A Knock at the Window

Chapter 12: Amber Alert

We spent the night in the truck; seats laid back and curled up in our jackets, that was our hotel for the night. I could've slept for hours but just as the sun began to rise, a slight touch woke me up.

                       "Good morning," said Jake; he had already been awake hours before me, but yet he seemed a hundred percent rested.

                        "Good morning," I said, as I sat up in my seat and rubbed my eyes followed by a morning stretch. 

My stomach grumbled; we hadn't eaten anything since we arrived in Dallas yesterday and I was starving.

                        "Come on, we should get back on the road." he said as he placed the key in the ignition, starting the truck.

I wasn't going to ask but after every growl from my stomach, I needed to know when we were going to find some food. 

As we pulled out of the driveway, i spoke.

                            "So when do we plan on eating?"

I guess the thought of food hadn't crossed his mind because his response seemed surprised. 

                             "Oh yeah!! We'll go find something. I need to stop for gas anyways." he said.

A smile had been placed across his face, I guess he felt better now that I knew about everything. Well...not everything but enough for now. After a short drive from the house, he pulled up to a gas station and parked. He slid his hand into his pocket and pulling out his wallet, he handed me a folded up twenty dollar bill.

                     "Here, head inside and find something to eat while I get gas." he said

Gas station junk food; not an ideal, perfect, healthy meal but I wasn't complaining. I reached for the door as Jake grabbed my hand, he looked at me and smiled just before planting a kiss softly on my cheek, and I quickly began to blush like a little school girl

                        "Alright, get going kid." he said smiling.

I opened the door as the cold, chilly wind  I headed rushed across my already pale skin. I headed across the parking lot and into the rundown gas-n-go. The fluorescent lights made the scene almost seem blue. The place kinda gave me the creeps but I continued inside anyways searching for whatever "good food" I could find. I went for the guaranteed decent snacks; chips, sodas, and candy. 

I walked up to the front counter and looked around for the cashier. After waiting a moment, I rang the service bell and a voice rang out through the store.

                   "Be right there!" said the stranger.

Moments later, a guy walked back from the storage room. There stood a twenty something year old guy, who looked like he belonged in a college frat house before you see him sitting as a cashier at a vacant gas station.

I placed my things on the counter and he started to ring them up. I guess he decided to create a little small talk because he started asking me a bunch of questions. 

                     "So, I haven't seen you around before. You just move here?" he asked.

     "Nope," I said, "Just passing through."

Suddenly a loud beep came from his phone and he walked over to check it. I stood there for a brief minute, he walked back over to the register and he seemed a big confused. Then, a ring from the door bell on the door caught my attention as Jake walked in. He walked up behind me, softly wrapping his arms around my waist and kissed my shoulder.

             "You ready to go babe?," he said as he looked up at the cashier.

                         "Ummm, yeah.," I said as I grabbed the bag off the counter and headed for the door.

As we exited the store he grabbed my hand; It was like he was putting on a show because he even opened up my door and helped me in the truck as he got into the truck I looked at him.

"What's going on?" I slightly whispered

He looked at me then drove off. Silence filled the car up until the point where we pulled into a used car lot.

"What are we doing?" I said.

              "Getting a new ride," he said strictly, "Put your hood on and don't take it off."

I did so. He looked at me then continued to talk.

    "Here, put these on and keep your head low." he said as he handed me a pair of sunglasses from the glove-box. 

"What's going on?" I asked again. He started packing his stuff into a backpack, "They're looking for us."

"They? They as in the people who are after you?" I questioned.

"Not really worried about them at the moment." he looked at me, "They as in your parents and the cops."

" Jake, what are you talking about?" I said strongly.

"This is what I'm talking about," he said strongly as he tossed me his phone and a picture of my face was plastered across the screen.

"What is this?" I said frantically.

"Apparently your parents realized you weren't with Riley anymore. They've put an Amber Alert out on you with me as your kidnapper." he said.

My face suddenly turned pale and before I could speak Jake reached for his phone and then hopped out of the truck and off to my side. As he approached my side of the truck, he opened my door and grabbed my hand.

"Come on. Don't worry, I've got people who can help us." he said.