25
They sat in the truck, not making any move to start it and leave for good.
"What should we do?" Winnie asked softly.
Jesse thought for a moment. "We could try to sneak back now, go the long way around to the spring and hope they don't see us getting water from the spring, or," he hesitated for a moment, before taking a deep breath and continuing. "Or, we can find a hotel, check in for the night. And sneak back here when it's dark. Their security is likely to be much more lax at night."
"I really want to go back right." Winnie whispered. "But I guess, it would probably be more sensible to go at night." She visibly trembled for a moment before regaining control of herself. "I just don't want you to die."
Jesse leaned close and stroked Winnie's cheek. "I promise you I won't die. I'm not close at all. Tuck's in danger of it, because of the age he was when he drank, but I'm seventeen, even if I start aging a little bit, it won't make a dent in health. I'll be fine. I promise."
Winnie smiled weakly. She took a deep breath. "I trust you. Let's wait until tonight."
Jesse grabbed Winnie's hand and squeezed tightly. "This'll work. I promise. Winnie Tuck, I promise you that we'll get water from that spring."
"I know." She whispered hearing the determination in his voice.
They crept to the truck, a little past midnight. They were still at the hotel they had found, so they didn't really need to be creeping, but both of them felt better doing it than if they had simply walked to the truck.
The climbed into the truck quietly, shutting the doors as softly as they could manage while still ensuring they would be closed tightly. Once they were secluded in the dark quiet of the truck, Winnie began to giggle.
"Are you alright?" Jesse asked his voice halfway between a normal volume and a whisper, his concern somewhat overtaking his unnecessary caution.
Winnie nodded her bobbing head barely visible in the darkness. "We should play around like we're spies more often," Her voice was a bit breathless once she managed to speak past her laughter. "I like acting all covert like this, it's so much fun."
"Sure, we could do something like this again." Jesse was a bit baffled at her excitement by it, but if she wanted to play around like this another time he could humor her. "But for now we should focus on what we're trying to do tonight."
Winnie continued to giggle, but nods in the affirmative. "Right."
Jesse turns the key in the ignition and puts the truck in gear. "Alright, let's go."