41 Blacktop Obsession
"How you feeling, Kaidyn?" Brian asked, watching her look a bit restless as she yawned,
"I'm okay." She replied, looking like she was contemplating sitting down, her face saying otherwise.
"Hurting, huh?" He asked, getting a slight nod. "Have a seat and talk to me. Roman will settle down in a bit I bet if you do." Brian nodded, offering his jacket for her to sit on.
"Thanks." She said, yawning. "Why'd you tell Shay I was hurting?" She asked, curious, still feeling betrayed a bit.
"I know how bad pain can be. No sense in suffering." He replied simply. "Besides, sometimes it's just to help you because you won't help yourself." Brian nodded with a grin.
"Rude." Kaidyn replied, her chin held high and defiant.
"Not rude. Called being a good friend and doing the right thing." Brian laughed and shook his head.
"More like being a snitch and actin like a cop." Kaidyn disagreed.
"Ouch. That stung." Brian rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, I am tough, I have done time." She shrugged with such a serious face it made him fight to not bust up laughing.
"Yup, what's Dom call you? Jailbird?" He asked with an agreeing nod.
"Yes, I am up there on the wanted list. I am sure." She joked, then sighed.
"You're so funny, Kaidyn. A regular comedian." Brian laughed.
"I hate taking meds." She complained, rubbing her eyes.
"I know you do but at least it'll help with the pain, right?' Brian asked, trying to make the best of the situation.
"Yeah, I guess so." She shrugged. "So what is up with you and that bitch Monica?" She asked, making Brian almost spit out his drink of water he had just taken.
"Let's not go there." he coughed, not wanting to bring up anything that could get to the subject of anything that could stress her.
"She clearly likes you." Kaidyn smiled.
"Hey Rome, why don't you come sit down and chill for a bit?" he asked, hoping Roman would distract her from the line of fire of questions. "Let's not talk about her. She's not a good person." Brian refused.
"Okay, if you don't want to talk about her, let's talk about Shayde." Kaidyn said, not skipping a beat. Roman sat down and finished off his sandwich as he watched the two.
"What about her?" Brian asked, wondering where this was going. He knew there was no telling with Kaidyn.
"How you feeling, Blondie?" Roman asked, watching her shiver a bit.
"I'm okay." she rubbed her arms, looking tired and sleepy.
"Come here, let me warm you up." Roman said, pulling her in his lap, she laid her head on his chest and he casually played with her hair.
"I'm not tired, just cold." She said, not wanting to go to sleep.
"You don't gotta be tired to rest your eyes." Roman said understandingly.
"Just sit here with us." Brian suggested. It was quiet for a bit and they thought she had went to sleep.
"Are you sure you aren't hanging around just because you like Shay?" Kaidyn asked, her eyes closed but opening to look at Brian's expression with one eye.
"No, that is not the reason. What makes you think that?" Brian asked, curious to know what would bring this up.
"I don't know. I am just asking. Guys are always trying to go out with her and she hasn't dated since I can remember." Kaidyn said, shrugging. "I just don't want you to try to be a friend because you want to date her." Kaidyn sighed, yawning. "I don't want her to get used." Kaidyn shrugged.
"You getting tired, Chaos?" Roman asked, trying to help Brian get out of the line of Kaidyn's questioning again.
"I'm okay." She nodded, still watching Brian for an answer. "Do you understand what I mean, Brian?" Kaidyn asked, still waiting for a reply.
"Kaidyn, you don't think I am that type of person do you?" Brain asked, looking at her now carefully to see her expression.
"No, I don't but I have to ask because I try to protect her at all costs." Kaidyn admitted.
"I appreciate that. I am not trying to get with her." Brian promised, holding up his hand like he was swearing on a bible. Roman rolled his eyes and Brian punched him. "I'm seriously not." Brian repeated.
"Good, because I would hope not. I have ran many guys off. Lots of them. Some tried to bribe me and some just tried to sneak past me. It never works. I am too good at protecting her." Kaidyn boasted.
"That's good, she needs you to look out for her." Brian agreed. "I am helping because...it's complicated. But it's not because I like her and expect anything from her. It's not anything like that. I promise." Brian said, looking her in the eyes.
"Are you sure you just want to be friends with her? She's really pretty, right?" Kaidyn asked, her words starting to sound a bit slurred as the pills started to take effect.
"She is very pretty, yes." Brian hesitated, wondering where this was going. This reminded him of the time Carter had asked about Monica. He felt like he was being grilled for some reason.
"Ha, I knew you liked her." Kaidyn smiled, playing with Roman's chain on his neck.
"I like her as a friend, Firecracker. That is all. Don't start with me." Brian warned as Kaidyn's eyes closed.
"Checking in to see how Kaidyn's doing." Hector came over the walkie talkie. Brian got up and walked up to the front of the truck so he wouldn't bother Kaidyn.
"She's good, man. I think the meds are starting to kick in." Brian replied, trying to keep it in a low voice so she wouldn't hear.
"Good deal. Let me know if you guys need anything. Otherwise, we just gonna stay radio silent." Hector advised.
"Copy that. We good here." Brian nodded, walking back to sit back down by Roman.
"I love your braids." Kaidyn said, her eyes getting heavy and her words a whisper as she fought to talk to Roman.
"What? That's not me..." Roman said, almost alarmed. He looked at Brian, making Brian laugh. He knew this was going to disappoint Roman because she was into Tej and not him.
"Shh, man, drop it. Let her go to sleep." Brian said, shaking his head.
"Man, that's some..." Roman shook his head. "I feel attacked." He said, shaking his head.
"You sure Kaidyn's good to go?" Hector came across the walkie once more.
"Yeah, man, she's def feeling them meds. She's out." Roman acknowledged.
"Good deal. Hopefully she'll get some rest. We gave her some pretty heavy meds. She might be a bit out of it. Let me know if you need anything or have any problems." Hector said. "Should be pretty quiet the rest of the night. Holler if we need to make any stops, I got a few planned but only if we need em." Hector advised.
"10-4. Sounds good, bro." Brian said.
"She is so warm." Roman said, putting his arms around Kaidyn as she fell into a sleep. "Hope she's allright and not running a fever." He said, feeling her forehead.
"Look at you being all caring and stuff." Brian teased.
"She's my homegirl and my BFF. Why wouldn't I be?" Roman asked defensively.
"Just asking, calm down, cuz." Brian laughed. "You sure quick to call her a BFF." Brian mused.
"You know how I be, I just know who has the right vibes. We just hit it off, I guess." Roman shrugged.
"Apparently you guys are the same. She usually doesn't take to people very well from what I hear so it must be a thing with you both." Brian said.
"Well, I ain't tryin to hook up wit her sis like someone I know." Roman shot back.
"I am not trying to hook up with her sister. Now stop that shit." Brian punched Roman, making Roman look at him in shock.
"I am holding her. Watch yo self. And that's because she shot you down. You didn't pass the Kaidyn test, bruh." Roman advised Brian.
"Yeah, okay. I think Kaidyn's fine with me. But it's not like that." Brian assured him.
"Keep tellin yourself that." Roman said with a laugh.
"You good, Rome? Going back to Florida and all?" Brian asked.
"I feel like you're not tellin me somethin, bruh." Roman said.
"Why would you feel like that?" Brian grinned, looking at Roman stare him down.
"Homie, I know you. You ain't tellin me somethin. What you hidin?" Roman asked.
"You just don't stop, do you?" Brian laughed, moving to avoid Roman's punch. "You're gonna wake her up, settle down." Brian warned.
"You always hidin shit. What has your ass got us mixed up in this time, Brian?" Roman asked.
"Nothing. Everything's fine. We just getting back to Florida. You guys came and got me, remember?" Brian's eyes twinkled as he reminded him.
"Yeah, to tell you about Verone. And you don't seem all that concerned. Do I want to know why? Cause I know yo ass and I know you too damn well, Homie." Roman shook his head.
"Let's try to get some rest while she's restin. We got a long trip ahead of us." Brian said, settling back and closing his eyes.
"Mhmm. Way to change the subject." Roman rolled his eyes. He looked down at Kaidyn's long blonde hair and wrapped his arms around her tighter, himself starting to get sleepy.
"Oh no." Kaidyn sat up, feeling very sick. It was eight hours later and her whole body was hurting and aching. Roman was still holding her, but she felt nauseous and not so good. Her nose was gushing blood and she wasn't sure what was going on.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Brian stretched, flashing his phone's light on her since it was so dark in the truck.
"My nose." Kaidyn replied, choking a bit on the blood going down the back of her throat.
"Oh shit." he said, scrambling for his jacket or something to stop the blood. "Rome, wake up. Wake up, Man." He shook him.
"I don't feel so good." Kaidyn said, everything spinning as she tried to get up. The moving semi was not helping. It was dark and cold as she sat shivering.
"Hector, how long until the next stop? Kaidyn's got a nose bleed and not feeling so good." Brian said, radioing Hector. They were not using cell phones just in case they were being tracked so his walkie was the only resort.
"We're about twenty something miles away from our next rest stop. Can you handle her and keep her calm until then? Hector asked, sounding concerned as he looked at the GPS.
"Yeah, we got her." Brian nodded, quickly moving to Kaidyn's side, pulling her over to him. "Let me look, Kaidyn." he said, trying to stop the bleeding.
"This sucks." She mumbled, having a hard time talking with the nosebleed.
"I know. Nosebleeds suck. The doctor said that would happen." Brian explained, trying to sound relaxed, not wanting her to panic more.
"He did?" She asked, curious how Brian was so calm with what seemed to be a lot of blood.
"Yeah, he did. You broke your nose and as it heals it may bleed. The cold air in here probably isn't helping." Brian said matter of factly.
"This blood doesn't bother you?" She asked, curious. She didn't want to think about the blood at all.
"Nah. I've had tons of training for stuff like this. Here, let's try this." He said, giving her something to put up her nose.
"Ugh, I probably have blood all over poor Roman." Kaidyn said, getting up and moving away from Roman, feeling embarrassed and bad for her getting blood on his clothing.
"It looks like a lot more than it is." he promised her. "Besides, if he can sleep through it, then he gets what he deserves." Brian laughed, only half joking.
"Ugh, I don't know why I am hurting so bad." Kaidyn grumbled, holding her arm. Her whole body was sore from her beating and the meds were long worn off.
"The meds wore off. We all fell asleep for a while. Guess we were all tired." Brian said, looking at his watch.
"Does this driver not know how to drive? Good grief!" She muttered, the jerking of the semi making her fall into the side of the wall. "Ow." She groaned more in annoyance than anything. Brian grabbed her hand to help her get her balance back.
"Can I talk to Hector on that?" She asked, nodding to the walkie talkie.
"We need to stay off unless it's important but I can't help it if you find it." Brian grinned.
"Hector do you copy? Are you there?" She asked, playing with the buttons on the walkie talkie.
"Yeah, I am here. How are you doing?" he asked, shocked she was on the walkie talkie.
"I wanna ride with you upfront." She said, ignoring his question.
"No can do, Chica." He replied quickly. "Now I'll ask you again, how are you feeling?" He asked, tapping his foot.
"I'm fine. Just a nosebleed." She lied, not going to admit she was in pain to him because he'd just go tell Shayde. "Come on, please? I can't do this cold back of the truck." She sniffled for good measure trying to guilt trip him now.
"I doubt he's going to let you sit upfront." Brian laughed at her, his bet on Hector standing his ground.
"Hector loves me. We will see. I am sad you have no faith in me." Kaidyn grinned. She waited another minute then hit the button again and didn't say anything.
"Kaidyn, stop playing with the walkie. It's making noise every time you hit that button." Hector said.
"Oh my bad, sorry. I am bored, Hector." She said with a sigh.
"How's the pain?" He asked, trying to ignore the obvious.
"I want to ride upfront so I can watch the stars. Please, why can't I ride with you?" She asked.
"You can't be up here." he replied, not letting her bother him with a distracted tone.
"Hector, I have blood all over me, I need to change my clothes." She complained.
"Sitting up front won't help that. We will be at the next stop in ten or fifteen minutes." He promised.
"Then I can change and ride upfront? I have never rode in a semi, come on." Kaidyn said, not giving up.
"You're riding in one right now." he joked with her.
"You know what I mean, Hector." Kaidyn said, rolling her eyes.
"Kaidyn, I will talk to you when we get there." Hector said with a sigh. Kaidyn grinned at Brian.
"He didn't say no." She laughed.
"I am sorry but I don't see you pulling this off." Brian laughed, shaking his head.
"No faith." She grinned, accepting the challenge.
"Kaidyn, you okay?" Roman sat up, looking at his shirt, looking up and looking panicked. He seemed a bit disoriented as he tried to wake up.
"No, not at all." Kaidyn said, giving Brian an evil grin and putting a finger to her lips. She crouched down and crawled to the front of the trailer, hiding behind the cars that were covered up.
"Where she at, homeboy?" Roman asked with concerned yawn.
"I don't know. I just woke up and she was gone. Kaidyn! You okay?" Brian asked, trying to look around. "She had to have gone up there, I hope she's not bleeding out." Brian played along, keeping a somber face.
"Man, how you gonna let her get up bleeding like that, cuz?" Roman pushed him, annoyed and worried.
"How you gonna sleep through that? We gotta find her. Hurry up." Brian said, motioning for Roman to go look for her.
"Kaidyn, talk to me. Where you at, Blondie?" Roman asked, walking up to the front and looking between the cars.
"BOO!" She jumped out and made him scream. She busted up laughing.
"KAIDYN! Are you serious?! You had me worried, Woman!" He grumbled, shaking his head. She was bent over still laughing.
"Dude, if you had seen your face!" She giggled.
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks a lot, Brian." He walked back with Kaidyn, holding her hand so she wouldn't lose the balance with the truck moving and knocked Brian in the back of the head.
"That was great!" Kaidyn clapped her hands, smiling. She was clearly amused.
"It's good to see you smilin, girl. That's the only reason I am not gonna stay mad at you." Roman pointed at her with a grin.
"Sorry I got your shirt all bloodied up." She said apologetically.
"It's cool. I'll send your sis the drycleaning bill." he joked, putting his favorite blue hat on her backwards.
"Sounds like a plan." Kaidyn agreed. "Why you giving me your hat?" She asked, curious.
"No reason. My bald head was getting a lil warm, you know." Roman rubbed his head, as if to make a point he didn't have braids. Kaidyn looked at him, confused.
"Rome, I told you to let that go, Man." Brian leaned over and whispered. Roman still wasn't over her comment about liking his braids, making him think she liked Tej.
"You said let her sleep. You didn't say let it go." He whispered back. "Kaidyn, you did pageants. You know the trends, right? He asked, folding his arms.
"It was a long time ago. But I guess so. Why?" She asked, searching in the cooler to see if they had packed anything that sounded appetizing to her since she wasn't going to get her White Castle.
"You think I should get braids? Grow my hair out maybe?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You? Get braids? With what hair?" She asked skeptically.
"Exactly. I just said if I grew my hair out." Roman rolled his eyes, tapping the back of his hat, making her swat at him. "Pay attention, would you?" he asked.
"Now you sound like Shayde." Kaidyn laughed. "Ugh there is nothing good in here to eat. I need a cheeseburger or some fried pickles." She complained, somewhat distracted.
"I hear that. Some food would be reallllll good right now." Roman agreed,
"When doesn't food sound good to you?" Brian quipped. The truck came to a stop and Kaidyn waited anxiously at the door.
"Care to place a bet on this, Brian?" Kaidyn asked, smiling devilishly as she tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for the door to be opened up. She was going to convince Hector to let her sit up front no matter what it took. She was determined.