage after." I tell him. He opens his eyes and takes the coffee from cup holder between us. He inhales it contently.

"That's perfect." He says with a smile as he wakes up. "Okay, I need your card." He says. I hand it over and we both walk inside with our overnight bags. We've had to make a few trips to the laundromat, two of the B&B's had laundry services, but the others didn't. It's been tempting to just leave our clothes and buy new ones at the next state.

"Hi, welcome to the Barton B&B." A girl at the desk, couldn't be much older than 16 or 17, greets us.

"We'd like two rooms." Derek says, "Preferably next to or across from each other."

"We don't have rooms, we have cabins, each cabin is shared by four tenants." She explains.

"Sure." Derek says. "How much for two rooms in a cabin?" He asks.

They complete the transaction and Derek gives a nod as he accepts the receipt.

Across the top there is something scribbled.

Molly Weston: 512-555-1643, call me ;)

Derek rolls his eyes, and rips that part of the receipt off tossing it into the garbage and the rest he shoves into his pocket.

"I only have eyes for one girl." He tells me with a grin as he wraps an arm around my shoulders. We walk to the cabin where he puts the key into the lock. Two guys are sprawled across the couches.

"Dude looks, it's a chick." One of them says nudging the other. Derek stands between us and we walk to the back where our rooms are. He walks me to my room and I deposit my things on the bed before following him to his own room. We both sit on the bed and I curl up next to him against the head board after pushing the pillows to the foot.

"I'm glad you wanted to come with me." Derek says.

"I'm glad you asked me to come along, and to be your girlfriend." I tell him, the second half slipping out.

"I knew you would be." He says an irritating smirk plastered on his face.

"Whatever." I roll my eyes resting my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes. My phone begins ringing and I get up to get it from my room. I prop it on the window after cracking the door.

"Hey honey." My dad greets from the other end of the phone.

"Hi Papa." I greet him happily.

"How are you, is everything going okay?"

"Everything is fine Papa, what about you, how are things at home?"

"They're great, I met someone." He tells me. A trace of a smile can be found on his face.