I looked at Harry through the rearview mirror again
"Wow he is really past out." I chuckled softly
Sarah turned and looked at Harry and smiled softly. She carefully eased her phone out of her jacket pocket and opened her camera. She put a finger to her lips and giggled
I looked back at the empty road ahead of us
"You sure that we shouldn't fly somewhere else for a while?" I asked her for about the millionth time
"They will be expecting it, they won't expect us to only go one town over." She replied distractedly as she shifted in her seat "Josh maybe we should stop for the night, you have been driving for almost 6 hours"
I shook my head "No we have to keep going until we are safe"
"Then let me drive." She said again
"No, I have to protect you" I said again my voice strained
"We have to protect each other, it's not resting all on your shoulders." She whisper-yelled "Pull over. I'm driving"
She wasn't giving up. I breathed out heavily "Fine" I pulled over and got out
"Thanks" she said and skipped over and kissed me on the cheek "All aboard"
******************************
I was suddenly thrown forward. My eyes flew open
"What happened?" I asked
"Who let Sarah drive?" came Harry's groggy voice
"Yeah stuff you too Bartholomew" Sarah snapped
"Sarah what happened?" I asked
"Some jackass animal just decided to run across the road completely cutting me off." She grumbled
Harry and I burst out laughing.
"Oh Sarah, you have always been a bleeding heart for animals." I gasped for breath
"Shut up." She eased the car into drive again "I like you two are better when you're asleep."
"Well now that we are both awake, how long until we get there." I asked
"About 10 minutes until we get to the hotel we booked" she said
"Great because I'm starving." Harry clapped his hands together
"When aren't you hungry?" I joked
"Ha, ha funny" he retorted sarcastically
"But true" Sarah added
"Are you calling me fat?" Harry gasped dramatically
They kept going back and forth but I drowned them out as I stared out the window. Losing James had ripped my heart in half. He was my best friend. I can't believe he was working with them the whole time. I wanted to be strong for Sarah.
"Earth to Josh." I snapped out of my thoughts
"Yeah, what's up?" I asked
"We're here." Sarah said sharing a look with Harry
"Cool, okay, let's go in then" I said as I opened the car door
"Sure, Harry's going to check us in now" she said
"Okay" he said
"What's up with you?" she asked
"Nothing" I brushed off
She snorted "Yeah sure, okay"
"Sarah-"
"Don't you Sarah me, talk to me. You lost a friend just as I did. You need to talk to somebody. Harry and I are here for you"
"I'm trying to protect you" I gritted my teeth
"I don't need you to protect me. We have been through everything together. You and me, what happened to the unstoppable team?" she asked loudly
I said nothing. There was nothing I could say.
"Yeah that's what I thought. I'm not weak, so stop acting like I cant take care of myself." She whispered
A warning sign. She was angry; she never got loud when she was angry, she always got softer. She was most dangerous when like this
"I'll see you in the room" she spat, she spun on her heel and stalked into the hotel
Shit, I'm in trouble. Better go now than prolong the absolute hell that is going to break loose.
I stepped through the doors to see a confused Harry
"Hey Sarah just came through looking like she's ready to kill, what happened?" he asked
"You'll find out soon enough, where is our room?" I asked
"Come on let's go." He said heading towards the elevator
*******************************
We walked into the room
"Sarah?" Harry called out
"Come in. Sit down. Shut up. My turn to talk." She commanded
We immediately dropped our bags and went over to the beds. Harry and I shared a terrified look
"You both seem to think I'm weak because all you do is try to shelter and protect me." She started
"Sarah—"
"I'm not done!" she snapped, "I don't know what kind of masculinity thing this is but it ends here. Okay. In case you both forgot we are all a team. We are supposed to talk to each other, be there for each other. We are meant to look out for each other. We lost someone this morning, and you guys were hesitant to tell me. I don't know why but frankly I'm disappointed in both of you. You are so set on making sure I'm cushioned and okay that you seem to be completely forgetting about taking care of your own emotional health. Don't you roll your eyes at me Joshua. Whatever you think you are protecting me from, stop, because I'm going to find out, one way or another. So now I have two questions. One, is your sudden overprotectiveness due to us being found or are you just starting to get this insane feeling of possessiveness? And two, do you really think you can protect me from everything, especially given what has already happened?"
We sat in silence. I could feel Harry's mind turning
"Nothing to say?" Sarah asked after a minute of silence
"Josh can I please have a moment alone with Sarah?" Harry asked
"Sure, but it's your funeral" I stood up and left the room "Phone me when your done, I'm going for a walk"