I kissed the top of Brayden’s head and walked back out into the living area where all the guys were watching me.
“What’s going on?” Matt asked after I sat down
“She can’t go back to her house guys.” I said
“Jimmy she’s seventeen, if they catch us with her we’ll go to jail for kidnapping.” Matt said
“She’s got eleven days until she’s eighteen, then she can turn herself in. Matt I can’t take her back to that house.” I said
“Why not what goes on?” Johnny asked
“Remember the bruises and scars I mentioned?” I asked
“Yeah?” Matt asked
“They’re from her dad. I can’t take someone back into a home like that. No one should live with that as their parent.” I said
“Jim you have a point but we’re going to be home in a week that still leaves us with six days to basically hide her.” Matt said
“She can stay at my house.” I said
“Okay Jimbo that means she’s your responsibility.” Matt said
“I know I’m not completely stupid.” I said
I sat there thinking about what she said about her dad abusing her and raping her. How could someone do that to their own daughter? No one deserves that, dads are supposed to be the only guy that girls know who won’t break their hearts or hurt them but Brayden doesn’t have the luxury.
“Rev what are you thinking about?” Brian asked me pulling me out of my thoughts
I looked up and realized that him and I were the only ones in the living area. “Where is everyone?” I asked
“Bed.” He said
“Oh.” I said
“What are you thinking about?” He asked
“Brayden. Am I doing the right thing by risking us to keep her safe?” I asked
“Tell me what she told you.” He said.
“She doesn’t want to go home because all of her bruises are from her dad beating her and raping her.” I said
“Then Jim you’re doing the right thing. No one should have to go through that. Plus it’s only eleven days.” He said
I nodded.
“Go get some sleep Brain you look dead.” I said
“Yeah I look dead sir.” He laughed. “You look so stressed why don’t you get some sleep Jim.” He said
“I am stressed and you’re sitting where my feet are going to go. I’m going to sleep out here, she’s in my bed.” I said
“Want me to bring your blanket out?” He asked
“She’s got that too. I’m good Brian.” I said
“Okay, sleep tight.” He said
I hugged my best friend and he trudged into the bunk area. I got up and turned all the lights off and sat back down on the couch. I put my feet up on the couch and spread out. Thank god it was long enough for my six foot five stature. I put my hand under my head and used my arm as a pillow. I just laid there with my eyes closed. I heard shuffling around about twenty minutes later. I turned and looked around, I didn’t see anything.
“Did I wake you?” Someone asked
It was Brayden; she was the only girl on the bus.
“No I haven’t gone to sleep.” I said
“Okay. I feel bad for taking your bed.” She said
“It’s fine Brayden, you need it more than I do.” I said
She sighed and sat down on the couch in front of my body.
“What are you guys going to do with me?” She asked
“Keep you with us until you’re eighteen and then you have to turn yourself into the cops and then you’ll do whatever you want. But you will be safe with me.” I said She touched my arm and jerked away really fast.
“You’re freezing Jimmy.” She said
“You have my blanket.” I said
“Here.” She said
She moved her arms and then my blanket was draped over me.
“You need it more Brayden.” I said
“How about we share it?” She asked
I nodded and she laid down on the couch with me and we both cuddled under my blanket.
“I feel safe in your arms Jimmy.” She said
“That’s good because you are safe in my arms.” I whispered in her ear
“Why’d you save me? Why not just let me die on the side of the road?” She whispered
“I’m not like that Brayden. I just couldn’t.” I said
“Where are you guys headed and what state was I in when you found me?” She asked
“We’re going back to California and you were just about in Missouri. How long have you been walking and how long had it been since you’d eaten before we fed you?” I asked
“About three weeks I’d been walking and hitchhiking and about four days.” She said
“Are you still hungry?” I asked
“It’s like ten at night.” She said
“Answer me.” I said
“Yes.” She mumbled
I sat up behind her and got up, I wrapped her in the fleece blanket and picked her up bridal style; I carried her into the kitchen area and set her down on the counter. “I’m going to make you something. What are you craving?” I asked
“Honestly? Pancakes.” She said innocently
“That’s good, I make awesome pancakes.” I said
She smiled and I got to work making her pancakes that would fill her empty stomach up. I finished and handed her the plate that had two huge pancakes on it.
“These are huge.” She said
“That’s definitely what she said.” I winked
She smiled and took a bit of one of them.
“Any good?” I asked
“What flavor are these?” She asked
“Apple Cinnamon.” I smiled
“They are fucking amazing.” She said with her mouthful I laughed a bit.
“I’m sorry that was probably really unattractive.” She said shyly
“Nah. We do need to do something about that massive knot in your hair though.” I said
She smiled and took another bite.
“Do you have any conditioner?” She asked after touching the back of her hair “Yeah we all have it besides Matt since he has no hair. You can use mine tomorrow. I’ll show you which one.” I said
She nodded and jutted a piece of pancake in my face; I smiled and opened my mouth to take the bite. She pulled it away and put it in her mouth. I pouted my bottom lip out and she smiled ripping another piece off and actually putting it in my mouth.
“Hey these are pretty good.” I said
“You would give me food that you didn’t know tasted good?” She asked
“No.” I smiled
She sat on the counter as she ate and I stood and leaded against it next to her. She fed me little pieces every once in a while, I had to make a note to make those for the guys. It had been about twenty minutes and she was finished, I pulled her off the counter and set her on the floor. I took her plate and put it in the sink; I’d do the dishes tomorrow. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out two bottles of water and handed her one. I opened the other one and took a swig from it. She smiled and did the same, I handed her mine and she looked at me funny but then I scooped her up into my arms again and carried her to the couch. I took the bottles of water and set them in the drawer we used to hold things while the bus was moving. She looked at me.
“Lay down.” I said
“You get the back sir.” She said
I smiled and laid down behind her, I stretched out and she disappeared for a minute into the bunk area and then reappeared with a pillow. She laid down and we shared the pillow and the blanket.
“I didn’t know they made fleece blankets this big.” She whispered
“My mom made it for me.” I said
“Cute.” She said
“Where’s your mom?” I asked
“She left my dad and I, she was going to take me but my dad threatened to kill her if she did so she left. I was ten.” She said
I hugged her to me tightly, she snuggled into my chest.
“Good night Jimmy.” She said
“Good night Brayden.” I smiled knowing she couldn’t see.