Adam stared at Gansey in the dashboard mirror. Gansey didn't notice. His attention rested on the road and Blue, whose hair was pinned in a very spiky fashion. Her cheek sat on her hand as she stared out the window, watching the blurred dead trees pass.
"Hey, do you guys want to stop and get food? There's a Fazoli's at the next exit." Gansey asked brightly.
Blue smirked. "I live for poor Italian food." Adam was silent.
"Good. I was gonna get off anyways. Pig needs gas." A large black truck cut them off just as Gansey got over. He shook his head gently, muttering something about patience.
"Where exactly are we going?" Adam spoke up.
"Not sure yet. Tennessee. Georgia. Texas."
Blue lifted her head. "We could go to Kansas. I've never been to Kansas."
Gansey nodded thoughtfully, taking this offer into consideration. His thumb would be on his lip if he wasn't such a responsible driver.
"Kansas."
"Kansas it is," Adam mumbled from the backseat. They pulled off the exit, cruising past box department stores and fast food restaurants. Much like Fazoli's. Gansey smoothly pulled into the least sketchy gas station, even though it didn't have the cheapest price. He stepped out of the car, surveying the area, then resumed to pumping gas.
"Why does every exit look the exact same?" Blue asked, annoyed.
Adam replied calmly, "They try to make it convenient for visitors."
"Who's they?"
Adam looked down at his hands, feeling Cabeswater's absence. "I'm never really sure, Blue." She nodded slowly, understanding. There was calm, stifling silence until Gansey returned to the car, snacks in hand.
"I wasn't really sure what you guys wanted for the rest of our drive, so I got Coke and trail mix. And dark chocolate for you, Jane."
"Thanks, Dick."
Gansey had adventure in his eyes and he looked over at Blue, admiring her pixie like nose and light spread of freckles. Adam looked away and began texting Ronan. Ronan had never been a cell phone kind of guy, but he was when it came to Adam's texts and calls. Adam typed, "Just wanted to see how you were, holding down the fort."
"Do you guys still wanna go to Fazoli's?" Gansey asked quietly as he backed out.
Adam was staring at his phone, waiting for a reply. He didn't reply. Blue, however, said "Mfht riglly." Her mouth was full of chocolate. Gansey knew that she had in fact said, "Not really."
And then they were on the road again.