'Nny! Wake up, you fucking idiot!'

I shook him awake for the fourth time.

'Fuck!' he yelped upon waking.

'You fell asleep again. Do you want to pull over?'

'No, I'm fine.'

I could see he was annoyed at his lack of consciousness control.

'You really should pull over. We could crash.'

'I won't fall asleep again.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.'

The CD player suddenly blasted Unwell by Matchbox 20, surprising the shit out of both of us. I shut it off.

His eyelids drooped.

'Are you sleeping, are you sleeping, brother Nny?' I sang.

'Shut up!' he snapped.

'Do you want me to drive?' I offered.

'No.'

I stared straight ahead. We were on another one of those highways, where it seems endless except for the occasional lonely car passing us.

I looked over at Nny, who looked very tired, but not quite falling asleep.

'C'mon, Nny, you're tired. Go to sleep.'

'I don't want to.'

'When did you last sleep, anyways?'

'A couple days ago, for a few hours. You were sleeping, so you didn't know.'

I had an idea, all of a sudden. 'Hey, Nny.'

'Yes?'

'You know how you always ask me questions?'

'Yes.'

'Can I ask you some?'

'Like what?'

I thought. 'Why do you hate humanity?'

'Hmm,' he mumbled.

Then he seemed to remember. 'The fucks that poison everything. They live only to save their own lives, worthless day after day. Things like money- paper and coins. What gives it value? The sole belief of those foolish people, obsessed with their realities.

'In essence, they all just want to believe they are more special than everyone else in one way or another. In truth, we're all the same save our appearances. Goths are under the impression they are more extraordinary than the rest of the human race because they mimic each other in the hundreds, thousands, possibly hundred thousands, for a fake love of darkness. Actors and actresses think they are special because they get to be on a TV.

But a TV is special why? It is merely wires and projectors. A contraption of mankind that has no use except for entertaining the useless shits that stain everything in our world.'

It had been a long answer.

I sat, contemplating it for a moment, until Nny inquired, 'No more questions?'

'I have more. I'm just a little brain dead right now. Car rides tend to do that to me.'

'Well, I think a gas station is coming up. I can get an energy drink there.'

I nodded, and curled my knees up onto the seat, lying back a bit. The clock read 11:41 PM.

'Are you tired?'

I nodded. 'Mm-hmm. Somewhat. It seems like your sleeping opinion has infected me, though. I don't try to sleep when I'm bored anymore. I don't like it much at all.'

'It appears I infected you with an indifference to the sight of gore, as well.'

'Yeah, definitely.'

I saw the light of a gas station appear on the lonely highway.

Johnny pulled into one of the booths, and stepped out.

'You want anything?' he asked.

'No thanks,' I replied. I wasn't feeling so hot. Probably lack of sleep.

With that, he closed the door and skulked into the store.

I sat back, and closed my eyes, revelling in the silence. It was almost like a security blanket, knowing I could hear anyone and anything that came near me.

Suddenly, a choking feeling encompassed me, and I spasmed. What the hell?

I opened the car door and puked onto the pavement.

Fuck. I was sick again. I hated throwing up. It was disgusting. Vile. I'd rather slit my throat than make myself throw up.

I remembered, idly, the time before Nny and I had left the house. I'd been sick, throwing up, but too tired to recognize the feeling.

At the moment, I was wide awake and feeling spectacularly shitty.

I saw Nny's silhouette on the driver's side of the car, and it opened.

'Nice puke,' he said. 'What happened?'

'Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention. I'm bulimic.'

'Somehow, I don't believe you.'

'How very observant.'

He gave me an amused little smirk. 'So, what actually happened?'

'I think I just ate something bad. I feel better now.'

'Well, thanks for not splattering my car. If you think you have to blow chunks again, please kindly inform me.'

'Will do.'

He got into the car. 'Oh, yeah. I got you an energy drink and some chocolate- since I know you like that stuff- but I think you don't want it right now.'

I made a noise of disgust. 'Definitely not.'

Humming softly, my mood was kind of happy as the car started up. It was weird- I just wished the night wouldn't end, so that I wouldn't get into a bad mood. Drive forever, purely content.

A yawn interrupted my contentment. My stomach was hurting less now. I had probably just eaten or drank something I shouldn't have.

'Well, you're happy,' Nny remarked.

'Yes, actually,' I replied. 'I'm just in a strangely good mood right now. Please do try to avoid ruining it by, I don't know, brutally mutilating a kitten.'

'I wouldn't brutally mutilate a kitten more than I'd ruin your good mood. It's infectious.'

So, with that, Nny and I passed the time by singing '99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.'

…

The song was finished. It took an hour, and a few laughing fits when I made a fake British accent or started singing like a girly-girl.

We were passing through some random town. It was nice.

'Hey, Nny, why don't we go someplace besides a hotel?'

'Why?'

'I don't know. I think the pompous fools preening themselves consistently in our presence when we walk down the halls is getting a little boring.'

'Yes, it is quite funny, isn't it?'

'They're all like, 'Oh, they wear black and are thin. That must mean they're stupid or gay!''

'Common leaps of logic in our society. Quite pathetic, every time.'

I laughed. 'I hate humanity, but love how much they amuse me sometimes.'

'Anyways, where are you suggesting we go besides a hotel?'

'I don't know. How about a motel? That'll really mix everything up.'

(A/N: I actually had to look up the difference between a hotel and a motel. Apparently, a hotel just has indoor corridors that you have to use to enter your room, where a motel does not. That's it, and a letter. Hmm.)

'Sure, whatever. I just want to get someplace before you puke all over my car.'

'It's not going to happen. I feel fine now.'

We pulled up to a place, and walked up to the front desk and took a key. The desk clerk guy was asleep.

Nny and I went up the elevator, and into our room.

Suddenly, Johnny looked annoyed.

'What?' I asked.

'I don't feel like being indoors right now. I'm too awake.'

I shrugged.

'I'm going to go for a walk. Do you want to come?'

'Sure,' I replied.

It was funny, we'd barely been in the room for five seconds.

I felt much better after my modest vomit expedition. My head was more organized, so I could think with a lot more clarity.

As I stepped into the warm summer night air, a feeling of coldness within me brushed lightly through my system. I was feeling… unemotional. Blank.

(A/N: My dog, Sierra, is dying. She has to be put down… She has cancer and a type of spine arthritis. She's in a lot of pain, and will only last a couple months without euthanasia. In honour of her… Well, you'll see.)

Nny walked beside me, looking thoughtfully at me.

'What?' I asked tiredly.

'What's your real name?'

The question had taken me completely off guard, and I stopped. 'Come again?'

'What is your real name?'

'I thought I told you that I hated it.'

'You did. I'm curious.'

I grumbled. 'You have to tell me your last name if you want my real name.'

'My last name was the source of much discrimination when I was a child. I'm not telling you.'

'I'm not telling you my name, then.'

I started walking again, and he fell in line beside me.

A silence followed, until he reluctantly said something.

'What'd you say? I didn't hear,' I replied.

'If you tell me your full name, I'll tell you mine.'

'My first name starts with K,' I ventured.

'I'm not guessing.'

'Come on.'

'Katrina, Kathy, Kailey, Katy, Kaitlin-'

'Nein. Okay, let's try K-I.'

'Kimberly, Kiley, Kit, Kirsten, Kathy, Kitty, Kiki, Kristopher?'

'Kristopher is K-R… Anyways, nope. K-I-E.'

'Kite, Kiefer, Kiele, Kiersten, Kieran…'

'Nope.'

'I don't have anything else.'

'I'm…'

Reluctantly, I mumbled, 'Kiera.'

'Kiera?'

'Yes.'

'That's a nice name.'

'No, it's not. It's like a fucking dog. And it also means 'Dark Lady.''

'Kiera is a pleasant name. So, what's your last name?'

'My last name is Artemus. It means 'of the moon.''

'Dark lady of the moon?'

'Yeah.'

'Why'd your parents name you like that?'

'Because I always was a bit of a weird kid. I didn't cry as a baby, and always tended to gravitate towards darker things. The funny thing is, my nickname actually used to be Blood, as I liked blood, a lot.

'So… What's your last name, Nny?'

'Chogan.'

'What's wrong with that?'

'The meaning is 'black bird.' I had black, messy hair as a kid, just like now. People couldn't get enough of messing with it. And 'Johnny' means that God is gracious. Since I don't believe in that shit, the Christian fucks would constantly tell me I was ungrateful and was going to hell.'

'You're Johnny Chogan,' I began, and he replied, 'You're Kiera Artemus.'

We kept on walking, until I realized it the ground wasn't very silvery anymore. I looked up, and couldn't see the moon or the stars.

Then the first fat raindrop hit me in the face, and I sputtered.

Johnny laughed at my expression, and we started running as the drizzle turned into a downpour.

He slipped, and I grabbed his shirt collar on instinct and pulled him back to his feet, surprising both him and myself.

'Thanks,' he sputtered.

'No problem,' I responded.

We came up on a park, where a lone bench was with an umbrella structure over top of it.

Nny and I quickly dove in, my teeth chattering and I shivered uncomfortably. Johnny being Johnny, he just sat there, wringing his shirt front out.

Suddenly, I heard a noise, like a squealing cry.

'What was that?' I asked Johnny.

'I don't know. It sounded like a feral cat or something.'

I got up, looking for the source of the sound. It was almost pitch black, and impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.

Suddenly, I saw a little yellowish blob on the pavement in front of me.

'Hey- Nny, I found something.'

'What?'

'One second.'

I picked the little blob up, and felt wet fur. I walked back over to the umbrella structure, carrying the furry thing.

In the flickering light of the structure, I could see a little puppy nose, eyes, and four paws.

The dog's eyes opened, and it let out a little howl of misery.

'What the hell?' Johnny said.

I noticed a red bandana around its neck, with a little square of paper sticking out. I pulled it out and read it.

This is Sierra, the note read. We can't deal with her and couldn't find her a place to stay. Please keep her and give her a good home.

Sincerely, the Karriella family.

'They left a dog to wander in the pouring rain?' I gasped in disbelief.

'Apparently. God, why couldn't they just drop it off at a shelter?'

The little puppy let out a squeal of despair again, and I hugged it close.

'Hush, baby,' I whispered to the bundle of wet fur.

Johnny was watching me with interest. 'What are you going to do with it?'

'Well.. I guess I could keep it.'

'Without consulting the man of the house?'

'You're hardly the man of the house. You let me do whatever the hell I want besides going outside.'

The little animal whimpered again. 'Come on, Nny. You like animals, don't you?'

'I'm allergic to cats.'

'Well, you like dogs?'

'I used a dead one as a pillow once.'

'Nny-'

'Fine, fine, keep the damn dog, but it better not come any-fucking-where near me, or else I'll mutilate it.'

I nodded, rubbing the little creature's head.

'Are you a boy or a girl?' I mused.

I quickly checked, and announced, 'We have a female on our hands.'

Johnny muttered, 'Whatever. Let's go back.'

I nodded, bundling the little creature into my jacketless arms as best I could.

I really should have worn a fucking coat, I scolded myself.

Zavé loved the animal baby. 'It's a puppy! How sweet!'

Noir was disgusted. 'What the hell are you doing? Put it back!'

I ignored both of them. This little animal already had me wrapped around her tiny paw.

She let out a little whimper, and I cooed to her. Johnny was giving me strange looks.

'I never knew you had a motherly side.'

'I don't.'

'Explain this, then.'

'I like puppies.'

'Most people don't pick a random puppy off the street and decide to keep it. They dump it somewhere else.'

'I'm not most people.'

'True.'

He sighed. 'Here, I'll hold it-'

'Her.'

'Her… I have a jacket.'

With an expression like sour milk, he placed the furry bundle into his jacket and hugged it for warmth.

Sierra's head popped out, watching me with an intelligent light.

'I think she likes me,' I commented.

'Whatever,' he grumbled. I didn't think he liked the dog much.

Well, he'd have to deal with it. I loved her already.

…

Rest in peace, Sierra, stand strong, light soul. I love you, and so does the rest of the family… We'll always remember you, and someday when I die, I know you're going to be there waiting for me.

Kawaii miku 13: You're the fur to my Sierra. ;_;

D.G. BlackWolf: It's okay that your comments were late, as long as you comment, I don't really mind. Reviews give me a happy feeling.

SoraHarukey: Welcome, new person to the story. I'd have ended that with an exclamation mark, but I feel like killing myself right now.

I think I'll go drown in misery now… I actually had to look up baby names to get Kiera's last name and Johnny's last name.

The meanings of the names are the real meanings- I looked it up.