I was watching the incredible hulk and the hitchhiking scene came on. This is in no way related the that movie though. I just got the idea through it.
I squinted as I peered through the windshield, trying to stay on high alert as the heavy rain hid the road, even through the brightness of my headlights. There were no streetlamps on this sector of the highway. Trees took their place and the moon was blocked by the tall and profusely dense leaves. I was alone on the dark road and I couldn't stop the fear licking at my insides, making me shiver as I caught sight of movement off to the side of the road. I slowed down, keeping my eyes on what could be a suicidal animal. It continued trudging through the mud path that was close to the line of trees and when I drew closer, I saw that it wasn't an animal.
Some poor, unfortunate person was walking through this mess and if I wasn't so scared out of my wits, I would've stopped the car and told them to get the hell in. But that figure could belong to anyone and letting a stranger you found wandering around in the rain into your car just screamed danger. Though I just couldn't help but feel sorry for them as I slowly crept up behind them in my car. I was honestly torn. Should I just go with my overly sympathetic heart, or should I just drive past them and forget that they ever existed? As if my inner question had been aloud, the figure lifted their arm, presenting me with their thumb. That was it.
I pulled up next to the now halted person and they hastily opened my door and sprung into the passenger's seat. I couldn't see their face due to the soaked hoodie they hid under. I swallowed my fear and offered a smile, even though the person wasn't looking.
"Where are you heading?" I asked casually over their heavy panting.
"Malibu," they croaked.
"Wow, you're a long way from home." We weren't even in the right state. Malibu, California, was probably over a seventeen-hour drive from Colorado, and that's without stopping.
"I know," their voiced cracked as they agreed, sounding hurt. "Just drop me off before any exit you turn, please." I nodded and started to carefully travel down the secluded highway once more.
"So... What's your name?" I asked. Their answer was a mumble, but I caught half of it, which sounded a lot like 'Stewart'. I didn't want to push my chances by asking him to repeat his answer, so I just decided to refer to him as Stewart. The only sounds were the soft hum of my heater, which was blocked by the chatter of Stewart's teeth and the constant ragged breath that came with every shiver. I couldn't sit like this for two hours. I stopped the car. "Get into the back seat and push down the button on top of the middle seat. You'll find my suitcase in the trunk, open it, and get some dry clothes," I instructed. Stewart didn't question me, hopped out of the car back into the pouring rain, and got into the back seat, doing everything I had told him to. I turned my head to the side and gazed out of the window, giving him privacy as I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel while I waited.
"Done," he whispered. I turned my head around to see what clothes he'd picked, but instead, I was too caught up staring at radiant blue eyes and a curtain of long brunette locks. He was a she!
"I-I thought you said your name was Stewart," I fumbled pathetically, watching the small arch of a smile form on the beautiful woman's face.
"I said Miley Stewart," she corrected and I tried to lure the subject away from my idiocy.
"You're still shaking," I noted, leaning forward and slipping off my jacket and handing it to her. I wasn't that cold and she needed its warmth much more than I did.
"Are you sure?" she asked, staring at the jacket in her hands as if she'd just been handed a bundle of cash. I gave a reassuring nod and smile, not wanting the seemingly nice stranger to catch a cold. Her returning beam was beyond grateful and she slid her arms through the sleeves, sighing in contentment as she relaxed into her seat. I reached out and took her wet clothes, placing them on the already damp passenger seat. "Sorry about that," she said, looking ashamed.
"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad I found you before you got kidnapped or something." Miley's laugh was throaty and light. She sounded worn out. I started the car again and tried not to make conversation, watching in the rear-view mirror as her eyes drooped shut.
I finally escaped the forest and reached the highway, but once I got on it, it would take an hour to reach any civilisation. I was dead tired already and wanted so much to just follow Miley's lead and fall asleep, but I forced my eyes to stay open as I scoped the signs to find my salvation. It came in the form of an arrow indicating to a turnoff that led to a motel. Perfect. I tiredly stepped down on the accelerator and counted the seconds my car took to eat away the miles.
Ten minutes later brought Miley and I to an old brown building, with a wonderful glowing 'vacancy' sign above it. I stretched back and nudged Miley's shoulder, her damp hair brushing my fingers as she shifted. She batted my hand away softly. I shook my head with a small laugh and pushed her again, this time waking her up. She sat up straight and yawned.
"Are we at the exit?" she asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.
"No, we're at a motel. I'm damn tired and need a nice bed to sleep in."
"Oh... I don't have any money on me. I could just sleep here if that's okay with you."
"Nah, we'll share a room. Come on." I didn't know why I wasn't cautious around this woman I'd never met before, but there was something familiar about her face that brought on the instantaneous trust. She didn't make me feel unsafe.
"No, it's fine, I'll-" I shut my door and went around to hers, opening it and scowling at her until she scrambled out and joined me. I locked my car and Miley silently trailed after me as I walked up to the small footpath to the entrance of the motel. The clerk behind the counter spouted a way too cheerful greeting and when I asked for a room with two beds, he apologised and said the only rooms left had one bed. I didn't care at this point, too tired to consider one bed a problem. I bought the key and pulled some notes from my pocket, wondering why my wallet wasn't there, but didn't bother worrying about it. He thanked me repeatedly for my service and turned to fetch our key and in that moment with his back turned, I glanced at Miley and rolled my eyes. She flashed a tired smile of amusement and my heart fluttered. With my mind going in and out of consciousness, I didn't really pay attention to my reaction to her and we both left the service counter to go to our room, where I would share a bed with a woman I didn't know.
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