Where Our Path Crosses
Chapter 1: First Meeting
Tuesday.
"Shit Annie, we're stuck in the middle of nowhere," Jessica said as she squatted down beside Annie.
"Hmm... that doesn't sound good," Annie said as she stared at the empty road.
"Of course that isn't good. We haven't seen a single soul for the past 8 hours drive and not a single car on this side of where ever we are. And I'm sure there isn't a gas station for who knows how long of a drive. Annie, I knew this trip was a bad idea."
Annie frowned. "It wasn't suppose to turn out this way."
"I have to get back in a week to go to that stupid conference. If I miss it, I'm dead for sure."
"Oh come on, you don't think we're going to be stuck here for a week. Do you?
Jessica shrugged. "If there's anyone as stupid as us to take a road trip to never ever land, then maybe we'll be lucky and find a way back home. But of course, that's one in a million."
"Absurd. I'm sure someone will drive by. Eventually..."
Annie and Jessica sat in silence. The heat was getting a bit out of control. It was hot. Sweats were rolling down their cheek.
4 hours later....
"I can't believe that not a single car has driven by..." Annie said as she laid in the backseat.
"We're going to die here. I'm going to get fired."
"Jessica, hush. The heat is making you delusional."
"You and your stupid road trip," Jessica said.
"Hey hey, let's not put the blame on me. You were exhausted and tired of your job. I wanted to go on an adventure. The road trip sounded ideal at the moment. Who knew your stupid car was going to break down in the middle of nowhere."
"Oh, so the blame goes to me now."
"Alright fine, it's both of our faults. My stupid idea, your stupid car."
Suddenly Jessica jerked up. "Annie, am I hearing things....?"
"No, it's a car. It has to be."
They both darted out of the car as fast as they could. The sound of the car came nearer and nearer. Soon, a silver mercedes SUV came into view. Rich kid.
"Oh my god Jess, we're saved."
"Wait, we don't know what kind of people they are."
"Who cares? They're crazy like us, we're safe!" Annie said as she put up her thumb.
In the Car....
"Louis, there's two people up there. Looks like their having car problems."
Louis tried to focus his eyes on the figures. "It looks like two girls."
"Great! Stop!"
"No, we don't know what kind of people they are."
"Oh please, they're girls."
Louis drove right past the girls.
"How rude! He didn't even bother to stop," Annie exclaimed.
"Jerks!"
Then the car came back in to view as it reverse itself and stopped in front of Jessica and Annie. Annie smiled. "Hi, our car broke down."
A man's head poked out from the passenger window. "You girls are a mess. How long have you been here?"
"4...5...6.. hours. We lost count," Annie said as she stared at the driver, who was just sitting there, paying attention to no one or nothing in general.
"Where are you guys headed?"
"We were on a road trip. But I think that's out of the question now."
"No way! We are too!"
Jessica finally turned her head to look at the two guys. They were strange, just like her and Annie. She smirked a little. The man in the driver seat saw Jessica through the front window.
"Is there any way you guys can give us a lift?" Annie asked... questionly.
The man poked his head back inside. "Louis, is there any way we can give them a lift?"
Louis looks at Jessica. Then at Annie. Then at their car. If they don't get a lift from them, they might be here for who knows how long. "Yeah. Sure."
"Get your stuff," the guy said as he got out of the car to help the girls unload their stuff. "I'm Benny, he's Louis."
"I'm Annie, she's Jessica."
After everything was loaded into Louis's car, Annie and Jessica were in the backseat. They took off.
"So you girls didn't bother to bring your cell or anything?" Benny asked.
"Well, Jess here is a workaholic. So I didn't let her bring her phone in case she got calls from her work. And I brought mine, but it died," Annie explained.
"Workaholic huh? Sounds like Louis," Benny said.
Jessica looked up at Louis and their eyes met in the rearview mirror.
"So are you always this quiet Jessica?" Benny asked.
"No, she's just paranoid about a conference that she thinks she's going to miss," Annie answered for Jessica. Jessica rolled her eyes. Louis saw and chuckled.
All eyes went to Louis. He just kept his eyes on the road.
"So where were you guys heading if your car had not broke down?" Benny asked once again.
"We were just going to let the road take us where ever it wanted. We were going to travel for a few days and be back so Jess could make her meeting," Annie once again explained while Jess sat in silence.
"Same here. Why don't you travel with us for a few days? It'll be fun."
Annie's eyes lit up while Jess and Louis looked up in alarm. "Uh..." Jess uttered but she was cut off by Annie.
"What a wonderful idea! Don't you agree Jess?" Annie asked as she turned to Jess. Jess only gave a weak smile.
Louis merely chuckled at Benny's antics. And the thought that Annie and Benny are simply compatible. He looked in the rearview mirror and saw Jess staring out the window. Annie was the happy loud one he inspected. And Jess was the more conserve one.
This was going to be one weird trip.
