Chapter
6
That evening they stopped at a motel to spend the
night. Sam was exhausted, as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out like a
light giving the two adults some time together. It had been a weird but fun
day. They’d made small talk and that felt good but now was maybe a good time
for something more, a little more in depth since Josh still wanted to know what
had happened to Justin before he jumped in his car.
“What happened that day in Millington” Josh asked
carefully, although he wasn’t afraid of Justin anymore he still didn’t know if
he should ask something like this. He wanted to know; it had been on his mind
ever since the moment the boy stepped in his car but asking was something
different than wanting to ask.
Justin plumped down in a chair, he let his head
fall into his hands, pulled his hands through his hair and looked up.
Josh pulled the blankets up a little higher and
tucked Sam in, pressing his lips to the small boy’s forehead before walking
towards Justin. There were a small table and two chairs at the opposite site of
the two beds which were lined up against the wall.
Josh sank into his seat sitting opposite of Justin
waiting till he began all the while studying the boy’s face.
“I robbed a store”…..
“How
can I help you Justin?” Ferry asked friendly.
“Give
me some money?” Justin said, trying to act nonchalant. Ferry looked confused.
“Give
me $200” Justin repeated, seeing the confused looked on Ferry’s face.
“I’m
sorry I can’t do that” Ferry said, understanding Justin was serious when he
asked him to give him some money.
“Give
me the money, Ferry” Justin repeated fiercer this time. Ferry shook his head
no.
“Give.
Me. The. Money” Justin repeated through gritted teeth as he drew the gun and
pointed it straight at the clerk. He’d hoped it wouldn’t be necessary but
desperate times call for desperate measures. He needed this money.
“Put
the gun down, son” Ferry said calmly, holding up his hands.
“Give
me the damn money, Ferry” Justin told him, pulling back the safety pin.
“Alright,
calm down” he said over and over as he opened the cash register and took out
some money, a couple of hundreds, hoping it would be enough. Justin grasped it
firmly, keeping his gun on Ferry as he walked backwards to the door.
“I’m
sorry Ferry” Justin apologized before he pushed the door open and ran out.
“So
am I” Ferry said to himself as he dialed 911.
***
Justin kept running, already hearing sirens after a
couple of blocks. He was heading towards the freeway although he didn’t know why.
He hadn’t had time to think this through, what had
he done?
An unfamiliar car came into view and he sped
towards it, opening the passenger side door and getting in. He pointed the gun
towards the driver and said,
“Go!”
Josh stared at the boy as he finished his story,
right when they met.
“Told you I was a screw up” Justin said trying to
make a joke out of it but Josh didn’t laugh, he just stared at him. Justin
couldn’t quite figure out what the man was thinking about.
Did he really think he was a screw up as well?
Did he want to bail now?
Did he want to report him?
Minutes passed by and Justin still didn’t get an
answer from Josh, tears welled up in his eyes and he couldn’t stop them from
falling. He dropped his head in his hands once again and let the tears fall,
one after another. He was startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder, another
one on his upper arm light pressure in order to get him to stand up. Justin did
so and looked into the concerned blue orbs of his travel companion.
He let Josh pull him against him and soothe him.
Justin cried for a while longer not knowing why Josh had this effect on him;
he’d cried more in the last few days than in the past year.
Maybe it were the concerned blue eyes that did it.
Or the warm touch from his gentle hands.
Maybe it was his smile that made something inside
of him snap.
Josh, in all his glory made him realize that this
was not the way he wanted to live. He didn’t want to live like this; feeling
hurt, miserable and extremely ashamed of the things he’d done. He pulled back a
little and as he looked at the man who’d picked him up he suddenly saw all the
beauty that was Josh.
As if guided by an unexplainable power they slowly
leaned in, meeting halfway in a tentative, gentle kiss.
Their hands entwined and torso’s touching.
