(4) Beau
Unfortunately I was the one standing next to the truck's muffler. It let out a black cloud of exhaust and I choked on the fumes. Alice looked back at me and made sure I wasn't going to cough to death.
The truck door swung open and the cab's light filled the dark night.
A man's voice shouted gravely. "Come in."
I clutched Alice's arm and silently dug my nails into her skin. She calmly moved my fingers and gripped my hand. Thankfully Alice got in the cab first.
I got a better look at the truck driver, which was not a good sight for my eyes. His T-shirt was stained and had a big hole above his shoulder. He wore a baseball hat low on his eyes which looked suspicious and tired. The cab smelled awful. It was a smell mixed with body odor and beef jerky. I felt like throwing up.
Alice slid in the seat and introduced herself. She was always polite even to the degenerate. I simply shrugged and moved as close to the passenger door as I could get. My thigh was in pain the door handle was digging through my jeans to my bone. I shifted but it didn't help.
"What happened to you, girls?" He said with a smirk and reached over Alice. I made a noise but Alice just patted my shoulder. He was reaching for his water bottle wedged in the front seat. Oh God, I almost had a heart attack.
Alice turned slightly and gave me a warning look. I knew that look. I had nothing to be afraid of Alice could annihilate him with one hand. I still couldn't help being scared I wasn't a super girl.
"We ran out of gas." She said and looked towards the road. She had a glazed expression and she looked at the driver and narrowed her eyes.
What did that mean? I bit my lip the question burned on my tongue. What did he do? What was he going to do?
I silently poked Alice and she nodded her head. "I saw a sign for a gas station about seven miles up the road." Alice said.
"Yeah, that's the last gas station for at least fifty miles. Where you headed?" He asked.
"LA for some good old fashioned fun." She said and bit her lip. "Now, we aren't going to have any trouble going to that gas station are we, Beau?"
"How did you know my name, you a psychic or something?" Beau said and looked questioningly at Alice. I saw him flinch and press his foot on the gas.
"It's on your jacket." She picked up the jacket from the floor and showed it to him.
"You got some skills girly. No we ain't gonna have trouble going to the gas station." He laughed and I got a closer look at his corroded teeth.
That was disgusting. I clutched my stomach and wished Edward was here to protect me. What would he say? The first time I go out on an adventure and he has to come save the day. What was Alice chopped liver? She could easily protect me yet I was extremely nervous sitting in this enclosed space.
"What kind of car was that anyway a Ferrari?" Beau said and Alice stared at the radio.
"No, it's a Porsche actually I got it as a gift."
"Really, what did you have to do to get that kinda present?"
"I had to guard something valuable with my life." She proclaimed and stared at his hand.
"Wow, must have been really important." Beau said and laughed like a maniac. He shifted again. Why did he keep shifting? It looked like he had to go to the bathroom.
"Exceptionally important." Alice smiled at me and I gave her a sheepish grin. I was glad she was beside me. Although that wise old saying kept running through my head. Be careful what you wish for. I wanted adventure now I had tons of it.
Alice smirked and watched Beau. She was breathing evenly and I heard her breath intake after a minute or so.
Beau reached behind the seat and held a gun. He chuckled and laid it across his lap. What was he doing? Alice sat there calm and rational. She didn't even seem upset.
"Now, I'm going to take you back to that Porsche and your going to give me the keys." Beau said and lifted the gun.
I stared wide-eyed at the gun. I moved my hand over the door handle but Alice turned and mouthed "no". I was preparing to jump but she restrained my arm.
"Now that plan won't work Beau for two reasons. The first reason is it's really out of gas. The second reason is that the car was a gift and that would be rude to take a gift from someone. Beau, be reasonable put the gun away and let us out."
"Why would I do a stupid thing like that?" He said and released the safety.
"Because Beau if you think I'm going to let you shoot us and take my car then you are stupid. Give me the gun." She held out her hand.
He laughed and lifted the gun. I plastered myself against the driver side door. He was halfway raising the gun when Alice plucked it from his hand. She turned the gun around and put the safety back on. Then staring at Beau she put the gun between both hands and twisted the metal. The bullets fell out and the barrel splintered. It was useless.
Beau looked like he might throw up.
"You have bad manners Beau. I don't like that." Alice said and tossed the gun on the floor. "I think I might have to teach you how to respect a woman."
The truck jerked to a stop. I could see the gas station a hundred yards from where we were.
"I have your information Beau if you so much as touch another person without their consent. I will find you and twist you just like I did with your gun." She grabbed him by the shirt. "Are we clear?"
He mumbled.
"Are we clear?"
"Yes." He said and lurched far away from Alice. Alice turned to him and smiled. "Thanks for the ride Beau we'll walk from here."
I clamored out of the truck and fell to the ground. My knees were shaky. Alice hopped down right before the truck roared away.
"Alice, we almost died." I said and hugged her tightly.
"Bella, we were never in danger." She looked dazed again and turned to me. "Edward knows he and Jasper are searching for us. I've been careful not to think of our exact location but they know the general vicinity."
"Then hurry and get the gas." I said and ran to keep up with Alice.
We raced inside the gas station and Alice asked the man for a gas can. We filled the gas and sealed the lid. I went to Alice and she looked at the forest.
"Alice what's wrong?" I said and tapped her arm.
She held up a hand with her finger motioning for me to wait. I stood helplessly and waited for her to finish.
"Okay, let's go."
"What did you do?"
"I was imagining the area of Seattle and blending your voice with that area. I think I fooled him. Now Bella this I'm afraid you might not like."
"What?" I said and looked at Alice in alarm.
