we're not on the map but we're on our way

2/3

"Moooom!" a scream comes. They look to the door of the house and on the front steps is a girl, no older than nine.

"Christina, get back in the house!" Laurel barks angrily.

"But Jason won't let me watch the cartoons!" the girl exclaims angrily, a frustrated blush on her cheeks. Spencer stares, noticing the girl's blue eyes.

"Tell your father to - "

"Dad went to Uncle Bobby's to watch the game," the girl informs her.

Laurel's lips purse. "God fucking dammit," she curses under her breath. She begins to stride towards the house, and the girl, knowing there is a storm on its way, squeals and disappears back inside.

"Wait!" Spencer calls after her helplessly.

Laurel turns around, glaring. "I know who sent you, but you can just tell Harry that he ain't getting a penny outta me!" the woman exclaims angrily.

"I'm not -"

"Get out of here!" she barks before she walks into the house, the door banging closed after her. Spencer blinks after his mother in a loss of words. Spencer has been punched once, but it didn't hurt as much as this did. There is a shattering sound coming from his chest, and Spencer is sure nothing has ever hurt as much as this, right here, on the front lawn of a shitty house in a shitty town somewhere in fucking Pennsylvania.

Spencer backs away, step by step, faster each time. His stomach is convulsing dangerously, but he bites his lip and keeps it in.

Jon and Brendon, who have watched the whole scene play out, see Spencer make his way back to the car, running around to open the door of the driver's seat.

"Let me drive," Spencer orders Jon, and his voice sounds wrong, and Jon lets him. The tires scrape the street behind them, leaving behind black marks and a puff of smoke as the car takes off. Brendon says nothing in the backseat, just buckles himself up and Jon does the same.

Spencer speeds out of Delmont, back to the closest highway that leads him away, and he is choking on tears and he can't see the road, but no one is telling him to pull over.

"Where are we going?" Spencer asks, fighting to get the words out.

"Let me -" Jon starts.

"Where are we going?!" Spencer shouts, tears on his cheeks, and he isn't thinking straight, Jon can see that Spencer isn't thinking straight.

"Florida!" Brendon yells from the backseat, and he sounds as horrified as Spencer looks.

Jon inhales and says, "Let's get to the coast first. Nicer views if we stay by the ocean."

Spencer nods, fighting to breathe through sobs and he barely manages to keep them on the road.

* * *

Spencer drives for eight hours straight. Brendon falls asleep, lying down in the backseat. Jon doesn't sleep at all. Spencer stops crying eventually, but it's almost worse when he isn't crying. Jon has never seen anyone look so dead.

When Spencer finally pulls over, it's morning and they're in North Carolina. He gets up quite calmly, walks to the side of the road and throws up. He struggles to stay on his feet, and in the end sits down on the side of the road. Jon gets out of the car, and he is exhausted physically and mentally.

He walks over to Spencer, carefully kicks his shoe and says, "Get up."

"No," Spencer whispers.

"Then I'll leave you here."

"Fine."

"Quitter," Jon remarks, and he knows it's a lame insult. Spencer doesn't react, simply remains motionless. Jon sighs and looks around them. It's still dark, but the world is slowly getting brighter. Spencer wipes a tear from his cheek and his voice shakes in anger when he speaks.