When All Else Fails

A Long Road Outta Here

Kat

The drive to the next town over seemed like it took forever, even with how bad Jessica speeds. I think she drove twenty miles per hour over the speed limit the entire time. I told her I was in no hurry to get there I’d rather arrive alive and she just laughed and said that’s how she always drives, and it wouldn’t change til she got a ticket. I don’t suspect that’s too far off though…

“Ok so where is it you need to go and I’ll drop you off there? Do you need to go to a mechanic shop first?” She was kind and thoughtful. I’m sad our time is almost up together since I need to keep moving.

“Um just drop me off downtown. I’ve got family that lives close to there so they can help me out with the car situation.” I started feeling guilty lying to her like this.

“Ok!” She said cheerfully. She was so trusting.

“Thanks for everything Jess.” I sat quietly in the passengers seat, my mood had completely changed now that I had to leave. It didn’t take long at all for her to reach downtown. “If you can just drop me off here I can walk to where I need to go.” She gave me a side eyed look that said she was curious about something, but she went ahead and pulled over.

“It was nice meeting you Kat, let’s trade numbers if you’re gonna be in town for a while maybe we can do something one afternoon. Maybe coffee?” I glanced down nervously as she pulled out her cell phone. Something I’d never been able to afford. It wasn’t needed before now since I never left the pack grounds.

“Um, I don’t have a cell. Could you write it down and I’ll call you from the house?” I quickly got a pen and paper from my back pack narrowly avoiding spilling out what little clothes I did have into the floor board of the car.

“Sure!, just don’t loose it, or forget to call me. Ok?” She took them and wrote her number down in pretty squiggly letters and numbers.

“I won’t loose it, or forget to call.” I take the pen and paper from her, folding it neatly and placing them in a zippered pocket on my back pack. “Thank you again for everything.” I opened the door of the car and got out. “Bye Jess.”

“Bye Kat, call me soon!” I closed the door and looked around as she drove off.

Maybe I should have had her drop me off not in the middle of downtown but the side. I highly doubt anyone would recognize me, but there is always a chance and I didn’t expect it to be as busy as it was. People filled the sidewalks going in and out of all the little shops. It was like one of those tv shows where you just know its all staged and fake. I looked up at the blazing sun to see where it was in the sky and decided I’m going east.

When I left I didn’t know where I wanted to go but, on the car ride here I thought about it and I had never been to the ocean. I’ve only ever seen it on tv and that was limited because I didn’t even have my own tv. Yet another thing I couldn’t afford as an orphan. I’ll make my way there and get away from these mountains and snow and go live where it stays warm and play in the waves.

I started walking east. Hopefully these shoes would get me to where I need to go. Maybe I’ll get lucky again and catch another ride. I had very limited provisions, so I know I’ll have to do something about that sooner rather than later, but maybe I can make it there in a few days and find a job. My day dreams kept me occupied with good thought and kept the doubts at bay as I set out towards the ocean.

Cory

I sit at my desk trying to game plan how to find her. I’m sure she tried to get as far away, as fast as possible. But there are so many different roads she could have gone. Nothing in her room gave any indication of where she wanted to go. Well her room literally had nothing in it, so that’s no help. The boy had no idea. She was smart enough not to tell him. She had a thought we might come looking for her. Although I’m sure she thought for differences reasons, but this is what we’re doing now. I took a deep breath, tapping my pen on the desk while staring at this map, for what seemed like hours.

Something has to be better than nothing. Maybe I can drive around and find her. I head to the parking lot to get my suv. It’s a black 4door hard top jeep with all the bells and whistle’s. I get in and slam the door shut. Maybe the kid will want to help me look, so I head over to the orphanage.

I arrived at the perfect time, as the kid was walking down the steps. He looked shocked to see me back so soon, and runs over to the suv.

“Did you find her already?” He says with Excitement in his voice.

“No, I’m actually about to drive around and look for her. I thought you might want to tag along.” His excitement instantly turned to sadness.

“I would, but I have to go help clean the school. It’s part of my duties for staying at the orphanage.” He starts to back away from the suv.

“Get in, you can do that later. If they have a problem with it they can come talk to me.” The kid didn’t even hesitate and quickly yanked the door open and got in.

“Where do you think she went?” He asked

“I don’t have the slightest clue kid.” I turned the suv around and looked at my options from the parking lot. “She probably took the busiest road outta here and tried to catch a ride, but that means someone that knows her might have spotted her.” I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. “But if she didn’t get picked up by someone she knows a stranger might have picked her up and she’d be long gone. We will try this way.” I turned and went down the same road Kat left on without knowing.