Anytime You Want

I sigh as I watch the black run away with the water in the cracked sink. I look up in the dirty mirror; angle my face to admire the jet black locks. I had to get rid of the red now we were on the run, and the shorter crop I’d given myself suits my angular face. Roughly towel drying my head, I walk into the latest of the musty motel rooms we had been staying in. I stroll over to one of the twin beds – we hadn’t been sharing beds to avoid any unwanted, if unjustified, attention – and throw the towel onto the musty sheets. A pair of multi-coloured arms wrap around my bare middle, a head resting on my shoulder. A soft kiss meets my cheek.
“We match Gee.” I turn to face Frank, my shorts hanging low on my hips.
“Yeah. We do.” I kiss him, him standing on his toes. I smile against his mouth before pulling away to lounge on my squeaky bed. He leans against my newly toned muscles, dragging his fingers through my straggly chest hairs and pecks my lips.
“We weren’t on the news this morning” he says. I smile.
“I know. We’re losing them, finally.” It had been six months since we’d left, and in that time I’d changed my hair three times, got fitter, and only had one run in. Now we don’t even get a double take, hidden deep in the country. It had been full of short nights and long drives, and I am hungrier for Frank than I’d ever been. But that wasn’t the moment. I want it to be special, and special isn’t uncomfortably small beds and squeaky floorboards and overweight women listening in to the strange men with a New Jersey accent.
“C’mon. Let’s get out of this dump. I’ve got something special arranged.” I smile at the curiosity growing on his face. I stretch up, the long thin scar winding its way up my side like a snake. I acquired it the same evening we ran away; the rain was thick and fast, beating at the windshield. Lights flashed, sirens whirred, news crackled in on the radio, Frank and I straight faced in pursuit of freedom. Then, of course, the movie chase ends and everything went wrong. The car flipped, and both of us screamed, trapped in a crush of metal and blood and noise. It was like we were programmed, like robots; we escaped groggily than ran to a newly vacated black car, its owners having jumped out to enjoy the spectacle. I didn’t notice the short police knife in my side until Frank’s persistence penetrated my concentration of getting us out of there. But it paid off, to be sitting in this mouldering room with him freely watching me as I dress. Liberation is sweet, and I know ours is on borrowed time, but you can’t treat life as if you’re going to get out alive; take what you can, when you can, give nothing back.
We check out of the dirty roadside room with the flickering neon sign and we drive down the dusty freeway. I turn onto a dusty country track, and smile lazily at the frown Frank wears.
“Where are we going?”
“I changed my credit card, and I still have internet access you know.” That look I adore, the reason I became a therapist, grows a smile on his face. A smile knowing that the future holds good things, not just the bad. You have to take life with a pinch of salt, you see. Bittersweet pleasures don’t hold so much joy as genuine ones. The red dust flew up until we reach some scrappy shrubs that develops into a flourishing forest with splendid trees, none of them oak, mostly pine, that proudly stand, casting pools of deep shadows, protecting us from the American sunshine.
“Cover your eyes.” I use the same tone I always have when I want something; commanding, dark. He obeys and a smile turns the corner of my mouth upwards. I get out of the car, and guide Frank out too, holding his inked hands. We walk where the car can’t reach, a little way into the forest. The needles create a sweet smelling crunch under our scruffy Converse until we reach the shaded clearing that houses my surprise.

Notes

I'm back my lovelies!
My wifi broke or I'd have posted this last night. Anyway, as per, let me know what you think. I'm feeling a little better, so hopefully I can get this wrapped up in a couple of weeks. Oh and if you're new here, just click on my name in blue over there -> and you can find You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison and the 500 word prequel to Prison.
Votes, Comments, Subscriptions and reads are all very much appreciated.
Love, Em xo
P.S. The wonderful Stitches and I potentially have a few magic tricks planned. Watch this space.