Part 4
It had been smooth sailing until I got just past Memphis. The sky had been getting darker all morning and it had started raining.
I saw the walking figure in the distance as I saw the first lightning bolt.
I don’t know if I’m a good person or a really stupid one, but when I got close enough to realize this person was a woman I wanted to stop and when she stuck her thumb out I saw it as an open invitation to do so.
I felt bad for her as I pulled onto the shoulder and reached over to open the passenger side door.
“You want a ride?” I asked as she approached.
It wasn’t the most intelligent question, but it gave her the chance to decide whether or not I was crazy.
“I can pay you.” The girl offered as she climbed in and shook her stringy waterlogged hair from her face.
“Don’t worry about it.” I said nervously.
Is there etiquette for picking up hitch hikers?
“Thank you for stopping. It’s been like 5 hours since I started walking.” She said softly watching the rain soaked scenery.
After that it was quiet for almost ten minutes and I had to speak up or go crazy.
“I’m Zac, by the way.” I said glancing at her.
“I’m Skylar.” She replied as she pulled her brown fringed leather jacket tighter around herself.
“So…” I trailed off glancing at her from the corner of my eye and noticed some paint stains on her jeans, “Are you an artist?”
“No.” she shook her head.
“Are you a musician?” I asked hoping she’d say yes so we’d have something to talk about.
“No.” she replied again.
“Are you a hippie?” I asked out of nowhere as I realized she kind of looked like someone you’d see in an old picture from Woodstock.
“What kind of question is that?” she asked turning to look at me with a slight glare.
“Just a question.” I squeaked out. “So, why are you hitch hiking?”
“I was heading to Seattle with…someone and we got a flat. Of course the lazy jackass didn’t know how to change a tire so as soon as I got the car off the jack, he gunned it.” Skylar explained. “Don’t worry. That car always finds its way back.”
“Your car was stolen, and you’re not trying to get it back?” I asked in astonishment.
“I called the cops and they’re looking for it, but I’m not worried. I got the car from my dad and he tried to get rid of it for fourteen years before that. It’s been stolen three times since I got it.” She smiled.
I laughed and looked at her, “No shit?”
“My sister Lindsay has a friend out in LA. I can stay with her for a couple days and then I might head up to wine country for a while.” Skylar said lost in thought.
“I can get you out to LA.” I replied. “Why don’t you just call your sister?”
“Military.” Skylar looked down at her feet, “She’s in Afghanistan right now.”
“Sorry.” I muttered string at the road.
Skylar chuckled sourly, “She’s a tough cookie. She’ll be fine.”
“Older sister, huh?” I asked, smiling at her as she nodded.
“My sandals are squishy.” She said softly to herself.
“Go ahead and put them between the seats. They’ll dry faster.” I told her.
I tried to watch the road and Skylar as she took off her sandals to set them between the seats and turned to put her lone messenger bag on the back seat. I saw then how skinny the poor girl was.
I was used to hearing people tell Taylor that he should eat more because of how thin he was, but those people were the ones that never had to guard their plates because Taylor was sitting next to them at dinner. The mere thought of lengths some people had gone to just to make sure Taylor ate a cookie was enough to make me roll my eyes and keep my comments to myself. It also made me hungry.
“You hungry?” I asked and she shook her head no, “It’s my treat.”
“I’m fine.” She replied.
“Look, I’m starving and I want to stop at the Wendy’s coming up. I don’t want to eat in front of you if you don’t get something. My mom always told me it was rude. Could I at least get you a Frosty?” I explained.
“Okay, a Frosty.” Skylar smiled.
