Maybe, probably.

Chapter 13: Quinn

You are so much more.

I propped my chin up with the palm of my hand onto the window of Asher's ancient black car. It smelled of leather and Asher's signature scent.

It smelled good.

He was currently inside, getting "Supplies" from this greasy truck stop while he ordered me to stay here and out of sight. 

It was like 8 a.m, who was gonna see me?

Oh right. I was "on the run" according to Know-it-all in there.

What am I even doing here? I hardly know him and I had...I had abandoned Gram. Maurisa. Kayla.

My mother. 

I sighed and pulled up on the lock keeping me in here and swung the door open to stretch my legs. 

I breathed in the morning air, having my lungs be released of all the tension of the previous night. I wrapped Asher's jacket around my body, teeth clacking with cold. 

I always loved the cold. It soothed my joints. Made me feel normal. Calm.

I whipped my head to the stores window full of ads and deals. 

Asher was in the very back of the store, head ducked and black curls shading his face as he scanned the shelves. 

I have time.

I walked past the empty parking lot at the front of the gas station, scanning the gas pumps empty of all customers. It's unnervingly quiet. 

We are the only ones here besides the clerk. But it also felt as if we weren't.

I walked to the patch of grass to feel the nature between my toes, bringing back feeling to my bare, numb feet.

I watched a few stray cars rumble down the scarce town, 6 hours from my home apparently.

I shivered and pulled the jacket on tighter.

Time to go back before you freeze completely.

I turned and slammed into a woman's cart.

"AH! Sorry! I'm such a clutz." I said quickly, picking up the large bottles that were full of grass and dirt and were so big I could only grab one at a time.

When I finally finished collecting the bottles and placing them back into the cart, the old lady placed her hands on my cheeks.

I flinched and almost pulled away but I looked into her face.

She was blind.

"You're hurting, child. I can feel it." Her voice cracked and soothed at the same time. The wrinkles in her face where so defined you couldn't see much of her features. But you could see those murky, blue eyes anywhere. Her grey and white hair was greasy and crispy pulled into a bun that sat flatly on her head.

"Um, I don't know what you're talking about." I said quietly, getting a little creeped out.

"You do. You can feel it too." She crowed, brushing my face with her thumbs, smearing dirt and grime on my pink cheeks.

I flicked my eyes to the truck stop, eyes aching to see Asher, to call for him, to tell him to help me-

"He won't always be there, love. You need to learn to be ok with that. You need to learn to fight. To speak up." 

How did she!?!

She laughed a low, feminine sound. "There are many things you have yet to learn. About the world," She smiled and pulled my face closer to hers so I could see every chip of her teeth and crevice on her face.