The File

The File ~ Chap. 29

Tate

After Cole had brought the car to its very frightening stop, we watched as the cars went over the edge, and assumed that everything and everyone was destroyed.  I was definitely going to give Cole a piece of my mind—after he gained consciousness, anyway.  He had passed out after everything had calmed down.

It wasn’t hard to realize that more people would come after us if they knew that the people who had left never came back, so I moved Cole—with difficulty—out of the driver’s seat and into the back so I could take a turn at driving.

I had no idea where we were, so when I made it to the closest area of civilization, I looked for some information.  But I never strayed far from the car for long, because I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea that Cole was truly alive.  While driving, I found myself continually looking back at him to be sure he was still there and hadn’t just been a figment of my imagination.  Even after witnessing Cole getting us through a car chase, I still had my doubts.  I knew it was strange, but it was how I felt.

My information searching came up with the following: we were in Grand Junction, Colorado.  The building we had been in was near the Colorado National Monument—I hadn’t personally asked about it, but I deduced the area—and that was the area the cars had gone off of.

I bought a map at a local drug store, and began to drive.  I hoped that we would be able to find a train station and could sneak our way on so we could get to Norfolk faster, but I wasn’t going to make that decision until I had spoken to Cole about it.

Speaking of him, I glanced back at him again.  He was still out, but his breathing was normal.  He had started to sleep.  I gazed at him longer than necessary, but I could because I was on a straight road, I was going at a safe speed, and no one else was on the road.  But I knew I couldn’t go on like that forever, and grudgingly returned my eyes to the road.

As I drove, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.  He was still alive and he was with me.  The latter was what I thought of the most.  I recalled the kiss in the hallway, and didn’t regret it at all.  My true feelings had been put into that kiss and knowing that he kissed back just brightened my spirits even more.

The only things that brought me down were that we would still be chased and we still weren’t safe.  Even with my feelings for Cole, I still wanted him to go home.  I wouldn’t say that to him again, but I still felt it.  He was special to me now more than ever, and I desperately wanted him out of harm’s way.  I had thought he died once and was wrong, I might not be so lucky the next time.

I brushed aside that thought as I glanced at the map on the passenger seat.  I saw that I had to take the next exit—or that’s what I thought.  Map reading wasn’t my forte, but really, as long as Davis and Labove weren’t after us again, I wouldn’t care how long it took us to get to Norfolk.

* * *

After a few hours, I couldn’t go any further, and pulled into the parking lot of a small auto shop.  I parked the car in the space furthest from the entrance, and stayed inside.  Then I slept.

I woke up, and the car was still at the shop.  But I wasn’t in the front seat.  I was in the back, and I was facing the seat.  I slowly turned over, and saw that Cole was resting on the floor, his head leaning against the door that my feet were closest to.  I smiled at the view.

As though he sensed I was awake, Cole opened his eyes.  When he saw me looking at him, he smiled back.  He shifted 180 degrees so his face was in front of mine.  His green eyes seemed to penetrate into my soul.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Morning,” I replied.

Without thinking, I reached a hand out and placed it on his cheek.  He covered my hand with his.