The town is peaceful-a perfect place to lay low and hide. As I stand on the sidewalk, the bus pulls away, disrupting the quiet morning with its roaring motor. The dingy exhaust fills the air and my mouth, leaving a lingering trace of smoke and oil. The town continues in its slumber. Typical rural sites fill my view- the cloned suburban homes, fields filled to capacity with corn stalks the height of a man, and the blue welcoming sign. A gas station devoid of life stands to my left, wedged between a McDonald's and a questionable motel. My eyes dart between the McDonald's and the motel, trying to decide if my need for hunger overpowers my need for sleep. The sound of a motor choking freezes me as I head toward the familiar golden arches. I swing my gaze around, checking to make sure no one is following me. Paranoid much? As I step off the sidewalk and into the street, I hear the screeching of tires and a car honking at me, informing me I just had a near-death experience. Wouldn't that be poetic? I finally get free only to die… I think as my heart pounds against my chest. I turn around and quickly walk away before the driver can even roll down his window. As I glance back at the car, I bump into something solid and fall to the ground. Jesus, could anything else go wrong?
"Sorry about that! Are you okay?" said a voice above me. My eyes squint as I look up, trying to discern the face of my assailant. Okay, so I'm a little dramatic, sue me. I ignore the hand stretched out towards me and push myself back up. "I'm fine; just watch where you're going next time." I snap as I pick up my guitar case that I had dropped. When I'm upright again, I finally get a good look at my mysterious attacker. How the hell did she knock me down? I swear I hit a tree...or an elephant. In front of me is a teenage girl about my height, slender with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her smile drops into a frown that deepens as she takes in my appearance- jeans with torn knees, ratty hair held back in a ponytail, and a t-shirt that hasn't been washed in days. Yeah, not my best look but hey, I think I look pretty damn good for being on the road for three days. When her eyes reach mine again, I can see the questions and pity in them. The last thing I want is pity and I'm sure as hell not looking to play twenty questions. I bump her shoulder as I pass her and stride toward the motel.
"Hey, wait!" blondie calls out. I sigh and turn around – curious, I guess, to see what she wants.
"What's your name?" she asks when I'm once again facing her.
"Ashley" I answer simply before pivoting and walking quickly to the motel. As I walk into the motel office, I hear two words shouted from the sidewalk before the door swings shut behind me.
"I'm Spencer!"
After fattening the motel clerk's wallet in exchange for forgoing the usual I.D. check, which is ridiculous since I turn 18 in a few weeks, I head to my room. I throw my army duffel bag full of clothes on the small wooden table, prop my guitar case by the window, and plop myself down on the bed. I really hate motel beds-the floral comforter makes me want to puke and God knows when the last time these sheets were cleaned-but I'm too tired right now to care. Spencer…isn't that a guy's name? is my last thought as I drift off to sleep.