Finding Ford

chapter eleven

"Mon Cheri, but the truth catches up to us eventually." -Fall Out Boy, Irresistible

I'M NOT USED TO SLEEPING IN THE SAME room as someone else. Growing up as a kid, I've never really had much sleepovers or anything- maybe just the odd one with Jas, but those began to dissipate as we grew older. Besides that, there was the graduation trip our middle school, where we went camping in the woods for three days. I had shared a cabin with a couple of girls, but we didn't do much sleeping, anyway. Other than that, I've had my own room my life, with no sibling to share my privacy with.

When I blearily wake up that morning to the sun shining through the stained and ugly window's of the motel, I take a moment to regain my bearings, before remembering exactly where I am. My eyes flicker down to Ford's still sleeping form on the floor, the blanket that was on him tossed somewhere on the other side of the room, and the pillow his head on in the tight grasp of his arms. I roll my eyes; he looks like a seven year old. I'm almost grateful he's still asleep, because that means he didn't have to witness me sleeping; who knows, maybe I snore, or drool? It's not like my parents ever complained, and like I said, I had never really shared a room with someone.

It also gives me a moment to reflect on what I've done. And God, I'm not getting out of this easily. I glance at Ford one more time. We're not even that good of friends, and that had crossed my mind for the first day after he texted me, but then I had gone to school and looked around at Lucas, Jas, and James, and just by the look on their faces and the way they carried themselves, I knew that Ford hadn't contacted them. After that, those thoughts had flown out of my head. I'm still not too sure what had influenced me to get in my car last night; maybe the fact it was the middle of the night and any good judgement was clouded, maybe the fact that I could finally find him again, or maybe just seeing him and making sure he's not mad at me for not staying with him the day he was upset and went missing could lessen the guilt I was feeling.

I roll onto my back, staring at the peeling ceiling. My mom is probably losing it from worry, that's for use. I feel a knot in my stomach from the thought of that. I still remember Molly's face after Ford had gone missing; bags under her eyes from the lack of sleep, face pale, and no appetite. I don't want to put my mother through that. But I had made a promise to Ford, and there's no way of me calling her and explaining things to her without breaking that.  

Heaving a deep breath, I remind myself Ford is a boy, and therefore Ford isn't going to get up anytime soon. So, instead of spending the time locked up in the motel room, I decide that I'm not going to deal with this ridiculous morning breath and go out to at least buy a tooth brush. Grabbing my car keys, I write Ford a quick note in case he wakes up early, and head to my car.

Although the motel is pretty run down, I have to admit, the town is pretty nice. It's different from Cailbridge, that's for sure; bigger population, nicer buildings, actually driveable roads. I'm able to find a store quickly, and am surprised to see a good amount of people already parked outside. Maybe people in this town actually begin to live before ten o'clock.

I grab some essentials, just enough to last me the day. I don't know exactly how long I'll be gone, hopefully nothing longer than the rest of the day, but I need to brush my teeth to keep it from feeling gross just to swallow. 

As I check out the things, I ask the cashier, "Do you know where the nearest gas station is?"

"If you turn right, it should be on the next intersection," he says. "You new here?"

"Just visiting."

A woman from the cashier behind snorts. She grumbles something about it being stupid for anyone to want to visit 'this dump', and okay, maybe this isn't such a nice town. Though every town has its secrets, I suppose, and Cailbridge is no exception.