Chapter 2: Speculations

Shaun wiped his mouth and smacked his lips as he tried to air out the bad taste in his mouth. He had had his mouth locked shut since he and Samantha had taken to the road. It was the early hours of dawn and the orange beams of the soon to rise sun reached up and over the mountains to the side. The trees seemed to be waking as their colors beamed with life. A fresh morning revealed it's elegancy to a half dead shell that was Shaun. The pain had gone numb and all he was really doing was just driving mindlessly. He looked over at Samantha, who had fallen asleep through the extended hours and sighed. He recalled the first time they kissed which initiated the relationship. He had never been so happy to be with someone. He didn't even care to think about when it started going south. There wasn't much of a point. He just wanted to enjoy his last moments with her no matter what the circumstances.

As another couple hours dissipated Shaun pulled into a gas station. He was glad they were open. as a matter of fact they had opened not ten minutes ago. As he opened the truck door a cold rush of air scampered in like a crowd of people booming into to a holiday sale. The sudden chill stirred Samantha but she remained ensnared in her slumber. Shaun longed to kiss her on the head and surprisingly did so. He soon felt bad about it and slightly slid his hand over her forehead in attempt to erase the invisible misdeed.

"Sorry." He whispered to her. He leapt out of the truck and slapped the ground with his boots. The worker looked up at him with surprise as Shaun walked in. The air conditioning was worse to Shaun then the actual weather outside. "Hello." He held a hand up to the storekeeper.

"Wow, you're up early… you on the road?" Shaun adjusted his hood jacket and shook off the cold air.

"Yeah, just taking a break, sorry to come in so early." The man laughed and stroked his goatee, his shaggy hair hanging out from his black DC cap.

"Hey, don't sweat it. I get paid to be here. As long as you're not gonna rob the place, where you coming from?"

"Albuquerque, not sure if it's colder there or here." They both chuckled in agreement.

"I hear you man, Texas weather. You gotta love it, so you from here or you visiting?" He adjusted to the distance as Shaun began heading towards the back of the store.

"Yeah, I'm in Lubbock, was taking my girl to see her brother."

"Oh, well your trip's almost over then. You're just outside Littlefield." Shaun laughed.

"Yeah, I can't wait to get back home, rough trip." He grabbed a shiner and then a Cherry Dr. Pepper from the fridge. As he brought them over another man entered. He seemed to know the storekeeper seeing they cocked heads at each other and smiled. As they began chatting Shaun peaked over to the truck to see if Samantha was okay. He couldn't see her though and just listened in on the two men's conversation.

"…Yeah, the news has been freaking out over that explosion in the Arkadelphia. Whole state of Arkansas was freaking out about it." The employee took Shaun's drinks and quickly looked at him and asked.

"Is this going to be all for you?" As Shaun nodded in agreement he punched the numbers in and gave him his total. "So what really happened?"

"No one really knows. There are rumors that it's a cover up. People say it might have been a terrorist attack but it's been reported as an accident within the building. If you ask me, whatever gets reported you should expect the worst." Shaun paid the money and gathered up the two bottles.

"Thank you, have a safe trip back man." Shaun nodded in return and also threw a deuce at the other man who returned the gesture.

Shaun paced over to the truck in hopes that Samantha would still be asleep and was glad to see that was indeed so. He popped the door open and chucked the two bottles on his seat and left the door open. He quickly swung over and worked on gassing his truck. As he began pumping the man who had came in after him stalked over poking his head inside Shaun's truck. Shaun looked at him cautiously as the man whistled loudly.

"Can I help you man?" Shaun made it known that he wasn't trying to be friendly. The man scratched his chin as his hair blew wildly with the wind.

"That's a fine Latina you got in there." He laughed smugly. "Where are you guys headed?" Shaun smirked at the question.

"I'm heading for San Antonio, get back home before she gets fussy."

"Hey, I'd put up with it. Anything for a brother to hit that tang right?" Shaun dropped the gas pump back in its slot which hushed the man.

"Yeah well I don't think you want this brother to hit your tang. So why don't you find your wheels and get." Shaun stared at the man until he finally faltered and walked away. With that he jumped back into his truck and started it. As they pulled away he saw that Samantha had woken up and quickly popped up once they were on the road. He looked over at her timidly. She returned his look with a nervous look of her own. "I wasn't…you know…acting as your boyfriend or anything...I just…"

"Yeah, yeah I know. It's ok." Shaun looked over at her and the two stared at each other for a long moment. Eventually Sam looked down at her lap and fiddled her nails together. Shaun decided to let her be and grabbed the shiner. She quickly cast her eyes on them and grabbed the bottle. Shaun shot her a look. "Umm…that soda there is for you, baby girl."

"Uh yeah, baby boy….I don't think so. Drinking and driving? You can do that once you get me home." She tugged at the drink and Shaun let her snag it away. He smirked with disbelief.

"Why don't you buckle up before you lecture me on the law Mrs. Twenty years old? And you can get worried after maybe twelve more of those. One is a chump shot."

"Yeah well you suck at driving anyways so…" She popped it open and took a sip.

"Not as bad as your Halo skills." Samantha almost spewed out the beer as she flinched from the insult. They pushed and shoved for a bit but after they almost rode off the road they quickly seized. Shaun tried his best to hide his smile while Samantha didn't really try as hard.

Shaun flipped the radio on and looked for a news station. He was interested in the event in Arkansas. He wasn't too big on news but a potential terrorist attack was nothing to turn the ears from. The stations were all too static riddled so he just turned it off. He was planning on stopping soon anyways. Samantha was listening to her ipod as it was getting deep into the afternoon. As they were coming up to a local café, Shaun drifted to the side and turned into the parking lot. Samantha quickly took the headphones out of her ears.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Shaun parked the truck before answering. He knew yet another argument was on the way.

"Ah come on. I've always wanted you to meet Mike. He told me to bring you by…" Samantha sighed and rolled her eyes along with throwing her hands up.

"But I want to go home, Shaun. We've been on the road all day and…"

"Sam, this may be the last time we eat together…can't I at least enjoy the rest of the time we're out here." Samantha looked at him long and hard before crossing her arms and sagging into her seat. Shaun knew that meant she was giving up but was awfully upset. He just sighed and opened the car door. "Thanks…" He wasn't sure if he was saying that or asking. He dropped down to the floor and began to wrap around to the other side to open Sam's door but she quickly climbed down on her own efforts and dusted her pants off giving Shaun a nasty look. "Ok…so let's go then…" He said more so to himself then to her so she didn't hear him. The café wasn't anything special seeing it was in the middle of the road and was made mainly for travelers but they did have good food and Mike was a very friendly manager who Shaun had become good friends with. Shaun traveled a lot with his Dad out of town for business trips and assignments regarding his father's job. His dad is an agent for the U.S government and has been very busy as of late. Shaun went with him only so to help him blend in more. A man traveling around on his own has gotten rather suspicious as of late. So whenever they came back from a trip the two would always stop by Mike's café should they be passing by.

As the two walked in Sam immediately looked around while Shaun took off his jacket. Mike was a natural for heat and detested the cold so he always cranked the heat up. Samantha willingly allowed Shaun to take her jacket as well and took the liberty of seating herself in a nearby booth next to the window, enabling a direct shot of Shaun's truck. Shaun smirked for it was him who pushed that habit into her. He would always try to get a seat to where he could see everyone who came in and where his car was. The trips with his dad had beaten that mentality into him. He would have joined her but he decided to let her cool off and looked around for Mike instead. It didn't take long to find Mike behind the counter cleaning off some glasses with a white rag. He saw Shaun coming up on him so he looked up and smiled wide.

"Well look at this guy, you actually showed up." Shaun threw his hand out as they clapped them together and embraced each other. Mike was a tall Caucasian with dirty blonde hair and facial hair which consisted of a trimmed beard and mustache. His hair was past his ears which were pierced and burdened diamond earrings. He had blue eyes and his face was younger than his age of thirty two. "How's your pops doing? He still working the dirty job with the big league?" Shaun nodded.

"Yeah, he's actually in San Antonio right now, he's on a job with my friend's dad." Mike peaked over at Samantha and smirked after a long pause.

"Is that her?" Shaun chuckled to himself with a wide grin and stroked his trimmed up chin.

"Yeah…but she's not in the best of moods right now. And it's not that time either." Mike faked a grimaced look before whistling loud enough to make Samantha look over at them. Mike turned his back to the suspicious face of Samantha and leaned on the counter.

"That's the worst kind of angry…well, I can't have that. Why don't you take a seat and I'll be right with you." Shaun nodded and quickly stalked over to Samantha and slid into the booth across from her. She was looking at the menu and tapping it with her right index finger which was customary for 'I have no idea what I want.' Shaun picked up his menu though he already knew what he was getting. He thought he could at least make some suggestions.

"Hey Sam, why don't you try…" Samantha immediately looked up at him with a somewhat surprised look. "Uh…what…?" Shaun became uneasy under her gaze. She quickly looked back at the menu.

"It's nothing…I just…forgot that's all." Shaun raised an eyebrow to her reply.

"Forgot what…"

"Okay you two can I get you guys a drink while you look at those menus?" Shaun slipped a curse past his gritted teeth at the interruption. Samantha looked up at Mike and swept her hair aside from her face before speaking. The motion for some reason teased Shaun and made his heart jump.

"Can I get a please? And also I'd like to try the onion rings with ranch instead of the onion sauce." Mike smiled as he grabbed a pen and small booklet which he quickly scribbled the order on.

"Okay, not a bad choice. Not a bad choice at all. What about you bro?" He and Samantha both looked at him.

"Same drink and I'll just order the usual." Mike nodded as if he expected those very words and didn't even write it down. "And Sam…" Again Sam seemed to flinch at her name which made Shaun stuttered a bit. "Um…this is my good friend Mike. When Dad and I go on a business trip we always come here should it be on the way. Mike and my Dad are old college buddies. Samantha extended her soft hand and Mike gingerly took it and gave it two shakes before releasing it.

"Nice to finally meet you, this guy could talk about you forever if I didn't shut him up. Sam smiled a let out a small laugh without looking over to Shaun. Mike repeated the order and with the confirmation of those two quickly went to ring them up. As he was busy taking other orders he and Sam sipped on their sodas. They rarely made eye contact and spent a good portion of the time looking outside the window as cars drove by or watching the progress of the store. Shaun peaked over at the television and saw that the news was on. It was on mute so he couldn't hear what they were talking about but he did see what looked like the remnants of a large building in the midst of a city. Helicopters inspected from above as policemen and what Shaun recognized as federal services were there obviously investigating vigorously. The headline for the story was "A accident or incident?" which made him want to get up and go turn the volume up but Mike quickly came up to their table with a tray bearing plates and a serving of fresh onion rings. "Got your onion rings right here and I figured I'd hold your steak and eggs so the lady of the hour here could get her food with yours." Shaun gave the television one last look before nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, sounds good Mike." Samantha looked at him before picking up her menu. She quickly ordered French toast with eggs and apple juice and Mike just as quickly scribbled down her order with her slight modifications and then bolted off. Shaun wanted to look back at the screen but Samantha tapped the table with her finger, a gesture to capture his attention. "Yeah, what's up Sam?" Samantha bit her lips as she gazed at him. "Sam what is it?"

"Are you really okay with this, us splitting?" Shaun faltered at the question.

"Well, maybe not now but if…if it has to be than…" He rubbed his hands together a few times to settle his nerves.

"Well, it just seems like you're stalling for time…" Shaun chuckled in disbelief.

"So what…you want to leave right now or what? Hold up I'll just tell Mike to make those to go." Samantha slapped the table which drew the eyes of several onlookers. Shaun froze half out of the booth and stared back at her.

"Damn it Shaun that's not what I'm trying to say…" Shaun met the eyes of the watchers and eased them with a nervous grin and a wave of a hand. Samantha ignored the crowd and locked her eyes

"So what are you trying to say Sam?"

"That's what I was hoping you'd tell me." Samantha countered and Shaun knew exactly what she wanted. But was it true? Was he really just trying to bide his time in hope that this would blow over? He wasn't really sure. A part of him had kind of accepted that they were breaking up. It was only right, right? As much as they fight, he couldn't really imagine it getting better overnight between these two. But then again, he didn't want to lose her either. But that was only a normal feeling. Who wouldn't feel like that? They dated for so long it's only natural that he'd want to make things work out. But he knew that was just selfish thinking wasn't it? If anything they needed time away from each other. He looked up from his lap and into Sam's auburn eyes. They shinned in the afternoon light and crashed against the encasement of her dark black hair. He knew what she wanted him to say, but he wouldn't say it just yet. He needed time to think. He cared about her. There was no doubt about that. But that's not what the issue was.

"Sam…I…I don't know what you mean…" Samantha closed her eyes and ran a hand through her river of hair. "I'm just trying to have this last meal together and then I'll take you home, okay? I'm not trying to waste your time." Samantha just nodded, clearly disappointed and seemed to fumble around for something. "Sam look, I…"

"I left my phone in the car…" Shaun halted his words and merely slipped the truck keys from his pocket and held them out to her. She got up and as she walked by swiped them from his hands. Shaun sighed deeply and came to the conclusion that he was tired. He hardly noticed Mike standing next to him placing down plates with their orders steaming off them. Shaun helped him set the table and then handed Mike the now unnecessary menus.

"Thanks Mike, it all looks good."

"Hey, you know how we do things here. So…things patching up between you two?" Shaun looked at Mike quickly, caught off guard by the question. Mike just shrugged.

"You could tell huh?"

"Yeah, from what you told me, she's not anything like you explained. I figured she was in a mood of the sorts." Shaun stretched his restless body.

"Yeah well, it comes and goes. It's been a long trip so she's bound to get home sick. But…" Shaun caught the television one more time to see if the same story was still on. Seeing it was he pointed to it for indication. Mike looked to it. "What's the deal with that explosion? I even heard about it down in Littlefield." Mike stared at the television for a bit before answering.

"I don't know, but whatever the deal is it seems pretty serious. From what I've been hearing not a lot of information has been coming out of Arkadelphia or even Arkansas itself. There's seems to be a lot of confusion but as far as I can tell from the news it's like the whole state is in the dark." Shaun poked at his platter of food with his fork as he fought with his mind. "But hey, I'm sure the government's on top of it. Whatever the issue is over there, it's nothing we should freak out about just yet."

"Heh, you seem to be a lot more attentive to things that happen on this American soil now." Mike smirked as he began to pace off.

"And who's to blame for that I wonder?" Shaun laughed to himself and closed his eyes and tilted his head into his clasped hands as he blessed his food. Just as he finished and rose to eat, Samantha flopped back into her seat. She had her phone in her hand but had neglected to turn it on yet and placed it down to grab some sanitizer from her purse. Shaun wanted to grab her phone and call his parents but seeing it wasn't on he decided to just wait until he was done eating and use his which he left in the truck. Samantha offered Shaun the sanitizer and he declined it and just began eating.

"I already prayed for the food…" Samantha looked up at him and still assumed a position similar to Shaun's. "But go ahead a make sure." He said past a smile full of steak and hash browns. Once she was done she gave him a look but couldn't help but smile shortly after.

…

Shaun paid the bill for the food and Mike clapped the change into his hand and they both bumped their fists into the others chest. "Okay Mike, I'll be sure to come out here and visit you guys before the end of the month. Maybe we can catch that Cowboys Eagles game."

Mike smiled and patted Shaun on the shoulder. "I still can't believe you're an eagle. What do you see in that team?"

"You mean besides the fact that they beat the cowgirls twice a year?" Shaun countered. "Hmm can't say I need a better one."

Mike just rolled his eyes "Okay well just call me when you guys get back. I want to make sure you guys made it in okay."

Shaun nodded and turned to walk away. "You got it man."

"It was nice meeting you Sam." Mike called out to Samantha who smiled kindly and replied with an enthused wave. With that they departed and Shaun stood close to Samantha as he led her back to the truck. As Samantha leaned on him he reached for his keys and sighed in his relief. The dinner was shaky here and there but for the most part he at least got Samantha to forget about last night. As they got into the truck Samantha turned her phone on and jumped as her screen came to light.

"What's wrong?" Shaun tried to lean back to see her screen and started the truck at the same moment. Samantha showed him the phone.

"Look how many phone calls I missed. It goes on forever." Shaun's eyes widened as he saw the long list.

"Damn, aren't you popular? Is everything alright? Did they text you?"

Samantha cycled through the list for a bit before answering. "I took texting off for this month, remember? Dang, how many people called me?" They were already on the road when Samantha started dialing. Shaun occasionally looked between Samantha's worried face and the road. "…Hello…hey Mom…" Shaun sighed as she asked what was wrong. "Yeah, I got a bunch of calls, is everything okay down there? Oh you're not? Oh okay, is that what you were calling about? Yeah. Yeah, Shaun left his phone off I think. You know how he has a habit of doing that. What? They're not? No I haven't called anyone while I've been gone. Well I'm going to be home soon so I'll just see them when I get there. Okay, okay love you to." She laughed and looked at Shaun shyly. "Okay I'll tell him, he loves you too. Okay bye." Samantha hung the phone up and stretched while yawning loudly.

Shaun had to focus on the road as her shirt stretched to expose her body's figure. "So is everything okay?" He was glad it didn't seem to be an emergency.

Samantha adjusted her chair back. "Well it seems like it. Mom was just calling because she was trying to tell me that she was going to be gone on a business trip and that when I got back to pick out the lightings for my room. As for everyone else they only called once or twice so I guess they were just trying to see if I was back yet. I'll call them back later."

Shaun nodded in agreement. "He felt like grabbing his phone but he doubted he'd have as many messages so he didn't want to embarrass himself.