Roadtrip RP (after highschool)

[Sparks]

(whoa long)

They watched blankly.
Carolyn's eyes were cameras.
Clicking and throbbing in the radiant sunlight.
"We should get going," John said.
She nodded slowly.
"He leaving?" He gestured towards Matt.
They'd been standing there for a minute, watching, and Matt still hadn't slid the keys into the ignition.
The engine was as silent as it'd ever been.
Carolyn wasn't sure, all of a sudden, what he was planning on doing.
She wasn't sure about a lot of things.
"I don't know," she said.
And the uneasiness in her stomach came out.
"Listen, I don't know what we're going to say to Craig's Dad," she said quickly. "We go back in there, and they are going to want us to talk about everything that happened. And the other car - who knows how many people were in there. I don't know how big this actually is. We set something into motion that we never..."
John didn't say anything, just listened.
She went on. "And Lauren's parents. And your..."
Her heart sank.
He wouldn't go anywhere, because he had to stay for his folks. And Cody.
The boy's handsome face flashed on her eyelids as she blinked, and she was dizzy.
He seemed to read her mind. "I can talk to them later. They'll understand if we break from the hospital for a bit."
"I don't want to be here, now," Carolyn said.
"Too bad we are here, and this is now," John smiled, but it was an ironic smile, more upset than friendly.
"I know." And she did.
The sun was beating down.
Gold like time. Gold like chains and drumsticks and everything that was worth more than anyone ever thought it would be.
"I've got money," John said suddenly.
He eyed her with a brighter look, and she remembered that he was one of the Brightwell Brothers. And now there was only one... John Brightwell, the shadowy kid with a sharp mind and quiet pair of eyes.
He started to look energized.
"Listen, if you want, we could find some hotel or something and get away from here. Just for a while. I mean, we're not going back anyways, right?"
She remembered saying that.
What guts this kid has, she thought, a bit bewildered.
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
He stopped. "No. This is kind of a big thing. You've got to be sure. I don't mean...Okay. It's just that if we don't stay here now, we can't very well go back. The families will be here looking for us and it'll be chaos."
"They'll take us back for the funerals, and then we won't be able to get out again," Carolyn said, as she realized what he was saying.
"Right. So if we find a Holiday Inn or something, in some side-town, we can probably pull off staying out of the light for a few days," he said. "Then, we can get away clean, and never go back."
It sounded like a plan, Carolyn had to admit.
She had to ask the question.
"Then what?"
He watched her through his dark eyes, and hesitated.
"Yeah, okay. I'm in."
He let out a breath of relief. "Thanks."
"I want this." She looked at the ground for a second, and then back up. "How are we planning on getting out of here, though?"
John looked over at Matt's car, and his motionless form.
They raised eyebrows at each other.
John started back to the car.

[behindTHEmask]

It was time to leave, there was no denying it now.
The game was set.
The match was won.
It was time to relive the times that hurt you most, soak them in, and move on with your life.
Start over so you can make a difference.
Matt slipped the keys out, letting the silver reflect the sun.
This is it.
This is the time to finally put the past behind you.
Walking away shows you have the strength to push on.
The keys fell slowly into the ignition, but they weren't turned to get on the road.
He stared at the horn blinking.
Just do it.
He twisted the silver, starting the car.
The silence of the motor was deafening. Turning on the radio, he pressed play on the CD player.
A Change Of Pace.
Perfect for his rebirth.

[Sparks]

Carolyn followed behind as John reached Matt's window. He bent down and knocked on the glass.
Matt hadn't seen him coming, she decided.
The noise would no doubt shock him.
And then the poor kid would get asked to grant them another favour, as if he hadn't done more than enough already.
Carolyn swore to herself that as soon as this was sorted out, she'd never ask him for anything again.

[behindTHEmask]

Suprised wasn't the word for how he felt, but it was the only word he could think of. The knock shook him out of his thoughts, and he had to of jumped in his seat a little.
Or maybe a lot.
He lifted the sunglasses, revealing his once again cloud eyes. John was standing outside his window.
Pressing the arrow on the door, he let the car pull down the window, tucking it away into saftey.
"Did you forget something in the car?"
He looked in the seat next to him, where John had been sitting.
There was nothing.
A small bit of confusion passed through his eyes.
Maybe there was something more he wanted.
Maybe when Matt knew that he didn't save him completely, this could be his chance.

[Sparks]

John bit his lip.
"Listen, I know we've asked so much of you already," he said. "But I thought that if we cought you before you went..."
Carolyn watched. He was having a hard time finding the right words.
"We need to get out of here."
His eyebrows knitted anxiously.
"Do you think you could give us one last ride?"

[behindTHEmask]

A small smirk fell on Matt's lips.
"Get in."
Unlocking the doors, he slipped his sunglasses back on. Rolling up the window, he waited for them to slide inside.
Goodbye would come again.
In the next town.
And he'd of saved them, again.
But as many times as he was the hero, victory was never felt.
Anyone would do it.
It's only making the world a better place.

[Sparks]

Relief flooded through Carolyn like an IV drip.
They climbed into the back seat.
Shutting the door behind them, she said to no one in particular, "I wonder how long it'll take us to find somewhere."
John appeared to be lost in thought.
She looked at Matt in the mirror.
Oh, the familiarity of the situation.
Deja vu.
"We're actually not going back," she said with a smile.
Strong.
Sometimes it wasn't easy, but she knew it had to be right.
When there's no where else to go, sometimes you've got to start a new road, and make the first footsteps.

[behindTHEmask]

"Not going back? Sounds like a popular choice now-a-days."
He smiled, looking at the both of them through the rearview mirror.
The darkened lenses once again shaded his eyes.
"How far do you two want to go?"
He asked, intrigued to where they wanted to run.
Most wanted as far away as they could.
Get out so there is nothing more familiar.
Nothing that holds the memories.

[Sparks]

"Far enough so that they won't be able to find us before we go," Carolyn said.
When she meant go, she wasn't sure what she meant.
It didn't matter. They'd find out soon enough.
She had a credit card on her. She realized suddenly that if they were really trying to get away, it would be impossible. John wasn't really eighteen, and if she used her card, they'd be able to follow them.
"We have a problem," she told him, worry crossing her face.
John looked up, his eyebrows raised. "What?"
"They can trace credit cards," Carolyn said.
He shrugged. "Doesn't matter."
She started at him. "How does that not matter? We'll get followed."
He shrugged again. "No, we won't. I told you I had money. Cash. I'm kind of weird about that...I don't really believe in banks and, uh..."
He smiled a bit. "You know, or multi-national corporations."
Carolyn would have had a hard time accepting that from anyone else. Right now, though, she had no choice but to trust him.
And, let's face it, it's John. He's the one kind of guy that actually lives by these rules.
Leaning back in the seat, Carolyn blew out a sigh.

[behindTHEmask]

Matt nodded at the two.
He really didn't know what to say.
They did what every teenager longed to do.
Run and never look back.
Just run.
His wrists rested on the steering wheel. His hands were relaxed.
"You guys know where you'll be in two weeks?"
He didn't know why he was asking questions, it wasn't his business.
He didn't know them.
They were just linked by the deceased, but he really did wonder.
Fail to plan, plan to fail.
They taught you that back in your freshman year--health class.
Everything has to do with choices.
Make a bad one, pay the consequences.

[Sparks]

You guys know where you'll be in two weeks?
Carolyn thought about it.
"Two weeks is a long time," John said, rubbing his face. "A very long time."
It always comes, though, Carolyn thought. She wondered if they were actually ready for this. The future was one hell of an unforgiving road, and if they didn't have a plan now, there'd be no telling what was going to happen.
"We should be on the road or something," Carolyn said. "Separately, or not. This place can't keep us forever. I might want to head North...or deep south. Find a place where I can get a decent job, make some money, go to college, all of that. And then I'd travel."
"I've got almost all my credits. Just another few sciences and I'll be doing the same," John said. "I can get them to transfer my files to wherever we're headed. It'll all work out."
He sounded like he trusted the plan.
Carolyn wanted to. This was the one thing she'd always wanted to, but never actually had the guts to.
She grinned at Matt, despite herself.
"What'll come, will come."

[behindTHEmask]

"Just pray that what'll come isn't something not wished for."
Just make sure what'll come isn't death.
He wanted them to not understand, personally.
It wasn't his place to put thoughts into their heads.
They were just around the same age as him--he had no authority.
"Be careful."
Turning onto the highway, he listened to the song change.
We drive tonight,
And you are by my side.
We're talking about our lives,
Like we've known each other forever.
He licked his upper lip again.
The habit had returned.

[Sparks]

"We'll be careful," Carolyn agreed.
John apparenlty had something to say.
His lips formed an O around the first word.
"You...I don't know. Even things that aren't wished for are all right, sometimes." His eyes flickered along the seat in front of him, like black lights. "We'll be able to work it out."
We? Carolyn was glad to have that cleared up, consciously or not. "I don't think anything else is going to happen. We'll get out and then it's going to be a road trip all over again, right?"
He shrugged, appearing deep in thought. "That's one way to look at it."
But there are always many ways to look at a situation.
And sometimes if you don't pick the right one, you condemn yourself.
You pick up the shovel and you dig your own grave. You tie your own noose. You load your own shotgun.
Carolyn's mind went down that path as she thought about the days ahead.
She left the idea alone, deciding eventually that they would just try their luck.
She had nothing else to lose, anyway.
Everything was just about gone.

[behindTHEmask]

We had this down unlike everybody. .
The radio played a soft lullaby in the background of their voices.
It simplified unsaid words.
"Just expect the unexpected."
He told himself to shut up after saying the words.
He told himself he wasn't helping.
"I mean, just be careful."
His lips curved into a grin as he focused on the road completely.
Just let the moment pass you by.
He blinked cautiously as he switched lanes.
Though cautious isn't the word needed when you're one of three cars on the road.
Caustious is just being over prepared.
I'm trying to get this right.
Yeah, cause I'm ridiculas like that.
He was just trying to be safe.
The image of the car, Jake's death, scattered blood always haunted him.
I'll keep this as a constant reminder.

[Sparks]

Carolyn caught herself before she said, we always are.
Because who was she to speak for John?
And she wasn't careful a hundred percent of the time.
Accidents happen.
And the image faded in and out of her memory for a moment.
Accidents. Three kids limp, bodies cold like ashtrays and their eyes still opened. Headlights. And the sun came up through the clouds, and she opened her eyes to a hazy wreck. A silent reverie, a broken window. The songs that chips of glass paint across the seat, mingling with the spray-patterned blood.
And the chorus of a groaning friend, an unanswerable question, a terrifying truth.
She felt ill, and wanted to lay down.
Badly.
She would keep her nausea in check, though, because she always did, and always would.
She suspected that they would find a hotel within five minutes, anyway.
She could lean against the window for now, and keep her eyes on the road, because that would make the sickness go away some.
She'd fought it off before.
This time was no different.