Four hours, we had been driving for four hours. We eventually decided to stop. Mainly because Will accidentally fell asleep on the wheel. I was looking out the window and I heard a thump, his head hitting the steering wheel. Only then it occurred to me the last time he slept was back in the motel and that wasn't sleep because we had to escape in the middle of the night. He had been driving non stop and robbing places on the way.
He hadn't slept in two days, and who knows if he was getting any sleep before then. "I could drive," I had suggested after we stopped on the road for a few minutes. He chuckled, "Stick shift?" He asked. My shoulders dropped.
Now we were pulling into another motel. This one seemed fancier, two story motel. The Cactus, a well designed sign with a glowing cactus greeted us. Will backed into a parking spot. I looked at the clock, it was five am. We both got out of the car and headed to the main entrance.
The inside was neatly decorated. Southwestern themed decor complete with dark red walls and aztec pattern printed tapestry hanging on the walls. An office plant graced the corner and the floors were carpeted. A man stood behind the desk waiting for us to approach. "Uh can I get a room?" Will asked. "Yes, it's fifty nine dollars a night," He said. Will handed him the fifty-nine. "Thank you sir, I must say I really do love your car," He said pointing through the glass window to where we were parked. "Thanks, to bad they don't make them like that anymore," Will replied. Handing him a key he spoke, "Amen brother, classic cars are the best cars," He said. "Enjoy your stay, sir," He said. "You too ma'am," He said. I smiled.
Will took the key and we left. I followed him around the corner. He stuck the key in and we walked inside. The room was nice, red walls and the same decorations from the lobby. Plopping myself down on the bed I found my self relaxing. I turned to see Will opening a sliding door, the room had its own balcony. He closed the sliding door, reached into his pocket and pulled out another weird brown cigarette. He lit it up and started smoking.
I got up and opened the sliding door. "What is that?" I asked. His head whipped side ways. "What?" He asked. "The cigarette, its not a regular cigarette," I said. I knew it wasn't, it didn't smell like a cigarette when he burned it. "You don't know what weed is?" He asked. "Weed? Like drugs?" I asked. "Yes, Maria people do drugs," He said. "Is it dangerous?" I asked. He laughed. "No, can't hurt you," He said laughing harder. "Isn't it illegal? Can't you get caught?" I said. "You robbed a bar , you shouldn't be worried if its legal," He said. I frowned.
"Can I try some?" I asked. He looked at me for a minute. Stalking over he handed me the lit brown cigarette. His brown eyes stayed on me as I put the cigarette to my mouth and inhaled. "Not to much," He said. I started coughing really loud. "Easy, take it easy," He said. He was standing close to me. His broad shoulders looked muscular and his tattoos were peaking out from his shirt. It was getting harder to ignore how much I was attracted to him.
I took another hit, this time taking it easier. He smiled down at me. "How do you feel?" He asked taking it from my hands. I giggled, "Fuzzy?" I said. I felt relaxed, warm. I grabbed his wrist, where he was holding it and pulled it towards me. I took another hit as he held it for me. His eyes watched carefully. He didn't say anything.
I blew the smoke in his face. "It feels good," I said.
He smiled.
-
"Good morning New Mexico, today we have very important breaking news, according to the police there has been five robberies in four days all along the state of Texas. A truly fascinating story, it started in the sleepy town of Carlton West about four days ago when an armed gun man robbed a convenience store, thirteen hours later he would rob a gas station. Soon after that he would rob a diner, this time, according to sources, he kidnapped a young girl, witnesses claimed he used her as a hostage to escape and has done so in other locations. Witnesses at the second diner claimed she looked frightened, shaken up. And last night they were seen at the fifth and final location, a truck stop on state lines. We have our on site correspondant outside that bar now, Pete? Whats it lookin' like down there?"
"Well, I'am glad you asked Sarah! The police are having a hard time finding willing witnesses, but they did find some. Apparently the hostage was seen aiding the gunman, although this has yet to be confirmed by the authorities but the waitress who served them seems to be passive about the whole situation. According to sources, she refuses to speak with authorities. Here we have a hostess who said she witnessed the whole thing,"
"Hi, I'm Lauren a hostess here at The West Point truck stop, yes I witnessed the whole thing. She definitely helped him but now I feel kinda bad knowing she's a hostage and all,"
"Did they hurt anyone? Have you given the police a description?"
"Yeah, I talked to the police about it but I really don't know much. I remember the guy being real hot, kinda long hair. Thats all I really know, but at least I'm helping. Lots of folks round here aren't to keen on police officers so everyones been keeping their lids shut but I just don't think its right, robbing people blind and all,"
"And the girl? Did you see her? Was she scared? Was she endangered?"
"Oh no! I mean I don't really know but she seemed fine to me,"
"Thank you, the local police have issued a statement about the robberies. According to them if they cross state lines and commit crimes outside of Texas then the FBI will have to step in and declare a manhunt. They have yet to release the hostages name out to the public, they believe sealing her identity will keep her safe. They just don't know how dangerous the gun man could be. But another waitress from another diner gave a police description of him which can be seem right here,"
"Back to you Sarah,"
My eyes fluttered open. Sunlight peaked through the windows and all the events piled themselves back into my head. The bar, I held a gun. I robbed people. The news, they were talking about us. Fuck what was I doing? Why did I like it?
I sat up, still wearing the shorts and flannel. I turned around, the other side of the bed had been ruffled but no Will. I heard a grunt, my head whipped to the left.
Shit, there he was doing pull ups on the door frame that led to the bathroom, shirtless. His back was facing me glistening in sweat. I narrowed my eyes trying to look closer. A small tattoo of a toy solider graced his left shoulder, and what looked like three old scars littered his back. They looked like slashes, they looked like they went deep. He grunted again, this time I watched as his muscular biceps and back flexed with his movements.
Wait, had we slept in the same bed?
He hopped down and ran his hands through his sweat soaked hair. Entering the bathroom he turned the water on, washing his face. The grey sweatpants hung low on his hips exposing a dark brown happy trail. He was tanned, not pale. His glistening torso was so hot, I couldn't stop staring. He walked out of the bathroom with a hand towel to his face. "Did you sleep in this bed?" I asked trying to stay focused.
"Yeah?" He said. I crossed my arms and scoffed. "I thought you said I could have the bed!" I said. "That was back at the other motel, that doesn't mean forever," He said walked closer. I could barely focus with his exposed top half. "You know, trust works both ways Maria," He said. "What happened? I don't even remember sleeping," I said.
He threw his head back and laughed real hard. I hadn't heard him laugh like that. It was hot, fuck he was so hot. The way his deep voice rumbled as he laughed sent shivers down my spine. "Thats cause after you finished my blunt you came in here to lie down. Next thing I knew, you were out like a light," He said. "You started snoring," He laughed. My cheeks grew hot.
"The police estimate there heading west, so they've alerted New Mexico state officials to keep an eye out,"
Both of us had turned to look at the tv. "Were famous," He said. "Isn't that a bad thing?" I asked. He met my eye contact. "A very bad thing," He said. "We gotta lay low for a while, no robbing places for a little bit," He said. I nodded my head.
"We should go soon then," I said. "Yeah," He said grabbing a t-shirt I hadn't seen before. This one was plain black. My eyes couldn't help but to drop down to his chest, his muscles rippled underneath the tight fabric as he put it on.
"Lets go," He said.