Chapter 10

The ride across the country to Nashville had been mostly quiet until they were about an hour away. Then, Eric decided to argue with Leila again. When they started arguing, Isis carefully moved up to the front to sit in Sam's lap. She almost didn't fit.

"I can't believe you're seriously going to do this, Leila," Eric said.

"Well, believe it, 'cause I am."

"Why?"

"Because, I want to help."

"So? You could have helped by not putting yourself in danger."

"I'm not going to get hurt. Eric, you have to let me do this myself. I promise I'll be careful."

"You can't promise something like that. You don't know what could happen to you."

"Yes, I do. I could die. But I won't, okay? I'm a better hunter than that."

"Yeah, but even the best slip up sometimes."

"I won't."

"You could."

"But I won't. So, I'm going to do this and you're gonna see I can."

"Fine. But we're going with you. No arguments over that."

"I wasn't going to. Just as long as you trust me."

"I do trust you. I just don't trust the girl."

"Well, believe me. I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, you think so. But then... what if something does happen to you?"

"What do you mean, Eric?"

"Just what I said. What am I supposed to do if something happens to you?"

Dean sighed, "Would you two stop playing around?! You two love each other and it's obvious. So, stop with the charades and go out already."

"WE'RE JUST FRIENDS!" they shouted at the same time.

"Uh-huh, and that's why you're arguing over whether or not you'll be okay."

"That's only because he thinks I'm gonna die, and I don't."

"You could die!"

"I won't!"

"Stop arguing!"

Isis lifted her head up and looked from Eric to Leila.

Sam looked at Dean, "We're here."

Leila smiled, "I get to pick the hotel."

"What?" all three boys said.

"Yeah. I get to pick where we're staying. We are not going to stay in some shitty motel with cockroaches and spiders. We're going to stay in a nice hotel that allows dogs."

"And where exactly are you going to find one of those?" Eric asked.

"I know some people. I used to come here every summer to stay with my aunt. She owns a motel just a couple streets over from here."

"So, we're going to go to a hotel that costs a lot of money, and try to convince them to let Isis stay with us?" Eric asked, "I hope you have a plan, Lei."

"Of course, I do."

She pointed the way to a huge hotel with two men standing in front next to the doors.

"Come on. Bring Isis. They won't care."

Eric shrugged and held onto the back of Isis' neck. Sam and Dean followed them to the doors.

"Hello, Ms. Garner," one of the guards said.

"Hi, Greg."

"Who are they?" the other asked.

"These are my friends. Greg, William, this is Sam, Dean, Eric, and Isis. Guys this is Greg and William. They're great friends of my mom's."

"Hope you enjoy your stay here."

"Thanks," Sam said. They followed Leila through the doors into a big red room. At the far side of the room was a long brown desk. Behind the desk was a short, plump woman with short blond hair and big rimmed glasses. She smiled when she saw Leila and beckoned her over. Leila walked across the red carpet and hugged the woman.

"Hi, Aunt Sarah. How's everything been?"

"Great," the fat woman said, "Not much business lately now that everyone's leaving for fall, though."

"Oh. Well, I was wondering if I could get a couple rooms. My friends and I were in town and we thought we'd stay here for a while."

"Sure, sweety. How many rooms?"

"Just two. Eric can stay with me in my room. Then I can play with Isis longer."

Eric smiled and scratched Isis' neck.

"Oh, wow, that's a very pretty dog."

"She's a wolf, Aunt Sarah."

"Oh, right. Well, then, what a pretty wolf."

"Thanks," Eric mumbled.

"Okay. I've got rooms 250 and 252 open. Is that okay?"

"I call 250," Leila said, "Sorry, yeah, that's fine. How much do I owe you?"

"Don't worry about it. You're family. Just have fun, okay?"

"Thanks."

Sarah handed Leila two keys, and the group went back out to the car to get their bags. They walked up to their rooms and Leila shoved the key into the lock. In seconds, the door swung open. They stood in the doorway a little longer and admired it. The walls were a sky blue and the floor was just a little darker. The two king sized beds were covered in white blankets and the bathroom door had golden angels painted on it.

"Wow," Eric said.

Leila nodded, "I don't care how many times I come here, these rooms constantly amaze me."

They walked in and set their bags down on the floor.

"Which bed do you want?" Leila asked.

Eric shrugged, "I don't care."

"Well, we're not going to share a bed, so you need to pick."

"You pick."

"You."

"Ladies first."

"Stop that and just pick a bed."

"No."

"Yes."

"I'm trying to be polite here, so you pick."

"No."

"Yes."

"Fine. I pick the one closer to the bathroom."

"Hey, at least you picked."

Isis jumped up on the bed closer to the main door and curled up at the bottom. Leila flung herself down on her chosen bed and Eric sat down on the side of his to pull off his boots.

"Eric?" Leila said.

"What's up?"

"Why are you so worried about me?"

"Why?"

"Just wondering. Before today, you could have cared less what happened to me. Now you're all about trying to protect me."

"Just warming up to you, I guess."

"But why so suddenly?"

"Honestly? I don't know. There's something, I just don't know what it is."

"Okay, that doesn't make sense."

"That's because I can't explain it. Please don't ask me to try."

"Okay. I'm gonna try to get some sleep. Do you need the light?"

"Nah. I'm gonna hit the sack, too."

"Okay. G'night."

"Good night."

Leila reached over to the bedside table and turned off the lamp.

A/N I'm getting better at making longer chapters. Please tell me what you think. Criticism definitely welcome.