past the point of love
the first time
Everyone looked like they were snoozing when Jonah opened the bathroom door. He was just in his black briefs, and it felt like a fridge in the motel room. Somebody liked it cold. He wondered who that could be who was hogging all the covers in bed with Noah and Josie. Lex?
He thought it kind of funny as he cut the bathroom light, but he jumped under the covers as fast as he could in the dark before his teeth started chattering. Honestly, he didn’t want to think about how the day unfolded and how it could have played out. Really, he could have walked on. Walked right out of this ordeal without even a scratch. Why hadn’t he? Did he really have a conscience, after all?
Jonah kept both of his hands behind his head waiting for sleep to set in. He didn’t want to have bad dreams. Actually, he just didn’t want to be bad, and he knew that’s what Noah thought of him. Possibly, Josie too. Just a matter of time before Lex knew. He guessed she did. But then she was her pouty self, it was too hard to tell with her. She was such a fickle girl. So fickle. He liked the word fickle as he thought of her as a Popsicle, some how. The ice queen. The bitter pill. He drifted off to sleep then as if he were fading from the shore, drifting in the dark. Like always. Alone.
A sudden weight pulled him awake. As if he were bobbing up in the dark waters of his sleep. How long had he been out? How long had she been there. He was barely conscious. It almost took his breath away.
She. Was. Touching….
“Lex,” he whispered. As his eyes adjusted, he knew it was her. Plus her hair was practically straw. “What are you doing?”
Well, it was all in her hands. He didn’t really want to ruin the moment, but then it was so not what he was expecting. The nerve of her. It didn’t completely turn him off, but she was a little creepy.
He turned on the lamp next to the bed. He had to be certain. Not some stray prostitute who found the wrong room.
It was Lex. And her hand was in his briefs and something was peaking up, as if he didn’t already know.
He cut the light. Laid there still. She was not letting go.
“Would you tell me what you-” he kept his voice low.
“You really are spoiling this.” He could barely hear her.
“Me?” he said so breathy. “Just let go. Just let it go.”
“Won’t you try to do something?” She whispered back.
“No. Not with you. Not right now.” It sounded so negative. He didn’t mean it, exactly right now. “I kind of thought we’d take it slow, and we’d be alone. I mean, you wanted to-whatever-with them in the room?” He squinted.
Finally, she let go.
“Jesus, Lex, you-you’re-I dunno what to say.” He sighed. Was this her surprise? Jesus, he guessed he’d asked for it.
She wasn’t exactly spilling her guts out about this. Maybe he didn’t even want to know.
“Can we just start over?” He asked.
He supposed her little sigh meant, yes. He hugged her ever so carefully.. as if it was going to be OK. He kissed her forehead . “Just let me sleep, will you?” It was going to be a long day tomorrow.
to sleep or not
“You know, no one really wants to sleep with you.” Lex looked at Jonah as if he could sleep in the car for all she cared.
“Fine.” He shrugged. “I like having the whole bed to myself.” He looked over at the big queen sized bed.
As it was Lex had Noah between her and Josie. It felt like a pajama party. She’d actually slept with both of them loads so it really wasn’t a shot in the dark.
“Fine.” She was in her new black and white checked pajama pants and a black tank while Josie was listening to the Family Force 5 on Noah’s mp3 player. He actually had ear buds too so he could listen and chill with her. Everyone donned their new lounge apparel. Noah was in gray and Josie was in purple.
“I’m sleeping with my clothes on.” Jonah told Lex.
“I don’t care what you sleep in.” She gave him a hard squint.
“I won’t bite.” He shrugged throwing back the covers and plopped himself down on the bed.
Lex just watched.
“Dang,” he then said so southern. “I need shower.” He looked up at her. “You guys didn’t use all the hot water, did you?”
Lex wouldn’t say, and Noah and Josie couldn’t hear him.
So he went to the bathroom then. Lex wanted to fall asleep, but she couldn’t. She was waiting for everyone to go to sleep.
a pain in the butt
“You know, you really look great in those army boots, but would you like some flip-flops?” Jonah reached for a pink pair but grabbed the black ones with the skull and crossbones at Wal-mart.
Naturally, Lex was her sullen self. Not saying a word.
“I’m thinking we should all go in cognito. Change our hair color.”
“What, be a carnie?” She looked up at him.
“I don’t think we have to go that far. I just want to keep Josie safe.” He sighed.
“Of course, you would.” She stared at him.
Jonah rolled his eyes.
He tossed in some cheap ribbed tank-tops and pajamma pants as if they’d be doing a lot of lounging soon.
“Do you cook out?” He asked then.
“Do I look like I would?” She was cold. Almost hostile.
“Not really, but you could surprise me.” Jonah shrugged.
“Are you saying I can’t surprise you?” She snarled.
“I’m waiting.” He smiled. He pushed the cart then toward hair colors. “We have to bleach her hair.”
“Who’s hair?”
He grabbed the scizzors, especially for barbers.
“We gotta make sure we get all the red out.” He looked at every one of the hair dyes. “What did you use?”
“I went to a professional.” Lex shrugged.
“What’s the best?”
“None of these.” She shook her head.
Jonah picked up Born Blond.
“No, never.” She put it back. She looked at all the hair products.
“This is going to take forever, isn’t it?” Jonah sighed as he watched Lex.
the next level
After pizza, Noah wasn’t sure he wanted to do this.
“If you tell her, she’ll understand,” Jonah told him about this whole ordeal with her Dad. “Look, Lex is coming with me. We’ll do a little shopping. I’ll bring you back scissors and then you can have your way with Josie. I’ll save the other stuff for when we get to the cabin.”
Noah nodded.
Jonah got up then. “I’ll clear this up with Lex. You’ll see, smooth as butter.”
Noah scowled.
“Where are they going?” Josie wanted to know, but Jonah was gone with Lex.
Noah looked up at least Josie was back in her little dress.
“I have something to tell you.” Noah shrugged. “You probably wanted to hear it from Jonah. Anyway, we have to change your look.”
“My look.” She winced.
“Jonah thinks someone might come looking for you so he wants you to change your identity.” Noah sighed.
“Are you crazy?”
“No, but your Daddy is,” Noah said. “Have you ever heard of human trafficking?” He winced.
“Yeah, that happens like in third world countries.” She looked at him as if he didn’t know what he was talking about.
“Not always.” Noah bit his bottom lip. “Jonah says that’s what your dad was going to do to you.”
Josie squinted hard.
“Just because I hit him with a frying pan?”
“I don’t think that was it. That probably had nothing to do with it. Probably a gambling debt. Who knows.” Noah shrugged.
Josie hugged herself and let out a sigh.
“How can this be happening?” She plopped herself next to him. He gently squeezed her shoulder.
“How did Jonah know?” She looked at him.
“He knows stuff.” Noah sighed. “You know, he sells weed. Who doesn’t know that at school?”
She put her hands over her eyes then.
“I hate him.” She whispered.
“Maybe he’s not as bad as you think he is,” Noah said.
She cried into his shoulder then. Noah was beginning to think that was all he was good for.
why not
“I’m ordering Dominos.” Jonah announced. “What would you like?” He asked Lex first. “Why are you being nice to me?” She looked at him as if he had some other motive in mind. “Just trying to get in your pants, that’s all.” He looked at her blankly. “Come on, what kind of pizza do you like?” “Cheese.” Really, she couldn’t choke down loaded pizza. “All right, we’ll get one with everything on it and one with cheese.” He picked up the phone then. He ordered bottles of pop too. Lex nursed her upper lip. “Why are you so nervous?” Jonah wanted to know when he set next to her on the bed. He put his arm around her, and she flinched ever so slightly. “You’ll feel better once you sleep with me.” She winced. “You’re full of it.” She scowled. “Yeah, I know.” He shrugged. “But we all can’t be your whipping boy like Noah over there. Its all your fault, you know, if he’s gay.” He touched her nose as if he were playing some game with her. She gave him an ugly scowl then. “You know you want me,” he grinned. It didn’t mean anything was going to happen. She was going to tell him too. But she didn’t. She just looked at him. Then at Noah. Lex felt like a turtle then. She wanted to hide in her shell. Only there was nothing to hide in. It was so open now. Apparently. The look she was getting even from Josie. God, Lex couldn’t wait for the pizza to get there.
good ship lollipop
“Oh, goodie, I get to sleep with my brother.” Noah said a little groggy as Jonah set down at the edge of the bed.
“Are you out of your fuck’n head?” Jonah scowled. “No way.”
“Yeah, I don’t think Lex will let you, you know,” Noah nudged his head toward the bathroom where Josie was taking a good 30 minute shower.
“Did I say I was sleeping with Josie?” Jonah shrugged.
“Are you kidding me? Lex?” Noah rose up on his elbows.
“Um, yeah.” Jonah sounded sold on the idea.
“Are you wanting to sleep on a chair or the floor?”
“No,” Jonah yawned.
“Just sleep with me.” Noah nodded.
“That sounds so gay.” Jonah shook his head.
“Can you stop saying that?” Noah stared at Jonah.
Just then Josie came out of the bathroom with a fluffy white towel wrapped around her. Both of them looked at her without meaning too.
finally, a shower
“I need a shower,” Josie said right away once they got in their room. It wasn’t a four star hotel, but family oriented. It was nice enough. And two big beds.
Josie dropped her stuff and went straight for the bathroom. Noah dropped his stuff by the bed and fell right into it. He yawned so big he might fall asleep instantly.
“Did you need to go pee or anything?” Josie wondered. He just kept his eyes closed as if he didn’t hear her. She shut the door then and turned on the shower as she peeled off everything.
The hot water did the trick. Just what she needed to wake up. Naturally, her stomach growled. She was hungry but nothing made her really happy for an appetite.
She soaped up and shampooed. It was the best feeling to be clean. And the idea was stuck in her head that Jonah was the best. She couldn’t help smiling about what he’d done for her. He was a hero in her book, and she couldn’t wait to be around him more. She had a feeling they could really hit it off.
in a little world
Jonah hoped Noah kept his mouth shut about the whole Josie thing. Nobody needed to get scared. He was sure it would all blow over. God, he hoped so. But there always seemed to be her dad. Did he hate her that much just to sale her, or did he have too? Had he gambled that much away?
Jonah didn’t really want to know. It was all a little vile to him. What was worse, what people could do to each other or what nature could do to people? If only he could get nature on his side to fight the people he wanted gone.
“So what did you find out?” Jonah asked. Lex was being awful quiet on her laptop. “Are there pictures?”
“I guess the tornado was horrific. But there is a lot no one knows. Power is out. Old towne looks pretty fucked up. It even got the police station. Ate up that old building you guys were in.” She looked back at Josie who was asleep. Noah was looking out at the grassy landscapes, as if he were in another world.
“Man, that is wack.” It sounded so artificial to say, but that was all Jonah could come up with.
“God, I can’t believe we were there.” Lex frowned.
Jonah could see it was getting to Lex who looked so cold.
“But we made it, all right. That’s all that matters.” Jonah assured her.
“Sounds like there are all these gas leaks now. Places on fire. Like a living hell, you know.” Lex grimaced more.
“I think you should get off that laptop now, missy.” He looked at a sign on the interstate then. “Just twenty more miles to Sioux Falls. And then we can chill.” But as he looked at Lex, she looked a bit frigided, already.
traveling
Sperm travels faster toward attractive females…. Lex wasn’t sure why that headline was still on the tip of her tongue. She hoped she didn’t say anything about it. Really, she had no idea why it was on her mind. “What did you say to him?” Lex looked at Jonah once they got situated back in the car. She was in the front seat with him and Noah and Josie were in the backseat. “Nothing.” He was so vague and relaxed. It annoyed her so much. “You were talking about me,” Lex assumed. “No we weren’t.” He looked over at her and grinned. She got out her laptop then. “At five the free internet shuts down in Iowa.” She informed everyone. She was googling to see if she could find out anything about the tornado. As of yet, nothing. Just that stupid story about sperm traveling. She rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong?” Jonah looked over at her as if she’d found something. “Its nothing.” She looked as soured with everything as usual. “I don’t suppose you told your Mom where you were going?” He wondered as he kept his eye on the road. “She thinks I went to see my Dad.” Lex told him. “Where’s your Dad?” “Kansas.” “Maybe you should call her to let her know you made it just fine before she calls your Dad.” Jonah advised. “I’m not worried about that. They don’t speak to each other.” She said so coldly. “Throw in a tornado, and I have a feeling she’ll be calling.” He informed her. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “I’m suppose to lie, am I?” “What do you think?” “What’s going on?” Lex winced. “Right now, its just not a good time to go home, OK. We just need to lay low.” He told her. “Can you make it all the way to Sioux Falls or do I have to stop in Sioux City?” “Depends?” Lex looked at him. “What do have in mind?” “We could get us a room if you want. Spend the night. We can get to the cabin by noon tomorrow. That is if you can handle it.” He smirked. “I can handle it.” Lex slyly smiled. “Just how are you gonna get us a room?” “Fake ID.” He said as if it wasn’t a problem. “Lets just say I’m 21 already in some circles.” Lex sighed. She needed to get to the bottom of this. Afterall, there was no tornado to deal with anymore.
all so natural
Noah did his best to act natural. That nothing had been said. He was cool. Very cool. Just a damn cucumber. “Hey, you’re wearing that shirt I got you for Christmas.” He acted all sweet around Lex. Maybe even flirty. He didn’t care, but she was wearing the scull and cross bone baggy T that was so her. “So.” She remained her ominious self with her arms close to her. “I thought you hated that fuck’n shirt.” He lost his smile because she hated smiles, didn’t she? Really, he felt his insides wanting to slip out and there was a pain in his chest that told him nothing would ever be the same, would it? “I do. But I had nothing else to wear. You know, I haven’t shopped in a year. I’m boycotting everything.” She told him. “Oh yeah, how is that going?” “Perfectly, except I’m here.” She kept her arms crossed. Noah just nodded and went to check on Josie who was leaning against the car. “You feeling, allright, aren’t you?” He then acted as if maybe he should just leave her alone. He was probably being clingy, but really all he wanted to do was hug her. He saw Jonah then as he was checking his silver studded belt. “Maybe, we should just be carnies this summer, you know.” Noah squinted then. “Now that would definitely be a summer to remember.”
