The Roadtrip

eleven

hello! more updates!!!

-

Whats the sign say?" He asked. "Um, Saint Johns county ten miles ahead," I said reading it. "Does that mean something?" I asked. "Yeah, uh it means we're almost in Arizona," He said. "How do you know where to go?" I asked. "I know the route, been here before," He said. "Keep an eye out for a gas station," He said. We left the motel around two pm. It was now ten o'clock. We drove straight through New Mexico without stopping, the neighbourhoods had been beautiful with the desert architecture. Cactus littered themselves everywhere and the heat only seemed to get worse.

Somewhere along the way desert roads turned into local streets and highways. I was so used to the bland nothingness northern texas had to offer. Now I had seen more than I had ever seen in my twenty-one years of life.

"Over there," I said pointing to the gas station down the street. He pulled into the lot and parked the car in front of a pump. I watched as he filled the gas tank up.

"Urgent warning, all drivers be on the look out for a burglar on the loose. Headed west, six-two white male with auburn hair. Traveling with a young hostage in her early twenties. Attention please keep a look out"

The radio blared unexpectedly. He looked at me. He didn't seem fazed. Almost like he expected it. "Do you need anything?" He asked. From the convenience store is what he meant. "No," I shook my head.

I wasn't fazed either. I didn't want to think about how this would end. I was wanted to live in the moment, just for once.

-

We had passed state lines again. We were in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"Where are we going?" I asked. "I mean like, what are we doing here? In Las Vegas?" I asked. "Stealing 101," He started. "A good robber steals cash, a great robber steals cash and jewelry," He said. "Once you have the cash great, spend it. But what do you do with the jewelry?" He asked. "Sell it?" I asked.

"No-well yes thats also pretty lucrative but I know something better," He said. "What?" I asked. "Pawning it," He said. "Isn't that the same thing, your exchanging it for money aren't you?" I said. "Whatever, my point is always find a way to turn it into cash, stealing 101," He said.

"Is that where were going? A pawn shop?" I asked. "Yeah, its a pawn shop and I know the guy," He said. Looking out the window I was mesmerized by the lights and the signs. So many people lined the streets. The buildings were beautiful.

He looked over at me and smiled. "Never been?" He asked. I laughed, "I've never been out of Texas my entire life," I said. "I've never even left my home town," I added. "Parents never took you on vacation?" He asked.

"I don't really knew my parents," I said. "You didn't know them?" He asked. "Yeah, teen pregnancy. My dad ran as soon as he found out. They were only fourteen, so he didn't actually run he just pretended it had nothing to do with him" I said. "And your mom?" He asked. "She was fourteen, my grandmother took over for her. She was way to young to raise a child. She moved to New York to become a dental hygienist when she graduated high school, she calls once a year during Christmas but she kinda has her own life now with her husband and kids," I explained.

"And your grandma?" He asked. "She died, summer after senior year. That's why I got a job at the diner," I said. "Your on your own," He said. I shrugged, "I used to be so scared, ya know? To be on my own but it wasn't bad. Mama did a good job making sure I was gonna be okay, she used to say her days were numbered. She was old, already old enough to be a grandma herself when my mom had me, it wasn't easy raising a child when you can no longer keep up with it. But she did it. She was there for me. When she died I knew she was still with me, mama said she always would be," I said.

"Plus I like my own company," I said looking at him.

His eyes were glued to the road ahead his face serious like he was listening very intently. "What about you?" I asked.

"I have siblings, two of them," He said. "Thats all? Are they younger, older?" I asked. He smiled, "Younger, fourteen and eleven," He said.

I wondered where they were. But I didn't ask.

As we drove further into the Las Vegas strip I watched the people around us. I had never seen crowds this big. People in extravagant costumes stood on the sidewalks handing out flyers.

We turned the car into a street less crowded. I watched as Will drove across the cracked asphalt as the neighborhood got sketchier.

He turned into the parking lot of a run down Holiday Inn. The parking lot was practically empty. "Go in, get a room, stay in the room until I come back," He said. I furrowed my eyebrows, "What?" I asked. "You heard me, just wait here. I'll be back after I get the money," He said. "No? How do I know you won't run off? Or try to cheat me out of my cut?" I said.

He looked at me. "Your cut?" He asked. "I helped didn't I? I also robbed the bar which means I get a cut," I said. He chuckled, "Sweetheart, If I were you I would just go in and sit my pretty little ass inside the hotel room and wait for me to come back. You don't know anything about anything. What? Just cause you robbed a bar means you know everything about being a criminal? You have no idea where I'm going or what has to be done, so like I said. Take that pretty little ass of yours and wait in the room like you were told to," He said.

I crossed my arms. "No," I said. He threw his head back contemplating. He stared at me sticking his tongue on the inside of his cheek. "I know you have your doubts sweetheart but I'm doing this for your own good," He said. "How do you know whats good for me? Aren't you the one who kidnapped me?" I said. "Trust me Maria, you don't want to be around these people. Your not like them," He said. "I don't care! I don't trust you, I can't trust that you'll even come back! How do I know your not planning to dump me here and run away after you get the money?" I questioned.

He was silent. "Maria...these guys," He started. "Carry the gun," I said. "Jesus, see how naïve you are? Carry a gun? Where we're going everyone has a gun, bigger ones with hundreds of rounds," He said

"You just said we're, you said we're going," I smiled. He sighed. "Just get in the damn hotel. I'll be back," He said. "No! You asked me to prove my loyalty by robbing that bar. I still don't know if I can trust you, let me go. Let me be in on it all. Trust works both ways," I said. He thought for a moment. "You really want all in?" He asked.

"Yes," I said.