I'm beginning to realize that Cal's plan to escape the foster system and venture out on his own wasn't very carefully thought out. Either that or taking me along with him put a massive wrench in his plans.

After spending the rest of the night in the motel, we walked to a nearby truck stop. Cal explained that if we continued taking bus routes it would be too easy to find us.

It took us a couple of hours to get there. Then he made us wait around the truck stop for quite some time while he scoped out the men who came and went.

Eventually, he seemed to find someone who fit whatever criteria he was using. He said a quick, "Wait here," before approaching the man.

They exchanged some words, and Cal handed him some cash. Soon after, I found myself sitting between them in the truck cab.

Jord—that's what the trucker said to call him—lit a joint partway through the drive and offered it to me. I declined with a quiet, "No, thanks," and he held it out in front of me towards Cal, who accepted it with a thrilled, "Fucking right. I knew I liked you, Jord."

After they finished the joint and each had a cigarette, we stopped for a late lunch. Or an early dinner, as Jord explained we wouldn't be stopping again for a while.

Once we were back on the road, Jord lit up another joint and handed it over to Cal. Cal took a couple of puffs and then leaned across me to hand it back, but Jord laughed and pointed out the front windshield. "I've still gotta drive your sorry asses. This one's all you, my man."

Cal gave him one of those nods that guys always seem to share, and leaned back in his seat again. "Right, right," he spoke slowly while thick smoke poured out of his mouth, "Good call."

A few miles later, I was feeling lightheaded.

I leaned into Cal's arm and gently nudged him. He looked at me with bloodshot eyes and then muttered a curse. Jord looked over at us while Cal started opening the passenger side window as wide as it would go and started to laugh. "Think you hotboxed your girlfriend there, bud," he chuckled between words.

"Ah fuck. I'm sorry, Emy," was Cal's response. He seemed to be trying to look sincere, but a slow grin appeared on his lips before he laughed. He glanced at Jord and his features turned serious. He managed to keep the expression while saying "It's not funny," but then he grinned and chuckled again, making Jord hoot with laughter.

"You did what?" I asked. But Cal just shook his head with an amused grin and put his arm around my shoulders. He told me not to worry and to go to sleep if I needed to.

My head felt fuzzy but Jord's words slowly played back to me, and I tipped my face up to look at Cal. "He called me your girlfriend."

I had tried to whisper, but I don't think I said it very softly, because Jord started laughing again and said, "Oh shit. Sorry, my man."

Cal glanced at him with a bored expression and then gifted me with one of his devilish grins. "Course you're my girl, Emy."

I beamed up at him, and he leaned down to kiss me. Jord coughed, ruining the moment, and Cal smirked against my lips before moving his mouth away.

The fresh air coming in through Cal's window felt good, so I leaned into his chest to get closer to it. His hand played with the ends of my hair while he occasionally talked to Jord. I didn't pay attention to what they said, busying myself by watching the scenery and other vehicles on the highway move past us in blurred lines and colours.

Time was lost on me, but I was aware of Cal having a couple of cigarettes, and then, some time later, sparking another joint from his new pal, Jord. He seemed to be more careful about blowing the smoke out the window this time. When he coughed, his chest would rumble, and I would giggle at the feeling against my face.

It was a peaceful trip. Cal seemed more relaxed than I had ever seen him, and he assured me that the weird feeling in my head would go away.

I must have dozed off because eventually, I was opening my eyes to the feeling of Cal's hand massaging my shoulder. It was dark outside. The clock on the dash read 3:48 a.m.

I sat up from my comfortable spot against Cal's chest and was mortified to feel the telltale signs of drool on my cheek. The small wet spot on Cal's shirt had my eyes darting to his, and my cheeks began to burn with embarrassment.

He only grinned at me, his eyes even more red than before, and then looked over at Jord. "It's been swell." He gave the man a nod as he gripped our backpack, and then opened the door and started to climb out of the truck.

When I moved to follow him, Jord's hand closed around my wrist. "Not so fast," he warned, tightening his grip to keep me in the truck.

Cal spun back around to face us, and his eyes narrowed on Jord's hand on me. "What the fuck?" he growled out the words as his hands balled into fists. "Don't fucking touch her."

Jord shook his head slightly and let out a tsk-tsk. "Look, I like you, kid. But I saw how many bills you were carrying on you. Hand them over and you're free to take her with you. Otherwise, well, the road gets lonely. I could use a companion."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Cal snapped as he climbed back into the truck. He looked ready to rip Jord's head off.

Jord pulled me toward him, and I squeaked as the fear took hold of me. "Don't be stupid, kid. You're stoned out of your tree and you don't know if I'm carrying. What do you think you're going to be able to do? Just hand over the money and you're both free to go."

"Fuck!" Cal slammed a hand against the dashboard of the truck. "For fuck sakes!"

For a minute, I worried that he was going to let Jord have me so that he could keep his money. Then he wrenched his wallet out of his pocket and whipped it at Jord's face.

The man let go of me to catch the wallet, and I jumped toward Cal, clinging to him tightly. He put a protective arm around me and glared over my head at Jord. "You're one shady son of a bitch." Then he helped me out of the truck, being sure I was out of the cab ahead of him this time.

Jord had a small sliver of decency, and after he took the money out of the wallet, he threw it out of the truck toward Cal. "I left you a bit 'cause I really do like you. Best of luck, man."

Cal didn't reply and only shoved his wallet into his pocket. He picked up the backpack that had dropped on the ground in his haste to get back in the truck and then gripped my arm above my elbow. We started walking.

And now, here we are. Around twenty hours later.

When I think back to the incident with Jord, I realize that it is definitely my presence that has foiled Cal's plans. If he didn't have me to worry about, we wouldn't be sitting on concrete with our backs against a brick wall in the middle of the night. He would still have money to get a motel again.

I think Cal realizes this too. Maybe that's why he's barely spoken to me today as we aimlessly walked around the busy city. He hasn't smiled either.