Who Am I? (boyxboy)

Part 14

The rising sun stung my eyes and forced me out of my sleep. Carter looked as if he'd been hit by a bus. Dark circles encompassed his eyes, which looked deep set into his skull from fatigue.

"Where are we?" I winced as I straightened out my neck. I was stiff from the position I had fallen asleep in.

"Maryland, just on the outskirts of D.C." He replied to me slowly.

"Let me drive. You need to get some sleep."

He gave no protest as he slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. It didn't take very long after getting into the passenger seat and buckling his seat belt before he fell asleep. I sighed and brushed the hair out of his soot covered face, which was twisted with worry, even as he slept.

After driving another 2 and a half hours, we had crossed into Virginia and were on the other side of the city. I spotted a motel on the side of the road and pulled into the parking lot. We needed to change and shower. I cut the engine, Carter stirred but didn't open his eyes. I looked around the small, red brick complex for the office. I spotted a small plaque on the door that must have been the office. A faded "First State Motel" sign hung above it with a sputtering red neon sign that read "vacancy".

I pushed open the white door and a little bell rang above my head. A blonde woman's head bobbed behind the counter as a country song played.

"Hello, welcome to-" She looked up and gasped. "My heavens darlin' what happened, are you ok?" she said in a thick southern accent.

"Yeah I'm fine." I scratched the back of my neck. I'm sure I looked like I'd been through hell and back, I didn't even want to know what my hair looked like.

"Are you sure sweetheart? You look more shook up than a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs. You look an absolute mess too. Is that blood?" she came from around the counter and brushed some of the soot off my hoodie and wiped at some of the dried blood on the side of my face with her thumb.

"Yeah uhh-" I tried to think up a lie on the spot. "I'm a chimney sweep and I had hit my head earlier, I'm fine though." I laughed nervously. "Can I have a room please?"

"Of course darlin'! How long do you think you'll be staying with us? Is it just you?"

"Just tonight, and no, I'm with my boyfriend."

"That's wonderful darlin'," She made her way back behind the counter and opened a large book. "I don't judge. What kind of American would I be if I judged people based on how they lived their life in this country. Ain't nobody else's' business what you do, and don't let nobody tell you different, you hear me son?" She shook a finger at me.

"Thank you, Mrs...?"

"Taylor, Sadie Taylor. Just call me Sadie though. Mrs. Taylor is my mother in law." she gave me a wink. "Ok darlin', I just need your names and payment for tonight's stay."

"Ca-" I stopped and thought. Maybe it wouldn't be the best Idea to give our real names, in case Sebastian came looking for us. "Cameron, and I'm James. How much for the stay?"

"Eighty dollars even darlin'."

I fished through my bag for my plastic bag and handed her the eighty dollars. She put it into the register and closed it. She walked over to the wall on the far side behind the counter and skimmed her finger across the wall before grabbing a key and handing it to me.

"Just sign right here next to the x." She tapped a line on the book.

2/22/20 10:33 a.m.- James and Cameron- One night- $80- X