Potholes

Chapter 47 As told by Eva

The car filled with smoke as Cassidy took long drags from her cigarette. Parker looked a little unsure with hers, as if she had smoked before, but never really got the hang of it. Her face had a grimace on it as she awkwardly breathed in the smoke and coughed it out. I found the fact that she was smoking very puzzling. She had never seemed that interested in smoking, and I was under the false impression that I was her only friend, so I would know if she was smoking. Unless she was doing it alone. Casssidy let out a puff, filling the car with smoke and I tried to hold in a cough,

"Do you like it? it's my favorite brand," asked Cassidy shaking the cigarette in her hand.

She looked at Parker, not self consciously about what she thought of her choice, but rather judging Parker's taste. Parker looked at her deciding how to answer, her face was a little pale and her hair was in a messy bun. She was wearing a tee shirt from a band I didn't know half tucked into her mom jeans. Despite the heat she seemed to not be sweating.

"Yes," she said slowly, "but I haven't had many cigarettes."

"What did you start with?"

"Woodbine."

"Classic."

The car filled with silence and I craned my neck to see how Rowan was taking this overflow of news, she was looking at the dusty road ahead with no visible expression on her face. Unlike Parker, she was visibly in sweat and seemed quite uncomfortable, shifting around in seat every now and again. Cassidy spoke up quite suddenly, drawing my attention away from Rowan.

"Is it too much to ask why you guys are running away?" she asked politely.

"Not at all," said Rowan responding for all of us.

"I think Parker, Eva, and I ran away because we needed a change of pace, to experience something. Hayden came along because he loves me," she said tossing Hayden's hair, resulting in my stomach to turn with nausea.

"Awwwwwwwwww," Cassidy said, "you two are so sweet."

"Not him," I mumbled under my breath, I must have mumbled louder than I thought because Rowan shot me a despairing look.

"So," said Parker, obviously changing the topic, "can I ask why you have run away?"

"Parents kicked me out," Cassidy said, obviously not planning on adding more.

I turned to look out the window, the sun had dropped out of view and the white moon light shone over the dusty road, giving the ugly landscape an unnerving look. The heat had stayed despite the setting of the sun, it felt like it was going to be an uncomfortable night.

"I hope you don't mind sleeping in the car because we can't afford a hotel room," I said as Hayden turned off the road and into grimy dust on the side of the road.

"Um, well," said Cassidy uncomfortably, " I could pay for a hotel room? I have some money."

I turned to Parker and waited for her call.

"Yes, that would be very nice, if you don't mind?" said Parker.

Hayden pulled back onto the road. A few minutes later we came upon a motel called "Your Butt, Your Slut, and Your Sprut" which I found offensive and dumb.

"Wow, they really couldn't come up with anything except for sprut," said Rowan, sounding unimpressed.

"Yeah like even nut is better," said Cassidy, agreeing with her.

"Well it's the best we've got," Hayden said getting out of the car and walking towards the motel. After a second's pause we all followed him into the embarrassing motel.