Dissolve (29 page)

“I’m sorry, I was having vivid dreams,” I confessed.

“I didn’t want to wake you, but you were tossing and then I saw the tears. I didn’t want you to continue to feel the pain that you were ensconced in,” Noah said.

“Thanks,” I replied as I felt a blush rise in my tear stained cheeks.

I turned my attention away and focused on the music blasting through the stereo. Alternative music flooded my senses and I leaned back in my seat. Ashamed, I peered out the window and focused on our surroundings. It was dark and we were being guided strictly by moonlight and the headlights. We weaved around cars and passed a sign showing Missoula five miles ahead.

I was grateful to have managed past another city without incident. Finally, I turned to see Vienna sleeping against the back window. Nessa and Liam were cozy and I began to think there was some serious chemistry there. Nessa always did have a thing for the bad boys. When she noticed me, she looked up and smiled. I smiled back and raised an eyebrow.

“I’m going to stop shortly and get some gas from one of these abandoned cars. We are running a little low,” Shane said.

“Sounds good, do you need someone to relieve you from driving? I am up to it if you are not,” I asked.

“I should be fine for a little while, but thanks,” he replied.

We found an SUV on the road and stopped next to it. Shane pulled out the hose and the gas tank he used to transfer the gas. The teal tint of the SUV’s paint sparkled in the moonlight as Shane approached the vehicle. He started the procedure of getting the gas and then started to frown. As fast as he pulled the items out, he slid them back into the rear of the van.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“It was almost out of gas, we are going to have to try another vehicle,” he said as he started the van back up and pulled forward.

“There, let’s stop at that red sedan,” Mia said as she pointed to it.

Shane then pulled up to the red sedan and slowed to a stop. He put the car in park before tucking the keys in his pocket. Taking the hose and tank, he syphoned the gas and snapped the gas door shut. In a matter of minutes, he was back to his position in the driver’s seat and sliding the keys into the ignition.

“We should be good for a while, I sucked that tank dry and we have almost three quarters of a tank.”

“Thanks Shane, let’s hit the road again. This road tripping is getting old fast,” Noah complained.

“Sure thing, I am ready. You guys just relax and get some rest; I may need someone to relieve me in a few hours.”

“No problem, man,” Noah replied.

Seconds turned to minutes, the minutes turned to hours and the hours faded in a blink of an eye. Noah finally got the well-deserved sleep her needed, snoring and all. It was kind of cute watching him sleep. His brown hair was tousled and his clothes were wrinkled from multiple days of wear.

I couldn’t help the way I was starting to feel about him. We had this magnetic attraction that I couldn’t even deny. Every time we touched, that current raced through me like a million tiny sparks. Those sparks ignited at every touch. All I wanted to do is feel his lips on mine, demanding.

In the back seat, Nessa was cooking up a little chemistry of her own. Her and Liam were talking softly and giggling intermittently. His arm was around her and his eyes were alight with interest. I noticed the sparkle in her eyes and was relieved that she was finally happy on this journey.

Vienna was just leaning back in the seat, trying to drown them out and looking a little peeved. I didn’t know too much about Vienna. She remained mostly quiet throughout this rough trip and mums the word.

Just outside of Missoula, we went radio silent. Nothing but fuzz filled the speakers and Mia was quick to turn it off. Great, now we won’t know which states were in jeopardy for a mass bombing.

If only we had a way to find and stop the devices, but that was like finding a needle in a haystack. We were stuck in a loop and everyone around us dies time and time again. It was chilling just to think about it. Then a thought struck me.

“Hey guys, how come everywhere we go these people find us? It seems like an odd coincidence if you ask me,” I said.

“That is a very valid point Cora,” Noah replied. “Either there are many of them, or they are tracking us somehow.”

“I bet they are tracking us somehow,” Shane added.

“Yeah, if only we knew how. We have been changing vehicles and moving around quite a bit,” Mia said.

“Ugh, this is all really confusing,” Vienna said from the back seat.

“I agree, how are we supposed to figure it out?” I said contemplating.

Somewhere between Missoula and Billings, the sun began to rise and shimmer along the surface of the highway. Hues of yellow and orange lit up the sky signaling the start of yet another day on the road. As far as the eye could see, was a cluttered highway. I watched as the cars and semi’s sat, abandoned, some crunched like accordions.

Then we slowed to a stop and I gasped. In front of us was a massive crash sight. An airplane had fallen directly out of the sky and the metal remnants littered the area. It was unreal to see. All the pieces seemed so massive and larger than life. Clearly, no one survived and the plane probably crashed as a direct result of the bombing.

“Umm, we are going to have to do a little off road driving to get around this mess,” Shane said.

“I don’t think that is possible. It looks like we are going to have to walk around the crash site and find another vehicle on the other side,” Noah replied.

“Ugh, I don’t want to carry all our crap. I say the guys get that job,” Mia suggested.

“I am in agreement to that; let’s get the hell out of here so we can find another vehicle soon,” I said.

Shane put the car in park and turned the keys to the off position. Leaving them in the ignition, he stepped out of the driver’s seat and all of us stumbled out behind him.

The crash site was so surreal. Cars were smashed by it and turned over everywhere as if thrown. I hadn’t thought about all the planes falling from the sky until now. Without pilots, the planes had to go somewhere. I was willing to bet that there were many of these similar crash sights, especially at the airports.

It took us nearly an hour to dodge the metal pieces that jutted out of the ground and make it to the other side of the massive plane crash. I sighed in relief as we made it back onto the highway and returned to the original scenery. There were cars smashed into each other, and cars that had rolled as a result of the bombing.

Now we just needed to find an exit and get another vehicle with some gas. We came up to a sign that read an exit only two miles up. That was so close, yet so far away on foot. I let out a groan, and Noah looked up. He noticed my annoyance and uneasiness and winked at me. Then he laced his hands in mine and we continued on.

Nessa hip checked me in excitement as we reached and descended down the exit. We had finally reached a lot of cars for commuter parking. Bingo, we found the jackpot. Splitting up, we searched for one that still had keys in it.

Unfortunately, we were unable to find a van with keys. The only thing we were lucky enough to find was an SUV. It was better than nothing at this point. Liam hollered for us all to come there and we were all corralled around the white vehicle.

Once again, we all crammed into the white SUV after the guys put our stuff in the rear of the vehicle. Shane returned to driving, Mia in front. I climbed onto Noah’s lap and he wrapped his arms around my waist. I let out a little shiver at his proximity and the giddiness I had felt earlier returned.

Once everyone had climbed in and crammed together, we were back on the road. Exhausted, everyone slid in and out of consciousness as we continued on. We stopped one more time just before sunrise and fueled the tank. Shane looked exhausted and Liam offered to take over.

“Thanks man, I appreciate it,” Shane said.

“No problem, it is time I pulled my share of weight around here,” Liam replied.

Shane left the keys in the ignition and placed the car in park. He stepped out of the driver’s seat and came around to the back door. Liam and Nessa stepped out to take post in front. Mia and Shane slid into the backseat next to Vienna. It took a few minutes for Liam to adjust everything and then we were back on the road.

In no time, Mia and Shane were nestled together in the back seat. Mia placed her head in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes, content and at peace. Shane leaned his head against the seat and closed his tired eyes. It didn’t take long for them to fade into sleep.

I finally dared to sleep somewhere after Billings. I fought exhaustion and stress into a soothing sleep this time. I dreamt I was at peace, basking in the warm glow of the sun, lying in a field of lavender swaying in the breeze. The purple buds filled my sights and I smiled. I rolled over in the field to block the sunlight and drifted off into a peaceful state of consciousness.

Before I knew it was happening, I had dissolved. My particles seeped out of the SUV and into the warm summer day. I felt like a million molecules of harmony floating on the gentle breeze. I was so free and alive, detached from the SUV and our problems, high above in the air. I heard shouting, but couldn’t break away from the trance of the freedom.

It was Nessa who finally broke through my walls. “Cora, get in this SUV this instant! Don’t make me splash my water on you!”

I felt a chill on the air at the mention of water and reluctantly seeped back into the SUV, my particles melding together. I swirled to form, naked. Then I precariously hurried to redress, but couldn’t help but notice Noah with his mouth hanging open underneath my naked body. I could feel the hammering in his heart speed up in reaction to me. Noah was staring at me and I felt exposed, suddenly self-conscious. It was a good thing I went with the sexy lace bra and panties. My cheeks turned a shade of pink as I pulled my jeans on all the way, slid the button in place and zipped them up.

“You can’t do that Cora, it’s dangerous!” Nessa spouted.

“I’m sorry, I was asleep. I didn’t know I was doing it until it was too late,” I retorted.

“I know, you just scared me,” she amended.

“I’m awake now, it won’t happen again for a while. Where are we anyways?” I asked.

“We are a few hours outside of Denver already. Driving straight through definitely helped our time,” Liam answered.

“Oh, great,” I said.

“It is time to stop for gas and food though. I am starving and the SUV is almost to empty. We can stop in Casper up ahead,” he added.

“Great, I could use a break to stretch my legs,” Vienna spoke up.

“Me too, I am thinking some caffeine could be useful right now too,” Liam said as he slowed down to exit the highway.

There were a few cars abandoned and smashed together along the exit, but Liam navigated around them like a professional. We slowed to a stop in another town, another gas station. Noah was right; this road trip was getting old. I craved a shower and planned to brush my teeth with a bottle of mouthwash once inside.

“Noah and I will go in and get the snacks if you guys will get us some gas,” I said, looking at Liam and Shane.

“Sure, just get us some drinks,” Shane said.

“No problem,” I said as Noah put his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

This gas station was surprisingly kept up for the middle of nowhere. The floors were clean and they had a fairly large selection of snacks. I took advantage and grabbed some snack cakes, while Noah was loading his hands up with some semi-warm drinks for everyone.

I searched until I found the isle with hygiene items. Then I sat my snack cakes on the shelf and opened a toothbrush and a bottle of mouthwash. I dipped the toothbrush into the mouthwash and sighed in contentment as I brushed the plaque away.

Then I smiled at Noah and beckoned him forward. He did the same, and smiled at me once he was finished. I was caught off guard when he leaned in and placed a tentative kiss on my lips. I succumbed and raised my arms to settle around his neck. He tasted minty fresh and my heart began to race as he pulled me in closer and our bodies connected.

I wanted to stay like that forever, letting the kiss linger. I was left standing there in awe as he gently pulled away and gave me a warm smile. “Let’s go, the others will be wondering where we are,” he said playfully.

When we exited the convenient mart, our arms were full of snacks. Vienna and Mia didn’t waste any time taking the stuff off our hands and passing them out to everyone. As we all returned to the SUV and started back on the highway, it was mostly silent.

I was thankful that no one except Nessa managed to notice the color in my cheeks and the smile I was struggling to contain. I knew she could read the excitement crackling in my head and hoped she would keep it to herself. Her eyes met mine and she nodded. After that, all I could hear was the wresting of wrappers and some crunching of chips.

Everyone seemed equally as tired of this road trip and most of us settled into a hushed silence. Some of the group managed to fall asleep. Others silently stared out the windows and into the darkness. I wrestled somewhere in between sleep and the darkness outside. I was unable to quite favor one or the other as I was cradled against Noah.