Chapter 4 – Old Friends

Willa approached the abandoned looking car. The muddish brown sedan looked vaguely familiar. The closer Willa got to the car the more suspicious of it she became.

"Oh, shit!" Willa muttered. It was Cooper Allison's car. Turning on her heal she tried to hurry away – only to spin smack into Cooper.

Cooper reached out and grabbed Willa to steady them both from the force of the impact. "Whoa, watch where you're. . . Oh – it's you. Aren't you supposed to be on probation?" Cooper asked as his mouth closed in a thin line of disgust.

"Hi, good to see you too. I'll be on my way now." Willa pushed off his steadying hands and walked back toward the road. Another semi was approaching, so Willa stuck out her thumb and forced a smile to here face.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? It isn't safe for you to be out here like this. I'm calling Leo and Walter." Cooper went to pull out his phone only to find the pocket it was in empty. Cooper sighed, "Willa, give me my phone."

The semi was getting closer and Willa kept moving along the road. "You must have dropped it. Like, I said, good to see you too, Cooper. Gotta run, now." Willa's eyes were fixed on the truck she didn't see Cooper's hand reach out to grab her. Stumbling sideways Willa fell back into Cooper's arms.

"This time try not to take anything out of my pockets," Cooper snapped as he fished his hand into Willa's coat looking to retrieve his cell phone.

"Hey, what are you doing, get your hands off me!" Cooper just smiled as he found his prize. Pulling out the cell phone he wiggled it in her face.

"At least I'm honest about stealing this back from you." The semi flew past them as Cooper pulled Willa toward his car. "Get in."

"No, and you can't make me." Willa sulked. "Besides, aren't you broke down?"

Cooper just laughed leaning into Willa's petulant face. "No, pulled over to take a cat nap. How old are you Willa. Fifteen? Sixteen? You don't think I can take you? You aren't strong enough to stop me or anyone else for that matter. Now quit being stupid and get in the car before some asshole grabs you off the street and really hurts you."

Willa flashed him a look of loathing and rolled her eyes. She knew she should just run, but she was exhausted, hungry and running out of daylight. At least Cooper was harmless. Cooper opened the car door for Willa. Giving him a dirty scowl she climbed into the car. "For the record, I'm eighteen and my probation is over. Leo fired me and I am going somewhere new to start over."

"I'll call Leo to check on that – remember, I know, lying is what you do."

Willa turned her head so Cooper couldn't see her swallow hard. He started the car and pulled back onto the road. Willa didn't feel like talking so she just stared out the window. Slowly the sun set over the mountains in the distance and darkness took over the car except for the dashboard lights. The engine seemed to hum endlessly; Willa's head began to nod. Sleep blanketed her mind and the nightmares began.