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Post by childofthehunt on Jan 6, 2010 15:22:17 GMT -5
Veruca felt like she was on cloud 9, the moment Kyle touched her hand and walked with her out of the diner. It was almost like he was her king or some sort. For Veruca, it was something straight out of a romantic chick flick and ruggedly handsome Kyle was just perfect.
Everything came crashing back when she caught sight of Tristan and a brunette super model in a smart suit walking towards them. Tristan was carrying groceries bags with both hands, looking at her, discreetly, like she was the devil incarnate. She immediately removed her hand from Kyle's and tucked them inside her trouser's pockets.
Tristan's eyes traveled from Veruca, then to the guy she was holding hands with, then back to Veruca. He turned his attention to the woman in front of them. She's probably Emma, Veronica's sister.
He smiled at her, sparing a smile to Veruca's guy as well.
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Post by citizenmike on Jan 6, 2010 15:32:05 GMT -5
"Why do I have a feeling like we all know each other?", Veronica asked the group at large.
Walking over to Veronica, Emma turned to Kyle and said, "This is Kyle, he'll be joining us. He's headed to Arizona as well.".
Veronica gave a quick glance at Tristan before looking back at Emma and saying, "That's a coincidence, because Tristan's also headed that way.". Veronica shook her head and approached Kyle with a handshake.
Emma looked at Tristan and said, "Are you with Veruca?".
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Post by Trace on Jan 6, 2010 15:35:53 GMT -5
Kyle shook Veronica's hand with a smile on his face. She looked a bit like her sister and she seemed nice enough. He'd keep his wits about him for now though, especially in such a large group. He'd learnt from his career as a journalist not to take anything on face value.
"Nice to meet you." Kyle said, smiling, before turning to the guy called Tristan and continuing in a pleasant tone. "You too man."
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Post by childofthehunt on Jan 6, 2010 15:47:40 GMT -5
Tristan dropped one of the grocery bags on the ground to shake Emma's hand. The he turned to the guy named Kyle and also shook his hand.
"Pleasure to meet all of you." He said, keeping on his smile. Tristan looked at Emma and answered her question. "Yes. I'm with her."
"He's the friend..." Veruca paused, looking at Kyle, and continued. "Who's driving me to Arizona."
That short time they spent together back in Grayling and inside the car to Indiana, was enough for Veruca to assume what Tristan was thinking about her. She approached Tristan and explained what the group agreed to do. Tristan seemed to be ok with it and started to walk towards his car with Veruca following behind him.
"She's pretty." She commented, as soon as she climbed into the porche's passenger seat. She was trying to get him to talk. Despite getting jealous at the sight of Tristan with Emma's sister, she wanted to know if he likes her.
"Very." Tristan replied coldly, knowing that Veruca was referring to Veronica. He fastened his seat belt, started the engine and drove around the parking lot to where Emma and Veronica's car was parked.
Veruca crossed her arms over her chest, confused why Tristan was all smiles and was pleasant in front of the others, but the moment they're alone he becomes Mr.Hyde all of a sudden.
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Post by citizenmike on Jan 6, 2010 15:57:10 GMT -5
Emma waved Veronica and Kyle her way as she motioned to her white Toyota Camry. Unlocking the doors, Emma slipped into the front seat as Veronica made her way to the passengers seat. Emma placed the cups of coffee on the cup holders and started the car, asking, "Did you get the supplies?".
Veronica strapped on her seat belt and placed the four boxes of Marlboro's, four boxes of Winston's, and the pack of American Spirit on the glove compartment.
Emma reached for a pack and smiled, "At'a girl!".
Emma looked back to check on Kyle and asked, "How are you doing back there?".
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Post by Trace on Jan 6, 2010 16:09:56 GMT -5
"How are you doing back there?"
"Everything's good back here." Kyle answered, smiling. At least he was driving with fellow smokers, no worries about getting a few extra smokes when he ran out he figured.
Admittingly the car was a little more modern than he was used to. Kyle was more a fan of classic cars, particularly Chevy's. There was something about the roar of a muscle car that was oh so satisfying to him.
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Post by citizenmike on Jan 6, 2010 16:32:43 GMT -5
Emma nodded as she pulled the car away from the parking lot and brought it back into the highway.
Veronica lit a cigarette as she rolled down the window beside her slightly and asked, "So, what's the plan?".
"The plan is to reach what we can of Missouri by tomorrow night, rest a bit, and then head straight to Arizona.", Emma replied.
"What about Tristan and Veruca?", Veronica asked.
"We're tailgating them.". Shifting the rear view mirror, Emma looked back at Kyle and asked, "Care for a smoke?".
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Post by Trace on Jan 6, 2010 16:48:37 GMT -5
"Care for a smoke?"
"I won't say no." Kyle said with a grin. "Thanks. For both the smoke and the ride."
Kyle's mind drifted slightly to his reasons for going to Arizona, and why he had agreed to do this insane trip. He looked down at the golden coin hanging from a chain around his neck. It was the only thing his crackpot of a father had left him, other than this apartment in Arizona, and who knew what he'd find there.
"So, what takes you ladies to Arizona?"
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Post by citizenmike on Jan 7, 2010 10:10:46 GMT -5
Emma smiled and handed a pack to Kyle as she and Veronica gazed at each other for a reply.
Veronica gazed out the window as she allowed her mind to drift for a moment as she took in a long drag. There was hardly anything for her to think about, she just enjoyed the sound of Natalie Merchant's "Carnival" playing on the radio. Veronica took the cigarette away from her lips as she slightly raised the volume of the radio.
Looking up at the rear view mirror to look at Kyle, Veronica replied, "Frankly, between us, I really don't know what were doing going to Arizona.". Veronica paused as she brought the cigarette back to her lips before continuing. "It just seemed like the only option a couple days ago, so here we are. All we know is that there's something there, waiting for us.".
Emma kept her sights on the road as she listened to Veronica. Her answer wasn't so bad, if anything it was the best possible one. What was there to say, who would believe them?.. Let alone, who could they trust.
"But this whole night have been a string of coincidences, hasn't it?", Veronica continued, looking at Kyle. "I mean, who'd figure that we would all run into each other, the five of us, headed towards the same state, the same town no less.". Veronica paused for another drag and asked, "So, Kyle, what brings you to Arizona?".
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Post by childofthehunt on Jan 7, 2010 11:16:00 GMT -5
Meanwhile, inside the white 911 porsche gt2 Tristan was driving, Veruca wouldn't shut up.
"What did you tell her? Did she ask what why we're heading to Arizona?" She asked, the took a big bite off her beef jerky. "Because Emma and Kyle, Emma that's Veronica's sister and Kyle that's the hot guy, asked me and I remember you telling me to not tell anyone because it's supposed to be a secret so I told them we're visiting relatives and you're driving me there. So what, did she ask you and if she did what did you tell her?"
Tristan was amazed and irritated at the same time. Veruca kept talking like she was on crack or something. He glanced sideways at her to check if she looked high.
"I didn't know they make Space Beef Jerky???" He managed to crack a joke with a bewildered look.
"It's the orange soft drinks." Veruca informed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Sugar high."
Tristan watched the road again, then quickly, looked at the pile of Mirinda cans on the floor.
"You drank everything??!" He fumed, eyes on the road. "I get thirsty too you know!"
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Post by Trace on Jan 7, 2010 13:37:12 GMT -5
Kyle listened to Veronica's answer as he lit up one of the cigarette's, and knew there was plenty she wasn't telling him, but he didn't feel the need to pry, at least not right now.
"So, Kyle, what brings you to Arizona?"
"My father passed away a week back," Kyle said, taking a drag before continuing. "He left me some kind of apartment in his will. Just so happens that its up in Arizona in this town I didn't even know he'd ever been to. Thought I may as well check it out. Was driving up here then my car just died. Been hitch hiking for about a day now. Would have been worse but I'm used to finding odd ways to travel in my job."
Kyle took another drag, remembering that he had to check in with his sister when he got to Arizona.
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Post by citizenmike on Jan 7, 2010 14:20:03 GMT -5
"I'm sorry to hear about your father.", Veronica replied. "Emma and I just lost our father as well barely a few days ago.".
"It certainly hasn't been the kindest season for all of us, has it?", Emma commented, her eyes still fixed on the road.
Veronica took another drag and said to Kyle, "Again, I'm just taken by all the coincidences. Who would have thought five people all meet in some highway rest stop, and we'd end up taking in someone who's father just died, like ours, and who just also happens to be headed to the same place we are. It's just amazing.".
Emma wanted to ask Veronica how much of their father's notebook she's been reading. All this talk of fate wasn't sitting too well with her. Looking to change the subject, she asked Kyle, "So, what do you do that allows you travel? Are you a writer?".
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Post by childofthehunt on Jan 7, 2010 14:32:49 GMT -5
He was watching the star sapphire ring on his finger, as he held the stirring wheel of his car. Tristan couldn't understand why his father would value something like that. It certainly doesn't look too expensive. Then there are the other ordinary stuff in the family vault. They were all kept in separate glass boxes, like they're actually worth Millions and Millions of dollars.
Imagine his surprise seeing a pack of waxed floss inside one of the glass boxes when he was younger.
"They seemed to be having fun." Tristan mumbled to Veruca, noticing the white camry in front of them, where Emma, Veronica and Kyle are. "And here we are..."
Tristan turned his head slightly and found his companion, Veruca, sleeping, head leaning back on the seat's head rest. He was too preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice that Veruca had fallen asleep.
"When she's not babbling and not being irritating, she's actually cute." He thought to himself.
He rubbed both his eyes then covered his mouth when he yawned.
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Post by Trace on Jan 7, 2010 17:58:01 GMT -5
"So, what do you do that allows you travel? Are you a writer?"
"I'm a journalist," Kyle said, not really feeling the need to go into too much detail about his work life. "I work mainly for the New York Times, but I've done some bits and pieces for a few other publications."
Kyle took another drag of the cigarette and looked out of the window. There wasn't exactly a lot of scenery to look at, just an old dirt road in the middle of nowhere. He still wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do when he got to Arizona. He'd gotten some time off of work because of the trip so he had a spare few weeks before he had to head back, but he still was none the wiser as to what to do with this apartment he was going to find in Arizona.
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Post by citizenmike on Jan 8, 2010 7:25:17 GMT -5
"That's interesting.", Emma said. "Veronica and I here happen to be writers ourselves. Nothing big, but we've had a few pieces printed here and there.".
"Another coincidence.", Veronica muttered as she stubbed her cigarette out on the ashtray.
Emma's eyes rolled back as she asked her, "Where is all this leading to?".
"Nowhere.", Veronica replied. "But I'm starting to think that this all isn't far from being fate.".
Emma shrugged as she kept her eyes on the road.
"What? Haven't you thought of that as well?", Veronica asked.
"I've had too much on my mind to even think about it.", Emma replied. "So what, you think all this, all of us, were all tied together?".
"I'm starting to think we are.".
"It's just a string of events that happen to coincide with one another.", Emma replied. "Coincidences. Nothing more.".
"You have to admit there's more to it than that."
"It's just coincidence."
"Look, the three people we met today, and who we now happen to be traveling with might I add, are all headed to the same place were are.", Veronica shot back. "And Kyle, his father just died, like ours. I'm not going crazy here, I'm just saying all this is too heavy to be a coincidence.".
In the distance, a sixteen wheeler came to a sudden halt forcing the cars behind it to come to a sudden crash.
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