They drove along the green highway, almost to their destination after a long morning.
"Hazel, I need to stop, I need to pull over."
"Okay, go ahead," the car drifted off the road and came to a stop. Rachel barely looked over her shoulder before she through open the door and ran in front of the car. Hazel could see her friend dry heaving into the ditch. Hazel unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out of the car.
"I'll be fine in a minute get back in the car," Rachel said.
"Maybe I need a breath of fresh air too," Hazel said. She walked over to her friend and put her hand on her back.
"I didn't think it would be this difficult."
"That's alright, we'll attack it one thing at a time, that's what friends do."
Rachel straightened herself and smiled weakly at her friend, "why don't you go start the car? I want to sleep the rest of the way there."
Hazel reached out for the keys and then walked back to the car. She paused looking up and down the road, there seemed like there was nothing for miles. Hazel opened the car door and slid into the front seat. She started the car and focused on adjusting the mirrors. She glanced at Rachel, until Rachel started walking back to the car.
"Just drive," Rachel said.
Soon, Rachel was fast asleep and Hazel was driving lazily down the country roads. After a bit, Hazel grew increasingly worried that she was lost, she glanced at Rachel to see if she was awake, but Rachel just snored in response. Finally, Hazel pulled over and started rooting around in the back for her phone. Her purse remained just out of reach, so she turned off the car and got out. She opened the back door and grabbed her purse.
"God, I hope I have signal out here..." she turned around and yelped in surprise.
"Who are you!?" She exclaimed.
Behind her had been a young man, tall, muscular, with short black hair.
"Why did you pull over?" he asked.
Hazel stared back at him in shock, his eyes were very intense and she didn't like the way he kept hovering and creeping towards her. Hazel glanced up and down, nervously as he wasn't wearing any shoes or a shirt. She knew there was nothing around for miles, so where had he come from?
"I, um, I asked you a question first," Hazel stammered.
Her cellphone gripped tightly in her hand, Hazel pressed her body up against the car.
"My name is Paul, why did you pull over?" he said.
It felt like he was closing the distance every second, Hazel doubted she could wake Rachel up discretely.
"I just needed to get my cell phone to call my boyfriend." Hazel lied, "he's expecting my call any minute now."
That seemed to knock the wind out of him and he looked crestfallen. Hazel was shocked, but she would take the advantage. She tried to feel for the door handle and with his momentary lapse, she yanked it open and hopped in. She quickly locked the doors, turned the car on, and threw the car into drive. She sped off glancing back in the mirror as he still stood in the road. She thought he almost looked heartbroken, but she shook that idea out of her head, happy she got away.
She had forgotten all about her phone, which she assumed made it into the car. She kept driving until eventually she reached La Push Reservation. Rachel was still asleep in the passenger seat and hadn't told her which house was her dad's. Hazel drove slowly through the reservation avoiding the kids playing in the mud, looking for an adult to ask where to find the Black residence. Eventually she saw a group of men... or maybe they were teens and one started waving at her. She stopped the car and unrolled her window a bit.
"Rachel!" but it wasn't Rachel it was her friend, Hazel gestured to her sleeping friend.
"She had a long drive and wanted to sleep, are you her?"
"brother," they said at the same time.
"I wasn't quite sure which one is your home, so I'm glad I found you." Hazel smiled nervously.
"Oh yeah, just keep going down this road and it's the red house with the white door. My motorcycle and a truck are in the driveway," he said.
Hazel nodded, "I'll follow you down in a few minutes and I'll help you get your stuff in. I'm not sure if Rachel told you or not, but our father is in a wheelchair now."
Hazel nodded, "okay, I'll see you in a few minutes."
Hazel continued to drive slowly when she saw the house. It was modest, but it would be home for her and Rachel for at least a few months. She parked the car, careful not to hit the motorcycle and stepped out. She inhaled deeply, this was it.