The alarm was set for 6 AM, but to her surprise, Wanda woke up a half hour before that. Oh yeah, this is a reasonable East coast time, she surmised. Not wanting to wake Phoebe, she hung tight in her sleeping bag, occasionally getting into a staring contest with Sadie, who was protectively lying at the foot of the couch where Phoebe slept.

At 6, the alarm made its presence known, causing Sadie to scurry off as Phoebe slowly woke up. Once gaining her bearings, she smiled at Wanda. "Good morning."

"Morning Pheebs."

"Can you go ahead and get ready while I get Sadie ready to go?"

Wanda mock saluted. "Aye aye, captain." Within an hour, both humans and cat were ready to hit the road. Well, they hoped the cat was ready.

As Phoebe stretched out into the drivers' seat, Wanda piped up, "Hey, am I going to get to drive at all?"

Phoebe gave her an apprehensive look. "Um, of course. That's the whole reason I wanted a companion. For now though, it'll make sense for me to drive while we get out of the city. Just keep Sadie company. I have no idea how she's going to react."

Wanda was confused by the wariness in Phoebe's face, but couldn't argue with the logic in her words, so she nodded, and with that, the two were on their way. Unfortunately, almost immediately, Sadie started aggressively meowing.

"What's wrong with her?" Wanda asked, voice dripping with irritation.

"I don't know. Hopefully she just thinks we're taking her to the vet, and she'll calm down once she realizes we're not."

"And if not…"

"I don't know," Phoebe sighed. Neither wanted five days of a cat freaking out. Luckily, Phoebe's guess appeared to be right, and Sadie stopped her caterwauling around the time the car turned onto I-80.

Everyone rode in silence for a while before Wanda asked another question. "Hey, where are we going today anyway?"

Phoebe grimaced. "How did we not talk about that last night?"

"Beats me. It's your trip. I'm just here," Wanda shot back drolly.

"A town in Nevada called Elko," Phoebe replied, holding back a more sarcastic repartee.

"Isn't that in the middle of nowhere?"

"Pretty much, but Salt Lake City is too far a drive for one day, and Reno isn't enough."

"Makes sense. Are there casinos in Elko?" Wanda asked.

"It's Nevada, so probably."

"Sweet!" yelled back Wanda.

Unfortunately, because her eyes were focused on the road, Phoebe didn't see Wanda's playful expression. "No casinos. We're on a tight budget at it is. We can't afford to blow money on that trash."

Wanda's face couldn't hide her exasperation, and in a way her monotone conveyed it. "I was kidding, Pheebs. Who do you take me as?"

Phoebe tried in vain for a comeback before giving up. "You're right. I'm sorry. I just…"

She paused, and Wanda went for the kill. "You still see me as I was growing up, reckless and stupid."

"You said stupid. I didn't," was the best defense Phoebe could counter with on the fly. At that moment, a pickup truck cut them off. "Damn it!" Phoebe yelled. Sadie reacted by loudly meowing herself, and with that the tension in the vehicle only rose.

"I'm…I'm sorry Wanda. I didn't mean it that way," Phoebe said after a while.

Wanda sat with that for just long enough to exacerbate Phoebe's anxiety before finally responding. "It's OK. You just…you have a different version of me in your head. I get it."

"No Wanda. We talked about this at the reunion. I know…"

"Pheebs, stop," Wanda interrupted. "That was one night. That's not going to change what you think of me after all those years."

"But…

"Not buts Pheebs." Wanda crossed her arms defensively. "I don't want to talk about this right now, OK."

"OK, Wanda." The two sat in silence, while Phoebe internally berated herself for her callousness. She also cursed herself for already ruining the trip within the first two hours. Some friend she was.

Around a half hour later, the two women had still yet to speak to each other. Wanda found herself fighting to stay awake. The scenery as they went past Sacramento and further inland was less than enthralling. She was jolted awake by Phoebe stopping at a gas station.

"Want to drive?" the taller woman asked.

Perking up, Wanda replied, "Sure."

"Keep it at the speed limit, or at least not too far above," Phoebe warned.

"So you still think I drive like a maniac?"

"Well, Ralphie did bust you for speeding on your way back to Walkerville last summer."

Wanda pursed her lips in remembrance. "Touché Terese," she said as she took the keys.

"Alliteration! Awesome!"

Wanda rolled her eyes. "Nerd."

Despite the internal rumblings of her adventurous nature, Wanda obeyed the speed limits. In her mind, the car being a boring Prius made it not worth it. What she really wanted was to ease the tension between her and Phoebe, but her taller friend quickly fell asleep. Wanda thus concentrated on the GPS, as well as the forest they were now driving through. She couldn't help but admire the all encompassing trees.

Unfortunately, they soon crossed into Nevada, and the lush, green forest turned into the harsh nothing of desert. Wanda's itchy trigger foot started to take over as she wanted to get this over with as quick as possible. Luckily, Nevada's speed limit had recently been increased to 80. Once they hit Reno, Wanda stopped at a diner and woke Phoebe up.

"C'mon beanpole, we need some grub and I doubt there's any civilization once we get out of here." Wanda tactfully decided to ignore the drool escaping the corner of Phoebe's mouth. She waited as Phoebe stirred, tried to stealthily wipe the drool off her face, and arose.

"Sounds good." Phoebe took a look outside. "Make sure this place will let us bring Sadie in."

"What? We can't just leave her here in the carrier?" Wanda was incredulous.

"No Wanda! It's really hot out! That would be cruel, just like it would be with a dog!"

"Pheebs, it was fifty degrees this morning. She'll be fine for an hour."

"That was San Francisco. This is the Nevada desert." Phoebe gestured outside. "Get out of the car and you'll see."

Wanda confidently got out of the car, only to quickly scramble back in. "Holy shit, you were right!" she said as she slipped out of her windbreaker. "You win. I'll check about the cat." She exited the car without another word.

She returned a few minutes later shaking her head. Phoebe frowned and checked her phone. "There's a Panera two blocks from here. We can order inside and eat in the car."

"Ugh, that's health food stuff," Wanda complained.

"It has a lot of vegetarian meals," Phoebe attempted to reason. When that inevitably failed, she sighed and rechecked her phone. "There's a McDonalds a block away. You can hit their drive thru while I'm ordering at the Panera. Then come back around and pick me up."

"Aye aye, captain," Wanda mock saluted and restarted the car. Neither seemed to remember Wanda already used that retort that morning. Twenty minutes later, the duo were silently eating in the Panera parking lot.

"Wanda, I know I shouldn't pry…" Phoebe started.

"Then don't," Wanda quickly shot back, but Phoebe would not be cowered.

"I'm trying to help. Maybe you shouldn't eat so much junk." She referred to the Big Mac and fries Wanda was in the middle of devouring.

"Pheebs, I spent eight years eating shitty, bland military food. I can splurge a little now. My last medicals before discharge were fine, so mind your own damn business."

Phoebe turned beet red, and Wanda noticed her fighting back tears. "I'm sorry, Wanda. You're right, it wasn't my place to say anything."

"It's alright Pheebs. You're worried about me. Everyone is. I get it. Believe me, I get it." The exasperation in Wanda's voice grew which each I get it. She finished her food without another word. Phoebe did the same, and soon after they hit the road again.

The Nevadan countryside did not allow for much visual stimulation, which only heightened the stalemate the two women were in. Phoebe hugged herself and Sadie's carrier, mentally berating herself and regretting the whole idea. Wanda stole pitiful glances at her friend's visible anxiety during the myriad of miles.

Finally, the black haired woman spoke. "Pheebs, let's start again. All the awkwardness is out of the way."

For the first time in hours, Phoebe perked up. "You mean it?"

"Of course." Wanda pulled over so she could look Phoebe in the eye. "How many times have we seen each other since we graduated high school?"

"Uh…"

"Four. That New Year's party before I enlisted, Keesha's grandmother's funeral, Arnold's wedding, and the reunion. Four times in ten years isn't a lot. I expected some weird shit between us."

Phoebe nodded. "That's very perceptive of you."

"Thanks," Wanda continued. "But c'mon, did you really think we'd go a whole week this close to each other without having a fight?" Phoebe's turn away was all the answer Wanda needed. "Oh Pheebs, our sweet, naïve Pheebs."

"I'm not naïve! I just…I don't like fighting, especially when it's my fault."

"And I said don't worry about it. I forgive you. Now, stop moping," Wanda commanded. In her mind, Wanda was still a little irritated, and she had some nagging questions. For now, she figured it was best to let it go.

With that, the car figuratively thawed, and the two found themselves chatting amicably again. Phoebe took the wheel again for the final two hours. By that point, they needed to keep talking to stay awake before they finally arrived in Elko for the night.

As Phoebe pulled into the motel parking lot, Wanda looked less than impressed. "This isn't the fanciest place in the world."

"I know," Phoebe shrugged. "It was the best I could do on our tight budget that also allows pets."

"No problem. I've slept in worse places."

As the two were checking in, both noticed the building next door. There was only a very dim outdoor light, but didn't stop a steady crowd from entering. Both women noticed that it was only men entering, but often they existed with a scantily clad woman on their arm.

"So, what is that next door?" Wanda finally asked.

The front desk attendant grinned in an unsettling way. "That's a brothel, and before you ask, yes they're legal here."

Wanda shrugged, hiding her bemusement inside. Phoebe turned beet red. This only bemused Wanda further and she no longer hide it as she burst out laughing.

"What's the matter Pheebs?"

Still red, Phoebe tried to respond. "It's…it's…not what I expected."

"I can't imagine you'd have a problem with it. Haven't you linked to articles that say we should treat sex workers with dignity before?" Wanda beamed from ear to ear. She couldn't resist a good tease.

"Yes, of course," replied a still embarrassed Phoebe. "I just...didn't expect this. That's all. It's been a long day." She turned to the barely holding it together attendant to grab the keys. "Everything's fine."

Wanda couldn't resist one more dig before they headed up to their rooms. "Do the client's next door use this place for their activities?" she asked in a sultry tone.

"Yes ma'am they do," said the attendant, whose grin remained as unsettling as before.

"OK, that'll be all. Thank you," Phoebe quickly turned heel and headed for the room, Wanda snickering behind her.

A half hour later, Wanda emerged from the bathroom to find Phoebe face down on her bed, Sadie dutifully laying next to her.

"Pheebs, I was just messing with you, you know that right?"

"I know," came the muffled reply. "But you were right. I shouldn't have a problem with the, uh, establishment next door."

"You've always had that prudishness in you. It is what it is. It doesn't mean you have a problem with it. You just get embarrassed when talking about it. It's exactly like when we'd ask you if you had sex with Arnold in high school." Wanda grabbed a cigarette. "Think they mind if I smoke?"

"There's a sign on the door that says no, Wanda."

"You're killing me smalls." Wanda was about to open the door to head outside when she heard Phoebe get up.

"I'm not one of those fake activists am I?"

Wanda laughed. "You work in non-profit Pheebs and you don't speak in hashtags. You're the complete opposite of fake. What's wrong?"

Phoebe sighed. "I don't know. Tired, I guess."

"Well, go to bed. I'll be hitting the hay myself after I smoke."

"Yeah, good idea. It's been a long…life."

Wanda wrinkled her nose at that comment, but let it go. "See you in a bit."

When Wanda returned, she found Phoebe pawing at the wall. "Oh no, you and Sadie switched bodies!"

Phoebe didn't even bother to acknowledge the joke. "No, these walls are really thin. I'm worried someone from, uh, next door, will be in the other room."

"You've over thinking it, Pheebs. It was loud as shit outside last night and we slept no problem."

"But I was used to that noise…"

"We'll. Be. Fine."

Phoebe sighed. "OK. I trust you. Good night." She curled up next to Sadie and quickly fell asleep. Wanda wasted no time in doing the same (sans cat of course).

Wanda would soon have to eat her words, as Phoebe's premonition unfortunately came true. The two spent most of the night staring at each other as worker and client loudly consummated their transaction.