Book 2 of 2, sequel to Alaska's Illicit.
In which Mikaere returns to Alaska, but upon arriving realizes that she has a new problem: Vaughn, Darren, or should she just stick with Jared?
Vaughn's past and life are revealed, and also a serial killer mi...
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CHAPTER SIX: MALEE
"Red, will you please stop crying? I'm literally begging you, I-"
He does his high-pitched monkey cry again, cutting me off and I sigh, rubbing at my temples.
He hates riding in the truck. He hates driving in general. He sees kids and immediately wants to play with them, and when the window gets in the way, he cries.
I'm starting to think hitchhiking with creepy guys hopping on your vehicle is less stressful than spending all day listening to Red crying.
I reach between the seats, pulling out a small puppy treat for him. "Here, please take this in exchange for five minutes of silence." And I'm happily surprised when he stops crying for six.
We've been traveling for a few more days now, and pretty soon we'll be near the border of Alaska, but we still have about three more days left of driving.
I contemplated going to Anchorage before Juneau, but it just didn't seem as practical. Juneau is where I can return a certain journal to someone I definitely haven't been thinking about, and probably retrieve my other duffle bag.
And if he doesn't want me to stay and wants me to leave as soon as possible, I can simply head for Anchorage.
I'm nervous, I'll admit that to myself because I've never fully been on my own before. And now here I am, with a brand new life ahead of me, full of opportunity and chances at making friends. Friends I had never got to have before.
I wonder what I'll do for a job, to start out with. I have no problem being a waitress or a dishwasher, why would I? Though I would prefer the latter since the first involves a high-paced environment full of interactions with people I don't know. But, then again, doing so at the tavern wasn't that bad. So, I suppose I'll take what I can get.
Eventually, I might like to go to college, once I find something I'm passionate about studying.
But I'm going to take it one step at a time for now.
Focusing on the road, I let my thoughts drift and turn up the radio in an attempt for Red to listen to the music rather than cry.
...
The last day of traveling to Juneau is spent on the Haines ferry. It consists of 5 hours and 40 minutes of comforting Red and reading, and by the time we're back on land, I immediately have to stop the car at the nearest convenient place for the puppy.
Afterward, I drive around a bit. In my research, I have taken notes and screenshots and tried to prepare. But as I look out wide-eyed at the city I've only before seen in pictures, I can only fear that I've not prepared nearly enough.
When I enter the room of the nearest and cheapest motel, I order a small pizza and decide to stay for the night. Even after spending the last four months working two jobs and increasing my savings, I'm getting low on the money I set aside for myself to spend on travel, so I need to find a job soon. I've tried to get an idea of the area so I'm not completely clueless about it when I arrive.
