Title: Three Hours
Word Count: 526
Notes: My take on what might've happened on that car ride…
'It's about three hours away from where you are. Lin is going to pick you up.'
A three hour road trip. That wasn't that bad. She'd had longer.
But she preferred them when they were shorter.
Ayako sighed, standing in front of her house with her two bags. No matter the trip, she always had her two bags, because it didn't matter what they said, you normally ended up having to stay the night. She learned early never to trust the client's judgment and bring your overnight bag.
Well, Mai hadn't exactly specified when Lin was going to show, but Ayako hadn't been expecting to wait forty-five minutes.
Finally, she saw the white van turn around the curb. She smiled and nervously fixed her hair.
Lin got out of the car to carry her two small bags, placing them in the back with the equipment. Ayako had at least expected him to say 'hi', but apparently that was beyond him, too.
They drove for about fifteen minutes in silence, Ayako growing more uncomfortable with every stretching second.
"So…" Ayako started, "Lin, where you from?"
She was answered with a slight eyeroll.
"Well, fine. Be that way." She looked out her window, trying to ignore him as well as he was ignoring her. How the hell did he do that!
Another fifteen minutes passed. She couldn't believe that she still had to survive through two and a half hours.
"Uh, you mind if I turn the radio on?" She asked.
"The radio never worked."
"Oh." Obviously didn't listen to music. Not that she had thought he was the type to listen to it.
11:32 a.m.
…
…
…
11:33 a.m.
"Do you enjoy long, awkward silences?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Oh, well I guess that explains some things…"
Ayako couldn't even remember why she had ever considered him a likely candidate.
11:35 a.m.
...
12:52 p.m.
"All right, listen. I'm a girl; you can't stick me in the car for three hours without a bathroom break! You have to pull over."
Lin didn't say anything, but he did pull over into the next gas station. Why did it look as if he picked the most run-down, unclean place that existed?
Ayako glared at him. But he didn't even acknowledge her.
She finally got out of the car. She moved as fast as her heels allowed her. Into the station, used the bathroom, didn't bother to fix her make-up or hair, then practically ran back out.
She was pleased to see that Lin was still there. She hadn't realized that she had had a small fear that he would drive away brewing inside her.
It really wasn't a surprise that he didn't say anything when she got back into the car. He just started the car back up and started back on the road.
Ayako couldn't wait to get there. Looking forward to hot shower, a comfortable bed, people who talk…
...
"What do you mean! I traveled three freakin' hours from Tokyo for you, and now you're telling me that I have to stay in the janitor's room with a heater that doesn't work!"
"Ayako, stop yelling…"