Drive Me Crazy

  Another cheap motel, in another small town in the middle of nowhere USA. That's what you get everyday for six months if you find something out that certain people don't want you to know.

  At least if your name is Cara Raelyn Arborro. Six months of running for your life, six months of gas station junk food, six months of possible bed bugs in six months worth of cheap motels on the sides of every small town road in six states. Well, it at least felt like every small town.

  It was probably at least every other small town. She was tired. So fucking tired. She was starting to wonder if being dead was so bad.

  Six months ago, Cara was a housekeeper for what she thought was a businessman, an upstanding philanthropist and citizen. Then, she stumbled upon some documents while cleaning, and her world was rocked. She didn't know what to do, she was shaking, and couldn't stop reading and looking at the pictures. This man, her employer was a murderer and a money laundering fraud.

  She dropped everything and ran out of the house. She knew he would know someone had seen these incriminating documents. It was only a matter of time before he and his goons (what she thought was just security and friends and business partners, now she knew better) came after her.

  She emptied her bank account, a lovely windfall from her grandmother, padding it nicely. Nicely enough to live off for a while. She thought about going to the police, but she figured if he was what she thought, he'd have them in his pockets. She looked around her little house, another gift from her grandmother, and almost cried. Hopefully, she'd see it again one day.

  She went two states away before she stopped to breathe. She checked into a little motel, paying cash. She looked around at the old decorations and the drab furniture and finally did cry. But, she knew it was going to be a long time with different places like this before she could ever have a normal life again. If ever.

  Shaking her head, she got out of her car and went into the gas station in wherever the hell she was. Six months of running and she just didn't care anymore.

  This place seemed way less run down than the others she had become accustomed to. The lights all seemed to work, the gas pumps didn't look ancient, it smelled like gas and recent rain. The attendant looked up, "Can I help you, ma'am?"

"Yes, I was wondering if you knew where the nearest hotel or motel was? I've never been here before."

"Most people nowadays use Google," he said with a smirk.

  Most people aren't running for their lives, ahe thought, but managed a small smile, "well, just call me old fashioned, and a klutz. My phone's been broken for a while." For six months actually. She smashed it up pretty good the night she left her old life behind.

  "I was just messing with you," he chuckles. "About 5 miles up this very road is a small hotel run by some new people in town, nice fellas, not real social, though. I can come with ya, keep ya company," he added and looked her up and down.

  Not that he was ugly or that Cara was shallow, but he wasn't her type, and running for your life isn't a good time to be getting into anything, especially a stranger.

She laughed and said, "I appreciate the offer, sir, but I'm sure I can find it. Need to sleep a bit before I head out again."

  "No problem darlin', my wife wouldn't appreciate it anyways." And he let out a big belly laugh, winked at Cara and offered his hand, with a wedding band, "Bud Freely, owner of this place and my wife runs the diner thatta way," he said, pointing to the diner across the parking lot. "You should get you something to eat, she'll fix you right up."

  "I might do that," she said, smiling.

  She paid for her gas, and felt her stomach rumble. Well, she thought, I guess stopping for a burger would be nice. Bud heard her stomach growl and said, "I guess I made you hungry talking up my wife's diner." And laughed a big booming laugh again.

  He wheeled out from behind the counter and Cara was surprised to see he was in a wheelchair, missing a leg. She tried not to stare, but failed miserably.

Bud chuckled, "I didn't feel like wearing my fake leg today. Melia, my wife, told me I was getting lazy, but who wouldn't wanna sit instead of strapping metal to their knee." He smacked said knee and laughed at Cara's expression, "If you stick around any time at all, you might get the story."

  Cara smiled, "I'm so sorry for staring!! I'm so rude." She shook her head and looked up at a smiling Bud.

  "Everybody stares, I'm used to it, makes me feel famous!" He smacked his knee and laughed again, it was so infectious, Cara laughed with him.

  "It was nice meeting you, Bud. I'm C- Caley" she almost gave him her real name! Dammit, she was too comfortable.

  "Nice meeting you C-Caley," he said with a smirk. "Now, you get your gas, and go get yourself fed. My wife will probably wanna talk your ear off too. Tell her I'll be over there for dinner in a little bit. Hope you stick around, ain't had a whole lotta new people in a while."

  "Thank you," she really meant it. She liked it here.

  She pumped her gas, and drove the few hundred feet over to the diner. Thinking, maybe I can stay for more than a day. I'm almost on the other side of the country now. But she knew she wouldn't. Fear was a powerful thing.

  She walked in to the diner, named The Lunchbox, hearing the little tinkle from the door's bell. She looked around, and was instantly in love. It looked just like the diners from TV. Straight from a different era. It was bright, colorful with bright, shiny booths and chairs and stools, checkered floors and tables and counters a shiny white with metal trim. It also smelled amazing. Her mouth was watering.

  "Just take a seat wherever you want, hon. I'll be with you in just a shake."

  Cara looked up to see a beautiful blonde behind the counter, refilling the coffees of the customers seated there. Cara instantly felt warm and welcomed. She decided to sit at the counter on a bright blue stool.

  "Haven't seen you before, darlin', you passing through?" Said the beautiful blonde who's name tag said Melia. Must be Bud's wife, Cara thought.

  "Yep, passing through, was getting gas and directions when your husband talked this place up so much, I couldn't miss out," she said with a little smile.

"Bud's like my own personal advertising agency,"

She said with a little, tinkling laugh. "He probably flirted with you a bit, too," she laughed at the look on Cara's face. "He's a shameless flirt, but he's completely loyal and one of a kind," she smiled a beautiful smile and handed Cara a menu.

  "He did offer to go with me to the hotel," Cara said and heard Melia's laugh.

  "He needs to sell the gas station and open up an ad agency, I swear. Don't feel bad, he's a perfect gentleman, he'd have made sure you got there and called me." She lightly touched Cara's hand and whispered, "though, maybe we coulda had some fun with you." She winked and laughed when Cara blushed.

  "See that's why we work so well together, we're both shameless flirts," she winked and asked, "So, what you wantin' to drink darlin'?" With that big, beautiful smile.

  "I'll have a Coke float. Haven't had one of those in a long time." She answered trying to sound unnafected. "And I'll go ahead and order the burger with tomato and mayo and fries with a side of ranch," she was casually fanning herself with a napkin. It's been too damn long since she'd gotten any and these two were making her feel it. "Oh, Bud aaid he'd be over for dinner in a bit. Almost forgot."

  "I'm sure he didn't," Melia laughed and put her order up and dinged the bell. "If you're still here, we might have to have you for dessert." She winked again at Cara and chuckled a bit. "I'm just messin' with you. Though, a sweet thing like you, you probably get it all the time."

  Cara smiled and shook her head, "Not in a long time," she giggled like a school girl, she hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. Harmless flirting from these two was going to her head.

   A little more meaningless conversation and her burger and float were ready. She ate as much of her burger and fries as she could, drank her float and went to pay. Asking for a to go bag.

  "Don't be a stranger now, darlin'. Not everyday we get a cute little thing like you coming through." Melia slid her a card with the menu and phone number on it. "If you decide to stay awhile, come on back. We're open 24/7. And, we're looking for an evening waitress." She winked and waved at Cara as she was walking away to deal with the other customers.

  As she was turning to leave, three men walked in. All three were handsome, tall, but not overly tall, and they just exuded some raw sex appeal. Cara blushed just looking at them. She looked down and made her way out. Brushing into the tallest one accidentally, she looked up, about to apologize, when he grabbed her arm gently and looked at her intensely, she could see his eyes were a beautiful bright blue with flecks of what looked like gold swirling in them. Literally swirling. What the fuck, she thought. That's not possible, your mind has finally broken, Cara. He smiled at her and she almost melted into a puddle.

  "Sorry about that," she stammered.

   "No apology necessary, my dear." Oh my gods and godesses, he has a British accent. She nearly swooned.

  She smiled nervously and looked back down. About to walk away, she noticed his hand still on her arm.

  "Now, it seems I'm the one in need if apologizing, I didn't mean to manhandle you, my dear. Can I, perhaps, buy you a drink by way of apology?"

God, his voice was doing things to her insides, she managed a small smile and with a hoarse voice said, "that's alright, I've just finished my meal and was heading out. Maybe next time." Knowing good and well, there would be no next time.

  He looked disappointed. The men beside him were giving her appraising looks and she was sure her face was on fire. All three were looking at her like she was their next meal. God, she was about to melt. She mumbled an apology and walked out.