They were just about ready to cross the line of Kentucky into Tennessee. Carmen excitedly looked out her window, waiting for the sign that said Welcome to Tennessee. It was amusing to see her face lit up like a little kid's on Christmas morning. Jason almost wanted to smile. But he didn't. He couldn't look weak in front of Carmen.
When she caught a glimpse of the sign a mile before the car would pass it she cheered quietly. Carmen said to herself out loud that she wished that she had a camera. The interstate wound through Tennessee. Some parts of it the road passed by rock lining each side of the interstate and revealed a valley of trees. Jason wasn't so much bothered by Carmen.
After sightseeing got old Carmen began chatting up a storm. She narrated funny moments in her life and would laugh at her own jokes. Then move on to talking about people Jason had never met. The weirdest thing for Jason was that he was listening. Usually he wouldn't care about someone's personal life, but Carmen pulled him in. Though his face didn't show it, he was listening intently.
"I don't even know why I'm talking out loud. Back home I don't chat this much. It's not like I'm deathly quiet though, because I talk normal with my friends and family. But at the same time, I don't believe I'm a social butterfly."
Jason made an irrelevant comment. "We'll be stopping in Memphis."
"Memphis? Oooh, that's awesome. Would we get to see Graceland?"
"No."
"Darn. So it'll be about eleven at night by the time we get there. Where are we going to bunk down?"
"We'll be making another stop before bunking down."
(Later)
The bar was heavy with smoke. It literally weighed you down. Carmen followed Jason in, staring around her. Strange music boomed through the speakers throughout the club. Lights with red tint illuminated everything inside.
A lot of men were having drinks. Some tables had women wearing very vulgar attire, hinting what low profession they had. Who knew what went on in this bar. They all stared back at Carmen with an unfriendly manner.
"Don't stare, you're in an illegal bar," Jason warned. "You'll get into a fight or worse."
Carmen bent her head down and watched Jason's heels. He didn't look at anyone either. Jason went up to a bar tender and whispered something to him. The bartender nodded and left. Jason sat on the stool, and Carmen followed his example. Jason's backpack never left his shoulder.
"I'm supposed to switch our cars. The dealer here is supposed to hook me up." Jason explained.
Carmen coughed. "I really don't want to know what he deals."
The bartender came back, motioning for Jason to come with him. Jason stood up.
Before he followed him, he said to Carmen, "Stay here and try to avoid trouble."
Carmen looked around her, uncertain. She felt very vulnerable in an illegal bar. Jason made entering less scary. When he was with her, he could protect her. Now he's gone.
Carmen rubbed the back of her neck nervously, her hand shaking slightly. All of a sudden this man came beside her. He wasn't really old, possibly over twenty-one. The man ran a hand through his shaggy black hair and watched Carmen. He was dressed in a black dress shirt and black dress pants.
Carmen had red lights going off in her head. She ignored the man. Her eyes made a hole in the table.
"You look lonely there." The man spoke up.
"I'm really not."
"I got a car. You want to go see it?"
"No thanks."
"You sure?" He wrapped an arm around Carmen's waist. "I could take you somewhere more private."
His hand traveled down her waist and brushed her thigh. Carmen slapped the man across the face. The sound made a loud crack in the room, silencing the bystanders. Everyone stared at them. The man stumbled off the stool with a look of astonishment crossing his face.
As he rubbed his cheek, he growled, "No one gets away with slapping Logan Perry."
Logan stalked off, swearing profusely. The men and women stared at Carmen as if she defied a big taboo. Carmen went back to staring at the table.