Good Things To An End

Nighttime Drive

Everyone else was out like a light as white moonlight shined in from the large windows.

Owen chuckled, looking back at everyone. "Looks like they used all their energy, even Jean got tired of listening to Claire."

"I guess that arguing like that would make you pretty tired. Say, what are you reading?" May glanced over to Owen's book.

"Oh, this?" Owen shut the book. "It's about what would happen if a Gaia resident was forced to the other planet of the Split. I was never really into this book before, but now..."

May nodded. "Yeah, I can connect the lines."

Mr. Reliquus took a pit stop on the side of the road. "For our two only awake passengers, I have to take a short stop here to give the Gaia energy a break. There's a small corner store here if you guys want anything. Don't worry, you can use some of my money."

"Really?" May asked. "But wouldn't that be-"

"Nah, consider it thanks for you not being one of the people to constantly bicker. Make sure you buy only whatever you can carry!"

Owen and May walked out the bus, heading for a lonely, neon-lit shop on the side of the road.

"No competition here, I guess." Owen chuckled.

There was a small jingle of a bell when they opened the door. The shop was fairly cramped, with a few shelves in the center selling some snacks, magazines, and tools.

The sound of a wood walking stick echoed on the stone tiles. "Well, well. We have some youngsters here in my shop, don't we?"

May looked over at the counter, seeing an old man with white, wispy hair. He was skinny, but his eyes weren't clouded over at all.

"So, you've  taken a pit stop here to go to Baculus, haven't you?"

Owen's eyes widened in surprise. "Yeah! How'd you know?"

The old man leaned on the counter. "Well, most folks run out of Gaia energy around here to take a pit stop. When I was a youngster, I thought 'this would be the perfect place for a shop!' But, well, I forgot the fact that everyone fell asleep on the bus. So, it's nice to see some people awake for once."

"Do you get business often?" May asked.

"No, no, but when energetic youngsters like you come over it can help. Can I suggest something?"

"Hm?" Owen asked.

The old man pointed at a flyer with his stick. "That flyer describes Baculus, all of it's little secrets. Only a dollar!"

Owen chuckled. "Sure, I'll take it."

He tossed a coin over, and the old man caught it, dropping it in a cash register.

"Pleasure doing business with you!" The old man shined a toothless grin.

Before May exited, the old man stopped her. "Hey, little lass?"

"What is it?"

"Baculus is a strange place. But, no matter what, don't be afraid to stick your nose where it don't belong. It might just mean everything to you."
(Line Here)
The bus rocked along the bumpy road, bustling and rattling. May stared off into the distant, yellow streetlights out the window dimly illuminating the highway.

Owen shut his book. "Hey, May? Have you ever, uh, been in a, I dunno, some kind of 'relationship' before?"

"What?!" May forcibly whispered. "Why?"

"I dunno, just because I know you had a lot of suitors before, so... Were you interested in any of them? Also half because this book is slightly romantic, but like, that's beside the point."

May sighed. "I dunno, I guess I could never really be interested in any of them because of their intentions. They didn't actually 'love' me or anything, really. They just wanted a grasp on the throne. And, I wasn't interested in anyone other than the suitors. I had some really good friends, but that was it."

"Oh, okay."
(OWEN DON'T GET DISCOURAGEDDDD)
"So, why'd you want to know about my non-existent love life?"

"No, it's nothing."

"Really?"

"Really!" Owen flustered. "I was just curious, that's all."

"Then you should think it's only fair I ask you too..." May smirked.

"Fine, fine. Well, to be honest, people used to think I liked Claire. And, well..."

"You believed them?"

"Yeah, actually! How'd you know?"

May chuckled. "I used to be like Claire before, helping people through their 'relationships.'"

"So, yeah. I believed the rumors, but then after a year I realized I actually didn't like Claire. That's basically my whole story."

"That does sound rough. Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in the 'idea' of a relationship, isn't it?"

Owen stared down at his feet. "Yeah. It sounds nice and cute, but you can never really tell if it's real or not."

"It's hard, isn't it?" May yawned. "I'm actually kind of tired now. Good night..."

May's head leaned back on the chair, and she fell asleep. But, her head drifted off to the side, resting on Owen's shoulder.

Owen smiled, chuckling quietly. Then, he rested his head on May's and fell asleep.