CHERRIES & PEACHES!

Wine

'But it did,'
That morning was fast moving, Sadie was there - like she promised at five in the morning.
Janie was ready, her parents asleep sound in their beds.
Sadie was sat next to her in the dark on Janie's bed, the soft covers warm on her skin.
"You ready?" Sadie asked, a nervous look on her tired face.
"If you are," Janie offered a hand, her suitcase and the stack of money her mom left on her dresser later that night in the other.  
Hand in hand, they crept silently through the house, the darkness wrapping them in silence.
Locking her apartment door, pressing a soft kiss to the battered wood.
She'll miss her home, she's already prepared for the first sleepless nights.
They walked in silence, except for the comment that Sadie parked her truck in the lot.
Walking out into dark morning hours is strange.
It's a quiet time, they stuff their bags into Sadie's trunk, (c'mon Jane. Put some fucking muscle into it) and climb into the car.
It is a mutual agreement that Sadie would drive the first five and a half hours, then thy would stop and grab brunch.
Sadie cranked the heat and turned on the radio.
The unmistakable sound of 'Heart's' 'Barracuda' sang from the speakers, a deep rumbling sound. Janie found her eyes slipping closed to the warmth of the car, and the low sound of the lyrics blending into one jumble of words.
——————-
It's light out, when Janie wakes up.
The sky is a light grey and the air smells fresh, the heater is still on — but the window is cracked open.
"Oh, you're up sleeping beauty," Sadie cheered, her eyes focused on the rapidly moving traffic.
"What time is it?" Janie squinted against the harsh light.
"About 11. I'm gonna find a gas station, take a leak — and some food, I'm fucking starving." Sadie made a left, her turn signal clicking.
"Wanna pull over? I can drive." Janie offered.
"We'll switch when I find a station. Get some more sleep, when we switch drivers, you know I'm zonking the fuck out."
Janie smiled and popped the glove box open, pulling out Sadie's bright yellow sunglasses, and pulled them on.
"Looking snazzy Lewis," Sadie looked over at her.
"Where'd you pick those up," she smiled. "You know, looking for a friend." Sadie gave a lame attempt at a wink, her eyes off of the road.
"Hey, hey eyes on the road, not me skipper!" Janie snapped as Sadie swerved, knuckles white.
"Relax," she chuckled.
"You won't be telling me to 'relax' when we're dead." Janie slumped into her seat, her heart feeling like it could leap out of her throat at any moment.
Sadie was silent, before reaching on her dashboard, a pair of pale pink sunglasses now resting on the bridge of her nose.
"I like those too, you've always had the best taste in accessories Sades." Janie nudged her tense shoulder.
No reply.
"Listen. I wasn't trying to snap, it's just you know I get nervous sometimes if I'm driving — personally," Janie swallowed.
"And when people play music too loud or mess around, you know," Janie sighed. "It's not your fault, okay? It's my own fucking insecurities coming out in the wrong way." Janie turned to look her friend, Sadie still stone faced.
"I'm sorry, I'm probably just really fucking hungry," Janie tried one last move before falling silent. "I love you," she squeezed Sadie's bracelet covered wrist.
Sadie flicked up Her sunglasses, her eyes soft. "I know," she said, eyes still focused on the road.
"Did you just fucking Han Solo me?"
Sadie's cheeks turned pink, and they were chubby — held in laughter making her face contorted.
Laughter boomed around the car, both girls red faced and giddy. 
They pulled into a gas station, fifteen minutes later, the short car ride with both of them singing 'Cherry Bomb' by 'The Runaways' on repeat, harshly off key and wide, toothy grins plastered on both girls's faces.
They parked in the lot of the convenience store, Sadie told her that she's gonna fill up the gas and to head inside, and look around for some snacks.
The air was brisk and Janie tugged her thick, black winter jacket over her plum knit sweater.
The overhead bell gave a sharp 'ding ding' as Janie pushed the door open. The air inside the place was warm and vaguely smelt like spoiled milk.
It was dimly lit, and there was one bored looking teenage girl working the counter, her blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and her eyes followed Janie around the store.
Janie maybe would've found her hot, if she didn't look like such a bitch.
Janie browsed the aisles, her hand dragging along the metal bars on each shelf.
She gazed the movies, searching for a few to buy for their hotel room, who knows what kind of porno movies are in those things.
"I was thinking 'dazed and confused' and 'pretty in pink', or 'lean on me' and 'the lost boys'." Janie held all movies up for Sadie to see, her friend rubbing both of her arms, shuddering slightly.
"Get them all. We have the money." Sadie said, pushing her ratty cart down the aisle, only stopping to let Janie toss the films into the basket.
They travelled the aisles, throwing this and that in the crate.
Twenty minutes later and a question from blondie about how much longer they would be browsing for.
They ignored her.
The cart filled up in no time, food and gknick knacks piled up.
They headed to cash, the only sound was blondie's stupid gum snapping every five minutes.
The rhythmic beeping of the scanner and the soft 'tap. Tap tap. Tap' of Sadie's doc martens. "That'll be fifty dollars and ninety cents. Do you guys want a bag?" Blondie snapped her gum.
"Fifty dollars?" Sadie asked, a frown on her cheeks.
"Yeah, fifty dollars. Is that a problem?" The question should sound caring, but how could it with bubblegum bitch smiling a sickly sweet grin.
Sadie snatched two things of Winston's and a bottle of vodka.
She came back, empty handed.
"Okay," The girl said. "Your total is thirty eight seventy five. Is that a reasonable price?"
Sadie growled, her voice low. "You know what, dickwad? A reasonable price would be my foot up your fucking ass," Sadie's first hit the counter with a thud.
"How's that sound for ya?" Sadie flashed a quick smile and slammed the money on the counter, bracelets rattling.
They left the store, bags in hand.
Janie slipped in the drives seat, and started the engine.
"Sleep, Sades. I'll wake you when it's time to switch."
She didn't, while Sadie was out cold, she drove for eight straight hours.
She finally decided to wake up Sadie, shaking her shoulder with one hand and steering with the other.
Sadie woke with a sharp gasp, her breaths heaving in and out — as if she had been deprived of water for months and only got a little taste.
"What time is it?" Sadie stretches, her muscles popping.
Janie didn't answer.
"Janie, how fucking long have you been driving for?" She asked, a furrow in her brow.
"Seven, no — eight hours?" Janie whispered. Her eyes were tired, her brain beginning to feel like mush. "Pull over," She has pointed to a Small picnic bench and a parking lot.
They both jumped out of the car, and traded sides and started their journey again.
The rest of the trip was like that , stopping to dig out snacks.
It was early the next morning when they finally arrived in New York, the buildings tall and shiny — So different compared to the little, rural town they call home.
They both were awake this time, they searched for their hotel along the downtown way of SoHo.
It was a little holiday inn, one not terribly expensive for how long they are staying for.
"Ready?" Sadie glanced at her, eyes hooded with exhaustion.
"If you are," Janie said, hand resting on the door handle.