Let’s jump back into the action. We left off with Beth in the car with Tim (I keep switching his name to Nick…weird. maybe that should be his name?) and they are going to “stop for gas.” Beth is planning on making a run for it and Tim is planning on calling his cousin to see what he should do with Beth. Let’s see what happens.
Continuing Story #1:
Tim pulled his non-Chevy truck next to a gas pump. He ignored another call from Noah, hoping he would think this was all a joke. Another piece of the puzzle that Tim wasn’t quite sure how to fix now. He looked at his gas levels and hoped Beth hadn’t realized he was actually at half a tank–nowhere close to needing to fill up.
Beth hadn’t noticed. She was preoccupied with searching for her phone. She had gingerly checked her pockets–her ankle was starting to swell, so she had it propped up on the seat even though that position had resulted in a fall on the floor a few minutes before. Beth decided she had to act casual because she wasn’t getting through to Tim with logic or anger. But her anxiety was rising because her plan necessitated her finding that damn cellphone.
Tim got out, carefully slipping Beth’s phone into his pocket. He got a rush of adrenaline because not only did he have the bitch who was threatening to ruin his dad’s career in his truck, he had her phone. She was still wincing and holding her ankle, so he doubted she would try to get out. Then he saw her open her door.
Tim made an effort to walk casually around to her side of the car. “Can I help you, dear?” He couldn’t make his words sound sincere, try as he might.
“Uh, I just needed some air. Have you seen my phone? I just had it…” Beth noticed Tim standing in her way of actually getting out of the truck. “Excuse me.” she said, hoping he would step aside.
Noticing how much pain she was in, a slight smile spread across Tim’s face. He noted the deserted gas station. The inside was closed, and the light for “credit card only” was lit up on the pumps. Let her try to run on that ankle with no phone to save the city girl. He stepped aside, curious to see where this would go.
Beth got out, hobbled around a bit, and immediately became dizzy. The stress of the day (and year), her rapidly swelling ankle, and the insanity of this situation was getting to her. With no phone, what was the plan?
“I’m just going to look under the seats…maybe it fell…” she started to say as she swayed slightly. She bent over and crawled back into the car, searching under the seats. Her butt stuck up in the air and she looked like a small child who had lost a toy. She was starting to feel helpless like a child, too.
Tim was trying to keep from laughing at her state and how easy this was going for him. He wasn’t really sure what the plan was, and he couldn’t exactly just drop her off at home now. He had probably kept her too long. Maybe he would just have to scare her enough to not tell anyone.
That’s when Tim remembered the cameras. At each gas pump. Shit. He really needed to call Ben now.
Beads of sweat were forming on Beth’s forehead as she hunted for her precious rescue device. She had just had it! Did she drop it outside when Noah got out to come check on her?
Noah! She wondered where he was now. Had he hurt himself falling like Beth did? He might be her ticket to safety if she couldn’t find her phone. Although…maybe Tim would take her to a hospital. It was still possible. She just didn’t like the way he was looking at her. Like a wolf who’s trapped his prey.
I wonder what’s going to happen? It’s funny that I write that because I really don’t know. I think I want Tim to feel like he’s stuck in whatever he’s doing. He wants to mess with Beth, but at some point it will go too far and he will have to figure out how to not get into trouble.
Let me know what you think!
