I'm glad that there were some people that enjoyed my writing. And thank you to those that have added me to their alert list. I'm going to put this out pretty soon, but waned to warn you that it might not stay this way. The only reason for a quick update is that I haven't started my new job yet up here and have nothing else to do, but write.
So with that, Happy reading. And please review!
Chapter 2
Mircotel
When I woke up we were pulling into the Microtel off Hospitality Way in Sutherland, OR. Looking around there wasn't much there. Just a little diner called, The Apple Peddler, a gas station and a bunch of big rigs.
I've noticed that they like the Microtel's. There's one in Tracy that my little cousin stayed at this year with her son and there were truckers in and out all the time. A lot of the men in my life were truckers, so I'm used to having them around and dealing with the life style.
When I lived in Modesto my boyfriend drove trucks cross country for a year. It was hard only seeing him for one week a month. That's the lifestyle though. We would have made it if he was able to keep his dick in his pants on the road. That's story for another time though.
Once we were parked we walked into the lobby to check in. The little blonde girl behind the desk took my mom's card and checked us into room 133. "Hey, you go to the room and I'll get our things out of the car." I told my mom.
"Alright. Once we're unpacked we can walk over to the diner and get our grub on." She turned to the blonde. "They any good over there?"
"They're okay. I wouldn't call it five-star or anything though. Prices are decent."
"Not cardboard though, right?"
"Nope." Once my mom was done grilling the young girl she went back to her hole behind the counter and put her headphones on.
After my mom started off for the room, I walked to the front of the lobby and grabbed a luggage cart for our things. I quickly loaded the cat crate, two travel bags, and my fish onto the cart and walked back in.
Shelby was very happy to get out and stretch her legs. She's an odd cat. She is very adaptable to her surroundings. Most cats would stay in they're crates where they feel safe or cower in a corner. Not Shelby. She went straight for the window enjoying the peter pan seat as I call it.
Once she was settle, which wasn't long, I went into the bathroom to check on my fish. I didn't want to bring them at first, but grandma practically begged me to bring the tank telling me how much she missed the one she had in Los Gatos. So I brought them.
Much to my surprise they were all still alive. There was three fan-tailed gold fish. One orange, one white, and one black. The black one had the bubble eyes. I had each one in it's own gallon paint can filled with water. Then I had a corey and an algae eater in a small mason jar. In another mason jar I had another type of algae eater, a colorless tetra, and a typical feeder fish. I was pretty happy that they were all alive. It was questionable whether the white goldfish would survive through the night though. He was pretty sickly looking.
"How are they doing?" My mom popped her head in the door to check.
I turned away from them and headed out. "All still alive. Not sure if Mr. Average is gonna make it though."
"If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
With that we bundled up and headed out into the 37 degree weather to the Apple Peddler. It was just like the girl said… okay. I got the meatloaf meal and root beer. Mom ordered some weird chicken thing I'd never heard of. Then of course she copied me on getting the root beer.
I was being a goof and reading the dessert menu in a sultry voice. "Warm delectable chocolate cake, drizzled with hot fudge, topped with whipped cream and a cherry."
"Stop that. Your making me want one and you know I don't need it." Mom and I shared a love of sugary sweets. I had the biggest sweet tooth imaginable.
"Well you know. We could get a piece of the cheesecake and take it to go. You know, for some late night snacking?"
"Go with the lemon one." A rough voice said from over my shoulder. I looked up to see the biker from earlier passing by. He must have heard our conversation as he was being seated.
"Thanks." My mom gave me a look and I just shook my head and looked down. I'm sure I was turning beat red. I blush so easily. It's the Irish in me. My mother's side of the family is Irish and my father's side is Russian. What a mix.
My facial features were more Russian with their build as well. I stood 5'6" tall and was of an average size. Not skinny, but not fat either. I had a slight bubble butt and hips for days. My mother's Irish side blessed me with natural DD's that did nothing, but hurt my back, and thick brown hair with red highlights that was somewhere between straight and wavy.
"You know him?" She was looking at me with one eye raised.
"No. I literally ran into him at the checkout when we were in Weed though." I replied. "I think he's headed to Washington too. His vest said Tacoma on the back."
"Oh." She said nodding. "Is he an Angel?" She was referring to the well-known Hells Angels. My uncle Lorenzo belong to them.
"No. It said Sons of Anarchy. I wonder if he's affiliated with the club in Charming over by Lodi. Think he knows Carlos?" I had met my friend Carlos this past June when I had to haul my ass an hour away from home to the Lodi courthouse to take care of my bogus traffic ticket. He was there to take care of a speeding ticket.
Neither of us got off easy. He had to pay a $182 fine with traffic school. I had to pay a $580 fine with a $35 bookkeeping fee to make monthly payments of $50. Oh yeah, no traffic school for me. That'll teach me for going out the wrong way at the Taco Bell. There goes my short-cut.
After court he gave me a ride to my car because I had to park about five blocks down. We exchanged numbers and had been friends ever since.
About once a week or so he's come down to Tracy and kick it with me and my bar posse. We consisted of my friends Chris, C.T., Zack, Glover, and my best friend, Kat. Every once in a blue moon Kat's boyfriend, Kenneth, would join us. Then there was the new guy, Phil. He came from New York about a month ago. Everyone called him Philly.
Usually Carlos, which is what Kat and I called him, would come down on Tuesday or Thursday nights when they had the karaoke. The guys all called him Juice. I guess it was a nick name he's had for years. He was a part of SAMCRO, an motorcycle club in Charming. He never really talked about them when he was with us though. He said it was just nice to get away every once in awhile and to something away from the club that was his own.
Usually we'd all just go play pool and drink. Sometimes we'd even stay till the bar closed and would help Marline, the bartender, close up. Then depending on the night we'd all either head over to mine or Kat's house and party some more or go our separate ways.
Once mom and I were done eating diner we made our way to the register and paid for our dinner and asked for a Lemon Cheesecake to-go. It was still freezing as we walked outside the diner and made our way back across the street. "Hey I've gotta stop by the car and get some stuff that I forgot earlier. I'll meet you at the room."
"Could you grab my book? It's in the front seat on the floor." My mom loved reading. Right now I think she was reading a book called 'The Drifter.'
"Yeah. No prob."
I needed to get my fish's food and my ipod. My mom likes to fall asleep with the television as background noise and I can't stand that. I need music. At the moment I was on a huge Lady Gaga kick and punished my mom with her for half of the day.
"Nice ass." I jump at the comment and dug myself out from the back of the Vue. Looking up I seen the biker from the diner and gas station walking over.
"Are you stalking me or what? It is kind of creepy you know."
"I ain't stalkin' no one girlie. You just happen to be at all my stops." He took out a cigarette and lit it up blowing the smoke in my direction. My god I still crave them so bad. He must have noticed my twitching.
"Want one?" He held out the pack to me. I looked around to see if my mom was in the parking lot lurking and nodded a yes.
Taking one I put it to my lips and started digging for the lighter I got at the Gas station earlier that day. "Thanks." I mumbled as I lit it up. Inhaling the smoke I savored it for a minute before exhaling into the cold night air. "Where ya headed?"
"Tacoma. You?"
"Ever heard of Yelm?" No one that I had talked to before had ever heard of it. They were all from California though so that might be why.
He chuckled. "That's where that stupid cult lady teaches her 'flock.'" He stated.
Oh joy. Good to know that I'll be living in some town know for the odd culture. "Yeah. Ramtha's School for Enlightenment. Is that really all Yelm is known for?" I asked.
"That and the shit load of alpacas and horses." He took another hit off his cancer stick. "You live there?"
"I will be." I motioned to the very full vehicle behind me. "Moving in with my grandmother to help out."
"Well ain't that mighty nice of you. Almost saint status." His voice was so rough. Reminded me of gravely rocks.
"No. Definitely not saintly. I just needed a check and she offered. You live in Tacoma?"
"I live wherever I want to."
"So you're a nomad." I nodded to his vest.
He looked down and then back at me with an eyebrow raised. "You know about the Sons?" he asked.
"Sort of. I have a friend that's part of them. He doesn't talk much about it though."
He was surprised. Carlos had told me a little bit about them after some drunken pressuring. He was always so secretive about it though. I knew what SAMCRO meant and that there were several different chapters and that they were mostly on the west coast and spread out.
He told me that he had been with them for four years. Five if you included the year that he prospected. They were a tight knit crew from what he says. He was the technical wizard of the bunch. Didn't surprise me. That asshole could kick my ass at just about any video game. Often times we found ourselves finishing the night at Kat's house with a good game of Guitar Hero.
"Oh yeah? What's his name?"
"Carlos."
His brows came together as he thought. It didn't click.
"Juice." I said and that light bulb light up.
He nodded. "So your one of the ones he goes to see every week. I can see why." He was looking me up and down.
"No like that. Just friends." And we were. The boys were all like my big brothers. When Carlos and I met I had just broken it off with my ex Rob. Wasn't ready or even looking for anyone else at that point. Still not sure if I was.
I did go through a phase where I slept around. Guess I needed to prove to myself that I still had it. Why else would Rob have strayed. And for his ex-wife no less. I had come to a point though where I realized it wasn't me. It was definitely him.
"Uh huh. Sure." Was all he said.
I shook my head and gathered that things that I had dug out of the car. I closed and locked it up and started heading back inside. "Guess I'll see you around then, huh?" I said over my shoulder.
"Yeah. Around."
