STASIA
Well after the first hour everyone was on edge in the van.
Sophie even pulled out a movie on Keata's portable DVD which helped a bit.
Izzy's been quiet like she's stuck in her own head and I can't handle the non-talking anymore,
"Mira, you gonna spill about the other night.!"
She looks up at me then put her head back near Keata's, saying "not yet, I need to get my own head right first, but I'll tell you in time...."
"You promise, I worry about you at the moment."
"Stasia. I promise.... What about you Sophie ?"
I look at Sophie, she's not going to say anything I know.
"I'm fine, just worried about everything, and Stasia you're worried about us, what about you.... what we're going through is nothing compared to you.... Far out girl, between losing your house and moving in with me!"
"Hey! That worked out great when my stubborn ass gave in!"
"Yeah, Stasia it worked out great, we love having you, and the gunshot at work, then the stabbing... should I go on?"
"Jesus, the way you put it's like I'm a magnet for this!"
Savie starts to giggle, like out of control. I look at her like she's lost her mind " s-Stasia gee girl...she knocked it on the head!" And more giggling " since the day I met you, you have been in trouble.... Even at Sally's house, she would ring Cobra tell him the shit you'd do, like falling, tripping, girl you're Murphy's law, if it can go wrong, it most likely will!" She's calmed her giggles now.
My face goes red "well when you put it like that Savie!"
"Honey, it's not bad. but we gotta work on trying to balance you out a bit....that's when your girls come in. We watch out for you and hopefully..." she leans into me now "and it's hopefully, we have you! And that goes for all you girls, in this life... you need your girls so don't lock them out!" Mira says " new I should have grabbed more alcohol... great toast Savie!... I've a confession though!" We all look at her intently cause we're all waiting for her to tell us stuff from the last couple of weeks.
"I've been on my own for years and had to fight dad and his brothers all my life, actually they've been great but not having any girls around was hard. But finding you guys and really feeling that you guys have my back is awesome! Stasia I'm glad Drew ran your ass over cause if he didn't I wouldn't have you girls...."
And Sophie decides to yell " yes that's another thing, you got ran over!!" We all look at each other then burst out laughing yeah I'm a clutz, but I have found my people.
"you guys are my family, growing up like I did then finding Nana Sally, which helped me see what family is.... and now I have it!" We just all take in the silence. After our little sister moment, some of us go to sleep and some just watch the Dvd and listen to music.
Piling out of the van we head inside again I'm starving, I think everyone is.
All the guys aren't here yet for some reason, I can't see Drew anywhere but Nova comes over "he's only 20 mins out, go eat, he'll be here before you know it!" I smile at him. " thanks, Nova you want me to get you something?"
"Nah, hey listen how's Izzy been, she ok!"
"She's good, quiet but good I think she just likes being with us girls but she slept in the van and no nightmares yet. so..... that's something..... Nova just so you know I've got her, we talked the other day and she seems to be in a better place, her roads still bumpy, but it should have some flat spots coming up!" I wink at him as I head to the café inside the servo.
After I get my food I look for Sophie, I can't see her anywhere so I tell Mira " watch my food I'll be back in a minute."
"Sure!" She shoves her burger in her mouth and does one of those full mouth smiles, I laugh telling her "you're so gross!" She laughs and shooed me to go.
I head to the toilets.
I go in quietly, still on edge from the week, then I hear Sophie on the phone. "Stay away Jay.......I'm not scared of you........ she doesn't know you ..... no I'm not...... leave us alone......" she hangs up and starts to cry I come up behind her and just hug her she jumps at first but turns in my arms but hugs me back! " whats going on Soph?"
She sniffs a few times then says, "he wants us back reckons he's had his fun now and it's time to settle... like I was waiting for him.
I'm not going back there Stasia and if I have to find a place where he can't find me I will!"
" hey your not on your own I'm here and Bullet won't let you go without a fight, so don't think about him ok!" She nods then says " I'm not going back there Keata will hate it and I just can't Stasia!" I nod thinking is this going to be a threat to us then she says " don't say anything.... Promise me... this is my problem Stasia, no one else's!" She staring at me waiting for my answer, so I agree
"only if he's not dangerous.... and Keata or you can't get hurt!" She nods saying "deal."
"Ok, now wash up. Your eyes are red, then we will go eat, Savie has Keata so she already eating ok!" Hugging her once more I leave the toilets, going out to get my eat on and hoping I made the right choice!
Finishing up my food, I hear some bikes come in and turn to the window. I see that he's here with the rest of them, they come in the door and they all go straight to the counter to order.
I walk to Drew and just hold him
"you good!"
"Yeah just wanted a hug." He squeezes me tight then lifts my chin up and give me a soulful kiss that causes goosebumps to go all over my body. Drew notices and say "you cold?"
"No, I'm good." He smiles knowing damn well why then whispers in my ear "when we get to Adelaide Beauty we can have some time to chill, ok." He kisses me again and I just melt.... god he makes all my insides melt. Walking away I shake it off. When I get to my chair Izzy looks at me weird, "what are you doing?"
I blush then say, "nothing"
Mira notices then say,
"she shaking all the goosebumps away, hey Stasia!" Now I just go straight out red, I put my head down and let my hair cover my embarrassment and suck on my straw of my frappe,
"shut up Mira! I was just..... cold!"
They all just laugh, and I heard "sure you were" all around the table. I need a Subject change I think. "So Mira, you going to talk to us soon or what?" She looks at me knowing what I'm doing and just shakes her head no. Well, that went well!
After a bit the guys come over and say we're camping here for 5 hours then back on the road, at least we're out of the van. Drew comes over to say, " You want to ride with me to the motel beauty?" I jump up " YES OMG YES!" I can't wait getting out of that van would be great!
It's not long before I'm behind Drew on his bike. I've got his helmet on, but he said it's not far from here. Just as we hit the road I let out a squeal excited about being on his bike... no wonder he loves it the wind in your face...... then out of nowhere something hits my face it hurts and another I start grunting and then something is in my eye, I scream in frustration. Drew turns his head and starts to chuckle, I go to say something and I swallowed a fly ... I'm coughing spluttering and dry retching..... shit we pull into the motel and Drew looks at me and laughs, then say "the bandana's not for looks babe and the glasses.... it's to stop that shit!"
I didn't put it on cause I thought it was silly.... Well fuck that, I'm gangsta now!
" I'll be buying my own..... so that doesn't happen again!" He can't help it, he just laughs, I do too... but mine seems to be half hearted... bloody nature!!
We check in but we're not in our own rooms we have two double beds so all us girls are together and the guys are out doing patrol or meetings and sleeping in another room!
I've got Sophie and Keata in my bed which is fine but I can't sleep, I've had about 3 hours but I'm done I get up quietly and go to the shower everyone else is asleep Izzy's on the couch, Mira and Savie are on the other bed. Once I'm in the bathroom I have a much needed hot shower.
I just soak up the heat, wash my hair and just let the water run over my skin thinking about nothing.
When I finish I move Izzy off the couch and tell her to get in the bed, she does and she's still not having nightmares, which is good for her. I sit back and turn Tv on low and just watch some old shows. I drift off after a while and don't get up till we need to leave.
Next day runs smoothly the trip is just as boring and so us girls start to annoy Felix and Cory asking 21 questions, like who was their first girlfriend, which Felix says he never had one, but Cory had a high school sweetheart that he says didn't last longer than 6 months, which is better than nothing. Izzy brings up that she had a relationship with a boy but it was innocent.
I was glad she's talking about the good stuff in her life that happened before, cause that tells me she is moving forward.
"Izzy u want me to see if we can set up that comp we were talking about when we get to Melbourne !" She looks at me and her face goes bright and I'm not the only one who notices.
Cory asks " what comp we talking about!"
"a shooting comp us girls needed some more practice and some fun, you reckon you can help us out Cory" he still staring at Izzy's face through the mirror and just shakes his head then says " if it gives Izzy that much happiness then yeah I'll organise it." Izzy and I are excited Mira and Savie is like "we're in" and Savie adds "there are a few other girls who will be interested too at home, what about you Sophie, she looks up and say "maybe I'll see."
"Ok done, I'm counting on you, Cory!" He just smiles and says,
"no problem!" I just hope it happens cause we all need a little fun! Izzy is shining through her darkness, which makes me smile too the rest of the way to Eucla.
When we get to Eucla we get time to eat stretch and let Keata run around, Bullets been playing with her so I look for Sophie again she's behind the building where we had lunch, on the phone again telling who ever, to leave her alone "just don't come near us we're happy now! leave us alone....." I can't hear him but Soph is covering her mouth trying to stop herself from crying and then she says to him " you will never find us.....I'll make sure of it!" Then she hangs up, then looks around. I stay where I am and give her some time, but she walks in the opposite way to me so I decide to go back to where I came from I just hope she knows what she's doing there is no way Bullet's going to let anything happen to them, I'm just hoping that he can keep his promise.