* * * * * * * * *

I looked at Bonnie. I could tell my word were having some effect but I’m not sure which kind.

"I may be mistaken." I said. "But I have the feeling that you need some help yourself. I’m offering that help."

She sat there in silence

"I tell you what. I’ll make this as easy on you as I can. I’ll go pay the check. While I’m gone if you want, you can leave. It’s up to you. If you do, I say again thank you. Good luck with your problems. And I hope you have a good life."

I started to get up then thought of something else. "One more thing." I said. If you do go, I want you to take this." I reached into my wallet, took out $100 in twenty dollar bills, and sat it on the table.

She started to protest but I said. "No. I know it’s not much but I want you to have it. Then maybe you won’t have to skip so many meals."

She had tears in her eyes. I couldn’t tell if that was good or bad. Silently she mouthed the words, "Thank you."

I smiled back and said. "Your welcome."

Then I turned to walk up to the counter to pay the tab.

When I turned back around, she was gone.

Oh well. I thought. I tried.

Silently I walked to the table to get my jacket. I absent-mindedly put on the jacket and stuck my hands into the pockets. There was something in the right hand pocket. When I pulled out my hand, there were five twenty-dollar bills.

I shrugged and put the money in my pants pocket and headed for the door.

Once outside I got into the car and pulled up to the gas pumps. Getting out I began to fill the tank with gas.

As I watched the gallons tick by I heard footsteps approaching behind me.

"Hey mister." For some reason I was happy when I heard that familiar voice. "Do you think maybe I could get a ride."

"I don’t know." I said without turning around. "My fares are pretty high."

"Well I already paid you a hundred dollars."

"Well since you put it that way." I said.

Then I walked around to the passenger door and held it open.

"Your ride awaits fair lady."

She walked over tossed her bag behind the seat then sat down.

I was just about to close the door when she stopped me. Looking up at me she smiled and said. "Thanks again."

"Don’t mention it. It’s the least I could do."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"I just can’t believe you moving from LA to Nashville." I said. "I would love to be back in LA."

"Then you’re from LA?" John asked.

"But Nashville is in Tennessee." I said ignoring his question. "That’s so, so not LA."

We had been driving for almost an hour. Just driving and talking. John was real easy to talk to. I was enjoying myself too. It had been a long time since I just sat and talked with anyone. It was real nice.

"Have you ever been to Nashville?" He asked me.

"Well no."

"Have you ever even been east of the Rockies?"

"I went to Seattle once with my parent’s when I was eight. Does that count?"

"No it doesn’t. And you changed the subject again." Said John glancing at me out of the corner of his eye while he drove.

I looked away for a second then said, "I used to live near LA. But I moved a couple of years ago."

"There. That wasn’t so bad was it?"

"No. I guess not." I answered.

For a while we rode in silence. I sat there watching the highway flash by.

John broke the silence by saying, "If you’ve never been to Nashville then how can you be so down on it."

"Okay smart guy." I challenged. "What is so great about Nashville?"

"It got everything that LA has. Except for the Traffic, and the smog."

"Well." I said. "What about an ocean?" I don’t recall seeing an ocean near by."

"What difference does that make?"

"Or Disneyland. They don’t have Disneyland in Nashville do they?"

"And we know no one can survive with out a yearly trip to Disneyland. Right?" John said.

"Right." I said. "It’s right there in the LA teenager handbook. Page 21. Right after Shopping Malls, Picking the right one."

"So." John asked. "When was the last time you were at Disneyland?"

"It was three years ago. Just before…" I left the thought hang.

"Just before what Bonnie?"

I continued in a low voice. "Just before my parents divorced."

"I’m sorry." John said. "I bet that was really hard on you."

"Was hard?" I said. "Sometimes it still is hard.

"So?" John asked. "Do you live with your mom or your dad?"

"I live with my mom. Or lived that is."

"Did you two have a fight?"

"Oh yeah. We had quite a fight."

"Did it involve a boy?"

"Among other things."

"Then you left?"

"I’m sorry but I really don’t feel like talking about this right now." I said.

"Sure no problem." John said. "You know I bet if you tilted that seat back some, and closed you eyes you’d fall right to sleep."

"That just may be a good idea." I said.

John handed me his jacket and said, "You can use this as a pillow."

"Thanks."

After tilting the seat back I folded the jacket and put it under my head. I sat back and closed my eyes. I really wasn’t that tired, but I figured that if John thought I was asleep he wouldn’t ask me all those hard questions.

At some point I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remembered was John shaking me.

"Bonnie. Bonnie, wake up."

"Huh? Who?" Was all I could manage at first. Then as I woke up, I realized he was talking to me.

"I’m up." I said. "What time is it? Where are we?"

"It’s about 11:30." John said. "I was getting pretty tired so I stopped at this motel. I just finished checking us in."

"You what?" I asked sitting up. "Now look. You’ve been nice and all but don’t you go thinking that just because…"

"Whoa. Whoa girl. Calm down." John said holding up a key in each hand. "We’ve got two separate rooms. See?"

"Oh. I’m sorry." I said.

"No problem." John said with a smile. "There are a lot of guys out there that would have thought what you thought I was thinking. I think."

"Come on." John said. "I’m ready for bed. Would you like me to get your bag?"

"No." I said. "It’s not that big."

"Okay." John said then he held up two keys and said, "We’ve got room twelve and thirteen. I’ll let you pick."

"Then I’ll choose lucky thirteen." I said.

"You got it." John said as he handed me the key. Why don’t we plan on meeting at 8:00 am in the restaurant there."

"Sounds like a plan. 8:00 am it is." I said taking the key.

"I’ll be next door if you need me." John said with a yawn.

I unlocked the door and pushed it open. Found the light switch and turned it on, then said, "Hey didn’t I see this place on the cover of ‘Modern Motel Monthly’?"

John looked around and said, "Hey, I see a bed and a bathroom. That’s all I’m interested in right now."

"That’s what I like about you. You always focus on the essentials."

John yawned again and said, "That’s me. Mr. Focus."

He turned around and unlocked the door to his room. "What do you know?" he said. "Mine looks the same."

"Good night John. Thanks for everything." I said.

"Good night Bonnie. See you in the morning."

I closed my door then waited until heard his door close. Then I quietly opened the door and looked around outside. I didn’t see anything but it never hurts to be careful.

I closed the door and put the chain on. Turing around I looked around the room. Yep, I think. I’d call it modern ugly.

I put my bag on the bed, took off my jacket, and sat down on the bed. How long had it been since I slept in a bed? I don’t want to think about it.

I sat there for a minute and wondered what would a real person do now. Of course, I said.

I grabbed my bag and got out what I needed, then headed for the shower.

Soon I had the water just right. I stepped in and directed the water to the shower. I jumped when the first burst of cold water hit me. Soon it was replaced with warmer water.

I just stood there letting the water hit me in the face and head. It felt so relaxing. It felt like the water running down my body took the tension that had been inside with it.

As my body began to relax, my mind began to wonder. Soon my thoughts wondered to Sunnydale and everything that had happened all the way up to…

Then something inside finally let go. With a sob, I put my face into may hands. Then the tears came. I sat down in the shower and cried. The tears taking with them some of the emotional pain and tension like the water of the shower did for my body.

* * * * * * * * *

That next morning I get to the restaurant early and got a booth so I could watch the motel. I sat there drinking a cup of coffee, and reading the newspaper. This one I bought myself. I couldn’t concentrate on the paper because I kept looking up to see If Bonnie was on her way.

By ten after eight, I was beginning to get a little nervous. Maybe she had left during the night. Then I would tell myself to quit being paranoid. Women are always late, right?

By fifteen after eight, I was on my second cup of coffee and wondering if I should get worried. I was trying harder to distract myself with the paper but all I was managing to do was stare at one page longer.

I heard the bell on the door ring. I glanced up to see a very pretty young girl that I didn’t recognize. Annoyed I looked back at the motel. Nothing there either. Feeling even more annoyed I stared at the paper again.

"Hi John."

I looked up to see who spoke. Standing there looking at me was the young girl who just walked in. I just looked at her for a second knowing I should recognize her. Then it hit me.

"Bonnie. Hi." I said. "Sit down. I almost didn’t recognize you.

Her hair was hanging down framing her face instead of being pulled back in a ponytail. She was also wearing makeup. But that wasn’t all. Something about the way she carried herself. I could only describe it as happier. Like some of the weight she had been carrying on her shoulders had been lifted off.

She slid into the seat across from me and said. "What. Do I look that bad in the in the light of day?"

"No, no. You look fine. Better. No not better. Just different."

"I think the word you are looking for is clean."

The only response I could make was a weak stammer.

"That’s okay. It was true." She smiled. "I must have been a mess. I hadn’t cared how I looked for a while."

"Well I’m glad that you’re feeling better." I said with a smile. "It looks good on you."

The waitress appeared at the table providing an excuse to drop the current conversation.

"Can I get you anything." Asked the waitress looking at Bonnie."

"No Thanks." She said.

"You must be hungry." I said.

"Well maybe just some juice."

"Really you must want more than that."

"No really. Juice is fine. Could I get two parts orange and one part grapefruit."

"Sure." The waitress said.

"Okay." I said. Then the waitress turned to me and I said, "How about two eggs scrambled, a side of bacon, and toast. Got that."

"Yes sir."

"And the same for me." I said.

"Anything else sir."

"Not for me. How about you Bonnie?"

She managed to smile and look annoyed at the same time and said. "No that’ll be fine."

After the waitress left she said, "You didn’t have to do that."

"Why not. You’re my guest. I can’t let you go hungry."

Then I smiled and said. "So how did you sleep last night?"

She paused for a second and said "Fine. And now you’re the one who is changing the subject."

"Oh, am I?" I said smiling.

"Yes you are. You don’t have to take care of me. You don’t owe me anything."

"I don’t owe you anything. I seem to recall having my life saved by you yesterday. I think that’s worth the price of a few meals."

Bonnie started to say something but I interrupted and said, "Please."

Bonnie smiled and said. "Don’t look at me with those sad puppy dog eyes."

I wasn’t sure what she was talking about so I just continued to stare.

She laughed and said. "Okay, Okay. I give up."

"Good I’m glad that’s settled."

"Now about last night. What really happened?"

"Well you and that lady you called Carla had this fight and…"

"No I mean what really happened?"

"What do you think happened?"

"Well there was this lady who got some kind of hold or trance over me and was incredibly strong. Who grew these huge fangs. Bit me on the neck and started to drink my blood."

I looked at Bonnie who seemed content to let me continue.

"Then suddenly she explodes into a cloud of dust. And when I look up your standing there with something in your hand. I didn’t get a good look at it because you hid it too fast. But now I’m thinking it just may have been a wooden stake."

All Bonnie said was "And…"

"And if this was something I was reading or seeing on TV, I would say that what I saw was a vampire. But this isn’t TV or some story that somebody with an overactive imagination wrote, is it. And if I said I saw a vampire I would sound pretty crazy, wouldn’t I."

Bonnie looked at me for a moment then said, "If you told that story to most people they would say that you were crazy."

"But." I asked, "What would you say?"

Bonnie looked down at the table and said, "Me? I wouldn’t say you were crazy. But nobody listens to me."

I looked at her letting the implications of what she said sink in. We were interrupted from any further comment when the waitress arrived with our food.

We ate our food with little more being said between us besides pass the salt, or may I have the butter for several minutes.

Finally, I said. "Vampires huh. I wouldn’t have believed it. Anything like this ever happen to you before."

Bonnie looked at me and said "Yeah you could say that."

"Is that so? How often?"

"More often than you’d think. But that’s all I should say."

I started to ask another question but she cut me off.

"Really. You don’t want to know."

Something about the way she said that stopped me from pursuing the subject any further.

Fortunately the waitress showed up at that moment to refill the coffee, and clear away some of the dishes.

"So." I asked. "How long have you been on the road?"

"A couple of weeks I guess. I kind of lost track."

"That bad huh?"

"Yeah that bad."

"Feel like talking about it?" I asked.

Bonnie looked at me with a weak smile and said. "No, not really, not Yet."

I looked outside and said. "Looks like a great day for driving."

"I’ve been thinking about that." Bonnie said. "I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. But maybe it’s best if I didn’t go with you."

"Why, when we’re getting along so well?"

"I just don’t want to be a burden."

"Now who said you were a burden. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your company." I said. "Not to mention the other benefits of having you along."

Bonnie gave me an angry look.

"I mean the life saving stuff." I said. "Really."

Bonnie looked at me and said. "I just don’t think it’s will work out."

"Look." I said. "I’m sorry. I’ll stop bugging you about where you’re from and what you’re running from. And why you refuse to talk about it. I promise."

"Do you really promise?"

"Scouts honor."

"Okay. Then you’ve got yourself a passenger."

"Great." I said. Then I looked at my watch and said. "If you’re done with breakfast then it’s about time to hit the road."

* * * * * * * * * *

"This is a very pretty drive in the day time." I said. "I’m glad you talked me into it."

"I’m glad I did too." John answered.

We rode in silence for a while. I was just enjoying the scenery. Then John said. "What is it with these guys?"

I looked behind us and saw a van with a bunch of guys is ridding our bumper, flashing their lights and honking their horn.

"Why don’t they just go around?" John asked.

"It’s probably just a bunch of teenager boys." I said. "I think between the age of fifteen and twenty-three the male animal loses all sense of sanity."

Finally John changed lanes to the left and the Van pulled up along my side of the car. My guess was proved correct because the sliding door opened and three boys stuck their heads and arms out waving and yelling.

I saw a couple of beer cans in their hands and said. "Yep I was right. And they’re drinking too. Now we’ve gone past insane directly to stupid."

I ignored them and eventually they got bored and drove on ahead.

"Good riddance." John said.

The van pulled away from us but I noticed that about a quarter mile ahead they had found another motorist in a little green compact to harass. They stayed with the car for quite awhile. Either behind it or to one side or the other.

This went on for about fifteen minutes. Then I saw the green car make a sudden swerve to the right into a roadside rest stop. The van braked quickly and was able to slow enough to follow.

I could tell something was wrong.

As we neared the rest stop I said, "John pull into here."

"Sure. Do you need a restroom break?"

"No not exactly."

As we neared the parking area, I could see the van and the green car stopped with the doors standing open, but no one in sight.

"Stop here." I said.

"What’s the matter?" John asked.

"My guess is trouble."

"Well what do you think we can do. There were five or six guys in that van."

"You stay here." I said. "I can handle this."

"You can handle this? I can’t let you go out there by yourself."

"I don’t have time to argue. I’m going, if you want to come fine. Just stay behind me."

"But."

"I said stay behind me". Then I got out of the car.

I heard the other car door open, then close. Then John walked up beside me.

I could hear the sound of laughter a short distance away.

"Come on." I said as I headed towards the laughter.

I got to the edge of the building and looked around. I could see a group of six guys standing in a rough circle. In the middle was a girl about twenty with straight red hair. They had tied her arms behind her and put on a blindfolded.

One of the guys would grab her. Get a good grope, then let her go pushing her into the middle of the circle. When she would try to run one of the others would catch her and take a turn. Great fun for all, all except one that is.

The red hair reminded me of Willow, but I quickly pushed that out of my mind.

I turned to John and said in a low voice, "I’ll take care of these guys. You get the girl."