Road Workin' (Part 1)

“We should stop.”He said it simply, but with such a serious tone that for a moment the girls drove in silence, as if obeying.

Truth be told, it was shocking and so unexpected, because for the last hours, he had sat in the back, silently, and heard Fleetwood Mac all the way, just a little bit loud, in his iPod. Because Leo was a quiet person and had never bothered in being heard or being considered, when making choices.

But there, in the hot car, they were choosing, and Leo had mattered. Very much. Trisha was second to talk, after this long and vigorous silence. “You see? Even he wants to go. Come on, what’s the point of getting there at night? Not like we can present at this time.” She mid-laughed, and checked her watch, or pretended to. Trisha was not that kind of person who needed a watch for life-guidance.

But we have to get there, like now, Beth kept debating in her head, because she was tired of these people, and somehow a bit scared of Leo. Now, it was three against one. Because Trisha was party girl and lazy, and somehow she was here, and because Tracy was manipulated easily. She was also tired, too, and she was willing to use this ‘let’s stop thing’ for her to rest. Beth wanted to inform her of the low chances they had, of finding a good place to stay the night, or at least, a better place than the car.

The car was Beth’s. Actually, her brother's. But similar to Trisha, both of them slept and danced, and screw school. And so there she was, driving her kind-of car with her eyes willing to close, but not being allowed to, with this weird guy, party-girl and go-with-the-flow girl. The car wasn’t too big, but good enough as to fit all of them, the four, along with back packs and supplies and posters and models for their proposal.

“Beth, come on.” This was Tracy. She placed her hand on Beth’s lap, as she was seating up front with her, and her eyes were pleading and Beth had to look away and kept driving. Traffic had become heavy since the four of them had entered this place, so small but apparently, so affective. As in being able to convince people of staying. Though it was kind of early, there were people either walking or standing in full sidewalks. And Beth wondered, glancing around, why the hell was it that this people, wanted to stay. “We know you’re tired, too. How do you expect for us to do good if we haven’t had sleep?”

“You think we’re staying for sleep? Sure, ask Trisha.” Beth said reasonably, but so annoyed. She knew she shouldn’t have snapped, because that was mean, and Tracy was sensible. In the back, Trisha rolled her eyes and pleaded a bit more. Leo had actually pressed pause in his iPod, it seemed, and he gave his small arguments, on why to stay. And Beth just kept imagining, the next day, when they arrived, if they did, the tired looks on their faces, the hangover and horrid smell of rum or whatever they drank here, and how the so-unlike-them professionals would approve hypocritically and laugh out loud as soon as they stepped out of their room.

And yet, she turned and parked in the first suitable space she found. Peer pressure, she thought with disgust. Whether it was negative, she wasn’t sure. She was first to open the door, and looked around, and was filled with bad-made combinations of noise and music and people. Then, Trisha’s smile told she was happy and excited, like a small child in Disney. Leo was smiling too, but he always did, sort of, but he wasn’t mad anyway. Tracy sighed, of relief. And to think this was for work and education, Beth thought with grieve.