Chapter 2
Pit Stop
Suddenly I felt myself jolt forward"Jebus Dad, gun the brakes anymore and I would've hit the damn windshield!"I exclaimed as Dad pulled up into a small gas station just 20 miles from Gatlin.
Dad turned the car off"Sorry Malissa, but we ran out of gas, good thing there was a gas station here,"he replied, opening his door and sliding over to the pumps.
I raised an eyebrow, taking my IPod ear phones out of my ears after turning it off, I then climbed out of the car as Mom got out to go to the bathroom"I'll just be a minute Shawn,"she called to Dad as she bolted like a cheetah to the loo, as the British like to call their toilets.
I shut my door and started my IPod up again, deciding to go to the bathroom too, just incase, you never know when your bladder will play tricks on you.
I've been growing up as mostly a snob, but a tough snob. I know how to handle myself, and I know what to do in a crisis, even when the parentals have no friggin clue, I call myself, the third wheel basicly.
I looked around, then opened the door to the small store, a bell had just clanked to sound my arrival, geez, like they need to know who's coming and who's going, I mean really, not like we're gonna up and leave you without you knowing.
I walked in the bathroom that said Ladies, on the front of the door, Mom was already washing her hands in the rusted sink when I got in there"Hey Malissa, do you think you could grab me a Gatorade while I go clean the windows?" she asked, holding up a five dollar bill.
I shrugged and took the money"Sure," I replied, then did my business after putting my IPod in my pocket. When I stepped out to wash my hands, Mom was already outside washing the car windows. I walked out of the bathroom and strolled over to the sodas and juices and junk.
The five dollars in my hand started to get sweaty from me holding it so long, it's not my fault I couldn't find the damn Gatorade, 'what kind did she want anyways,' I thought, just grabbing the only one I could find, I didn't care what flavor it is.
I paid the guy at the counter and walked out the door, the dang bell clanked again. I felt like yelling"I'M LEAVING NOW," but I decided that that would be rude, so I just walked to our car, gave Mom the Gatorade, and sat on a bench near the store.
I remembered the left over money I had in my pocket from Mom's five, so I went back in the store and grabbed myself a soda. When I went up to the counter to pay, a different guy was working there, this guy had short kinda spiked blonde hair and green eyes, the other guy had short brunette hair and blue eyes. I raised an eyebrow, looked around, and shook my head, placing the soda on the counter.
The guy looked at me suspiciously, just as much as I did"You from around here?" he asked in a gruff scraggly voice, much to mature for his age, he looked about what, fifteen mabye, "Nope, who's askin'?" I asked, handing him the money for my soda.
"I'm askin'," he replied, handind me the soda and cashing in my change"Where do you live?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, "I live in the land of Fuck and Off," I replied, took my soda, and left the store, walking towards the car, which, by the looks of it, was squeaky clean and full of gas.
I saw Mom and Dad had gotten in the car and Dad had started the engine, I guess they were waiting on me to get in, so I hopped in the passenger seat where I had before"Sorry, I was gettin' a soda, oh, and I was harrased by a fifteen year old, how sad," I explained, opening my soda and taking a drink.
Mom sighed"Teenage boys these days, they make me wonder if there are any human beings in the world," she replied dramaticly, I swear, I think I saw the back of her hand flutter to her forehead, no joke.
Dad nodded"I know what they're like, I was one once," he agreed, starting off back onto the road, barely any cars were on it though, so we could go at basicly any speed, I wonder why the road is so deserted.
I shrugged, turned on my IPod, put in my ear phones, and listened to my music, watching the road signs, I saw one that read:
Gatlin, 15
I sighed, 'great, fifteen miles till I;m in boredsville,' I thought to myself as Dad turned the radio on to country, but that's not the worst part, he started singing along with it! I moaned and he sorta got quiet, but didn't stop completely.
I must've fallen asleep, because when I woke up, the car was stopped at a car auto repair shop..I think. I looked out the window, turning off my IPod. Mom and Dad were talking to a weird old man, his hair, well, what hair he had, was snow white, and his teeth, man, you could've sworn you were talkin' to George Washington with how brown they were, 'must be a smoker,' I thought.
"I wonder who he is," I thought aloud, opening the car door and walking over to them, the old man had a shaky kinda voice, like he'd been scared so bad that it permanantly put him into a shock"I think the next exit is a few more miles up," the old man told Dad, who nodded and looked out beyond a dead end looking road"Thank you sir, have a nice day," Dad replied, then him and Mom waslked back to the car.
I sighed, then looked at the old man"I can't wait to get out of here,"I mumbled to him, he had grease on his hands from the car he was working on.
The man nodded"This isn't a place you wanna be, hon, things happen here." he practically whispered it for gawd's sake. I raised an eyebrow"What kinda things, like, rapes and shit like that?" I had to ask, it was too tempting.
The old man shook his head"No, not that, other, things,"he replied, stepping back a little, then looking around as if someone were listening. I blinked and looked around, just to humor the poor guy, he looked like he was gonna have a stroke, so I smiled as sweetly as I could, then waved slightly and got back in the car"That man...is soooo crazy,"I announced in the car.
Mom smiled at me"I don't know, he seemed like a nice guy," she replied, of coarse she would defend anyone except her own flesh and blood, big surprise. I raised an eyebrow as Dad started the car up again"He practically choked me with his corpse breath too,"I added, waving my hand in front of my nose for effect.
Dad rolled his eyes"Oh stop, he wasn't so bad," he replied, driving down the road, slower then he did earlier, but at least he wasn't driving like my grandmother on poker night, "I thought he was a decent old man," Mom agreed, nodding her head.
I rolled my eyes, 'oh brother, my parents are clueless,' I thought to myself, ignoring them as they talked back and forth about the old geisure. I sighed and rolled my window down, Mom must've rolled it up to wash it. I let the wind blow away their voices, right when Dad came to yet again, another jolted stop.
I sighed, holding my hands up in front of me so I didn't eat the seat"What now, we just got gas?" I asked, brushing my hair back behind my ears. I looked at Dad, he sighed, I think he was holding in his breath"Some kid just ran across the fuckin' street," he replied.
I raised an eyebrow"Why?"I asked, securing my seatbelt just incase dad just up and decides to do a illegal U-turn next, "I don't know why, Malissa, she just ran out and across the street," he replied, holding his hands up.
Mom looked like she was turning different colors, jebus, all that happened was a stupid broad running out in the middle of the street"Well, mabye the stupid chick should think twice before crossing in front of a car, common sense don't you think?" I asked, sighing and laying back against the seat.
Dad loosened his grip on the steering wheel, then started going again. I grabbed the handal above the door, just to be on the safe side.
I looked out my window to see if any other kids would decide to run out stupidly in front of our car, then suddenly, Dad stopped again, but this time, I was ready, my hand grabbed the seat and I didn't even hardly budge"What now?" I asked, sighing.
Dad's face started getting red, I guess he was getting angry since the little vein(I had named it Steve) on his neck started to form"The same girl just ran in front of our car," he replied, grinding his teeth.
I looked out the window"Well, you want me to get out and kick her ass?" I asked, raising both eyebrows, starting to take off my earrings and other things, then took my IPod out of my pocket,"No, no need,"Dad replied. I swear I think Mom was having a stroke, her small hairs were bouncing on her face, I almost laughed out loud.
I sighed, really wanting to kick someone's butt today"Why not, I can take her?" I asked, whining. Dad looked at me"Yea, I bet you could," he replied, practically laughing. I glared at him and folded my arms, then glared out the window as he started going again, this time driving like grandpa on shopping days, grandpa hates to shop.
Mom had finally calmed down after about ten minutes.
'Something is very strange here,' I thought, continuing to look out the window while putting my earrings back on, then sticking my IPod on the charger, plugging the charger up in the cigerette lighter built into the car. I started to remember what the old man said, this time taking it seriously, I wonder what he meant when he said bad things happened and still happen here.
Dad sighed"This road gos on for hours, should we just turn around?" he asked, looking at Mom. Mom looked back, seeing nothing but road, oh, and of coarse corn.
I looked back too, catching the glimpse of a shadow that looked like a head protruding from a part in the corn stalks"Awwwwwkward," I smiled, facing forward now, watching my Dad put the car into reverse, then started working the car to where it faced the other way.
I sighed slightly, looking out the window as Dad finally got the car where he wanted it to go, then started going again"I hope that girl doesn't come running again," Mom announced, as if we didn't know you were thinking it, I mean really, could you be any more Casper?
I continued looking out the window, when suddenly saw something fly on top of our car and roll down the back, it seemed to happen so fast, I was clutching the car door, ready to practically dive out like in the movies. Dad jolted the car to another stop, Mom was green faced, once again.
I felt the color leave my face when Dad opened the car door.
