"Road Trip"

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Why would they do that?" She asked "I mean I doubt they just randomly start tracking someone's credit cards, they would have to have a good reason for it. So what is it? Are you a criminal? Trying to escape the law? What's the deal?" She asked "because I have no interest In Helping someone run away when they did something wrong. So I want answers, now."

 

[JumpMyBones]

"Oh no no," Joe said quickly. "I'm ... I didn't do anything wrong. Not really. I'm not a criminal. I just..."

He realized this wasn't going the way he'd hoped. Instead of his honesty increasing his chances of getting into Jessica's panties, it was destroying those chances instead.

"No, I'm ... I'm helping someone ... by ... by laying down a false trail of shiny rocks," he continued with his Hansel and Gretel metaphor. "And before you ask, he's not a criminal either. At least ... not in the true sense of the word. He didn't break any laws ... didn't rob a bank or kill someone. He just ... just doesn't want anyone to know where he is right now."

The waitress checked on them, and after taking another beer order left. Joe continued, "He's paying me to wander about the country, make the FBI think he's where he's not, and then ... well, he can finish what he's doing in peace. And after ... I'll have a nice little bonus to live on for a few years."

He looked deeply into Jessica's eyes, the fantasizing dreamer in him reaching for the stars. "And then, with that money ... I'll be able to go where I want to go ... with who I want to go..."

It was meant to be vague. They didn't know one another, so Joe couldn't just come out and say, I want to go there, where ever, with you! But in his heart, he sort of wanted Jessica to know that that was what he meant, too.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Who is this guy?" She asked "what is he trying to finish that requires him to hide from the government? I want to know exactly what is going on, every little detail that you know I want to hear." She said clearly upset "I need to know what you've dragged me into."

 

[JumpMyBones]

"I don't know," Joe said, his tone sincere. "I just know what I'm supposed to do: wait for his call, each morning and afternoon ... spend money where he tells me to ... and go where he tells me to."

He didn't have anything more to tell her. That was all he had to share.

"I've never met the man, Jessica, really," he continued, trying his best to fulfill her need for clarity. "He's a friend of a friend ... and he knew I needed money and -- like you -- a change of scenery. That was why I invited you along, Jess..."

He didn't know whether it was okay with Jessica for him to use a nickname, but it slipped out before he had realized what he did.

"I thought you would enjoy this as much as I am. And Jess ... I am! I am enjoying myself. How could I not? I'm being paid to run around the country and spend some other guy's money."

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

"Some other guy that you know nothing about. Some guy who is hiding from the FBI. He doesn't sound like a good person at all to me." Jessica said as she stood up "you're an idiot, you have no idea what you may be into. I'm going home, I'm not going to be an accessory to some crime." She said before heading towards the door.

 

[JumpMyBones]

Joe hopped out of his chair immediately, hollering after her, "Jessica! Please!"

But she just ignored him, and -- seeing some of the others in the bar looking at him with the sympathetic expressions you might show a man who'd just been dumped by his girl friend -- Joe turned back to his table and dropped back into his seat.

He was fucked. Jessica was going to abandon him, and he had no transportation. He could use the bus, or he could bum another ride. But what were the odds that he'd find another beautiful woman like Jessica with no ties and a lust for travel. The answer was, of course, zero.

 

[Sweetandsexy3]

When she arrive back at her room she quickly threw everything back in her suitcase. Jessica headed out to her car, tossing the luggage into the passengers seat. Taking a deep breath she tried to figure out what had happened. It didn't make much sense, why would someone agree to trick the FBI, even for a large sum of cash. Frustrated she tried to start her car, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible, but nothing happened. She tried again with the same result. Jessica started to cry, she was stuck where she was.

 

[JumpMyBones]

Five minutes to pack her bags, a couple of more to steal the little soaps and shampoos, and five final ones to get out and away...

Joe checked the clock again: it had been 15 minutes since Jessica had brought his world down upon him. He paid bis bill and headed back toward the room, his mind grasping for options.

And then, he saw her, Jess, still here, sitting behind the wheel of her car ... sobbing.

It tore Joe's heart open, causing his stomach to turn in literal pain.

He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. He didn't realize she was still here because her car wouldn't start, so he assumed that it was about him and his lies.

He walked slowly her way, but when he reached the edge of the parking lot -- maybe thirty feet from Jessica -- he simply stood there waiting to see whether she drove away ...or ran him over!