HIS AFRICAN QUEEN (DSD SERIES SPINOFF)

Road Trip

After breaking the horizon, the morning sun shines down on the scenery below it. The small apartment building reflects the sun's rays on its glossy plastic windows and metal bars, its concrete frame standing tall in its faded glory.

The building blocks the sunshine from hitting the asphalt driveway where a small crowd stands in front of the Ford Explorer with a sadden mood blanketing them.

Today is the day their friend would go away and they aren't sure when they'll see her again.

Tanya opens the green wooden door and steps out of the apartment with her backpack slung over her shoulder. The hot breeze blows against her pink, tie and dye, sleeveless blouse which covers the waist of her black leggings.

Her pink converse clad feet step down the metal stairs making their way to the dusty driveway. Her lips are turned into a frown as she surveys the group in front of her with sadness in her gaze.

"Let me get that for you," Alexander says as he walks up to her.

He's in a white T-shirt with black jeans pants and Nike sneakers. A pair of Ray-bans sit upon his head fighting with his wild, blonde hair for space.

She hands him the backpack and he smiles sadly at her. "Is that the last one?"

She nods her head and turns to the people behind her with a small smile. Carmen steps towards her with messy short blonde hair, a loose T-shirt and jeans shorts.

"T," she says while opening her arms.

Tanya walks into them with teary eyes and embraces her. Her arms trap Tanya for what seems like an eternity neither girls wanting to let go.

"I'm going to miss you, T," she says to Tanya her voice raspy.

"I'm going to miss you too, Car," Tanya states, chuckling. "Cheer up babe. I'm going to another state not million miles across the sea."

"I know but no one knows what'll happen," Carmen states.

"I'll be fine mi hermana, Regresaré a tí."

"You better," Carmen shoots back.

"Mamá, let go. I want to hug TaTa too," James huffs as he gently elbows his mother's thigh.

Carmen pulls away with a sad smile and dries her tears before gesturing James forward.

The cute blonde steps out towards Tanya with a gappy smile. He is missing his top incisors.

His green eyes focus on the black beauty before him before looking over at his crying mother.

"Gosh, girls are so emotional." he huffs fixing his green shirt.

Tanya laughs at James's statement and kneels in front of him grabbing him in a bear hug. "Come here you!"

"TaTa you're suffocating me!" he squeals and Tanya chuckles releasing him.

"I'm going to miss you, buddy," she says as she ruffles his hair.

He smiles and wraps his arms around her torso. "I'll miss you too TaTa hurry back and don't replace me with anyone else."

She pulls away from him raising a brow at the six-year-old boy. "Why would I do that?"

"Well, Wanda and Cosmo left Timmy and they got a new godchild. So maybe you'll get a new buddy," he pouts.

"Well remember that even after getting a new godchild they still ended up returning to Timmy and stayed with him," she says flicking his freckled nose. "I won't replace you, buddy."

Alexander watches them a smile making its way on his lips. She has a way with kids... She's young yet so knowledgeable.

"Promise?" the little boy asks holding out his pinky.

"Promise." She says connecting her pinky with his.

"I love you TaTa," he says hugging her tightly.

"I love you too buddy."

***

Alexander clutches the wheel as he drives down the almost deserted road, leaving Las Vegas.

The sun scorches the roof of the car that absorbs the heat, relaying it on its passengers. The wind blows from the window giving them a little relief from the heat but nothing can help the awkward silence that fills the car.

Alexander glances over at Tanya who has earphones in her ears, listening to music while leaning her body towards the car window.

She hasn't said much since they left the apartment and they've been on the road for an hour now. He understands that her sudden departure may have upset her but he thinks she would have come to terms with it by now.

She nods her head as she mouths the words of the song blasting through her earpiece, stuck in her little world...

After a few more minutes of silence, Alexander taps her leg, which causes her to look at him with a tight-lipped smile. She takes out the earphone from her right ear and raises a brow at him. He mimics her actions.

"What do you want Alexander?" she asks annoyed.

Okay, play nice with the gazelle so she won't run away. He thinks as he continues down the stretch of road.

"What are you listening to?"

She hits him with a "player really?" look and he shrugs.

"Are you going to answer or not?" he asks casually.

She shrugs innocently before turning away from him.

And she gallops away full speed ahead, he mentally sneers as he grips the wheel tighter in frustration.

"Promises," she says softly.

"What was that?" Alexander asks with a cheeky smile.

Tanya huff after rolling her eyes at him. "The song's Promises by Wiz Khalifa."

"So you're a Khalifa fan?" He asks with a teasing grin.

"Yeah, a Wiz Khalifa fan," she mumbles. "I know you're more a Mia Khalifa fan."

"Oh, so she's not so innocent," he laughs. "You've been watching a little porn haven't you?"

She rolls her eyes as he chuckles. "Come on, we're both adults here you can tell me..."

She still ignores him.

"Well, I'll take your silence as a yes, gazelle."

"Take it as whatever you want to Alexander. I could really care less..."

And like that she kills the conversation.

"So, tell me about yourself," he starts again, trying to get her engaged in a conversation with him.

She stares at him in disbelief.

"Okay, let's start simple. What's your favourite colour?" he probes as the wind blows through his messy blonde hair.

She gives him a 'are you kidding me' look. "Are we prepping for the Newlywed games or something?"

He shakes his head laughing as she speaks. "Why are you suddenly so interested in trying to get to know me?"

"What? Can't I be honestly trying to get to know you?" he asks as he pulls up behind a car.

The road is fairly clustered but the traffic seems to be moving at a moderate pace. By the looks at it, they'll be in New Mexico a little late in the night.

"Without a reason behind it? I don't think so," she replies as she looks out the window.

"Well, I am genuinely trying to get to know you," he starts to say when she shoots him a look. "Plus this drive is so f*****g long and the silence is killing me so I think it's better to talk than avoid each other."

She shakes her head and takes up the earphone, placing it in her ear. Alexander sighs and focuses on the road.

Well, he tried...

"Red," Tanya states after a minute as she takes out the other earphones and places her phone in her lap. "My favourite colour is red."

Alexander's mouth breaks into a charming smile and Tanya laughs. "You're getting so worked over my favourite colour?"

"No, I'm just happy you chose to entertain my credibly sexy ass," Alexander replies winking at Tanya.

She looks him over with a shrug and Al raises a brow. "I can't argue with that."

He chuckles at her statement. "I know my gazelle."

"You're not going to stop calling me that are you?" she asks with a shake of her head.

"Nope," he says popping the 'p' as he moves up in the traffic line.

"Figured as much," she mumbles.

He smiles as he looks at her irritated face and he resists the urge to pinch her cheeks to make her smile. That's what his mom used to do to him when he was upset but that was a long time ago.

"My favourite colour is white," he states, continuing the conversation.

"Wow that didn't sound racist at all," she laughs as she rolls her dark eyes.

Alexander looks at her in panic. Why the f**k did he just say that? Yes, it's his favourite colour but he didn't think she would take it that way. He isn't racist, he isn't anything like his father and he doesn't want to be.

"Tanya I'm sorry if that offended you in any way. I wasn't thinking -" he says as he slaps his forehead.

"Al, it's okay. I was only joking," she says calming his nerves.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to think I'm like that because I'm not," he states and she smiles at him.

"It's okay. I know you aren't," she says touching his shoulder before looking out the window.

"s**t," she curses as she scrams from the front passenger seat moving to the backseats.

She should have thought this through. She should have told him. She should have remembered!

"Hey, what's wrong? What's got my gazelle so antsy?" Alexander jokes.

"This is not the time for jokes Alexander," she says in a hushed voice.

"Tanya, what's the problem?" He asks as he looks in the rearview mirror to see her tearing at her backpack.

"Um... My papers might have... expired," she says before yanking out a blanket and returning the other things to her bag.

"What?!" Alexander asks in disbelief. "...and you tell me this now?"

"In my defense, it's been years since I've left here," she starts as she crouches to the ground. "I didn't remember that they check papers at the state lines. It slipped my mind."

Alexander grinds his teeth. "So, what do you suppose we do now?"

"Wow I can see you're not used to this," she says as she covers herself with the blanket. "You, Mr. Rich Guy, are going to give your papers and keep them busy, while I will hide on the floor covered by a blanket. The windows are tinted so they won't see me and if you do your job well we'll pass easy-peasy."

Easy-peasy my ass, he mentally grumbles.

A few minutes later they reach the state line and a man approaches Al's car. He's short, chubby and a redhead. He has blue eyes and a bushy moustache.

"Good morning Sir," he greets.

"Good morning," Alexander starts. "Great weather we're having right?"

Tanya mentally rolls her eyes. That's one of the statements that people use when they're hiding something/doing something illegal.

"Yes, it is. Can I get your papers?" he asks curtly and Alexander nods.

He clicks the compartment on the dashboard and searches through it but it's not there. f**k, where did he put it?

He opens the one between the two front seats and searches that too. It's not there.

"What's the hold-up?" The man asks.

"It seems I've forgotten where I've put my papers," Alexander replies casually.

You've gotta be f*****g kidding me, Tanya mentally groans.

"Sir it's in your best interest you find them now or I'll have to ask you to exit the vehicle."

"Just give me a minute," he replies as he searches the compartments of the car.

"You're quite packed," the man says noticing the blanket covering what he figures are bags.

"Yes, I'm on my way home to Atlanta," Al replies.

"That's quite a drive. Why didn't you fly?" he asks with a brow raised.

"I have a colleague to meet on the way. She's worth the drive," Alexander muses and Tanya rolls her eyes.

The man nods before looking over at Alexander. "Sir I'm sorry but I'll have to ask you to step out of the vehicle."

He taps the car door and Tanya murmurs under the breath. "Idiot."

The man's about to speak again when Al hands him the papers. "Here you go. They were hidden quite well."

The man takes them eying Alexander before he scans through the documents his eyes bulging from their sockets as he read his name.

Alexander Nicolas Blake.

He smiles at Alexander and hands him the paper. "Sorry for the hostility Mr. Blake. Carry on..."

Alexander hides his smile while Tanya stifles a laugh. "No worries Mr..."

"Cramer," he replies.

"Goodbye Mr. Cramer," Alexander says as he drives off.

He drives until he's a good distance from the state line before addressing Tanya.

"You can come out now gazelle," he states.

Tanya sighs before climbing from under the blanket and into the front seat.

He looks at her messy hair and smiles. She looks over at him with a scold.

"What was that?" Tanya asks in irritation. "Why did it take so long to find those damn papers?"

Alexander chuckles. "In my defense, I forgot where they were. It's been a while since I've had to this set."

Tanya glares at him and prances at him hitting his shoulders. "You d**k! You did it on purpose!"

Alexander fights her off with one hand while laughing at her. "Serves you right for not mentioning your papers had expired."

She huffs and sits back looking out the window.

"About that remind me when we're at Atlanta to fix that," he says and Tanya stares a little taken back. "It's the least I can do gazelle."

She smiles to herself before mumbling a thank you.

"No problem," he shrugs. "Now hook up your phone to this stereo and play some music. This drive is going to be quite a boring one."

You got that right, she mentally agrees.

Hours later they're rocking out to song after song singing on the top of their voices earning looks from a few people in vehicles beside them. They stop at Wendy's and order some food before returning to the road and continuing on their journey repeating their ruse as they drive to another state line.

They sing and talk as they make their way through New Mexico. It's late in the night. about eleven when they arrived.

Yeah, the drums they swing low and the trumpets they go.

Tanya laughs as the song concludes and Alexander grins at her.

"We need to get a motel," he states and Tanya nods.

"I agree. I'm beat," she yawns.

"You're beat but I'm the one driving."

"That's because you won't allow me to drive," she states.

"True," Al says and Tanya raises a brow. "...and I still won't."

Tanya rolls her eyes. "Boys and their toys."

***

"Bienvenidos a Bailando Koalas." A short, Hispanic woman greets as we walk up to the front desk. Welcome to The Dancing Koalas.

The motel is a wooden, villa-looking structure that looks like it has seen a lot of natural disasters but miraculously it's still standing. The floor is cherry wood, the furniture pine and the ornaments range from decorative trees to bamboo art.

"Hola, buenas noches. Nos gustaria un habitación por dos," Tanya greets the lady while Alexander stares at her shocked. Hello, good night. We would like a room for two.

"Un momento por favor," the lady replies. A moment, please.

Tanya nods then look over at Alexander with a small smile. "I did Spanish for five years in high school and excelled in it."

"That's good. I did French but never really got around to Spanish," Alexander explains.

"We have only one room available and it carries one bed... Will that do?" The lady says with a Hispanic accent.

"You speak English," Tanya points out.

"Sí, you can't live in America and not be able to speak a little English," she shrugs. "Now will the room do?"

"Yes, it'll do just fine," Alexander smiles.

"Good," the woman smiles wrinkles forming at her hazel eyes. "Teresa, vienes aquí con llave de habitación diez!" Teresa, come here with the key for room 10.

"Sí Mama!" A voice calls back.

Soon a petite, caramel skin beauty joins the lady at the front desk. She has her mother's hazel eyes and facial features but her black curly hair differs from her mother's salt and pepper, straight hair.

"Let us introduce ourselves," the lady says. "I'm Tina the owner and this is my daughter Teresa. Today is her 16th birthday and we'll love if you can join us at her party."

Tanya smiles warmly. "Sure, when and where?"

"At midnight and at a bar down the street called El escape."

"Sounds fun," Alexander states.

"We'll be there," Tanya adds as she takes the room key.

"Great, Teresa let's go get ready," she says, snapping the young girl from gawking at Alexander.

Tanya smiles as she notices the girl's flushed face. Someone's got a crush... This brings back memories.

"Well, we'll be getting the things from the car and heading up," Tanya states as she pulls Alexander along with her. "See you guys later."

They make their way to the car grabbing a few bags and heading to the room.

"A day on the road and we're going to a party. This isn't quite bad Mr. Blake," Tanya muses as she drops onto the bed watching Alexander who makes his way to the bathroom.

"Right back at you Mrs. Blake."

She smiles at these words, Mrs. Blake. She is starting to like the sound of that.