Chapter 8
Arriving at the Bates Motel
Jack let the tears fall. He didn't care if Ennis saw them or even if his father did. He lit a cigarette and noiselessly bawled. He watched as Ennis opened the passenger door then froze in his place. Faggot. That's what Jack's father had said. Jack wasn't all too surprised either. He just rolled his eyes and puffed on the cigarette, waiting for Ennis to jump in. When he did, Jack drenched him from head to toes with his eyes. That simple word seemed to eliminate any progress he had made with Ennis. Jack quickly rolled the car out of the Twist property and went off towards the unknown.
They talked little, but when they did Ennis spoke mainly of his parents, since Jack had asked him if he thought of them much. It was a sore subject for Ennis, every word came out with tears. Jack took the last cigarette and drained it of its warm. He knew he would need another one, so he kept a look out for a store. The road was quiet, and lonely. Ennis wasn't up to talking any more after he asked where they were going. Jack was stunned and told him anywhere would do. It was only 7:30; they arrived at Alzada, Wyoming and stopped at a gas station. Jack threw twenty bucks at Ennis, and told him to pump the gas, and go get some cigarettes. Sorry friend, I ain't up to it. Ennis rolled his eyes and reluctantly took the money, and pumped the gas. Jack fuckin' Twist. The air all around was still and hot, but thank god they had a roof over the gas station, so the heat couldn't corrupt them. Ennis walked to the store as fast as he could. As he made his way, Jack stared at his posture. His head bent down, his ass clenched and his fists squeezing the life out of the dollar bills. Jack couldn't help but to give a small sad laugh. He still felt sorry for Ennis. He had never seen a man that couldn't talk for hours; and Jack had seen many men.
Ennis swiftly opened the door of the store and walked in. He went straight to the counter, and was met with a young pretty girl. She was his age, with long blonde hair up in a ponytail, and full red lips that reminded Ennis of the ones he kissed last night. Before he could register he felt a soft tap on his shoulder. He jumped around as if someone fired a gun. It was an old lady behind him. She was nearly half his height and her eyes twitched under large glasses. "Excuse me, dear, but you cut in line." Ennis felt the blood run into his face. He held his breath and wordlessly stepped out of line and allowed the woman to pass. He bit a nail, and tried not to panic. It was jus' a mistake, god anyone could miss that old bitch. He looked out through the glass doors and saw Jack sitting in his truck, staring aimlessly ahead of him. Ennis forced a smile and waited as the old woman bought some lottery tickets. She limped passed him and winked. He finally got to the counter, having no trouble staring the pretty cashier in the face. She wasn't looking at him though. She was leaning over the counter and looking out of the glass door at Jack in his truck. She smiled, and then pulled herself back. He's cute. Ennis grimaced, but acted politely enough.
"Uh…gas, pump one. And, and can I get some cigarettes?" His voice was shaky, either with anger or with anxiety. He twiddled with the bills in his hand and shifted his weight. The cashier smiled deeper. Sure, what kind of cigarettes do ya want? Ennis frowned again, and looked at the array of packs behind her. The packs with green and red on them stood out the most.
"I'll take two green packs and a red one." He bent his head down now. He didn't know the name of the different kinds. He never gave it much thought, just smoked them and loved it. The girl giggled and grabbed the three packs off the shelf. She was admiring Ennis's tenderness, and edgy appearance. She rang the total up and was giving Ennis the change, when she leaned in close to him.
"You look real nervous," she began in a whisper. "Try these, they'll help." She reached under the counter and withdrew a bag with many pills inside. Ennis almost gasped, but took them and the change. He mouthed the words thank you; his throat was too clenched to actually say the words. Well, there was a first time for everything. Ennis hid the pills in his pants pocket as he reached the truck. He jumped in and threw the two green packs at Jack, and opened the red one himself. Thank the lord his cigarettes were the good kind. Jack thanked him and said maybe later he'll thank him even more. Ennis smiled and kicked his boots off in the truck. He meant to sleep, but just found himself resting. They were on the road again, heading out of Wyoming, not wanting to even consider going back to relive what they just encountered. Ennis put his hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun coming in through the window. He thought of the young girl in the store, and of the pills she gave him.
He was trying to make himself feel attracted to her. He wanted to get hard thinking about her big breasts and her cleavage, which he saw perfectly when she was leaning over the counter. He wanted to think of fucking her, but he couldn't. Thinking about her naked body and inner passions didn't arouse him. He sighed a sigh of shock; he always knew the truth, but would never admit it to anyone. He was so caught up in his own lies that he thought Alma was hot when they first met. He thought about her now, and didn't seem too fond of her looks. She would look good in pink, though. He had to chuckle at that, Jack was turning him into a woman. Jack's voice woke him.
"What's so god damn funny?" Ennis sat himself up and rubbed his eyes. Nothin'', jus' thinking. Jack gasped sarcastically, and turned to stare at Ennis. "O god help me please, Ennis Del Mar was actually thinking." Ennis turned deep red in the face, and turned to look the other way. Fuck you, Jack. Jack gave a feminine pout. "Come on Ennis, I was just fuckin' with-." He stopped, remembering that his father had said the same thing the day before. "I'm sorry, Ennis, I won't insult your intelligence again." Jack laughed and so did Ennis. He turned back to face Jack, and grinned. Ennis looked at Jack's pure face and smiled knowing it was all his and only his. His attraction for him was lust with a twist. He didn't know if he could say that he loved everything about Jack, but he would express it by giving Jack a full body rubdown. He wouldn't say he loved being inside Jack, but he would pierce him and go all out until he came like a geyser.
Ennis slouched down again and covered his eyes with his arm. He moved several times, trying to find a good position. He finally gave up when he couldn't drift off, and stretched. He stretched so far his hand smacked Jack's arm. Sorry. Ennis sounded like a little boy. He turned red, and scooted closer to Jack. Their waists were touching, and Jack felt a rush of adrenaline. "What's on yer mind, cowboy?" Ennis softly kissed Jack's neck and massaged his leg. You are. Jack gasped, he breathed in and out quickly. He frantically searched for a side road with no cars. "Let me pull over." Jack started to turn the truck down a side road, when Ennis told him to just keep going. Jack reluctantly listened and continued to drive on the stretch of road that seemed to last forever.
"I couldn't seem to fall asleep, Jack." Ennis began. His face was inches away from Jack's and he breathed deeply so Jack could feel him. "I was thinking of just laying my head…." Ennis leaned down and put his head on Jack's thigh. "Right here, if you don't mind?" Jack told him it was no problem, so Ennis became at home there. Ennis felt Jack's nervousness from the shaking of his thigh. It was a very comfortable pillow. He closed his eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep. He did not dream or wake till Jack unwillingly shook him.
When he opened his eyes, he was met with Jack looking down at him. He loved waking up to those eyes. The way they sparkled and pitied. Jack sent him a smile, and Ennis grabbed it, embraced it and pushed it to his heart. It was still very bright out. Jack told him they were in Rapid City, South Dakota. Ennis was glad to know that they were so far away from Riverton and Lightning Flats. He let out a sigh of surprise and liking when they exited the truck. In front of him was a motel. The Bates Motel. Jack laughed at the title and said he wouldn't be taking a shower here. Ennis had no idea what he was talking about. They made their way to the manager desk in room number 1. At the door Ennis stopped and told Jack he'll wait in the truck.
"But you walked all the way to the door just to say that?" Ennis scratched his back and squinted his eyes from the deep sun.
"I didn' want to see ya walk the path alone." Jack smiled and told him to go. Jack opened the door and walked into the small office. The room was filled with rotating fans and papers stamped to boards. The papers were danced when the fans touched them. The desk was full of papers and other assortments. Behind the disk was a fat guy, with a sweaty face, and a balding top. He gave Jack a funny look, almost a one eyed stare. He cleared his throat.
"W-what can I help you with?" Jack looked at the man's face and half-smiled.
"I would like to rent a room, one that's far away from this office. We-I like the privacy." Jack rocked back on his heels. He was longing to get Ennis in a room and make him scream for mercy. The guy just stared at him, then leaned back in his chair.
"You alone, or are there more?" Jack thought for a moment and how irrelevant that question was. He built up the courage and wiped his brow.
"I don't see how that's important." Jack's face trembled; that must of made him sound obvious. The guy's expression didn't change.
"I was just wondering. Okay, how many days do ya plan on stayin'?"
"Well, is there a food place nearby?"
"Yeah 'bout a mile down the road there's a bar and a diner. I go there all the time." Jack grimaced at the thought of seeing the guy at a bar.
"Okay, I'll reckon three days we'll be here. Don' I have to sign something?" The fat man barked and grabbed a thick book off the floor by his chair. He threw it on the desk and turned to a page marked by a bookmark. Sign in the first empty line, and put the date. Jack nodded and looked for the first space. When he found it, he looked at the last date in the book. He read it across. Jamie Perkins……… 4/13/63. Jack signed the line with a well thought out pseudo name. Jack Del Mar………7/20/63. He smiled at his 'marriage' to Ennis. And handed the book to the manager. He looked at the name. Okay Mr. Del Mar, you'll be in room 17, 'kay? Jack chuckled, okay. He was given a key, and also the name of the manager, Anthony Curtis. Jack obliged him and sent out to room 17. What a walk it was, and Jack would of sneaked Ennis in at night if he knew Anthony Curtis was watching him get out of the truck and join him.
Jack unlocked the door as Ennis was getting the clothes. Finally Jack outsmarted the door, and pushed it open. The room was cool, and a small square shape. It had pink wallpaper, and one huge queen-sized bed; heaven. Jack ran and swan dived onto the bed. He hit it and bounced right off. He was laying on the floor in pain when Ennis came in with the two cases. "Wha' happened to you?" Ennis sat the clothes on the floor and closed the door behind him. He walked over to Jack on the floor holding his leg and laughing. Through many tears and guffaws of joy, Jack gave an explanation.
"I, was, testing, out the, bed, and I bounced off it and fell on the floor!" He gave a really loud laugh. And Ennis annoyingly extended his hand to help him up. Jack grabbed his hand and pulled himself off his ass. He laughed more and flopped on the bed. He made ripples through the sheets, like a rock dropped in a puddle. Ennis gingerly sat down next to him and threw his boots near the door. He then ripped off Jack's cowboy boots and tossed them near the door.
"This is a nice place they got here," Ennis said, tossing his hat at a table near the bathroom door. "Didja check out the bathroom?" Jack shook his head, and Ennis got up to see. He opened the pale door and stepped in. He returned a second later and opened the door wider for Jack could get a better look inside. "It's nice!" Jack laughed at Ennis's low satisfaction level. Ennis closed the bathroom door and made his way to Jack. He was at the foot of the bed; slowly he placed one knee on one side of Jack and the other on the opposing side. He walked on his knees up Jack till he lost his balance and fell on him. They shared and laugh, then a kiss, then a stare.
"How many days didja pay for?"
"Three."
"Three days?"
"Yep you got it, Ennis."
"What the fuck are we to do here for three days?"
"Manager said there's a bar and a diner 'bout a mile down the road." Ennis shuffled uneasy. He got off Jack and fell beside him.
"Does he know?"
"Know what?"
"Come one Jack don' be stupid-sorry-does he know about us?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Good, good."
"He was a fat guy anyway what's he gonna do?"
"He could kill us and eat us."
"I think I would taste good with barbecue sauce."
"Jack, you taste good anyway." Ennis kissed Jack's bicep and smiled. "Lets go to the bar."
They locked the room. Ennis left the pills under the pillow, and he left without his cowboy hat, first time in years. Jack lit a cigarette, and listened to Ennis go on about growing up with KE Del Mar.
"He was always getting' me into trouble. I think…he hated me because mama favored me. She had to, kids were always pickin' on me, and she had to keep me close at all times. Once she left me to play with some other kids my age in a playground. Well when she came back, I guess I was on the floor of a slide, knocked unconscious." Ennis breathed in a sigh, and then continued. "She never let me outta her sight again, she blamed herself, of course. KE told me earlier this year, mama tried to kill herself several times. T-that ain't right." Ennis paused, but didn't regain enough footing to finish the story.
Jack turned to him and smiled. "What does KE stand for?" Ennis smirked. It stands for Karl El. He use to give me a good lickin' when I called him Carol. Ennis chuckled and threw a butt out the window. They must have been close to the bar. Trees mostly surrounded the area, and no houses existed along the road. They finally got to the bar, a shabby looking place. Next to the bar, sure enough was a diner. Casey's Joint it was called. The bar was nameless and packed. Jack had to park the truck in front of the diner. They made the short walk; they had to act like nothing more than drinking buddies.
The music was loud, but the voices were louder. Ennis seemed to fit right in with the fighting and the stripping of clothes. Jack on the other hand let Ennis do the talking. They sat a stool away from each other; that was far enough. They ordered several beers, chugging them down like no tomorrow. Not once did anyone bother them. They didn't talk a lot, much to Jack's liking. The only person that talked to them was the bartender. A middle-aged woman with curly red hair and a smile like a piece of pie. She told Ennis her name was Marla Johnson; Jack knew she fancied him. Her voice had a rich southern accent. Jack swore it was fake.
"I just want to kiss every part of your beautiful face, Ennis." She said. She reached out and pinched Ennis's cheek. He laughed and turned to Jack to get a reaction. He was met with a grimace, and jealously. Jack turned on his stool and crossed his arms; staring at the dancers on the dance floor. "Are you new to this part of Rapid City? I've never seen you two before, and I think I'd remember you, for sure." Ennis shook his head. No, we're from Wyomin'. He took a deep chug of beer, Marla pushed the bottle up, so Ennis couldn't stop till he chugged it all down. He laughed and sent a look to Jack, who wasn't paying attention. Ennis's heart fell, and he slammed the bottle against the counter. Marla reached out and grabbed Ennis's arm and worshiped his muscle.
"You have a strong arm, I bet you spent many nights 'workin'' with it." Ennis shrugged and turned rose red. 'Why don't you tell yer little friend to go home, and I take you back to my place?" Jack shifted uncomfortably in his stool. Go ahead, tell her no, Ennis. Come on, she's a tramp! Ennis frowned. He sat up and his voice gave Jack spirit.
"Nah, sorry. I don' do anything without my buddy, Jack." Marla glared. Well, both of you can come with me to my place, have a threesome." She smiled, showing her pearly whites. Ennis sent her a nervous half-smile. He took a glance at Jack's scared face.
" No, Jack doesn't like women." With that Ennis grabbed Jack's arm pulled him to his feet and they ran out of the bar together, laughing like lightning and fire. They jumped into Jack's truck and continued to cackle. It was night outside, and the stars would guide them anywhere.
"Oh god, Ennis. That was too much. I can't believe you of all people would say that." Jack broke into another laughter, and so did Ennis. "I'm so piss drunk right now. Thank the lord the motel is only a mile away." Ennis agreed and lit a cigarette with Jack's lighter. "But, Ennis? Were you interested in her?" Ennis felt the happiness leave him. He put his head down.
"She was awful pretty…but no, I had no desire to…ya know." Jack grinned and turned the engine. Good, I was afraid I would have to jack off in the shower tonight. Ennis smiled then went into a quiet spell. No more words were spoken until they got to the motel. They lazily made their way to the room. Weather from laughing too hard, or drinking too much, they were falling all over the place. Jack fell face first onto the concrete sidewalk and busted his lip open. Ennis saw it and immediately stopped laughing. He grabbed Jack's face and licked the wet blood off. He got the blood on his tongue, and then swallowed it. He sucked at the wound till no more blood came.
"I guess this means we're blood brothers now, huh?" Jack nodded and unlocked the door with much difficulty. He threw himself down face first on the bed and almost fell asleep. Ennis climbed on his back and rubbed his shoulders. How does this feel? "It feels too good, Ennis. Don't stop…." Ennis rubbed Jack's shoulders hard. He wanted Jack's sadness to go away forever, he hated seeing him cry, and he hated seeing his eyes droop. Ennis was exorcising the hate and work from Jack. He wanted to be the one that made Jack happy. Ennis soon felt extremely tired; he collapsed on Jack.
He felt Jack breathing under him. He got up several times to make sure he wasn't suffocating his friend. They laid like this for hours and hours. All the care gone and not a sound except the noise of the clock ticking and the breathing of the other.
At about 12:30, Jack slowly got up and made his way to the bathroom. He thought he had accomplished it without waking Ennis up: wrong. Ennis held his head, he had a bad hangover. He didn't want Jack to see him like this. He reached under the pillow, and his hand grasped the paper bag. There's a first time for everything.
