In Hiding (Published!)

Chapter 16

We all sat there for awhile, nobody saying a word, nobody moving a muscle. Cam's arm still sat lifelessly over my shoulders, whilst Jess was standing by the door, not really staring at anything in particular, and not really staring into space. What was he thinking?

  I sighed, and it got Cam moving, he shifted his body, facing more toward Jess now, his arm still around me, bracing my shoulder.

  "Look, we can't just... give up. We had a lead, and we lost it, but I say we get going, there's a rental car place a few miles, we walk there, grab a car, and we'll return it once we get home, send it or something." He said quickly, almost whispering.

  Suddenly, I got it, and I gasped. 

  "No, there's no way I'm..." I paused, turning my voice into a whisper, "There's no way I'm stealing a rental car! Jess already tried to make me do that, and I would never." I think I was starting to not make sense, I mean, who talks about stealing a car while in a police station?! Who talks about stealing ANYTHING while in or even near a police station?

  Jess chuckled, and Cam looked at him accusingly. 

  "Hey, hey, don't look at me like that, you and I both know she's not going to budge. ." Jess chuckled again. 

  I crossed my arms, proving his point. Cam sighed. "Got any better ideas?" 

  "Actually..." He started, then sighed, "No, I don't. How about you Cas'?" Jess asked. 

  "No, nothing, sorry boys." I sighed, and they frowned.

   "Look, Casey, we stink, we probably hurt, I know I do, we need new clothes, and I'm growing the mustache that I never wanted. If we can just... get the stuff we need, do the stuff we need, we can move on, and I won't ask for any more then that. I know there can't be a town too far from here, and it won't take long, we can bum a ride, right?" Jess pleaded, placing his hands on my shoulders, and pleading more with his eyes.

  I didn't speak, just stared into his longing eyes. 

  Jess sighed, and I moved out of under his shoulders, to pace back and forth. Cam came to stand next to Jess, and they started whispering back and forth. 

  I guess it wouldn't hurt if we just went and got some normal, needed items. I sighed, and they looked over, Jess with a confused look on his face, and Cam with a knowing one. Did he know what I was about to say?

  "I guess it couldn't really hurt, and Sam knows us, and we NEED this stuff. Although it's still stealing, either way. But he knows what we're going through, but he can still charge us with theft.." I was almost talking to myself, trying to talk myself out of it, and then into it again. 

  Jess took that as a yes, and he strolled over to give me a small hug, "I know it's hard for you, and I know it hurts for you to turn to something like this, but it's stuff we need, right? Thanks Cas',  I knew you'd come around," He let me go, and turned around to Cam, "we hit at nightfall!" He smiled.

*****

"How are we going to get Sam to let us go, no transportation, no anything?" Cam whispered, as Officer Katie walked down the hall, waving at us as she passed. 

  We were still huddled in the briefing room, waiting for nightfall, waiting for the right time to do something risky. Not only would we get in giant trouble, but Avrey would probably be able to find us, just as fast as a snap of your fingers.

  Cam gulped, then shook his head, "Well?" he continued to whisper, as if she were in the room, as if she could hear us. 

  I kept glancing at the clock on the far wall, right in front of me. I wasn't really listening to their plans for the break in, (gulp), I was more focused on how, how could we get away with something like this, something that is so common, so easy to get caught with. It was already eight in the night, soon be getting dark. They'd want to leave soon.