♥
That city was a no name, small town. Population: 304, because apparently, Mrs. Carver had just had twins.
We stopped at the gas station (Respectfully name Old Southern Gas) and filled up again. Julie and I went in, grabbed some snacks and drinks. No one stared at me as if Liam were my boyfriend, but they did stare at Julie and me as if we were the weirdest things they had ever seen.
We probably were. A bald toothpick and her monster man. We were a sight to be seen.
WE got our things, and went back to the truck, getting in the back. It wasn't long before I was asleep beneath the blankets, and off in another world dreaming.
♥
The dream was simple really. I was walking out the back door, calling Julie's name. I was searching for her, but my body was leading me outside, toward the shed.
Something hit me over the back of the head, and I fell to the ground, feeling the cold grit of the concrete against my face. Then, the yank of my hair, and someone dragging me along.
I started to kick and scream, and pull at the hand, but it did no good. They drug me into the shed, and the door slammed behind us.
Now it was cold dirt beneath me, but that didn't bother me. I struggled to turn my head, to see who was grabbing the gas can. I could hear them rattling, and then I stared at the bare feet.
“Dirty, dirty, boy. Fire cleanses,” Julie's raspy voice said, as she began to pour the gasoline over me.
I knew it was Julie, despite her having long, dark hair like my mother, I knew it was Julie. Those bottle green eyes were running over me as she soaked.
And then, they wandered to the matches. She watched the flame for only a second before dropping it and beginning to cackle.
♥
I felt her hands first, then heard her soft voice begging me to wake up. I stared at the sun, and shielded my eyes, turning into her warm body. She held me close and whispered soft words into my ears.
“Is everything okay?” I heard Hilary ask.
“Yeah, we're okay. Can you shut the window for a little while?” Julie asked, and I heard Hilary say sure and do so.
Julie's soft hands rubbed my head, and she kept me close, talking to me softly to calm me down. I could feel her comfort, and I molded into that.
“It was just a nightmare. It's over now,” she told me.
Somehow, whether she realized it or not, Julie was lying.
It would never be over. Not until. . .
♥
We stayed in some moderately sized town. The motel had no pool, and the TV sucked. We ate, and hung out at the lake front, where they were shooting off fireworks.
It was while they were watching them that I volunteered to get us some popcorn and drinks that they were selling at a concession stand near the lake. I went by myself, even when Julie volunteered to go with me.
I wanted the time alone.
I stopped from the stand and called Ava.
“Hey! Baby boy, what's-”
“Where is she?”
Ava was quiet on the other line for a few seconds. Then, she hesitantly asked, “Where is who?”
“You know who. Where is she?”
“Why would you-”
“Where is she, Ava?” I asked again.
Silence. I listened to her breathing and walked the rest of the way to the stand. I let the guy know I needed four buckets, and he went to work on it.
“The last I heard, she was in Louisiana.”
“Where in Louisiana?” I asked, leaning against the counter.
She was silent again, and then she sighed. “Some little town near Baton Rouge. I know the exact name, but I can probably find the name when I go back home,” she replied.
I nodded. I saw Julie coming above the hill and I turned around. “Great. Call me when you get it,” I told her. I faintly heard her protest before I hung up.
“What's taking so long?” Julie asked, smiled as she came up to me.
She was so beautiful, and innocent. I would tell her later, but for now, a lie was better.
“Just waiting.”
♥
We watched all of the fireworks, and then headed back to the motel. Liam and Hilary said their good nights, and then disappeared into their room. Julie and I did the same.
I went in and got ready for bed, and waited for Julie to do the same. When she was done, she came and went to her bag, rummaging through it for something.
“I hope you know you are a horrible liar,” she told me.
I smiled, watching her small body outline by one of my shirts. She hadn’t asked, just put it on, and that was fine by me.
“How did you know?”
She stood up, lotion on her hands. She rubbed them together, spreading them across her arms as she talked. “You can't hide your emotions well. They're always showing in those cool, blue eyes of yours,” she told me.
I nodded. “I'm going to have to do something about that.”
“Wear glasses.”
I snapped my fingers. “Perfect!”
She laughed and climbed into bed beside me. She got beneath the covers, and immediately fell into place in my arms. She didn't turn off the lights though, and she remained to where she could see my face if she wanted to.
“This has something to do with your dream,” she stated.
“Sort of.”
“Your mom?”
I nodded.
“You want to see her, don't you?”
I raised my brow, looking at her. “You really can read my mind,” I told her, to which she smiled.
“Just your face. You called Ava too, didn't you?” she asked, and I nodded again. “Did she tell you?”
“She said it's in Louisiana, but she doesn't know. She told me she'd call me and tell me the town,” I told Julie.
“Louisiana wouldn't be that far away. I'm sure between you and Liam, you can figure out a way to get there. GPS in your phone or something?” she suggested, but upon seeing my curious stare, she asked, “What?”
“You're actually behind this?”
She shrugged slowly. “If cancer was a person, I'd want to ask it why, too. Isn't that life's biggest question?” she asked.
I thought there might be some truth in that.
Why?
“The Outsiders.”
Julie took a minute to think, then she reached over and flipped off the light. Laying against me, she whispered, “It seemed funny that the sunset she saw from her patio and the one I saw from the back steps was the same one. Maybe the two worlds we lived in weren't so different. We saw the same sunset.”
“Goodnight, Julie.”
“Goodnight, Falon.”
♥
Ava called me at six, and told me the name of the town. She sounded weary, so I made sure to tell her I loved her before I hung up this time. She said she loved me too, but I knew she was still praying I would change my mind.
I wouldn't.
Julie and I packed before Liam and Hilary, and met them in their room. When we got inside, Julie and I told them about my mother.
Liam looked nervous. “Are you sure about that? Road trips are fun, but when this turns into Thelma and Louise and I'm driving that truck off a cliff because you decided to kill-”
“It won't be like that,” Julie told him, glaring. “You watch way too much TV.”
He shrugged. “I'm just saying. If I was in his shoes, visiting the person that hurt me, control would be one of those things that would be scarce,” he replied.
He had a point.
“Julie will be with me. I'll be okay,” I told him. Julie squeezed my hand for support.
Liam sighed and shrugged. “Whatever you say, man. Louisiana, here we come,” he replied.
♥
First, we went to Mississippi. The sights were beautiful, but living in the south my entire life, a lot of it wasn't new.
The trip was going to be a doosy. But we figured by the next day, we would be there, bright and early. Julie would be with me,
and everything would be fine.
And then, we blew a tire.
It was cliché too, and scary. Liam and Hilary were lucky I wasn't speeding when it happened. Otherwise, they might have learned how to fly.
I pulled us safely off the road, and turned off the truck. Julie was the first to get out and she went around the back of the truck toward the blown tire and Liam and Hilary.
“Are you okay?” I heard her asking as I got out. I walked around the back of the truck toward Julie and the tire.
Hilary was clinging to Liam, and nodding. “I'm okay. Is everyone else okay?” she asked, her hand moving to Liam's face. “Are you okay?” she asked him.
Liam nodded. “I'm great. What happened?” he asked, looking to me.
I kicked my bare rim and shook my head. “Blew a tire. Is everyone sure that they're okay?” I asked, looking at all of them.
They all nodded, and Julie even smiled at me. “Everyone is fine. Do you have a spare?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Not a chance. Does anyone know what number we're suppose to call for a tow truck?” I asked.
Julie and Liam took out their phones, and then Liam started to laugh. “Well, the number won't help anyway. I have no service,” he said, waving the screen to prove it.
“Same here.”
I looked at my phone, and it told me the same thing. No service, no numbers, no idea exactly where we were or how close a town or gas station was, nothing.
“Maybe someone should check the road,” Liam suggested. All of stared at him, having no idea what he was talking about.
“Why?”
He widened his eyes, staring at us as if we were stupid. “I'm pretty sure I watched this scary movie. Four kids break down on the side of the road? Blown tire, no cell phone service, road trip? The next thing you know, some crazy guy with a chainsaw or knife hand is going to come after us.”
Julie rolled her eyes, and I actually started laughing. She looked at me as if I was stupid, but I knew, if we were out here past dark, she would start seeing it that way too.
“Well, we're not in Texas, and I could scare away Freddy, so I'm guessing we need to worry more about Michael or Chucky,” I told him.
Liam nodded. “Or zombies. If a zombie bites me, you have to promise to kill me. Right then,” he told me.
I reached forward and we shook on it, as Julie was busy rolling her eyes again. “You both have completely lost your minds,” she told us, shaking her head.
“You know, the skeptic usually dies first,” Liam suggested.
Julie crossed her arms. “I always thought the funny one died first,” she stated, staring at him with a bemused expression.
Liam raised a brow. “Funny-looking? That would be Falon,” he said.
I frowned. “Everyone knows the pretty boy always dies off first,” I reminded them.
“Which means I'll live!” Hilary suddenly piped in.
Julie and I started laughing, and Liam looked to Hilary. “What's so funny?” he asked.
“I'm going to be the only one alive,” she told him.
He smiled and kissed her gently. “Yes, you will, baby.”
Julie and I both rolled our eyes.
♥
“What if we stop a serial killer?” Liam asked as Julie and I stood in the middle of the road. I was surprised at how many people had actually passed us and just kept going. Maybe it was our faces.
Julie rolled her eyes. “You're still going on about that? Give it a rest, Liam,” she told him.
I laughed slightly at her exasperated tone. That was how brothers and sisters were suppose to talk to each other, I thought. It was the same tone Ava would have used with me if the tables were turned.
“I'm being realistic now! I'm talking about some southern, knife-toting, weirdo that likes to skin his victims and eat them like Sunday supper,” he told us.
Julie looked to me. “If a psycho like that came, I'd give him Liam. Ask for him to show his mouth shut before he killed him,” she told me, and I laughed.
“What did she say?” Liam yelled, looking to both of us. “Got something to say, say it to my eyes, Julie!” he told her.
“Don't shut up, and I’ll go crazy, southern psycho killer and chop you up myself!” Julie yelled back.
“Bring it on, shorty!” Liam baited.
Julie actually started that way, but that was when I saw the glare of a car again and I grabbed to her arm. “Car! It's a car!” I yelled, and began jumping up and down.
Julie did too, and we waved our hands in the air. I thought the car was going to stop, because it had begun to slow down, but when it got close to us, it sped up again and left Julie and I in a cloud of dust.
“Stupid jerk!” Julie screamed, then started coughing. She waved the dust from her face, and we both walked back to the truck.
Julie sat on the tailgate with Liam and Hilary, and I looked out at the road again.
“I think we're just going to have to break down and walk. There has to be a house or gas station somewhere close by,” I told them.
“You'd die of a heat stroke first,” Julie said, shaking her head. “We couldn't baby the truck a little further?” she asked, but Liam was already laughing at the idea.
“Sis, the tire is completely shredded. I'm sure Falon doesn't want to replace a rim too,” he replied.
I shook my head. “I don't. But if we don't hail somebody down soon, I'd still risk it.”
We stood there, the sun boiling down on us, the temperature rising, and the sun falling lower and lower. They wouldn't admit it, and I wouldn't either, but none of us wanted to be stuck out her after dark.
I finally grabbed my bottle of water, which was hot and half empty, and tucked my cell phone in my pocket. “That's it. I'm walking. There has to be a house somewhere up ahead,” I told them.
Julie jumped from the tailgate, and grabbed her water too. “I'm going with you,” she told me.
I stopped. “You would be exhausted, Julie. You need to rest,” I told her, but I could already see that I was losing the argument.
“I'll be fine. Will you be okay?” she asked, looking at Liam and Hilary, but Liam wasn't looking at us, his eyes were on the road.
“Truck! I see a truck!” he yelled, and jumped from the tailgate. He waved his hands, running into the middle of the road. The truck slowed, and then, surprising and heaven sent, he stopped, pulling up beside Liam.
“Wait here,” I told Julie, and ran up beside Liam. There was an old man driving the truck, but I heard Liam telling him about what happened.
“I can give you a ride into town,” the man offered. “How many of you are there?” he asked, his eyes wandering to Hilary and Julie.
“Four,” I answered. “Is there a tow truck in town?”
He looked at me, and after staring for a moment, he nodded. “Best in the whole county. He can change that tire too, and get you back on the road tonight,” he replied.
Liam looked at the girls, and then at the man. 'Is there any motels in town? We've been out here all day,” he replied.
He shook his head. “No motels, but you kids are welcomed to stay at my place. My wife should have some dinner cooked, and we got a few beds. The kids never visit anymore,” he said, and he sounded like he held a tad bit of regret in that statement.
Liam nodded, and looked at me. “What do you think?” he asked.
“Sounds like our only option,” I told him. “I'll go tell the girls,” I replied, and went toward the truck.
Liam ran up beside me quickly, and gripped my shoulder. “You don't think he's crazy, do you?” he asked, and there was real fear in his voice.
I laughed.
♥
We grabbed our bags and put them in the back of the truck. Hilary and Liam sat up front with the old man, and Julie and I sat in the back. WE locked the blow up mattress in my truck. And put all of our bags in his, though, the bed of his truck was cluttered beyond belief.
Mostly, it was rattlesnake skin
s. I thought Julie might have a heart attack when we climbed into the back. She looked at me with a wide eyed stare and then moved closer, as if I'd protect her from them.
I was scared of snakes too, but I wouldn't tell her that.
We rode along the bumpy road with the old man, until her turned on an even bumpier road where the dust seemed to fly up in bucket fulls. Julie turned her face into my chest to keep from inhaling all of it.
He pulls up into this large farmhouse, and it feels like we've been transported back to the early days, when people actually worked for a living. Farm tools and equipment, and animals galore. I see Julie beginning to smile, and I know what she's thinking.
She wishes she could sit and draw.
The old man parked near the house, which was a large farmhouse, with a wraparound porch, and large front facing windows. It looks like the type of place where an old couple would sit and drink their morning coffee together.
I can see the same thought running through Julie’s mind as she stares, admiring the beautiful scene before us. She was enchanted by it fairy tale imagery, just as I was.
She got out, and I grabbed our bags, I started to grab Liam's, but he came around and got them himself. Julie was leading Hilary to the house, and the old man was waiting with us.
“I'll take you to the rooms, but then I’ve got work to do, so you'll have to entertain yourselves,” he told us, but he said it in a light-hearted way. “We don't have a TV or anything, so unless you boys like playing charades,” he replied, laughing.
Liam grinned, and I actually laughed. “Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked.
He looked directly at me, then kept walking, a smirk on his face. “Do you know how to operate any farm equipment?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No sir, but I learn quick, and I don't mind doing anything manual,” I replied.
He nodded slowly, walking up the porch with us. He opened the screen door and smiled as I passed. “Get freshened up and meet me at the barn. Wear something comfortable,” he said.
He didn't follow us in, and the door shut behind us. I couldn't help it, I was suddenly giddy. The thought of exploring more of his farm had me feeling like a kid again.
Lovely Monster Page 25