It Travels with Them

Chapter Seven - Roadtrip, Yay.

I help them hobble out of the room and into the truck.

"Thanks Mike," they say.

"Sure," I reply, nodding.

I get into the backseat with Alex then, it hits me.

They called me Mike.

They've never called me Mike. I look over at them, they're shifting trying to get comfortable.

"Hey do you wanna put your leg on the seat?" I ask, moving to make room.

They nod appreciatively and adjust.

"Thanks," they say, offering a small smile.

I smile back. This is the first time in a long time we haven't fought the moment we got in the car. It's weird, but I like it, it's nice to just sit in companionable silence... and that's what we do.

After a while of staring out the window I shift and turn, facing the inside of the truck. Tyler is passed out in the front seat with dad next to him, driving. I turn my head and see Alex beside me, they yawn and adjust their earbuds.

I start to relax again when my music stops playing. I try to turn on my phone but find that it's dead.

"Damn," I mutter, then sigh. I pull off my headphones and put them in my bag. Then I sit back and continue to watch the countryside go by.

After about fifteen minutes of this my dad pulls over into a gas station parking lot.

"Ah finally!" I say, crawling out of the backseat and onto the pavement. I stretch my stiff limbs and groan as they regain their normal flexibility. Then I walk around to the other side of the truck to join Tyler and Alex.

I see them standing and stretching much the same as I did except Alex is carefully standing on one leg.

"Free at last!" Alex sighs standing up straight. Tyler nods, agreeing.

Then I motion towards the building, "I'm gonna grab some snacks, you wanna join me?"

They both nod enthusiastically and together we head towards the food. Tyler and I both make it to the sidewalk before we remember Alex. We turn back around and see them hobbling their way towards us with a sour expression on their face.

"Wow, some friends you are."

I hurry back to them, "Sorry—!"

They interrupt me, "Now you have to buy my snacks."

I blink, "...god damnit."

I look down at them for a moment then, "Hey! Put me down!" Alex yells as I pick them up fireman carry.

I chuckle, "Nope sorry. You'll only slow us down."

I hear unintelligible grumbling coming from Alex.

"If you insist on carrying me then at least do it piggyback style instead of fireman. People might think you're a kidnapper."

I snicker, "So are you admitting you're a kid?"

Now sitting piggyback Alex smacks the back of my head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

They huff indignantly, "You know why," then they hook an arm around my neck, "Now, onward stead!"

I snigger and catch up to Tyler, who was watching the exchange with a half-suppressed smile.

I step up back onto the curb and as I do I pretend to lurch, like I was gonna fall. Alex yelps and grips me tighter, but then they realize I was faking it.

"You are such an ass."

I can practically hear them gritting their teeth.

I shrug, "Well, apparently that's my job now."

I hear them laugh, "Yee-haw. Now get a move on."

Chuckling, I walk inside and the bell connected to the door jangles as it closes.

I look around, it looks like a normal gas station. A cashier near the front, a few isles of snacks and candy with drinks in refrigerators at the back. We walk towards the food, with Alex tapping a merry tune on my shoulders. Tyler starts grabbing snacks, occasionally handing a couple to Alex for them and I.

After getting what we want we walk to the register. While we wait for the cashier to ring us up I glance around again and notice a small group of local kids talking near the corner. Three boys and what looks like two girls. The girl in the middle of the group catches my attention, something seems.. off about her. I look away and feel Alex shift on my back, positioning themselves so their mouth is near my ear.

"Did you see that girl in the middle," they breathe.

I turn my head slightly and whisper back, "Yeah, something's off about her."

I feel Alex nod, "We should get back to the truck."

Agreeing, I motion to Tyler that we need to leave. He nods in response, a little confused, and we quickly exit the building.