Consolation Prize

Today's song is Consolation Prize by Julie Doiron.

The conversation flowed easily between the two refugees and Edward found himself feeling as thought he had found a true friend for the first time in almost five years.

"You know what I will never understand?" Jasper asked around a mouthful of Slim-Jim. "Why do kids wake up crying after a nap? I mean they just slept for three beautiful, uninterrupted hours. What the hell could they possibly be crying about now? Little shits."

His companion's uncensored thoughts and refreshing honesty made Edward chuckle. He was about to throw out his own profound thoughts about the lack of a single A battery when Jasper wrinkled up his face in disgust.

"You know man your car is well and truly funky. I mean get you've been on the run for awhile but you might think about picking up some air fresheners or something. Maybe get those little cherries that hand off the mirror like little red balls. Those are nice. You know what else is nice and just so happens to resemble a ball sack-"

As Jasper droned on about what type of air fresheners would smell best and what commercially produced items reminded him of a pair of balls, Edward took a whiff of his car and barely refrained from gagging. Jasper was right, something smelled like it had gone off but what could it be? He knew it wasn't the dog, the smell wasn't right so he sniffed the Slim-Jim in his hand, nope he thought not that either. Maybe it was him. Pretending to scratch his head he gave himself a quick pit check and while he smelled absolutely rancid that still wasn't it. With a shrug he gave up. Maybe it was Jasper.

"Shit dude pull over!" Jasper demanded excitedly.

Startled, Edward complied quickly causing everything in the car to fly forward. "What? Did you see something?" he asked as he peered anxiously through the dirty windows.

"Fuck yeah I did!" Jasper shouted excitedly before looking down toward his feet in confusion. "What the…" he trailed off before letting out a startle yelp and jumping from the car like he had the devil on his heels.

"Squirrely little fucker," Edward muttered as he watched Jasper sliding down into the shallow ditch beside the road before leaning over to see what had caused Jasper to bail from the car so suddenly.

"Mother-" he shouted as he jerked back. There on the dash mat lay a rapidly decomposing dismembered hand.

Knowing the only time a zed had gotten anywhere near the interior of his ride had been back in Austin when one busted the window he realized it must have rolled under the seat and been laying there for hours. "Well that explains the smell," he muttered darkly.

With a resigned sigh, he reached into the backseat and retrieved his baseball bat. Since Jasper had disappeared into the ditch beside the road Edward knew he probably couldn't count on his help in getting rid of this putrid piece of flesh. Using the wooden bat like a golf club, he was eventually able to knock the rancid hand out Jasper's open door and into the road. That taken care of, he cautiously clambered out into the clean, open air and followed Jasper towards the ditch.

"What the fuck?" he muttered under his breath as he was met with the sight of Jasper crawling excitedly around an abandoned motorcycle.

"Isn't she beautiful?" Jasper sighed once he realized he was being watched.

"Yeah, yeah she is," Edward replied appreciatively with a nod as he stepped closer to the abandoned cherry red bike. Walking around the front he let out a whispered 'fuck me' when he saw the symbol on the handlebars.

"What man?" Jasper asked as he looked back and forth between Edward and the bike excitedly.

"This is an old Indian Scout motorcycle in mint condition," Edward answered in a voice that betrayed his awe as he ran his hand lovingly across the handlebars. "They sure don't make 'em like this anymore."

Shaking himself from his motorcycle induced haze he realized that no one would willingly abandon a piece of machinery like this willingly. If he were to guess he would bet there was a hungry zed wandering around somewhere nearby and he really didn't feel like fighting for his life right now.

"Alright," he said as he unwillingly turned his back on his dream bike and climbing out of the ditch, "we'd better get going. No telling what's hiding around here."

"Wait what?" Jasper asked as he scrambled up behind him. "Don't tell me you're just going to leave it there to rust? Come on man, I saw the way you looked at her."

Edward simply shook his head as he walked back to his old Bronco. "Can't man. Much as I would love to I have to drive the Bronco." He reached for the door handle when he felt Jasper's hand on his shoulder.

"Go to her dude," Jasper said seriously. "An opportunity like this only comes around once in a lifetime. It's like fate and dude, you don't mess with fate. Think of it as your consolation prize for surviving."

Edward cocked his eyebrow at Jasper's ridiculous reasoning but allowed himself a moment to imagine riding such an amazing piece of machinery. Then he was interrupted sight by the wet nose of his truest friend pressing up against his window out of the corner of his eye.

"Nah man. I couldn't. What about Sammy?"

Jasper grinned happily knowing he was about to win his argument. "Don't worry about him. You take the motorcycle and I'll drive the Bronco. I'll to take good care of Sammy, you have my word," he raised three fingers in a boy scout promise. "Go get your pretty lady and no worries man, me and Sam here have bonded."

"Yeah," Edward snorted, "over your mutual love of over processed meats."

"Dude don't hate, that shit is delicious. Now go so we can get the fuck out of here. That hand is starting to give me the creeps," he said with a shudder. "I swear its giving me the finger."

Needing no further encouragement, Edward dashed happily back into the ditch and emerged minutes later huffing and puffing as he struggled to push the large bike out of the ditch. Finally once she was back on level ground he swung his jean clad leg over the beautiful piece of metal and closed his eyes before starting her up.

Unlike his Bronco, the motorcycle purred to life immediately sending a jolt of excitement through him as the powerful engine roared to life between his legs. With a nod toward Jasper and Sammy he put the bike in gear and sped off down the highway with an excited whoop.

As he sped down the road the feel of the warm wind blowing through his already disheveled hair was indescribable. He could honestly say he had never felt so free. For the first time in his life he felt the soul crushing shackles of regret fall to the road around him as he shed his worries and focused only on the feel of the bike and the road before him.

He knew his feelings of depression and disgust would return eventually, they were woven too thoroughly into the fabric of his soul not to but for now he just let himself forget as he sped north toward the site of his possible salvation.

XIII

XIII

XIII

Does the thought of dirty, scruffy Edward on a vintage motorcycle make you as hot as it makes me? Damn. Anyway, thank you for the great ideas and comments I've been getting. I know so many of you hate Edward after the last chapter as you should, no matter how hot he is. I promise we'll get to the real story behind why he left eventually but I think it would be best if we hated on him for awhile longer, he really deserves it after what he did, trust me. Anyway, please leave me some love and any thoughts or ideas you have for this story! Until next time!

XOXO,

Bellarella