Not In This Lifetime

roadhouse blues ~ the doors

"Hudson, wake up. HUDSON!"

"AAAAAHHH!" I sit up too fast, hitting my head on the car roof. "What?"

"We're broken down. I don't know what's wrong, but we've got plenty of gas. I looked at the engine but there's nothing super obvious."

"Shit. Okay. Um, I can look, but I doubt I can figure out any more than you. Gimme your phone, I need a light."

Willow hands over her iPhone (wow, she has an X? Way nicer than my 5+) and I shine the light in. I can't make sense of anything.

"We're fucked." I say. "Fuck everything. Can I just die?"

"Don't talk like that. It's gonna be okay. Do you still have the paper with Sebastian's number?"

"I dunno." I dig through my pockets, and surprisingly enough, I still have the scrap of pink paper.

"Call him and tell him what's going on. I doubt he can help us, but I think talking to him will help you calm down."

"He doesn't wanna hear about my dumb problems."

"Fucking call him already." Willow snaps, turning her back.

I scowl and punch the number into her phone. It rings for a while before someone picks up.

"Who's this?"

"Hi, it's Hudson. Remember me, from Columbia? I-"

"What's up? D'ya get in trouble?"

"Yeah. Anyways, you were right. I think Duff's my dad."

"Shit, what made you decide?"

I explain the box of pictures and my mom's issues with rock n' roll.

"Oh my fucking god. Frankie's been keeping all that from you? Figures, she always was one to run from her problems. Where are you?"

"Well, that's the thing. We're broken down somewhere in Iowa and we can't figure out what's wrong."

"Why the hell are you in Iowa? And who's we?"

"The girl I was with at the bar. Anyways, we're going to Seattle."

"By yourselves??"

"Yeah. Don't freak out. Why do you care so much about me, anyway?"

"I'm basically your, like, honorary uncle. Trust me, Duff and I are tight. Want me to call him and tell him what's going on?"

"Actually, no. I want him to hear it from me. But I need help. I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken down car and a phone with 12% charge. I'm royally fucked."

"Hitchhike, duh. We used to do that all the time, and I only got kidnapped once."

"What?!"

"Yeah, some dude knocked me out and when I came around I was tied to a chair. But I got loose and we beat the shit outta him, so it was fine. I think your mom knocked one of his teeth out."

"Damn."

"Yeah, it was wild. We were wild...I miss those days. I miss Frankie."

"Aww, man, I'm sorry. She's changed a lot since you knew her, though."

Sebastian sighs. "Haven't we all...The last time I talked to Rachel, he tried to punch me in the face."

"That sucks."

"Yeah. Anyways, I'd come get you, but that'd look awfully suspicious, plus I gotta finish this joke of a tour. So hitchhike, but don't let your guard down, okay?"