20Chapter Five: Ah, revenge...
"You did that deliberately!" I hiss at the both of them as soon as Chase slides out of the booth to go to the bathroom. Oh yeah, go to the bathroom – that's what he says. I don't care; I'm still keeping an eye on the car...which is kind of hard to do when you're also trying to give both your best friends a super-evil-death-ray-Darth-Vader-would-be-proud kind of glare because you end up looking way demented.
"Did what?" they eye me carefully. I deepen my glare. Okay, now they look a bit worried, "Al, you okay?" Latoya peers at me and I growl.
"I think he's morphing into a dog. Check the eyes." Cameron whispers (as in a really loud hiss so the entire diner can hear) behind his hand to Latoya before smirking at me. I just sigh, frustrated.
"I hope you realize this guy could kill us you know. I mean, we don't even know who he is – he could steal our things! Or – Or…you know, rape us!" I hiss the last bit, glancing around before watching as they exchange looks. Latoya just smirks.
"I wouldn't mind him raping me, you know." She giggles and I just gape at her. She did not just say that!
We had pulled into a diner for lunch – luckily this one looked cleaner than the one we were at the night before so I was able to pick out something fairly confidently – that is, a sandwich. Either way, by the time we arrived I had decided I officially hated Chase Williams. Everything about him just went against my style of life and I hated every moment of it. The whole time in the car he managed to charm both my best friends and further irritate me, especially when he started commenting on my name and my...quirks. Ex-cuse me if I actually like my seat to be clean and the window to be dirt free. Never know when you're going to need a clean space to bang your head against, especially with my best friend twirling her hair around her finger and giggling at everything Chase happens to remark on aka, me. Just what is wrong with carrying wet wipes?
Needless to say when opting for seats in the diner, I obviously bagsied Latoya. Nothing in this world could get me to sit next to Chase Williams and I love Cameron, I really do but when he's eating – it's a strict, no-go, danger with a capital 'D' and exclamation mark area.
"Aw, Lexi, why don't you want to sit with me?" Chase had asked with a pout when I sat next to Latoya. Of course, Chase seemed to have picked up on my dislike and even though we were the ones towing him along with us across America, he didn't seem the slightest bit worried that we could chuck him out at any moment. But that was probably because he had charmed both my best friends enough into laughing at me. Smug putzface!
"Allie, somehow, I don't think so. He looks harmless enough." Cameron agreed with a nod before shovelling three fries into his mouth. Really, it's like the Eighth Wonder of the World except less wondrous and more puke-inducing.
"Cameron is right. Besides, how dangerous could a hitch-hiker be with a guitar and what looks to be only two, small duffel bags full of clothes?"
"You don't know!" I hiss at them, Latoya shaking her head and Cameron sniggering behind the masticated fries lodged in his mouth.
"Who doesn't know what?" Oh, it's back. I huff and cross my arms over my chest, glaring resolutely out the window as Chase slides back into the booth opposite me. He smiles, baring his strong, very straight white teeth.
"None of your business." I tell him rudely.
"I'm hurt, Lexi baby."
"My name is Alexis." I sneer at him. He just smiles even wider before turning his head to look out the window. I continue to glower at him before dropping my stiff, defensive stance and reaching out for my personal water bottle. I immediately choke on it though as I feel what I'm pretty damn sure is a foot that is sliding up my thigh, dangerously close to my unmentionable area.
"Oh my god, Allie!" Latoya is thumping me on the back as I sputter out water after having choked whilst attempted to jump back in my restricting booth seat in order to get away from Chase's wandering foot.
"You!" I snarl at him once I regain my voice though its effect is lost as it comes out a pathetic whisper.
"What?" He actually had the audacity to look confused.
"Allie?" Latoya looks suspiciously between the two of us but I ignore her, pointing a shaky finger at Chase.
"I could sue you for that."
"Allie! Stop it! What is wrong with you?" Latoya looks shocked. I glare at him and he just – get this – smirks at me. Yeah, he smirks, "Whatever prejudice you have against Chase – it has got to stop right now. Chase, I'm really sorry, Allie's not really like this. Well, he kind of is. Sometimes, you forget he's nineteen instead of ninety but just, don't mind him, okay?" Latoya looks at Chase, almost reassuring and I just gape at them as Chase just nods.
"But!"
"Alexis!"
"It's okay; don't worry about it, Toy. I guess it was kind of my fault 'cause I accidentally kicked him." He smiles all charming and out of instinct, my hands clench. Maybe he needs a lesson in distinguishing a kick from a – a...stroke. Must. Not. Kick.
"Oh...well, still! Allie, say sorry." Latoya admonishes me.
"Yeah, yeah, mom." I sneer at her and then look over, scowling at Chase who directs his bright, 'oh, I'm so innocent' smile at me. I grit one out back at him.
"Sorry." I have to force it out. Chase leans forward, smiling and picking up my hand, releasing it from its tight ball of tension. I'm so shocked that I don't even respond, just watch as he circles his thumb over my palm.
"Thank you Lexi and I apologize too, no harm was intended." Huh, he has really, really, really blue eyes. Or are they gray? No, definitely blue. I never even noticed – oh god, snap out of it Alexis!
"Yeah." I rip my hand out of his loose grip, eyeing him warily. Whoever he is, he's weird and I really don't want anything to do with him and his creepy eyes.
"Um, so...how about we get out of here and back on the road?" Cameron breaks the silence and we all collectively agree.
However, once Latoya and Cameron aren't paying attention, I kick him hard on the shin and redirect my gaze out the window. Oh look, a pick up truck.
"Ow!"
"Chase, are you alright?" Cameron looks at him and he just scrounges up a smile. I smirk inwardly to myself – take that you uneducated boob!
"Oh my god, you know what would be a great idea?" Latoya turns around from her place in the front passenger seat.
"How about throwing you out the window?" I glare at her and she just laughs. I had been relegated to the backseat once Latoya found out I had kicked her darling Chase. I stick my tongue out at her and huff, folding my arms and inching myself even closer to the door.
"Al, anymore closer to the door and we'll have to pry you off it with a spatula." Cameron remarks.
"Oh shut up and drive." I roll my eyes and pointedly ignore them as they all start laughing at me. I hate this stupid road trip.
"Anyway, as I was saying...why don't you play for us, Chase?"
"Sure." He answers and I hear rootling from behind me, presumably he was getting out his acoustic guitar.
Chase Williams had apparently been travelling around through various forms of transportation like bus rides, rented car rides, walking and recently, by hitchhike. He had told us about how he'd visited all the different states in an effort to 'find himself'. He'd earned money playing his guitar and doing odd jobs in different towns that he stayed in. In other words, he was just a plain Hicksville hitchhiker hobo gypsy...person. Of course, I had been deeply chastised for saying 'such a spiteful thing'. Now, I'm starting to feel less like nineteen and more like nine. But still! He was like some kind of warped hippy – could you blame me for being wary?
"Okay, so this is kind of new so be nice."
"I'm sure you'll be great!" Latoya encourages him and I snort inwardly.
He clears his throat and begins strumming, almost lazily and out of curiosity, I turn, nearly getting my forehead impaled on the neck of his guitar. Luckily, I slouch down fast enough that I don't get knocked. Apparently Chase is the type of guitarist who likes to move with the music. It's just my luck that I'm stuck in this tiny backseat of the van with a 'soulful guitarist' hitchhiker. Listening to the music though, I find myself entranced in the way his hands drift over the strings, fingers lovingly brushing over it to produce smooth sounds. He starts humming along with the little melody just before launching into the song.
"Rewind back to last summer,
the air carries your words
and the sun is so bright
I have to close my eyes.
You linger in the leaves of last autumn,
in the water of two summers ago,
just wait a little and stay awhile
I won't let you go.
Step out into the world,
I don't think I'm ready yet
but will you show me what it's like?
All these years I've been missing,
show me what it's like in this new light?
It's been a little too long
but we have a lifetime to remember,
so stay awhile beside me
and we can watch the sky together..." Chase trails off and then looks down at his guitar, shaking his head as if he was kind of...embarrassed? "Sorry, that's uh...kind of all I got right now. It's been really difficult to finish this song not to mention it sounds kind of corny in some parts." He sighs before looking up, smile back on his face.
"Oh my god..." Latoya breathes and even Cameron looks surprised as he chimes in with a simple "Whoa, dude."
"That was fucking awesome!" Latoya practically yells and I wince. It was good while it lasted, "Don't you think so, Allie?" they both look at me and I suddenly feel like a deer in the headlights.
"Um...sure?" I offer and Chase nods, smiling lightly at me.
"Thanks."
"No problem." I mumble and turn my head out the window, trying to avoid those very blue eyes. I'm still very surprised after hearing that and I hate to admit it but he's not just awesome – he's practically amazing. I bite my lip.
Curse musically-inclined hobos.
sorry chapters for this story are so short - i have no idea why. and i'm also sorry for infrequent updates - yikes.
that song felt cheesy-ish to write? and i think i write little alexis weirdly.
anyway, please let me know what you think!
also, i'm thinking of changing the title of the story so i might do it later or something - just to let you guys know in case you get confused with the next update. YES, THERE WILL BE ONE EVEN IF IT'S A LITTLE LATE :]
xo, effay.