Route 66: A Short Story

Route 66

The Volkswagen beetle swerved right into the parking lot of the Shell gas station and halted at the closest gas tank. Kyle hopped out of the passenger seat and shut the door. Julie did the same, walking to the end of the car. As she opened the gas tank cover, the pair jumped at the sound of knocking coming from the window. “Hello! I’m here too! Unless you just planned to abandon me the whole trip…” Olivia yelled, her face pressed up against the glass. Kyle laughed folding the seat down so the brunette could get out, causing Olivia smack him upside the head. “Ow, what was that for?” Kyle glared at the girl next to him as she stuck her tongue out. “Okay you two, stop acting like five year olds and go get some food, I’ll be there

Olivia shifted a bit as she watched the older man look at her and Kyle. “I don’t think so. We’re headed the opposite way,” Kyle told him, trying to get the man away from them. He frowned slightly, as though he was expecting them to say yes. The grey haired man’s expression slowly turned to frustration, then to anger as he stormed off, just as Julie skipped in. She smiled brightly at the two until she saw their expressions. “What’s wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost,” the blonde asked as the trio moved up in the line. “There was this guy that came up to us and asked for a ride. He was acting really weird about it though, like he was expecting us to say yes,” Olivia explained, handing Kyle her things as he started checking out. Julie glanced behind her, then back at Olivia, “It was nothing, probably some creeper guy trying to get money or something,”. Olivia glanced at the blonde and shook her head, getting the thought out of her head. She was probably just overthinking things.

The three friends left the store and got into the baby blue car they arrived in.

×××

About an hour had passed since the trio left the gas station and they were listening to Queen, their mouths filled with the sour taste of gummy