This chapter is all about Karma and Amy getting used to spending time together again...as friends..but is it that easy?
Three hours later and Karma was parked outside Amy's house ready for their road trip. Amy had rush homed, showered and packed a rucksack excitedly. She then sat and waiting nervously for what seemed like days!
Amy's mum had been a bit worried about the idea when Amy had told her, but as Amy pointed out they weren't 15 anymore and that Amy had successfully lived in New York for the past six months.
Amy promised to keep her updated on their location.
It was exciting not knowing where they were going. Years ago they had spent hours talking about all the places they wanted to visit in a Thelma and Louise stylie...minus the criminal activities! And now they were actually doing it.
Amy walked out with her bag to the car where Karma was waiting, she opened the passenger door and felt weak at the smell of Karma's perfume. Shit! This friends thing was really going to test her restraint, but she was determined that they had to get to know each other again.
"Hey!" Amy said as she smiled at Karma. "Soooo I've no idea how long a road trip you have in mind, but just so you know I've packed for three days max OK?" She said as she climbed into the passenger seat.
"Perfect" Karma replied smiling at Amy "Besides...we can always go shopping if we need new supplies!" She turned and looked at Amy taking a deep breath.
"Ready? " she asked
"Ready!" Amy replied as she buckled herself in. "Where we going?"
Karma looked at Amy and then burst out laughing "I've actually no fucking idea!"
Amy started laughing too "shit...we've had years to plan this and look at us!"
"I know right!" Karma agreed "bloody rubbish. Right...you pick...North, South, East or West. The decision is yours my lady!"
"East!" Amy said randomly
"East it is.." Karma said switching on the engine. "But first we need supplies right?"
"Of course!" Amy said as they pulled away from the house and headed towards the garage to stock up on drinks and snacks.
Once back on the road Amy realised how at ease she felt in Karma's company. They hadn't seen each other for five years, and yet it felt so natural to be there in the car with her. Just the two of them.
"Sooooo how are you feeling?" Amy asked
"Like I really don't want to be asked how I'm feeling for a while!" Karma replied with a small smile "I mean I know everyone is just trying to look out for me...but I...I just kinda needed to get the hell away from that house..from the whole scene.." Karma paused and looked over to Amy before adding "I don't want you to worry...I mean I totally got what you said the other day...about me going to see someone about what's happened...I...know I need to talk through what's happened..to deal with it properly...but sometimes...sometimes it just really helps by doing something that makes you completely forget about it all...well maybe not completely...but having something else to think about really does help sometimes. Does that make sense?" Karma asked.
"Sure." Amy replied. She completely understood what Karma meant. She alway did.
"Did you speak to Shane?" Karma asked
"Yeah eventually!" Amy replied "he did a good job of ignoring my calls, but I foxed him by calling the house phone and his dad picked up. I basically told him we were both in the wrong. I was wrong to lash out at him and put the blame on him...but equally he was wrong to interfere in my relationship."
Karma took a quick sideways glance, opened her mouth..but then thought better if it. Amy saw this "what?" She asked "what were you going to say?"
Karma shook her head..."nope. I shouldn't say it"
"Look Karma, if we're going to build back up our friendship...we have to be honest with each other OK?"
Karma absorbed Amy's words for a second and then nodded "You're right...no more secrets." Karma quickly looked over at Amy and with her cheeks reding slightly said "I was just going to say...that I'm PLEASED Shane interfered...if he hadn't, then you probably wouldn't be sitting right there now...and that would be rubbish."
Amy didn't respond immediately, she was too busy internally agreeing with Karma's sentence.
Realising she needed to say something back she cleared her throat and quickly added "yeah..that would be a bit rubbish!"
When Shane had told Karma how Kate had turned up at his in a mess she had felt so guilty. Amy was grateful that Shane had taken her in. Shane apologised for calling Kate, but said that he did it because he didn't want to see them break up. Amy explained that that really wasn't up to him, and as much as he might dislike Karma...it was not his place to try and stop whatever it was that was happening between them. He hadn't been happy when Amy had said about their road trip. And he had warned Amy about getting hurt again. Amy had reassured him that she knew what she was doing and that they had both agreed that this was a friends trip. She knew he wasn't happy with her decision, but it was her decision to make not his.
Karma and Amy had been driving west for around three hours during which time they talked about their experiences at college. About their subjects. Karma was studying drama and English with the view of becoming a teacher. Amy had spoken about her decision to pick journalism. The time had flown by and it was only when Karma let out a big yawn, that Amy realised she must be feeling pretty tired after everything that had happened.
"Do you think we should call it a day. Find somewhere to stay and then carry on tomorrow?" Amy asked.
"Maybe. I could do with a beer and some food." Karma replied.
"That sounds like a very good idea. Just one question..." Amy asked "...well the hell ARE we?" She said laughing. "Seriously I have not been paying attention at all and we could be anywhere!"
Karma laughed "how rubbish are we at road trips? we suck!" The two of them we laughing hard now, as they realised their situation.
"Check the satnav" karma suggested. Amy tapped at the screen and as the map loaded up they realised they were near a town called Huntsville and soon found a motel. As they climbed out of the car and stretched, Amy said she would head over to the office to sort of their accommodation. As Amy walked across the car park she realised she didn't know what she should ask for? Two bedrooms? Or one but with twins. Definitely not a double...as tempting as it was.
Unfortunately for Amy the only room they had left was a double. Shit...how was she going to explain this to Karma?
Amy told herself to be strong and headed back over to the car where Karma was waiting.
"Soooo were number 17, but it's a double and it's the only room they had left. I did try for a twin or even two rooms.." Amy knew she was rambling, but she couldn't stop "if you want i'll sleep..."
"Amy" karma said, finally stopping the words coming out of Amy's mouth "stop talking!...it's fine...we can share a double." Karma said confidentially as she took the key from Amy's hand and headed towards the room. "First though...I really need a shower."
Amy wished she shared Karma's confidence.
Amy watched as Karma took the key from her hands and she quickly picked up her bag from beside her feet and followed Karma to the room. There was a drinks vending machine near their room and Amy stopped and got them a couple of beers. If Karma was going to be having a shower, Amy would need something to distract her!
Once in the room Karma dumped her bag on the floor and headed for the shower, calling out that she wouldn't be long.
Amy sat on the edge of the bed listening as she heard the water start to pour on the otherside of the bathroom door. And then the mental imagine of Karma getting undressed flashed into Amy's mind and she flopped back onto the bed, letting out a groan as she did so. This was harder than she thought. Grabbing a beer and her phone from a nearby table, Amy decided it was best if she waited outside for Karma to finish. Better if she removed the temptation. She stepped outside and sent her mum a text message informing her they were fine and where they were.
After about 10 minutes the door to their room room opened and Karma poked her head out of the door looking for Amy. She was just holding a towel wrapped around her and Amy felt a wave of desire flood through her.
"What you doing out here?"
"Errr bad signal in the room and I thought I should, you know, text my mum." Amy looked at Karma who looked like she had been crying "Karma...what's happened?" Amy asked with concern.
"It's OK...I just had a little moment in the shower. It's fine." She said clearly not wanting to discuss it further.
"You sure?" Amy asked
"Yeap! It just caught up with me...you know everything that's happened today." Karma paused, before adding "Amy...I'm might not look it right now, but I am really happy...happy you gave me a chance to try and make up for the past.." Karma stopped as the emotion started to take hold of her again.
Amy smiled "me too. Now how about you get dressed and we go out and grab some food?" Amy said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Over a burger and beer they formulated a plan for the rest of the road trip.
They settled on Baton Rouge as their destination and agreed to set off early the next morning.
Back at the motel there was a slightly awkward moment when it got to the point when they needed to change into their pj's. Amy stupidly rushed to the bathroom claiming she needed to pee the moment Karma started to unbutton her shirt. Once inside the bathroom she then realised she had left her own clothes on the bed. Bugger!
She walked out and saw that Karma was already in bed. Amy now had to get undressed in front of her or make a bigger thing of it and go back into the bathroom. She instead turned her back to Amy and pulled off her Jumper, t-shirt and bra and quickly pulled on a vest and some shorts to sleep in. As she turned round she caught Karma watching, who then blushed and quickly turned off her bedside light.
Amy climbed into her side of the bed and switched off her light, plunging the room into darkness. Only it was really dark. The curtains didn't fully block out the lamp that was outside their room and so Amy could fully see the outline of Karma's body. Her back facing Amy, one arm outside the covers, her hair pulled over one shoulder. Amy was fighting hard the urge to lean in and place her lips on Karma's shoulder, to feel her soft skin against her lips, when she saw that Karma's shoulder was moving and she realised that Karma was crying again. Amy reached over and pulled Karma into her arms. Neither girl said anything, they just stayed like that until Karma eventually cried herself to sleep. Amy feel asleep shortly afterwards dreaming of Karma.