Author's note: Big thanks to CharlieB4 for helping me edit.
The Mistake - Part One
The hum of the RV engine, the low tune of the radio and my mother laughing along with my sister. Those had been the only sounds around me for the past three and a half hours. It was dark out, near pitch black. Or well, as dark as it gets in the summer out in the nowhere on an interstate. We had left Albuquerque just little over an hour ago and still had a long way back to LA.
We had decided to drive in shifts to push through the night. It wasn't strictly necessary but we were all anxious to get back home. Especially Claire, no doubt wanting to see her
boyfriend
.
I had specifically asked to get the first night shift. There was just something about the silence and nothing but the road to focus on that appealed to me. I dunno, maybe I just felt like I needed a break from my family. After spending the past three weeks so close to each other who could really blame me? Camping was fun and all but three weeks was just a little too long for me.
It was a little disappointing then, when mom hadn't gone straight to sleep after her shift was over. And neither had my sister. At first they had just been talking quietly back there but after a little while they had become a little more... rambunctious. I knew Claire enjoyed drinking, being around that age and all. And it wasn't like mom was a non-drinker either. It was just a little surprising that they decided to do it so late. And by the sound of it they weren't exactly holding back on the booze.
I didn't mind too much though. They were quiet enough. Dad was sleeping after all. Still, I would have preferred the complete silence to the drunken giggles.
It was almost a relief when they finally grew quiet, blissful silence filling my ears when I turned off the radio too. I had only kept it on to have something other than them to listen to. Now I could enjoy the last one and a half hour of my shift just letting my mind wander.
Or not. Well, dammit.
The curtains separating the driver area and the rest of the RV was pulled back by clumsy fingers, washing the small space with all too much light. I had to squint my eyes for a moment.
"Heeey there Sam," the voice of my mother slurred. Yep, she was a little tipsy.
"Hey mom," I said, throwing a glance up at her. Okay so maybe a little more than just tipsy then. The flushed cheeks were definitely an unusual sight on her, even when drinking.
"How's it going up here?" she asked, leaning against the the back of my seat.
"It's alright," I said with a shrug. "Shouldn't you be in bed though?" I tried not to sound too exasperated about it.
"Yeah was jus' about to," she said. "Jus' wanted to check in."
"Well everything's good up here," I said, hoping that that would be it.
"Tha's good," she slurred and leaned over to give me a quick peck on the cheek, managing to hit the top of my ear instead. I could smell the wine on her, clinging to her like an aura of inebriation.
I was convinced that she would go back after that but to my frustration she didn't. No, instead she got into the co-seat, running a hand through her somewhat messy red hair as she did. Well, at least she closed the curtains. Stifling both an eye roll and a sigh I settled in for what would no doubt be an interesting conversation. After all, drunk people always have so much wisdom to share.
"Claire went to sleep," she said pretty much out of the blue. "Hope we didn' bother you."
"Nah," I said. "S'all good."
A moment of silence passed before I threw another glance at her. Her head was turned away, staring out the passenger window. Her skin had a slight sheen to it made even more visible by the dim purple light, no doubt a gift from the alcohol. Although the heat might've had something to do with it too. I was pretty hot myself.
"It's so damn hot in here," she muttered, giving voice to my thoughts. She flipped the AC on and immediately a cool breeze washed over us. It felt incredible.
"Yeah," I said, peering down at the battery level display for the entire RV. "Can't have it running for too long though." The solar charger had died two days earlier and the engine battery could only generate so much.
"I know. Jus' a few minutes. Feels like 'm burning up," she slurred.
A couple of minutes would be alright. I unbuttoned the top button of my shirt to let the cool air flow in. Another minute of silence passed and then I threw another glance at her. She usually wasn't so quiet. But then again, she usually didn't drink herself this drunk either. In fact, I couldn't even remember the last time she'd had more than one or two glasses in an evening. It was supposed to be vacation though.
Or maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with what had happened the day before. I felt bad for her but there was nothing I could do. She didn't even know that I knew about it. Bringing it up would be... awkward.
-o-o-o-o-o-
The Day Before
The sun was high in the sky, the birds chirped in the trees and the slight breeze felt amazing in my hair. I had my fishing pole slung over my shoulder as I walked, following the trail that would take me back to the camp site. No fish today but it didn't matter. Sure, it was always more fun with a bite or two but it wasn't the point. We had plenty of food and fishing for me was just something fun to do.
Claire had chosen to remain at the lake, citing a need to get some sun. I didn't bother pointing out that with her skin the sun would do nothing but burn her. Much like dad she just wasn't able to get a tan. It certainly wasn't for a lack of trying though.
The camp was just as we had left it with the exception of the fire we had used to cook breakfast on. It was extinguished now. The RV had a stove but dad liked the idea of using his hands where he could on these trips. Although to me using matches just felt like trading out one convenience for a less convenient convenience. I never did bother pointing that out though. To each their own.
