Brain Dead

Chapter Seven

 

When I finished packing the money and Jasper finally achieves his goal of getting at least 10 gallons of gas in the trailer, we begin to set off in hopes of reaching another state. “New Jersey can’t be far from here.” Connor says matter-of-factly as he peers out the window. “Honestly,” Jasper begins to say. “I don’t even know where we are.” Connor nods in agreement. “I believe we’re in Upstate New York, probably close to some more civilization.” I add. Connor turns around in his seat to look at me. “So, like, near Poughkeepsie?”

“Precisely.” Jasper shrugs. “How do you guys know these things?”

“Alex and I used to go on roadtrips here in the summer occasionally. Sometimes my mom would drive us and other times just the two of us went.” I hear Jasper lightly giggle to himself just before he says: “I don’t even want to know what you guys would do when it was just you two...alone.”

 

We drive for three hours, taking turns driving, rotating positions and having different assigned things we’d do. For example, If Connor was driving, Jasper and I would either relax in the front seat, or crack open sodas for us to chug down.

I check the time on my phone. 7:15. Connor had been driving for an hour. As if on queue, he yawns. “I’ll drive.” I offer. He doesn’t negotiate, and begins to stand, still with both hands on the wheel. Quickly, I step in front of him, snatch the wheel, and wait for him to slip into the back. The driving wheel was warm, and slightly damp, probably from Jasper and Connor’s sweat.

 

The night was cool, and I was the only person in the front seat, so I rolled down my windows. The crisp air flushed in the trailer. The breeze reminded me of when me and Connor would drive here, laughing and, well, not being chased by zombies. Jasper interrupted the memory and crawled over. “Pull over.” I turned to him, still cautious of the road. “Why?” He looked up at me and blinked impatiently. “I suppose you would like to see what I ate for lunch?” I swerved to the right, and parked the car. Jasper quickly pulled open the door, and sprinted out of sight. Although I couldn’t see him in the dark, I can still hear him barfing. I rolled the window back up to prevent having a throw-up-smelling car.

 

When Jasper came back, he collapsed on the couch, and immediately fell asleep. I decided to get some fresh air and stay parked for a while since Connor and Jasper where asleep. There was a lot of bush, and just in the clearing there was a pond. I made my way to it, crouching in the rocks and every once in a while dropping pebbles in the water. The breeze traveled through my hair, and I comfort myself on top of three large, smooth stones.

I hear twigs snapping behind me and turn around to see Connor standing there, looking extremely thin in the large jacket he’s wearing. “Hey.” He says as he plops himself next to me. “Hi.” I respond, looking at the water still rippling from the last time I dropped a pebble in. We both stare out, all the way in the distance silently. “Connor?” I whisper. He turns to look at me, but I feel like a statue, like I’m unable to move. I stare straight ahead. “Yeah?” He says in response. I purse my lips into a thin line. My mind draws a blank. I forgot what I wanted to tell him. Instead, I manage out: “I’m scared.” I felt dependant on him, unaware of what he’d do. It was true, though. I was scared of everything right now. Oblivion. Separation. Death. I rotate my head slowly to Connor, wondering why he had been silent for a while now. We realize we’re both looking at each other as if in unison, and he drops his eyes to my lips. I do the same, and as if the world is in slow motion, I feel him pulling me in closer. I don’t resist. I close my eyes, my hands being pressed against his chest, and before I know it, we’re kissing. His lips pressed against mine. My heart beats faster and faster. Connor’s so close to me, I feel his heartbeat, too. He rests his arms on my shoulders, and for what seemed like forever, we’re locking lips. Kissing.