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Part 1
Chloe & Wyatt
1
Long Road Home
Green pastures passin a blur as I make my way down the highway, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I focus on the road ahead, the mountain peaks off to my left, and my plan.
Get in. Get it done. Get out.
I’m sure my mother will leave me little time for anything else. Five days of pure organized chaos. That’s the way things always are when my mother is involved. It still shocks me that she’s turning fifty years old this weekend and moving at the pace she does. She’s going to have to learn to slow down eventually.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
The downside to her slowing down is she’ll have more time to meddle in my life. I’m putting a stop to that this weekend. I’ve been letting her guilt me into decisions my whole life. Her “suggestions” were to be taken into consideration, but when decisions were made, they never really felt like mine. They were always what I thought Mother would support. What Mother wanted. What Mother would agree with.
That ends now.
I’m going to keep telling myself that until I start to believe it.
With only fifteen miles until the edge of town, and thirty miles to my parent’s ranch, I need to find my confidence soon.
Ding, ding, ding.
Reaching for my phone, I flip it over to see who’s messaging me. Reception out here is sketchy. With more than seventy miles between towns, I’m surprised anything even came through.
Nothing. No text. No voicemail.
Ding, ding, ding.
Where the hell is that noise coming from?
Looking down at the dashboard, my question is answered. I’m about to run out of gas. Town is only fifteen miles ahead. I should be able to make it. I’ve only run out of gas once in my life, the only other time I’ve made this drive.
Ten minutes later as my car shudders to a stop on the side of the road, I curse my dumb luck and beat my hand against the steering wheel.
“Fuck!”
Why? I’m so close. Literally. I’m staring at the “Welcome to Fairview” sign. The gas station is just around the next bend, too far to walk in this heat but close enough that I’m pissed off.
Resting my head against the back of the seat, I close my eyes and try to remember the phone number to the garage. I refuse to call my parents for help. I’m already running two hours late and if I can avoid it, I really don’t want to see anyone else while I’m in town.
Stepping out of the car, I shake my phone and walk around until I have a faint signal. Dialing quickly, I pray he doesn’t answer. It’s been a long time. I doubt he even works there anymore. I’m sure he’s moved on. There’s no reason for me to think he’ll be the one answering my call.
Then again, when you least expect to meet people, that’s when they come into your life.
“Areyou seriously going to leave me here?” I scream at Josh as he opens the door to his truck.
“Maybe if you weren’t such a snooty bitch I wouldn’t.” His words, laced with laughter, get under my skin the way he was hoping.
There’s one thing I’m not and that’s snooty. I can be a bitch from time to time, everyone can, but I never act better than the next person. I could care less if you ride your bike to school or drive a twenty-thousand-dollar truck like Josh’s. It’s not about money, it never has been for me. It’s about character, and Josh has none. He’s proving that right now, in front of most of our senior class.
“You know what? Go. I can do this. I don’t need you. I can do anything. I’m stronger than you’re giving me credit for. But let me remind you of one thing. If you think you can call me tomorrow, apologize like you always do, and I’ll come crawling back to you, you have another thing coming. We’re done, Josh. For good this time.”
Straightening my shoulders, I never broke eye contact with him as his smile faded. Once I was done, his frown turned into a mega-watt grin, the same grin I fell for two years ago when he was the new kid in school. His eyes drift from mine and when I follow them, I realize why he’s acting like an asshole.
Ginger.
