Stolen Powers

Chapter Nine: The Valley of the Sun

We all calmed down after the close call with the soldiers back in El Paso, but still, nobody wasn't saying much about it. My mother tried her best to lighten the mood with music and jokes, but nothing seemed to be working. Eventually, she gave up on it and listened to her own music.

Donovan kept looking behind him to see if the NGZ was anywhere behind us, but Jamie simply told him to calm down.

Bailey was trying to keep herself entertained on her phone, most likely to see if her parents were freaking out yet. After deciding that they weren't, she put in some earbuds and turned on some music, every now and then glancing at me. I only smiled at her, mostly to tell her that we'll be okay. She sighed and focused on her music.

Thankfully we didn't have to stay in New Mexico long, as I began to see the Arizona state border up the road. Once we passed it, I finally said something before anyone else did.

"How far away are we until Phoenix?"

My mom turned around to look at me and looked at her phone for a second. "Three and a half hours, but I'm planning on stopping in Tucson for gas and restroom breaks."

I nodded. "Okay." And that was it. That was all that was said.

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It was a quiet drive to Tuscon, but we still managed to get there in one piece. My mother found a decent gas station just outside the city limits.

"Alright guys," my mom said, turning around to us. "Use the restroom while you can. Fifteen minutes until we leave, okay?"

"Yes ma'am," I said, sort of sarcastically.

When we walked in, it looked like your everyday gas station. Normal size, organized like a typical gas station.

Only about five or so people were in it, either at the counter paying or scanning around looking for a snack. Me and Bailey stuck with each other while Donovan and Jamie went to the back looking at drinks.

"You okay?" Bailey suddenly asked me while looking at a candy bar. Taking a while to answer, she glanced up at me.

I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so. What about you? You've been awfully quiet since El Paso. I got kinda worried is all."

She smiled. "You're cute when you worry about me, y'know, but I'm okay. I just..."

She trailed off, looking at the ground. I walked over to her and wrapped her in a big hug. Bailey quickly returned it and lightly pushed me away, looking deep into my eyes.

"I'm scared, Mason." She said, almost in a whisper. "It's only been about day and I'm already terrified that something worse is going to happen after losing my parents. I can't lose Jamie and Donovan, and especially you, Mason. I just can't."

I stared at her for a few seconds before nodding quietly. "I know, but think positive. We don't know if your parents are actually gone. They might be out looking for you."

"They're not answering their phones..." she said softly, tears forming in her eyes.

"They might've been lost in the fire, I don't know. But trust me, we'll try our best, okay?"

She smirked and pulled me in for a kiss. "I love you. Don't forget that."

I smiled to myself, blushing.

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We bought a surplus of food and drinks that would probably last us a couple of days at best. My mother warned all of us at the cash register not to down the drinks so quickly.