The Corner of the Grand Canyon

Chapter 4: Never-ending Highways

Asa

I tried to keep my fingers from breaking the steering wheel as I clenched onto it. The whole hike, I desperately tried to banish Claire's words from my mind, but they stubbornly stayed, locked into my memory.

Elijah didn't seem to be doing any better. His face was tight with pain. I noticed he seemed to be gripping his hands tightly. Hopefully it doesn't leave a bruise, I thought, becoming self aware that my own fingers were on their way to popping.

Tentatively, I tapped them on the wheel, in order of each finger. Pointer, middle, ring, pinky. Pointer, middle, ring, pinky. Each one felt stiff and sore. 

"Do you know which way the hotel is?" Eli asked, still looking at the dashboard in front of him.

"I hope so," I answered. There was no one in the information booth when we left, so we hadn't received directions.

"There should be signs along the way," I tried to reassure him. It wasn't like we could wander too far. 

"Mm." Now it was Elijah's turn to give terse responses. Part of my heart clenched. I knew I came off as rude in the hike, but I was severely preoccupied. That gave me an excuse. Right?

I opened my mouth to apologize for the hike, but caught a glance of Eli in the front mirror. He looked exhausted, with his eyes shut. His head lolled to the right, giving me a view of all his bandages. Although he might not have been asleep yet, I didn't want to interrupt his peace.

Soft music played from the radio. I turned it down, just a little bit, in hopes that it's rhythms would lull Elijah asleep.

I stole another glance in the mirror. Gentle neon lights lit up various parts of Eli's face. His glasses were an abstract array of lit pastels. Each part of his hair had some bouncy look to it. He honestly looked like an angel in a T-shirt and glasses, some supernatural being from the heavens. 

My brain snapped it's fingers in impatience and I forced my eyes back onto the road. Little yellow streaks whizzed past me, but no helpful signs. I sought after the usual green highway signs but saw nothing. Only overly large stalks of grass filled my vision. 

Breathing filled my ears. I gave a sideways glance to Eli, who was now asleep. His deep breaths filled the car. His hands, folded over his stomach, rose and fell with every breath. I couldn't help but smile. His cute little tummy reminded me somehow reminded me of a puppy I had before. Pumice, after the volcanic rock. His black fur was always fluffed up and when he slept,  he only slept on his back, so his stomach would go up and down as he laid in the living room.

I could feel myself sitting down in the living room, my feet on the couch. Flamingo socks donned them. Lukewarm water had poured into a fancy glass for me. And, of course, Pumice lay on the carpets, with his paws in the air. Just relaxing. Nice and easy, calm and-

"ASA!"

I gasped aloud, launching myself forward. I was somehow still in the right lane, although I almost drifted off. My breathing was out of control, closing up my throat. Panic laced through arms, but tried to shake it off. 

Still trying to calm my heartbeat, I turned to Elijah. 

He was still asleep.

It took a few moments for me to register that he wasn't the one who yelled at me. His lips were firmly together and his breathing was still steady.

My heart sank.

Somehow, even all the way in the desert, that demon lady still infiltrated my mind. 

With a sickening feeling, I remembered the last part of the incident. Claire yelled my name when I was in the living room and stormed in, eyes blazing with fury. In one hand, she formed a solid fist. In the other hand was my phone. I immediately sat up, back straighter than my questioning sexuality.

"What. Is. This." she demanded. Although she was only 5'2, her 4 inch heels gave her a terrifying boost. And her look was poisoned enough to kill anyone who fell upon it's gaze. (With her curly, red hair, and her dangerous looks I always thought she was a real life Medusa.)

"What happened?" I asked quietly. Apparently, that was the answer she was looking for. With her pointy fingernails, she slapped me.

"What were you looking at!?" She held up my phone, which was on my last Google search. Crap! I thought to myself. Rainbow colors faintly fell out of the blurry screen. LGBT acronyms, proper terms, and pride flags on each image. My heart squeezed tighter when it saw the question.

What does asexual mean?

I bit my cheek. 

"Mom," I started, "I'm very sorry. But I wanted to know more about-"

"Enough." Her suddenly quiet tone sent chills down my spine. I was half excepting hypodermic needles to pop out of her perfectly painted fingernails. 

"Asa. You need to grow up. I've told you about these people! They're demented! They're demons! They're clinically insane!" My head dropped. 

"No phone privileges for a week!" She took a finger to tilt my head up again, glaring right at my face. 

And then slapping me again for good measure.

A shot of pain broke me out of my flashback. My fingers had turned a ghastly shade of white while I was out of it. Again, I remained in the right lane-God knows how-but still felt a bitter after taste in my throat. Acid churned in my stomach as I fought to keep from throwing up. 

I stretched out my fingers, feeling each nerve scream at me. My teeth clenched together. I really needed to get my act together. 

Another green sign passed. Salt Lake City:312 miles.

Salt Lake City? I wondered. That was all the way in Utah. Our hotel wasn't in Utah. 

Nervously, I kept driving. Sleep yanked at my eyelids, but I pried them open.

Sally's Super Diner! Next Exit! One sign read, flashing with neon lights. Glancing at the time, I almost swerved when I saw it was 10:00. Already three hours of driving? 

I rubbed my eyes, yawning loudly. Elijah was still asleep and I was about to get us killed with my lack of consciousness. The next exit was already approaching us.

I put on my blinker.