The Open Road

[meant2live]

Story Title: The Open Road

Type of story: Oneshot

Main Characters: Two of the Bay's teens

Other Characters: none

BTTB rating: I'm going to say T just to be on the safe side

Genre: Angst

Does story include spoilers: no

Any warnings: reference to death

Summary: Why are two of Summer bay's teens leaving town and who are they?

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The car came to a hault, the two young adults inside looked at one another awkwardly before the male unclipped his seatbelt and climbed out of the car. Peering inside at the girl, as if capturing one last glance at her, he smiled softly. “It’ll be okay... I promise.” His voice was abnormally calm, an inconsistence compared to the worry plastered over his female company’s face. The girl just nodded her head as he closed the car door and started to fill up with the fuel.

Checking what was in her purse, she climbed out of the car, closing the door quietly, as though she had no strength. Heading towards the store of the gas station, she shielded her eyes slightly from the harsh brightness of the neon white lights inside, an extreme contrast to the dark night sky. Stepping into the store, she saw how empty it was, there was only one other customer in the store, a balding middle aged man. The only other person in the store was the store clerk standing behind the checkout area, flipping through a newspaper, chewing gum rather loudly, popping it every now and then. She cringed slightly at the noise the clerk was making, and the humming of the lights and fridges in the store, they were loudest sounds she’d heard in a while. They should have been comforting, but they weren’t, she just wanted them to stop. The silence on the road had been bliss, she hadn’t wanted to talk, and he hadn’t made her, for that she was grateful.

Still standing in the doorway gathering her thoughts, and taking it all in, while her eyes adjusted, in her oversized jumper, she jumped a little when she felt a hand clasp her back. She looked up and saw the friendly dark eyes, the eyes that made her melt every time. He stared back into hers, noticing for the first time how red her eyes were, realising she must have been crying, he didn’t blame her though, but she shouldn’t have kept it from him. “Are you okay?” She nodded slowly, smiling awkwardly, pulling away from him, clearly showing that she didn’t want to talk about it now.

Picking up a basket he walked around the store, his girlfriend in tow, as he picked things up and filled the basket up. “Do you want anything?” When she didn’t answer he turned to face her, she was standing at the magazine rack, just a metre away, her eyes grazing the latest covers of the gossip magazines. “Taylor?” She spun around to stare at him, with an inquisitive look on her face. “You want anything?” She shook her head slowly. “Are you sure, we’re going to be in the car again for a while.” She shrugged as she grabbed a magazine and put it in the basket. The dark haired man let out a bit of a chuckle as she looked up at him with innocent eyes. “Coffee?” She nodded as they walked towards the coffee machine.

Playing with the sleeves of her jumper she watched as the water gushed out of the machine, it reminded her of the sea, of the surf of Summer Bay, oh how she wished to be there right now. “It’s for the best... isn’t it?” She said finally, as her voice a little cracked from where she hadn’t spoke in hours.

He looked at her lovingly, smiled softly at her as he used his free hand to pull her towards him, she hid her face in his chest, as a single tear fell down her cheek. Kissing her gently on the head he replied, almost silently, “There was no other way...” They pulled away from each other, seeing the stray tear creeping slowly down her face, a saddened smile appeared on his lips as he wiped it away. They gave each other a knowing nod before picking up the coffees and heading towards the counter.

They stood at the checkout in silence, as the store clerk looked between them both, not knowing who to lay eyes on, or what to make of these clearly troubled teens out on the roads at such odd hours. But used to seeing and not asking the clerk shrugged and put it to the back of her mind. They paid up and headed back to the car. The silence around them was eerie, as they squinted at into the darkness as their eyes readjusted to the lack of light. Climbing into the car he whispered softly to her. “I do love you... you know that Taylor?”

“You too Drew, I love you too.” She held her coffee close to her as she curled up onto her seat, bringing her legs right up and underneath the oversized, well worn jumper. “So... you know where we’re heading yet?”

“As far away from Summer Bay as possible.” He saw the sad look on his girlfriends face as soon as the words had left his mouth. He hated that it was hurting her, but he knew it was for the best, they couldn’t go back now, not anymore, they had to keep going. “Are you sure you want to do this?” She looked at him, he had the look of upmost seriousness on his face.

“Yes. I’m sure. We can’t go back. I know we can’t. Not right now anyway. I just... I... I didn’t get to say goodbye.” The pain in her voice was evident, she’d had been away from the bay for no more than three hours and she already missed it. She wanted to see everyone again, even if it was just to tell them she was leaving. But she knew that they’d make her stay, which is why they choose to leave in the middle of the night.

He turned the engine on. The soft revving sound came as a welcomed sound, something to stop the silence. As they pulled out of the gas station and drove off down the road, she started to drift off. “Hey Taylor... don’t fall asleep on me now. I need you here...” His voice woke her from her daze.

“Sorry. I was just... thinking. I keep seeing his face...”

“That’s why you’ve got to stay awake. So you don’t see it.”

“It’s different for you... you weren’t the one that did it Drew.” Tears started to brim in her eyes, threatening to over flow and any minute, as the emotion was evident in her words. He bit down on his lip, knowing there was nothing he could do for her, he wanted to take the pain away, but couldn’t.

“We’re in this together Taylor.”

“But he’s dead Drew. And it’s all my fault.” The tears flowing down her cheeks, he reached out and grabbed her hand softly, stroking it to let her know that he loved her.

“It was an accident.”

“Which is why we’re leaving right?” A hurtful sarcastic tone cut her words into him like razor blades as she carried on, “If that’s what you believe... truly believe... then we wouldn’t be leaving, would we?” Her voice elevated.

“Shhh... Taylor, it’s not your fault. I believe that with all of my heart. You were driving, he ran out infront of you, it wasn’t your fault...” His softly spoke his words trying to comfort her, but she pulled her hand away from his.

“Yeah, but I left him to die. I shouldn’t have done that! I’m a bad person!”

“No you’re not! You made a mistake. But you’re right... the police won’t see it like that. And that... is why I’m taking you away. Because I can’t lose you Taylor! Not now, not ever! Got it!”

She nodded slowly and accepted his arm pulling her towards him slightly as they stared out into the open road. Why was she getting so worked up about nothing? It was an accident; it was a mistake... a stupid mistake, but still a mistake. She wasn’t perfect; she was forever making mistakes, that makes her human, right? Yet that face... his face... it haunted her. She saw it every time she closed her eyes. How was she going to live with herself... maybe their road trip was pointless. She was never going to forget it, she’d always have a guilty conscious, from now, until the forever. Maybe they should go back. Maybe she should turn herself in.

“I love you.” She whispered softly into her boyfriend’s ear.

“I love you too Taylor. Everything will be okay, you’ll see.” She nodded slowly, not knowing how he could make everything alright, like he promised it would be. But right then, at that moment... it was all she had. All she had was her faith in the fact that her boyfriend would make everything okay. She had to believe it, it was all that was left to believe. Picking her now cold coffee out of the cup holder, she sipped the sour, cold taste slowly, not knowing any difference, not being able to feel, taste or smell. It was as though her body was failing her. But she had to be strong, he’d up rooted his whole life for her, to save her, for that, she would be forever grateful. She couldn’t let him down now. They had a long journey ahead of them. While back in the bay... soon everyone would be finding out that it was really Belle Taylor, who had run him over and left him to die.

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