The Life She Lost Ch 02

Aiden tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, along side the hum of the radio. He took a glance off the road, to see Claira.

Claira's head was resting on the passenger's door. Her eyes were closed, and her earlier bun became a beautiful, cascading blanket along her back.

Aiden still noticed her smudged mascara down her cheeks. He worried why she had been crying. Also, why she was driving dangerously fast a dimly lit road.

He reached his hand out, about to brush his thumb against her cheek, before be pulled back. Aiden looked back at the road, when he saw a gas station. He rolled the truck along the gravel entrance. He pulled the truck to a gas pump, and exited the car.

"Pump 3, pump 3." Aiden repeated to himself as he entered the gas station.

He walked to the counter, when the cashier appeared. She looked about late-forties. Her red shirt was pulled tight across her chest, and her nametag read, "Betty".

Betty fluttered her eyelashes at Aiden, "How can I help you today?"

"Can I get $20 on pump 3?" Aiden responded, looking everywhere but Betty.

"Well since you look so dashing, I'll give it to you for free!" Betty hummed and winked.

Aiden gave a quick nod and quickly exited the gas station. He looked up as the early morning approached, the sky turning into a soft purple. Aiden walked back to the truck when his face fell.

"Fuck!" Aiden yelled as he ran to the car.

He yanked open the passenger door, then the driver's, he even looked in the truck bed.

"How did I lose her? Shit!" Aiden ran his hands down his face.

"Why do you look so funny?" a voice laughed next to him.

He looked down and his face immediately softened. Claira stood beside him perfectly fine, well except for the half empty vodka in her hand.

"Claira where did you get that?" Aiden asked softly, trying to reach for the bottle.

Claira yanked the bottle out of reach, cackling at his expression.

"Over, over um over there!" Claira pointed to absolutely no where.

Aiden slowly reached for her pointed hand and guided her into the truck.

"Sit and please stay in the truck" Aiden said quickly, before running back into the store.

He grabbed a bottle of water, two sandwiches, and a bag of chips. When he reached the counter, Betty stood there, smirking.

"Already came back to see me again handsome?" Betty leaned over the counter, whispering.

Aiden dropped his items on the counter, looking out the window to make sure Claira was in the truck.

"Do you sell drinks here?" Aiden asked, looking down at the floor.

Betty twirled a bleached strand of hair before standing up.

"Why you want one? I have a whole selection just for you." She winked again, licking her lips.

Aiden looked behind her, seeing the massive selection of alcohol. He spotted a empty hole where the exact bottle Claira had, would've been. He let out a massive sigh of relief. Luckily, she didnt take a bottle off the side of the road.

"No, just these." He muttered, reaching for his wallet.

Betty waved him off and slid his bag over.

"Let me know if you don't want your little lady friend. She sure wants to be drunk when she fucks you!" Betty growled and laughed.

Aiden snatched his bag and walked out a second time, hopefully before Betty decides to pounce on him. He slid back into the truck, where Claira quickly perked up.

"Take a-a-a" She slurred, holding the bottle out to him.

He took the opportunity, and pulled the bottle from her grip. He slowly rolled the truck to the trash can and threw it in.

Claira looked at him in rage and slumped in her seat. Aiden looked at her hurt, drunken expression and let out a sigh.

"I don't drink Claira, and I think you maybe should take a break. I got you a sandwich, it's bad to drink on an empty stomach." Aiden spoke calmly, offering the sandwich.

Claira head spun as she tried to realize where she was. The sky was a blazing orange and pink as the sun rose. She wasn't in her run down car. And there was a handsome man offering her his...his face?

"You are a really pretty stranger." Claira whispered, leaning over the console.

She leaned her face in, and kissed him. His lips were soft, but his body was rigid. Claira ran her hand down his chest, trying to loosen him up.

Aiden sat there, frozen. But, when he felt her delicate fingers tracing down his chest, his breath hitched.

Claira moved to kiss his jaw, when the stranger slowly moved her off of him.

"Let's go Claira." Aiden murmured as he put the truck in drive.

He knew it was wrong to let her kiss him that long. She was drunk, with no food in her stomach. He placed the sandwich in her lap and drove back onto the main road.

Claira looked down at the sandwich in her lap. Tears streamed down her eyes. Was she really that bad, if he didn't kiss her back?