Children From A Lesser God
Chapter Five : Penn State
Fox's great plan to abandon Sarah's dad's car on some derelict windy road in Penn-Roosevelt Park came to a colossus confidence-crushing crash after an hour of them walking up and down said derelict windy roads with not one car passing.
"Fuck!" he couldn't help the shouty cry of despair and anger. He had been doing so well. He thought he had been doing so well. He had got them out of Maryland and into a different state. Sure, it was just the next state, but they were supposed to find a car with some people they could hitchhike with and then end up in another state, and now... Fox let out another shout and visibly felt Her increase the walking distance between the two of them.
Well good, Fox thought, this whole cluster fuck of a situation was all her fault. He did not know where his mom and dad were. He was not allowed to get in contact with them or his sister, even though he was only eighteen and was lost in a forest in Pennsylvania, with a fourteen year old pregnant girl, who seemed to only be able to stare at him with her big - albeit beautiful - blue eyes and cling on to him as if her life depended on it.
But still, with her footfalls being that more cautious around him, Fox decided to continue the lamentation of himself in silent back to the car.
She was like a baby bird anyway.
Again, the juxtaposition was confusing, and did nothing to help his mind or his situation to become less confusing.
It was 8:14 when they had returned back to the car, exactly where they had left it, by the lake at the end of Witts End; and Fox felt that like he was literally at his witts end and why not just do a running jump from the end of the jetty and like... what... self drown? That wasn't going to happen. He was far too of an excellent swimmer for that.
He could just run.
But then..
She needed him. By the way She stared at him, the way She clinged on to him. Fox knew She needed him, and he was responsible for her and her baby's well being.
Fox stands up from the rock they are sat on and She visibly startles and then scrambles to get up, probably fearing that he was going to leave without her, Fox guesses.
He tries his best at smiling at her and extends his hand to her. She visibly relaxes, and takes his hand, and he escorts them back to the car.
Time for plan E.
...
Not that Fox really knew what Plan E was other than it was not Plan D of abandoning the car in the forest and hitchhiking to Canada. Canada, where all Plans ended. They were currently stuck in what must be commuter traffic, which meant Sarah's dad would undoubtedly know his car was missing, and undoubtedly would have reported it missing. Fox wanted to put on the radio to see if there was anything about it on the news - because Sarah's dad was that kind of person - but didn't want to risk turning anything electric on because Sarah's dad was also the kind of person who would have a tracking system. Who knows, maybe they were tracking now...? Which is precisely why he had wanted to leave the car at Witts End, Penn-Rosevelt Forest. ... Maybe Sarah's dad even had a camera or something on his garage and was now showing Sarah a video of her boyfriend - perhaps now ex-boyfriend - driving away with his car. Fox couldn't remember if they had their hoods up.
They had, hadn't they?
Yes, they had.
He was sure of it. They wouldn't have been that reckless.
Would they?
He twitches slightly at the feeling of something on his leg. Irritable, he looks down to see it is Her hand on his knee. He looks up into her beautiful eyes which are darting to the road ahead of them.
His eyes follow hers and sees that the traffic has cleared slightly and then becomes aware of the sound of multiple car horns behind him.
He sighs deeply and puts himself back into driving position to fill what could not have been more than a three metre gap. He can however see a sign for Penn State Campus at the T junction ahead.
Penn State Campus... why not? If anything, there is considerably less traffic for that direction. It seems to actually be moving.
...
In the end Fox pulled into the local high school car park, his mind was murdering him overtime with scenarios over their location being known because they were in that car. It wasn't just Sarah's dad that brought that chill all the way down Fox's spine; it was the fear or disappointment from his father, from Her. It was the not knowing where his parents were and if they were safe. Was his sister in danger? They had come back to his house for them. Had they taken his parents? Where? Why? Why did he know Fox's name? And why had that old English dude covered him?
It was getting too claustrophobic in the car. He needed out. He needed fresh air.
Luckily or unluckily, Fox felt luckily, the car park was crowded with high schoolers arriving for morning bell. The car obviously attracted attention, which meant they also attracted a lot of attention but it also meant that they were also able to slip out unnoticed to any cameras. Despite the weight of the situation Fox couldn't help the proud smirk on his face over the admiration he got over the car and over Her. With her hand in his and both their backpacks slung over his shoulder, he escorted the two of them through the awing crowd with cockiness, and with a lightness he hadn't felt in the last twelve hours.
But when he reached the edge of the school to look at the crowd still around his car, the weight of his situation returned, and he wished he was one of the crowd. He should have been. He should have been pulling up to his own morning bell, in his new car he got for turning eighteen, Sarah in the passenger seat. Sure it wasn't a crowd puller like a Ferrari, but it didn't come with a fourteen year old pregnant girl and all her baggage.
The second bell rang and the crowd started to filter towards the school entrance. Fox pulled his gaze to look at Her only to find her eyes already on him. Expanse, completely trusting and completely at his mercy, and again, just like that, all his ill thoughts towards her slipped away.
"Let's get breakfast".
...
Fox hadn't applied to Penn State but he of course knew the school. It was even bigger than he thought it would be and seemed to encompass the high school and all the surrounding residential area. It had everything. It had more than his own hometown. He had never visited a campus like it. His sister was at Browns and it was probably a tenth of its size. He became lost looking at all the different stores that he momentarily forgot they were supposed to be looking for food, but the smell as they passed a McDonalds brought him back.
He bought two double bacon and egg mcmuffins and two chocolate milkshakes. She only sipped on her milkshake and picked a bit at her burger bun. When he asked if she was OK, she nodded quickly and smiled. After another ten minutes of her picking and sipping he asked if he could eat if she didn't want it. She nodded again and pushed it towards him. He was a little peeved. He assumed she would be hungry. Weren't pregnant women always supposed to be hungry? But then, albeit her stomach she was very thin, and girls were obsessive over their weight. Still, he would of held off on getting food until lunch if he had known she wasn't hungry. One less meal to buy. They had money now, but he didn't know how long it would have to last them. Like, would he still be budgeting his cash to buy diapers?
He was going to ask her when her baby was due but he clocked how heavy her eyes were.
She was tired.
She must have been. He was tired. She hadn't slept at all while he was driving.
"We can check into a hotel if you're tired?"
This woke her up. She shook her head no.
"It's OK", he frowned, "I'm tired too", and they had passed a cheaper looking hotel not to far away.
...
"How's the semester going for you?"
Fox had heard the question but hadn't registered it was directed at him until She nudged him.
Fox looks at the guy wide eyed, "eh, sorry, good. Yeah, it's going good", Fox lies, leaning a bit on the desk to appear relaxed and in control.
"You're in first year?"
Fox nods. He is on a college campus, it is only natural for people to assume he is a college student.
"Piece of piss. Wait until you hit third year, then you'll wonder what they stuck up your ass".
Fox nods and chuckles uneasily.
"So we have availability but if I check you in now, technically I'm going to have to charge you for two nights buuuut", and he shifts his gaze from side to side as if worried someone might overhear.
Fox instinctively moves in closer.
"...my boss won't get in until later this afternoon, so I can just check you in later or not at all. You know, if you and your lady are done", and he winks suggestively at him.
Fox's face immediately reddens and he retracts away. She is clinging on to him like her life depended on it. He guesses it is only natural for people to assume. "Oh no, we're not. She's no-"
"-none of my business", the guy interjects, holding his hands up in defence. "Just trying to help a brother out. I know what its like having to share a room when wanting to entertain the ladies", the guy's eyes look down to Her stomach. "Or lady, in your case. Not calling your boyfriend a player. Or what do I know, maybe you're married. What halls are you in?"
Shit.
"Sorry, it's been a long drive", Fox shakes his head as if too tired to forget his halls of residence.
"No problem. Only going to say that there is a lot of free space at Earle Hall. You can request transfer, I know a few people that have already. Once your kid is born they may even put you in house accommodation. So long as you pay of course. That's always a bummer", he mumbles off. "I'm in house accommodation for my last year but a share it with a few others from my course".
The guy goes to the key rack that has about fifteen or so keys hanging from it. "So how many weeks?"
Weeks? They only want to stay a night.
The guy turns and looks at him expectantly with a key.
"Sorry?" Fox asks, and Her grip tightens on him.
"Pregnant", the guy laughs. "Shit, dude. Maybe you will need this room for the night. You look like you need to sleep for a week - no offense", handing Fox the key.
"No", Fox smiles and laughs nervously for what must be the tenth time. He wonders if the guy suspects anything. "I am pretty whacked. She's um, she's three months".
"Really? Shit, is she having twins or triplets?"
Fox only let his strained smile fall momentarily. "I hope not". And he really did.
"Man, I can't wait to have kids. The more the merrier. I never pegged myself as ever wanting to be a father", and the guy scratches his chin, "but my sister recently had a baby and it is the cutest shitting thing ever".
Fox nods, trying to keep his smile on and steady.
"Well, we are just hoping for the one".
"Shit, well it looks like there is more than one in their buddy", he chuckles, sitting back on his office chair, letting it swivel him. "Anyway, like I said, I won't check you in for now, just come back at 3pm, before my shift finishes and I'll check you in. If your done. I never saw you. You never saw me. Just try not to make too much of a mess of the sheets, you know what I mean".
...
The room wasn't anything special, but it would do for the next five hours or so. Fox definitely wanted to cash in on the leave early free stay. One less hotel room to pay for. Not that he could do much about it, but Fox sincerely hoped that there was only one baby in her belly. He was sure there was only one, his father had said 'baby' not 'babies'. He just didn't know anything about pregnancies. Even so, he didn't know why he said three months. Fox could tell she was pretty big and he knew human gestation was give or so nine months.
He inspected the room. Double bed - he asked for a twin, but whatever when it is free. TV. Bedside cabinets. Television. Phone. En-suite bathroom - looks pretty clean. Satisfied, he throws their baggage on the bed.
"You can use the bathroom first", he suggests. He is eager to count his cash, to find out exactly what his finances are. He also wants to check the news.
She nods. Picks up the remote, turns the volume up high before disappearing into the bathroom with her backpack. Fox stares at his backpack left slung at the bed. Picking up the remote, he decides to join it.
He is still in the same position when she comes out of the bathroom about half an hour later. He was on the cusp of nodding off and has to blink a few times. She smiles gratefully at him. She obviously showered as her hair is still wet, she has put the spare hoodie he put in her bag on, and he is happy to see that she has managed to clean away the splodges of blood from her shoes. Just thinking of that asshole makes his blood boil to no end. From where he lies, Fox watches her place her backpack neatly in the arm chair, she then goes for his and places it next to hers, before sitting next to him on the bed. She rests her hands on her bump and looks to be contemplating it.
"You can sleep you know. We have more than a few hours", he knows he is ready to pass out. He had at least flicked through the news channels while he slumped, there was nothing on the news about them or the car, which was a huge relief.
"Are you not going to use the bathroom?" she asks.
Fox's eyes were beginning to close again. "Why? Do I smell?"
They both chuckle.
She has a beautiful smile. It fills her whole face.
...
The shower wakes Fox up. He's buzzing. So he first counts his money. $1,742.56. He already knew it was around that amount. He then does an inventory of his backpack. Glasses, four pairs of boxers, two pairs of socks, passport, credit card, debit card, drivers license, two hoodies, wallet with a few loyalty cards in it, house keys, cell phone, sim card, cell battery, headphones, one t-shirt, a beanie hat, scarf and a pair of gloves.
He is itching to root through her backpack but then thinks better of it. Instead he made a list for supplies.
It is only 10:24. She is sound asleep under the covers. Her jeans, shoes, hoodie, sweatshirt, and from the strap dangling - what must be her bra are neatly piled on the arm chair. He should let her sleep. He wants to let her sleep. But he is buzzing. He has a plan and he wants to put it into motion. He wants to get the supplies on his list. He feels in control. He has a plan and he thinks it might work.
After pacing the room a few times, he resolves to wake her up. He has to shake her quite hard before her eyes start to rouse open.
"What?" it's almost a snap. She sounds pissed at him waking her up and he finds it even more adorable then when she is acting like a baby bird.
"I have a plan. I need to get some supplies"
She sighs deeply, resting her head back on the pillow mountain she has made.
"It will just be an hour, then you can go back to sleep for two more hours, I promise".
She doesn't move.
"Or you can stay here". He would be quicker without her waddling behind him. "Stay here. I'll be one hour".
He rushes for his backpack and then towards the door, before stopping short. He returns to her bedside. There is a big frown on her forehead now from him disturbing her sleep. "Don't let anyone in, OK. I will have the key. If someone knocks, lock yourself in the bathroom until I come back. OK?"
She doesn't reply.
"OK", he persists, shaking her shoulder because tempus fugit.
"OK", she snaps blearily, shrugging his arm off of him.
"I'll be one hour".
...
The guy is still in the reception when he comes down to the foyet. The guy nods and smiles at him. Fox walks over to him and the guy stands. "Nice beanie", he compliments.
"Thanks, can you tell me where the nearest bus depot is? Like Grayhound or something?"
"You looking to go out of state? Yeah, there's a Greyhound about a fifteen minute walk from here. It's on North Atherton Street. I can show you on the computer if you like, or I am sure you could get it on your cell".
"Oh no, I don't have a smart phone".
"How do you survive?" the guy asks while finding the location on the computer.
"Got to save every penny for the baby. So where are you from. Your accent sounds kinds of middle state?"
"Madison, Wisconsin. Ever been there?"
"No, it is a nice place?"
The guy shrugs, "it's home. It's not far from Chicago, that's where I am looking to go to after I graduate. Or New York City, like everyone else", he chuckles.
"Chicago's great".
"I love it. It's kind of the place to be now".
"Is it? Does it have lots of jobs then?"
"I have my eye on a few traineeship programmes there. Here you go", he turns the screen so Fox can see.
"Not far at all. Could you do me one more favour? Is there a Target or an equivalent near?"
...
Once outside, Fox's first call was the high school. The Ferrari was still there and the keys were still in the ignition. He drives the Ferrari to the Grayhound bus terminal and purchases two one way tickets to Chicago leaving at 17:00 today. It's an $180 dent in his budget, but Fox hopes that it is worth it. Abandoning the car there, he then walks to Target and buys two $40 cell phones that come with pay as you go sim cards, hair dye, tooth brush and some toothpaste. There is more on his list, but these are the bare minimum for now.
Fox leaves the store a bit more in control and allows himself to take in his surroundings. There is a H and M clothes store across the road and behind that he can see what must be the edge of the university teaching buildings. His receipt from Target showed that the time was 11:04, which meant that he still had twenty minutes until he had to get back to Her, which he figured was enough time to have a small look around.
"Are you here for the orientation?" a student calls out to him. She's wearing a bright yellow t-shirt with the word 'orientation' on it. She looks a little out of breath. "The eleven o'clock orientation? You're just in time. Please join us", the girls smiles at him.
"OK", Fox says, and joins the edge of the small group that has crowded around the student. He had got into the university easily, not that there was security or anything, but no one seemed to think he was out of place. He was just looking at all the buildings trying to figure out how he was going to find Earle Hall when by the luck of the gods, she had called him over. He waits for the orientation student to give him a map, stays around for five minutes to make sure it is accurate and easy to read and then slinks off. He would love to stay but he has Her waiting for him.
He stopped to pick up lunch from one of the fast food pizza places on the way back.
"Two one way tickets to Chicago", he boasted to the receptionist guy as he reentered the hotel, waving the tickets in his hand.
"Your crazy, dude", laughing. "It must be love".
Fox winks at the guy before turning for the stairs.
He is still grinning proudly at himself, over how well he played it and how genuine he must have seemed to the guy that when he unlocks the room door to find the bed neatly made and She not in it like he had left her only an hour ago. It knocks him for six. He almost drops the pizza.
She is by the arm chair instead, pulling on her jeans. And before he can even react to that, she turns to look at him, crying. And before he can even ask why, she runs at him, throwing her arms around him in a death grip. "You left me", she sobs angrily, but her body leans in closer to him, almost as if she is trying to make him, her and the bump one.
"I didn't", he replies, hurt. Because he didn't, he came back just like he said he would.
"You left me".
"I didn't, I just-"
"You left me", and her crying becomes hysterical.
"I told you-" but Fox stops, it all seems moot now. "I'm sorry", he resigns, even though he did nothing wrong. He tries to release from her but she won't let go.
"I got us cell phones. So now you can always call me. You never have to worry-", but her cries - even though he thought impossible - have gotten harder.
He manages to move her to the bed and sit her on it. He wants to get up to get her some tissue, to give himself some breathing space but she won't unclasp her latch around his neck. In the end, Fox decides he just has to wade it out.
He lasts five minutes before he tries to pull away.
"No don't leave me", she starts sobbing on repeat, and something in Fox snaps.
"I'm not going to leave you", he shouts, wrenching himself harshly out of her grip. It causes her nails to scratch the back of his neck. It more than stings, but he is not going to cry about it. "I'm here aren't I", he continues, making a big gesture with his hands. "I came back. I could have left you here but I didn't".
He pauses to see that she is frozen in shock.
"I could have left you here!" he repeats for good measure. "I-", he chokes, despite the fact that he has more to tell her, so much more to tell her about how much she has ruined his life. He tries again, but he can feel hot tears forming in his eyes, but damn will he cry in front of her, in front of a fourteen year old.
But it was obviously too late as she stands up, and wraps her arms around him in a comforting hug. He wants to resist, but it feels too good and she smells so sweet. Her skin is so soft and before he knows it, he is crying just as hard as she was. He wants his parents. He wants to be home, and he guesses at the end of the day, so does she. Which of course makes him cry even harder for getting angry at her.
"I'm sorry", he splurts out on repeat, well aware that he is spewing that and his tears down the crook of her neck. But she must not mind as her hand continues coaxing the back of his neck soothingly. Fox didn't know how long they stood like that in the middle of the room, but his tears did eventually die down and he realised that his gaze was staring down her vest top. He could see the dusky pink of her bare nipples. Her chest was stained with the wet streaks of his tears. He knew she didn't have a bra on, he had felt her warm breasts push against him earlier, but then he was frustrated at her. Now. Now his nails dig into her sides as he tries to ride through this shift. She must of felt it as well though because she lets out a sharp gasp that can only be associated with pleasure.
He wants to hear it again, so tightens his grip on her harder.
She doesn't disappoint.
Fuck, when did she go from little sister to someone he lusted over. Maybe she always was. He didn't want to admit it, but it was true.
He can feel his lips start to magnatise towards her.
All he needed was the sigh she let out as she rubbed her lips against his and he couldn't keep his mouth off of hers. The height difference was straining and before he knew it he was easing her on to the bed. He barely broke his lips with hers and once they were settled in away that avoided her bump; he kept a hand behind the back of her neck and moved the other one underneath her vest and started to fondle her breasts. The short gasps of pleasure she was letting out was exquisite and only made him harder for her. This was real. This was amazing. Everything about her felt so right.
He moves his hand from her breasts down her side. Her jeans are still open and he slips his hand underneath her panties. She goes very still but after a few seconds, when he is about to ask her if this is OK, her lips and tongue start to attack his mouth even more. It was too fast, and he tries to slow her down until he actually has to order her to slow down and that she didn't have to be so fast.
This embarrasses her, he can see. So he starts again slowly, and her eyes look like he has won her over again. And it is real, amazing and so right all over again. He removes her jeans and her panties and is busy unpopping his jeans, when he goes to steal another kiss from her, and registers the wide eyed horror on her face and how her legs protectively hide herself from him.
He moves an inch and she recoils greatly.
"It's OK", he says, his voice horse, his lips bruised from all their kissing. Hers look a good two times bigger. "We don't have to this. We got carried away, but it's OK".
She was starting to cry again.
"I promise", he pleads, picking up her jeans and panties and handing them to her.
She eases a little.
The room stank of her. There was no politer way of describing it. All he could could smell was her. It infiltrated all of his airwaves. "I'm just going to use the bathroom. There's some pizza. I just got original because i didn't know what you liked". Part truth, it was also the cheapest.
"Fox", her voice asks, and he stops just outside the ensuite.
"Yes".
She isn't looking at him, and her jeans cover her lower half. "You're still not going to leave me right. Because i didn't let you-"
"Of course not", and his blood boiled but she had a right to ask. "I'm not like that. I'm not like that at all".
Fox comes back in after another shower. She sits crossed leg on the bed with the spare jumper he gave her and jeans on. Her feet are still bare. She has smoothed her hair back into place, and her lips have gone back to normal. The small windows has been opened and the room no longer smells of her but the outside. The bed is neatly made. All visible traces of what occurred before have been smoothed away with the wind.
Fox also notices that she has eaten half of the large pizza and is eyeing the other half with want.
"I guess you like pizza"