The Last Summer (EDITING)

>Chapter Twenty-Nine<

Chapter 29

We've been driving for maybe ten minutes before we reach the city line. Ciera decides to pull in to the nearest gas station to refuel. "This will be our last stop." She says, getting out to pump the gas.

I slouch back in my seat as my nerves start up again. This is time we could have spent driving, I think. As Ciera rushes inside to pay I can't help notice a person in the car in front of us staring right at me. I look around to see if it could be someone else, but no one's around. It's me. My eyes squint as I try to recognise the face. But no face in mind matches the murky green eyes and tough skin.

Ciera gets back into the car. "What's wrong?" She asks, face of concern, as she pulls her seat belt on.

I try to be discreet about it as I say,"There's a man in the car in front of us, staring right at me."

Ciera meets the strangers gaze and her face scrunches up as she too tries to recognise the face.

"Does he look familiar to you?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "I don't think so."

"Then why else is he looking at us like that? Something's up with him."

"How am I supposed to know what goes on in his head?" She questions. "We don't have time to be anymore paranoid than we already are. We need to go." I agree, slouching further and trying to conceal my face as we drive past his car. He stares the entire time, and I get this painful thought that this won't be the last time we'll be seeing him.

We soon reach Orange County. It's ten minutes till nine and we still have a long way to go to reach San Diego.

"So you're saying we're going to reach San Diego in an hour, Ciera?"

She winces,"Maybe two?"

"Two hours! Really?"

She frowns at my upset tone,"Yes. It's been a while since I've been up there. I underestimated the time."

My face falls."We're not gonna make it." I whisper, laying my head against the window. I close my eyes. I can't imagine a world without Arron in it. Sure I would have to go back to Chicago next month, but that's next month and at least I would know he's alive. Going back not knowing at all would drive me to madness.

"Hey, remember what you said earlier? We're going to find them. It's just gonna be a little longer."

"I don't know how much longer they can wait."

This makes her think. She starts nervously biting her lip. I've noticed it being a habit of hers. "Neither do I."

She shakes her head out of her current thoughts and attempts to get my mind off of things. She tries, which is nice. And for a minute it actually started to work. Until her phone rings.

"Hello?" She answers.

There's a long silence as the person on the other end of the call talks. Cieras face contorts into one of worry and she tries talking as the person cuts her off.

She finally gets a few words out. "Arron, she's with me!"

"Arron? That's Arron?!" I grab the phone from her grasp, not caring how rude I may seem. She's talking to Arron! The boy that's been making my heart flutter for the past four hours.

"Arron! Oh my gosh where are you? Are you okay? What's going on? Why did you take a gun? What are you keeping from me?" I decide that's enough questions for now and let him answer as I catch my breath.

"Paige, listen. I'm fine." He sounds unsure as he continues. "Kobe and I just got to the city line. We had to make a few stops on the way. We're just going to see if there's anyway to get out of all this mess."