Stir
'PRISON AREA: picking up hitchhikers is prohibited.' But he had ignored that sign. Instead, the car had come to a screeching halt next to the girl that looked like no other. With a thousand looks in her eyes he couldn't describe, she had evoked every emotion within him and it was all he could to do keep from letting them loose. He opened the passenger door, mimicking her crooked smile. "Get in."
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, nor do I own anything related to prisons.
My amazing Teen Titans fans! I love you so much! You have been with me through thick and thin, and I owe you a million. THIS is a SERIES. Yes, my loves, it's NOT just a oneshot. It is a WHOLE BOOK!! I know!! I couldn't believe it either! Please, enjoy!
XX
The desert sun had just reached the center of the sky, covering every inch of the desert wasteland. Shadows were only tiny stumps behind dry brush, and even they had no hope of escaping the heat. The blue sky seemed faded and washed-out, bleached by the scorching sun. Not a single cloud remained in the sky, for even they were afraid to be abandoned in this warmth.
Richard turned the air conditioning up in his car, glad that he was able to remain cool. Outside it was 112 degrees, and he was positive that no one would be enjoying a day outside. He wouldn't ever have to, he knew. There couldn't be much anyone else who would have to live out here. But, if there was, he pitied them.
He made a game of reading each sign that passed, trying to get rid of the boredom that gripped him. Every sign, though, was meaningless. Next exit 86 miles, next rest stop 129 miles, next, next, next. Every next was followed by a number; a big number. He already knew he would remain in the emptiness for what seemed like forever, and he wasn't getting much encouragement by seeing the numbers slowly go down on the signs.
'PRISON AREA: hitchhiking is prohibited.' Hmm, he thought, that's new. He looked around eagerly for a prison, but only saw a short building far off in the distance. It was too far away to make out anything exciting, such as electric fences and prisoners. For all he knew, it could have just been a mirage. Because in the distance it seemed to bend with waves of light, haze rising into the air in what looked like gas fumes. He looked away, searching for something else interesting.
In the distance, what looked like just more bends in the light, was a shadow, too far away to see anything but a blur. He squinted, for even his custom made sunglasses could not block out the light. Soon, the shadow became a figure, one with a raised thumb. He knew in an instant that there was a hitchhiker there, completely inflamed by the sun. He had thought before that he pitied anyone who was out in the heat, but he did not feel anything for them.
He sped up faster, his foot pressing down hard on the gas petal, intent on passing the distant shadow with the raised thumb. The yellow lines on the road disappeared faster under the car, the dry brush passing by in only a blur now. He didn't care to look at the speedometer; he just knew that he had to pass the figure.
Until he could see it, and every thought changed. He saw a girl now, and it was not one he intended on passing by. She had fire-red hair that made the vast desert look cold, and two large emerald eyes that could not have looked more like the real jewel. He saw her, every inch of her body in some way unique, and the car came to a screeching halt.
He opened the passenger door, already able to feel the desert heat seep into the cold car interior. He looked at her, taking in every feature about her. Her crimson hair was in a high ponytail, her stomach exposed by a white tank top, her sun-bronzed legs partially covered by ripped shorts. He stared back at her, mimicking her sideways smile. "Get in."
XX
"Name?" he asked her, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Kory Anders," she replied.
"I'm Richard." She waited for more. "Um, Grayson."
"Dick," she murmured. "Nice."
He inwardly groaned, annoyed that yet another person would abuse his name. Outwardly, however, he remained calm, thinking of what to say next. "What were you doing out in the desert like that?"
She seemed to pause. "I came from back east. My boyfriend…uh…abandoned me, and I was left here alone."
"So you're single?" Whoops. How did that happen?
She looked at him, grinning widely. She looked around the car for a moment, examining the fine black leather and expensive mechanisms, then met his eyes again. "Yes," she said, "I'm single."
It was silent for a while, the tension seeming to be only in his head. She had probably dealt with a thousand pretty boys, and she was completely used to being hit on, and was fairly good at flirting back. He, however, had only dealt with so many pretty girls. None, though, as gorgeous as she.
"I've been driving for two days now," he began, "and I'm pretty beat. Do you mind if we stop at a hotel?"
"Sure," she said. "I don't mind."
So, he drove along the narrow highway, watching as the numbers on the signs seemed to go by so much faster now. Soon, he exited into a small town, picking the first motel he saw. Kory agreed to it, not really seeming to care that it was a rundown junk house. "I could afford much better," he assured her, "but I just don't want to drive longer."
She traced her slender finger along the dashboard, running it along every curve in the surface. "I can see that," she said.
XX
"One bed or two?" the lady at the front desk asked. As if she was the mascot of the hotel, she perfectly represented the run-down hillbilly motto.
"Uh," Richard paused, his brain deciding that it didn't like the question. It refused to work. "T-two beds, please."
Kory was silent the whole time, and remained so as they walked to their room. He had brought a suitcase, but she didn't have anything to take up to the room. Quite obviously.
He opened the door to their room, dropping his suitcase on the floor, and then lunging himself onto the bed. He was intent on falling asleep right then, but he had to do something about Kory. She needed clothes, and probably food and water. He opened his eyes to find her tracing her finger along the walls of the room, over the furniture, over the bed.
"I'll get us something to eat." He didn't bother offering. He knew she was hungry. "I'll go down to the lounge and bring back some stuff. Anything you want in particular?"
She smiled a strange smile he hadn't yet seen on her. Like she was smiling about something secret, something he would never find out. "Junk food," was her answer.
He came back with two trays of food. Both of them had the same things: a hamburger, chips, a cookie, fries, and water. She ate ravenously, probably starving from having spent so long in the desert. He finished half over everything, offering her the rest. She finished that off, too, and traced her finger over the two trays.
She stayed awake long after he dozed off. And he could have sworn he felt her finger run along his face, his stomach, his legs…. But when he awoke, it was night, and she was sound asleep on the floor, the bed completely undisturbed.
XX
Idea's are needed, and reviews are wanted. I will kiss the ground you walk on if you review. And I will kiss the soles of your shoes if you give me an idea.
Love and love and love again,
Chloe